ABILENE, Texas – The McMurry Football program will look to ascend to new heights in 2019 under first year head coach
Jordan Neal, as the American Southwest Conference released its preseason information Tuesday afternoon.
The War Hawks finished with a 2-8 overall record and 2-7 conference mark last season and will begin with a clean slate under Neal, who was recently named to the Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine "40 Under 40" list.
McMurry ranks 10th in the ASC 2019 preseason poll with 46 votes, as announced by the league office. The poll is voted on by the coaches and sports information directors of the conference. McMurry enters its second year of NCAA Division III eligibility as a full member after returning in 2017.
Additionally, Dave Campbell's Texas Football writer Al Pickett picked McMurry seventh in his preseason ranking ahead of Howard Payne, Belhaven and Sul Ross State, respectively.
"We have had a great fall camp thus far, and we are embracing the challenge of rebuilding a program into a conference contender," Neal said. "We are excited about competing in the best conference in the country. We like starting from the bottom, and we are looking forward to the climb ahead of us."
Defending national champion Mary Hardin-Baylor and 2018 playoff qualifier Hardin-Simmons ranked first and second in both preseason polls. East Texas Baptist rounded out the top three in the ASC poll, while Texas Lutheran took third in Pickett's prediction.
With 10 eligible members, the ASC will once again have an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Championship in 2019. The regular season champion will be selected to the playoffs which begin on Saturday, November 23.
Seven offensive starters and six defensive starters return to the squad in 2019. Two all-conference players bolster the roster in senior wide receiver
Eriel Dorsey and junior linebacker
Josh Smith. Dorsey led the ASC in receiving with 102.3 yards per game, while Smith led the conference in tackles at 11.6 per game, solo tackles with 65 and tackles for loss with 10.0.
Additionally, all five starters on the offensive line return this season. On the defensive front, all but one starter comes back as All-ASC defensive end
Darius Brooks graduated in 2018-19. A mix of returners and newcomers will look to compete for time in the secondary and at the linebacker spots.
The War Hawks open the 2019 campaign on Thursday, Sept. 5 in San Antonio, Texas against Trinity University. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
The team will also hold a Friday Night Lights preseason scrimmage on Friday, August 23 at 5:45 p.m. The scrimmage is free admission and open to the public.
Following the game, a picnic will take place with burgers, hotdogs, "fixins," potato chips, cookies, brownies and refreshments. All alumni, families, faculty, staff and community members are welcome. Tickets for the picnic are $10 and must be purchased by Wednesday, August 21.
Click here for more information.
2019 ASC Preseason Football Poll
| Team (First) |
Votes |
2018 Record |
| 1. Mary Hardin-Baylor (19) |
199 |
15-0 (9-0 ASC) |
| 2. Hardin-Simmons (1) |
179 |
9-2 (8-1 ASC) |
| 3. East Texas Baptist |
148 |
6-4 (6-3 ASC) |
| 4. Texas Lutheran |
138 |
7-3 (6-3 ASC) |
| 5. Southwestern |
127 |
6-4 (5-4 ASC) |
| 6. Louisiana College |
106 |
5-5 (5-4 ASC) |
| 7. Howard Payne |
53 |
1-9 (1-8 ASC) |
| 8. Belhaven |
52 |
2-8 (2-7 ASC) |
| Sul Ross State |
52 |
1-9 (1-8 ASC) |
| 10. McMurry |
46 |
2-8 (2-7 ASC) |
2019 ASC Preseason Players of the Year
Offense: Jaquan Hemphill, RB, Sr., Hardin-Simmons
Defense: Joey Longoria, DL, Sr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
Special Teams: Juan Ocampo, K, So., Texas Lutheran
2019 Players to Watch
| Name |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Team |
Hometown |
| Brian Baca |
QB |
Sr. |
East Texas Baptist |
Pittsburg, Texas |
| Jefferson Fritz |
DB |
Jr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Kaufman, Texas |
| Duntayviun Gross |
WR |
Sr. |
Howard Payne |
Tyler, Texas |
| Jaquan Hemphill |
RB |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Coleman, Texas |
| Wil Herbst |
K |
So. |
Southwestern |
Boerne, Texas |
| Joey Longoria |
DL |
Sr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Pearland, Texas |
| Manny Longoria |
DE |
Sr. |
Texas Lutheran |
Geronimo, Texas |
| Juan Ocampo |
K |
So. |
Texas Lutheran |
Lockhart, Texas |
| Jonel Reed |
WR |
Sr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Fort Worth, Texas |
| Aaron Sims |
RS |
So. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Cameron, Texas |
| T.J. Vela |
OL |
Sr. |
Southwestern |
Odem, Texas |
| Garrett Womack |
DE |
Sr. |
Southwestern |
Austin, Texas |
2019 Dave Campbell's Texas Football ASC Preseason Poll
| 1. Mary Hardin-Baylor |
|
| 2. Hardin-Simmons |
|
| 3. Texas Lutheran |
|
| 4. East Texas Baptist |
|
| 5. Louisiana College |
|
| 6. Southwestern |
|
7. McMurry
8. Howard Payne |
|
| 9. Belhaven |
|
| 10. Sul Ross State |
|
|
|
