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13 Bucs Collect Preseason All-SoCon Honors from Phil Steele

Bucs open the 2026 season on August 29 against Campbell

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Aug. 4, 2026) – With the college football season under a month away, longtime insider Phil Steele unveiled his annual Preseason All-Conference teams this week. Overall, 13 ETSU players landed spots on the three teams and they are Jason Albritton (First Team), Will McCraw (First Team), Mike Jenkins (First Team), Charlie Browder (Second Team), Brenden LeBlanc (Second Team), Dre Delinois (Second Team), Jivon Oggs (Second Team), Ewan Johnson (Second Team), Brock Winstead (Second Team), Jake McNamara (Third Team), Micah Sumpter (Third Team), Qua Birdsong (Third Team), and Jimmy Bowdry (Third Team). The 13 honorees were tied for the second-most in the SoCon, matching Furman and sitting behind only Tennessee Tech's 14.
 
Albritton played in all 12 games for ETSU during his debut season with the Bucs in 2025. He finished second on the team with 518 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. He carried the ball a total of 104 times and averaged five yards per carry on the season. Scored a touchdown in seven of the 12 games in 2025. Reached the end zone in three straight games against Tennessee, West Georgia, and Elon. Also scored against VMI and The Citadel. Ran for a pair of scores on the road at Chattanooga on October 18. Also broke off his longest run of the season against the Mocs (60 yards). His top performance came on November 15, when he ran for a career-high 125 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown in ETSU's win over Western Carolina. 
 
McCraw will be back in action in 2026 after missing the 2025 season. In 2024, McCraw played in all 12 games during his first season in a Buccaneer uniform. Starting 11 of 12 games at right guard, McCraw helped power one of the top rushing teams in the FCS. McCraw helped ETSU rush for 100 yards in 11 of 12 games this season, including a season-high 308 yards in a win at The Citadel in late September to go along with five outings that topped 200 yards. McCraw also led ETSU's offensive line to lead the SoCon in rushing yards (2,330) and rushing yards per game (194.2), marking the first time the Bucs have led the league in rushing in a season. McCraw was also a member of an offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks in the conference (17).
 
Jenkins played in and started all 12 games for the Buccaneers in 2025. He finished third on the team with 59 tackles and was tied for the team lead with two interceptions. The Summerville, South Carolina native also broke up three passes and logged a pair of quarterback hurries. Surpassed 100 career tackles as a Buc in the season finale against The Citadel. Jenkins also totaled a career-high nine tackles in the win over the Bulldogs. Notched an interception against Elon on September 20 and picked off another one at Furman on October 4. He also broke up two passes and finished with six tackles against the Paladins. For his play all season long, Jenkins landed a spot on the All-SoCon Second Team. 
 
In his first season with ETSU, Browder played in all 12 games and started five games. His five starts came against Tennessee, Elon, Chattanooga, Wofford, and Samford. Finished the season with 17 receptions for 254 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His top day receiving in terms of receptions and receiving yards both came at Western Carolina on November 15, where he finished with four catches for 52 yards. His longest reception of the season came against The Citadel in the season finale (28 yards). Caught touchdowns against Mercer and then on the road at Samford. 
 
During his third season with the Buccaneers, LeBlanc played in all 12 games and started 10 of those contests. Prior to the season beginning, LeBlanc earned All-SoCon honors from both the league's coaches and from Phil Steele. LeBlanc finished the season with 31 tackles and 1.5 sacks. His top tackling effort came on September 27 against Mercer with eight stops. All 1.5 of his sacks came in ETSU's win over Elon on September 20. 
 
Delinois appeared in 11 of ETSU's 12 games during the 2025 season. He ranked fourth on the team with 45 tackles. Had at least five stops in six of the 11 games. His top tackling performance was eight, and he accomplished that twice, first at Tennessee on September 6 and then again at Samford on November 8. Also had seven-tackle performances at West Georgia on September 13 and in the season finale against The Citadel on November 22. Also saw over 100 snaps on ETSU's special teams units on the season.
 
Oggs played in all 12 games during his first season with the Bucs in 2025. Oggs was one of seven Bucs to reach 40 or more tackles in 2025. Oggs finished with 43 tackles, with eight of those 43 stops coming at Western Carolina on November 15. Recorded half a sack against Wofford. Tallied interceptions against Murray State and West Georgia. Totaled four pass breakups against Chattanooga (two), VMI, and Murray State. Posted seven tackles, forced and recovered a fumble against Mercer on September 27. 
 
Johnson has spent the last three seasons as ETSU's primary kicker. He played in all 12 games for the Buccaneers. Before the season, Johnson earned Preseason All-SoCon recognition by the league's coaches and by Phil Steele. He posted the best season of his career in terms of field goal percentage (78.57%) and yardage on kickoffs (62.2 average). As a field goal kicker, Johnson made 11 of his 14 attempts, including one from 49 yards out against Elon, which set a new career-long. For extra points, Johnson made 49 of 50 tries on the season.
 
Before his second season with the Bucs, Winstead earned Preseason All-SoCon Second Team honors from Phil Steele. In 2025, Winstead served as the Bucs' long snapper for all 12 games and did not miss one long snapping opportunity. He also notched a pair of tackles and recovered a fumble at West Georgia on September 13.
 
McNamara saw action in five games for ETSU during the 2025 season. He made his ETSU debut in the season-opening win over Murray State. McNamara also saw playing time against VMI, Chattanooga, Wofford and Samford. He saw considerable time under center for the Bucs in the wins over VMI and Wofford. Against VMI, McNamara completed 8-of-14 passes for 176 yards and threw for a pair of touchdowns. In the win over Wofford later in the month, McNamara went 14-for-18 passing for 97 yards and added 18 yards rushing. Overall, McNamara went 25-for-37 passing (67.57%) for 305 yards and a pair of touchdowns in 2025. 
 
Sumpter played in all 12 games for the Buccaneers in 2025. He saw time at both tackle spots for the Bucs during the season. He made his first career start on Mercer on September 27. Sumpter played a season-high 84 snaps in ETSU's rivalry road win at Western Carolina on November 15 and helped ETSU rush for over 200 yards on six occasions in 2025. He played over 20 snaps on offense for ETSU in eight of the 12 games in 2025. 
 
Birdsong played in all 12 games and made one start during his first season with the program in 2025. His starting assignment came on November 15 against Western Carolina. He finished the season with 31 tackles (1.5 for loss), 1.5 sacks, and one quarterback hurry. His top performance in terms of tackling came on September 6 at Tennessee, where he totaled seven tackles. He also tallied six tackles and half a sack in the win over VMI on October 11. Birdsong notched a sack at West Georgia on September 13. 
 
In 2025, Bowdry started and played in 11 of the 12 games for ETSU. Outside of the game he missed against Elon and the road clash at West Georgia, Bowdry played at least 46 snaps on defense for the Bucs in the other 10 games. Bowdry finished the season with 40 tackles. He was one of seven Buccaneer defenders to reach that milestone. He also added an interception against Mercer on September 27. The veteran defensive back also had pass breakups against Mercer, Furman, VMI, and Samford. His top two tackling performances came against Wofford and Furman, where he registered seven stops in each contest.
 
For more information on Buccaneer football, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the football tab.
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Jimmy Bowdry

#5 Jimmy Bowdry

DB
5' 11"
Senior
Dre Delinois

#33 Dre Delinois

LB
6' 1"
Junior
Mike Jenkins

#7 Mike Jenkins

DB
6' 2"
Junior
Ewan Johnson

#15 Ewan Johnson

K
5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
Brenden LeBlanc

#91 Brenden LeBlanc

DL
6' 0"
Junior
Will McCraw

#55 Will McCraw

OL
6' 4"
Senior
Micah Sumpter

#60 Micah Sumpter

OL
6' 4"
Junior
Brock Winstead

#38 Brock Winstead

LS
6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
Jivon Oggs

#6 Jivon Oggs

DB
5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
Jason Albritton

#21 Jason Albritton

RB
5' 9"
Redshirt Junior
Charlie Browder

#88 Charlie Browder

TE
6' 7"
Redshirt Senior
Jake McNamara

#10 Jake McNamara

QB
5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Jimmy Bowdry

#5 Jimmy Bowdry

5' 11"
Senior
DB
Dre Delinois

#33 Dre Delinois

6' 1"
Junior
LB
Mike Jenkins

#7 Mike Jenkins

6' 2"
Junior
DB
Ewan Johnson

#15 Ewan Johnson

5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
K
Brenden LeBlanc

#91 Brenden LeBlanc

6' 0"
Junior
DL
Will McCraw

#55 Will McCraw

6' 4"
Senior
OL
Micah Sumpter

#60 Micah Sumpter

6' 4"
Junior
OL
Brock Winstead

#38 Brock Winstead

6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
LS
Jivon Oggs

#6 Jivon Oggs

5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
DB
Jason Albritton

#21 Jason Albritton

5' 9"
Redshirt Junior
RB
Charlie Browder

#88 Charlie Browder

6' 7"
Redshirt Senior
TE
Jake McNamara

#10 Jake McNamara

5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
QB