BEAUMONT, Texas – Just 24 hours after the Lamar University Cardinals entertained fans with their first scrimmage of preseason camp, eight of their players have been named to the College Sports Madness Preseason All-Southland Conference teams.
Senior receiver Reggie Begelton is the squad's lone first-team selection, and is one of five offensive players named to the three-team honors squad. Joining Begelton on offense is second-team selection Bret Treadway (offensive lineman), and third-team picks Kade Harrington (running back), Devonn Brown (wide receiver) and Justin Brock (offensive linemen).
LU defensive players honored by CSM include second-team selections Omar Tebo (defensive line), Ronnie Jones (linebacker) and Xavier Bethany (safety).
One of the nation's top returning wide outs, Begelton enters camp as the school all-time leader in receptions (170) and is on pace to break the LU career record for receiving yards and touchdown catches. After leading the Southland in receptions as a sophomore, Begelton came right back last year and finished second in the conference averaging 5.6 catches per game. He also finished the year with 860 yards receiving and six touchdowns.
Begelton is joined at wide out by Brown, who despite having to play behind Begelton, and former All-American Mark Roberts, was able to work his way into the starting lineup in 2014. Brown proved his versatility to the Cardinals last season by becoming one of the league's top return specialists. Brown was third on the team with 33 catches for 392 yards and three touchdowns. He also returned 26 kicks for 449 yards (17.3 ypr) on the year.
After an impressive rookie season, Harrington proved that 2013 was no fluke. The former freshman All-America overcame some early season injuries to rush for 740 yards and 11 touchdowns. By season's end, he ranked among the league's top five in rushing yards per game and rushing touchdowns.
Creating the holes in the line for Harrington to run through were Brock and Treadway. Veteran stalwarts on the offensive front, the LU duo helped produce one of the league's best offenses last season. The Cardinals led the Southland in total and passing offense, while averaging nearly 40 points per game.
On the defensive side of the ball, Tebo anchored one of the top lines in the conference. He finished sixth on the team in tackles with 46, while finishing among the league leaders in sacks (3.5) and tackles for losses (8.0).
The duo of Jones and Bethany finished one-two on the squad, and ranked among the league leaders in tackles. From his linebacking position, Jones posted a career year with 99 tackles, including 43 solo stops. He was credited with 11.5 tackles for losses and five sacks, while forcing three fumbles.
Bethany finished one stop behind Jones on the season with 98 total stops (42 solo tackles and 56 assisted stops). Bethany picked off two passes – including one returned for a touchdown – and broke up three other pass attempts. He was also credited with two forced fumbles, 4.5 tackles for losses and a sack.
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