Six Pioneers Named As SAC Football “Players To Watch”

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Six Tusculum University student-athletes were tabbed as “Players to Watch” with the release of the 2025 South Atlantic Conference Football Poll.

Garnering preseason recognition are: Reginald Hunter, Solomon Maosa, Gabe McLamb, Ashton Hagans, DJ Dailey and Tre Mobley.

Hunter, a 6-4, 215-pound senior tight end from South Pittsburg, Tennessee, tied for the team lead with his 18 receptions last year while finishing fourth with 170 receiving yards and started in all 10 games. During his 28-game career at Tusculum, he has amassed 30 receptions for 296 yards and a touchdown.

Maosa, 6-3, 270-pound senior defensive lineman from Nashville, Tennessee, played in all 10 games last season and totaled 13 tackles in his first TU campaign. He previous played two years at Cumberland University.

McLamb, a 6-3, 295-pound sophomore from Jacksonville, Florida, shined on the Tusculum offensive line in his rookie campaign where he played in all 10 contests.

Hagans, a 5-9, 170-pound senior from Milledgeville, Georgia, played in nine games last year and was credited with six receptions for 59 yards and two touchdowns. He posted a 13-yard TD catch at UVA Wise and a 10-yard scoring reception at Lenoir-Rhyne.

Dailey, a 5-11, 170-pound sophomore from Ocala, Florida, played last year at Missouri Valley College. IN his rookie season there, he played in seven games, made 19 tackles, recorded two interceptions and two pass break-ups.

Mobley, a 6-1, 200-pound senior defensive back from Ocala, Florida, joins the Pioneers this year after playing the last two seasons at Webber International University. He recorded 98 tackles (62 solos, 36 assists) with 12 tackles for loss (-41 yds), one sack (-8 yds), nine passes defended, one interception, forced two fumbles, recovered two fumbles and blocked a kick.

The Pioneers were picked 10^th in the SAC Preseason Poll as Tusculum garnered 24 points in a vote of the league’s 10 head coaches.

Lenoir-Rhyne is the favorite to win the title as the Bears received 85 points including six first place votes. Wingate is second with 80 points and two first place nods, while Carson-Newman is third with 79 points and garnered the final two first place votes. Emory & Henry is fourth with 63 points, followed by Mars Hill (56), Catawba (48), Newberry (45), Anderson (34), UVA Wise (26) and Tusculum.

The Pioneers will open their season on Saturday, Aug. 30 when TU travels to Bluefield State for the inaugural meeting between the two programs. Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Bluefield, West Virginia.

South Atlantic Conference Football Players to Watch

Anderson: Tyler Wesley (QB), Jalon Warthen-Carr (WR), Kam Burris (OL), Jerrod Woods (LB), Carter Wit (DB), Colton Smith (DL)

Carson-Newman: Mekhi Brown (LB), Martavis Mason (DL), Champ Baker (DB), Cruz Temple (LB), Grayson Campbell (P), Jeremiah Carroll (WR), Jayden Sullins (RB)

Catawba: Bo Pryor (WR), Preston Brown (QB), Evan Simons (DB), Dallas Foard (OL), Avery Swinton (OL), Kevin Lalin (RB)

Emory & Henry: Shawn Collins (DB), Cam Peoples (WR), Ean Rhea (DL), Jordan Jackson (RB), Jarrell Harrison (DB), Deshaun Sharp (OL)

Lenoir-Rhyne: James Ussery (DB), Maddox Aprile (DL), Treyvon Cooper (LB), Ryan Whetzel (OL), Songa Yates (WR), Dom Marshall (WR)

Mars Hill: JR Martin (QB), Jon Gullette (RB), Caleb Lominac (TE), Sakarri Morrison (DE), Isaac Weaver (LB), Cherron Holt (DB)

Newberry: Dwayne Wright (RB), Keith Desaussure (WR), DeAndre Coleman (WR), Devron Williams (LB), Jalen Stradford (OLB), Jaydon Eason (NG)

Tusculum: Reginald Hunter (TE), Solomon Maosa (DL), DJ Dailey (DB), Tre Mobley (DB), Gabe McLamb (OL), Ashton Hagans (WR)

Wingate: Carlos Estronza (WR), Ethan Wallace (RB), Porfirio Acosta (OL), Kai Russell (DE), Jaquan Edwards (LB), Brandon Perry (DB)

UVA Wise: Ian Scammell (RB), Seth Fischbach (WR), Jake Corkren (QB), Kenneth Long (DL), Brub Hines (LB), Dacorian Jones-Montgomery (LB)

SAC Football Coaches’ Poll