#UACFOOTBALL -- For the first time in history, UAC Football announced its preseason All-Conference team as voted on by the league's head coaches with Eastern Kentucky's Parker McKinney (Offensive Player of the Year) and Utah Tech's Syrus Webster (Defensive Player of the Year) topping the list of recognitions.

McKinney, a senior quarterback from Coalfield, Tenn., is EKU's single-season record-holder in completions, attempts, passing yards, passing touchdowns and completion percentage. He also holds the program's career records for total offense, completions, attempts, passing yards and passing touchdowns. In 2022, McKinney was the Phil Steele ASUN Offensive Player of the Year and the ASUN's Co-Offensive Player of the Year en route to being named a Third-Team Stats Perform All-American and a Walter Payton Award finalist. This preseason, McKinney has been named a preseason All-American by three different organizations and is on the Walter Payton Award Watch List.

A junior defensive lineman from West Jordan, Utah, Webster is coming off a stellar sophomore campaign in 2022, which saw him earn first team all-Western Athletic Conference accolades after he co-led the conference in sacks (5.5) and led the Trailblazers with 10.0 tackles for loss. The junior-to-be finished the 2022 season with 42 total tackles (22 solo) and tallied at least three total tackles in nine of 11 games played and collected Academic all-WAC honors. Webster was named to the 2023 Buck Buchanan Award preseason watch list, and selected to both the 2023 Phil Steele and Blue Bloods All-United Athletic Conference preseason first teams.

Thirty-one players were selected for this inaugural group with all nine member schools earning honorees. Central Arkansas led the way with seven selections followed by preseason league favorite EKU tallying five choices. Austin Peay and Stephen F. Austin both boasted four members while Abilene Christian, Tarleton State and Utah Tech each saw three players tabbed. North Alabama and Southern Utah each had one honoree.

2023 UAC FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Parker McKinney (EKU)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Syrus Webster (Utah Tech)

OFFENSE
QB - Parker McKinney (EKU)*
RB - Darius Hale (Central Arkansas)
RB - ShunDerrick Powell (Central Arkansas)
RB - Derrel Kelley III (Tarleton State)
WR - Takairee Kenebrew (North Alabama)
WR - Darius Cooper (Tarleton State)
WR - Rickie Johnson (Utah Tech)
TE - Noah Caldwell (Abilene Christian)
TE - Jordon Goco (Austin Peay)
TE - Chad Aune (Stephen F. Austin)
OL - Reese Moore (Abilene Christian)
OL - Chandler Kirton (Austin Peay)
OL - Payton Collins (EKU)
OL - Josiah Ezirim (EKU)
OL - Keegan Holm (Stephen F. Austin)
C - Lyle Santos (Southern Utah)

DEFENSE
DL - David Walker (Central Arkansas)
DL - Logan Jessup (Central Arkansas)
DL - Ryan Jackson (EKU)
DL - Syrus Webster (Utah Tech)
LB - Tyler Long (Austin Peay)
LB - Qua'Shawn Washington (Tarleton State)
LB - Will Leota (Utah Tech)
DB - Kory Chapman (Austin Peay)
DB - TaMuarion Wilson (Central Arkansas)
DB - Franky West, Jr. (EKU)
DB - Jeremiah Walker (Stephen F. Austin)

SPECIAL TEAMS
K - Chris Campos (Stephen F. Austin)
P - Chandler Caughron (Central Arkansas)
RS - Jarrod Barnes (Central Arkansas)
LS - Dustin Inness (Abilene Christian)

* - Denotes unanimous selection
NOTE: Due to voting ties, a 16-member Offensive Team was selected