Six Pioneers Named SAC Preseason Football Players to Watch

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Six Tusculum University football student-athletes were named Preseason “Players to Watch” by the South Atlantic Conference.

Earning preseason recognition for the Pioneers are: Teddy Gleaton (QB, Jr., Waldorf, Md.), Cam Ferguson (RB, Sr., Rockmart, Ga.), Gabe McLamb (OL, Sr., Jacksonville, Fla.), Malachi Jim-Lawson (DL, Jr., London, England), Jimi Olarinde (LB, Jr., Austell, Ga.) and Cam Garnett (LB, Sr., Harlem, Ga.).

Gleaton, a 6-1, 225-pound quarterback, is in his first Tusculum campaign after playing the previous two years at Carson-Newman. In his eight career games with the Eagles, he averaged 5.3 yards per carry in his 75 rush attempts. He ran for 400 yards with five touchdowns. He also passed for 494 yards and sixth touchdowns with only one interception.

Ferguson, a 5-11, 190-pound running back, comes to Greeneville for his senior campaign after playing three years at Carson-Newman. In his 31 career contests, he rushed for 971 yards on 188 carries averaging 5.2 yards per attempt. He scored four rushing touchdowns while also posting four TD receptions. He hauled in 16 receptions for 243 yards. He also shined on special teams on the kickoff return unit where he averaged 26.2 yards on his 19 career returns including a 92-yard touchdown. He also shined in the classroom where he was a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District first team honoree.

McLamb, a 6-3, 295-pound offensive lineman, started in all 10 games last season for the Pioneers at right guard. He has appeared in 19 career contests in the offensive trenches for the Black & Orange.

Jim-Lawson, a 6-4, 260-pound defensive lineman, has been a solid contributor in the defensive front for Tusculum in the last two seasons. In 2025, he played in nine games and accounted for 15 stops including 2.5 for loss and a pair of sacks. He also forced a fumble and tallied a pass break-up. In his 17 career games, he has totaled 40 tackles with three sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss.

Olarinde, a 6-2, 205-pound linebacker, made 10 appearances and one start last season while playing at Carson-Newman. He finished with 23 tackles including 5.5 hits for loss with 2.5 sacks. In his 22-game career with the Eagles, he has amassed 40 tackles with eight for loss and five sacks to go along with an interception and two blocked kicks.

Garnett, a 6-1, 230-pound senior, played in 10 games in his inaugural Tusculum season. He totaled 31 tackles with 20 solos and 11 assists. He finished with 2.5 tackles for loss with one sack. Prior to Tusculum, he played at ETSU where he played in 23 games for the Buccaneers.

The SAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll was also released as Wingate was picked the favorite in a poll of the league’s 10 head coaches. The Bulldogs received 72 total points including two first place votes. Newberry, the 2025 SAC Champion and NCAA Division II Super Region 2 Champion, received 67 points and five first place votes. Lenoir-Rhyne was third with 64 points and two first place votes. Carson-Newman garnered the final first place nod as the Eagles were fourth with 59 points.

Emory & Henry is fifth with 56 points, followed by Catawba (46), Anderson (31), Mars Hill (27), UVA Wise (16) and Tusculum (12).

The Pioneers will open the 2026 season on Thursday, August 27^th when they host Bluefield State for a 6 p.m. kickoff at the Niswonger Sports Complex and Pioneer Field.

South Atlantic Conference Preseason Football Players to Watch
Tusculum
Teddy Gleaton, QB, Jr., Waldorf, Md.
Cam Ferguson, RB, Sr., Rockmart, Ga.
Gabe McLamb, OL, Sr., Jacksonville, Fla.
Malachi Jim-Lawson, DL, Jr., London, England
Jimi Olarinde, LB, Jr., Austell, Ga.
Cam Garnett, LB, Sr., Harlem, Ga.

Anderson
Kenny Brown, WR, R-Jr., Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Darren Lloyd, RB, R-So., Florence, S.C.
Tre Broughton, TE, Jr., Piedmont, S.C.
Scotty Miley, DL, R-So., Catawba, N.C.
Carter Wit, DB, R-Jr., Johns Creek, Ga.
Chase Brightharp, OLB, R-Jr., Trenton, S.C.

Carson-Newman
Josh Adams, RB, So., Monroe, Ga.
Terry Lemon, LB, Jr., McDonough, Ga.
Martavis Mason, DL, Sr., Ninety Six, S.C.
Isaiah Cane, DB, Sr., Antioch, Tenn.
Cruz Temple, LB, Sr., Abbeville, S.C.
Jay’Den Williams, OL, So., Moultrie, Ga.
Bennett Smith, K, Jr., Cleveland, Tenn.

Catawba
Bennett Galloway, RB, R-Jr., Chapin, S.C.
Sean McFarland, OL, Jr., Waxhaw, N.C.
Braylon Baker, DE, So., Harrisburg, N.C.
Jymiek Samson, DT, Sr., Clinton, N.C.
Jaylen Hinton, LB, Jr., Irmo, S.C.
Luke Raykovicz, DB, R-Jr., Waxhaw, N.C.

Emory & Henry
Josh Gooding, DL, Jr., Glen Allen, Va.
Connor Roberts, DL, Jr., Bluefield, Va.
Brennan Hanley, P, Jr., Smithtown, N.Y.
Cole Lambert, QB, Sr., Abingdon, Va.
Trey Secrist, OL, Sr., Buena Vista, Va.
Parker Prioleau, WR, Jr., Radford, Va.

Lenoir-Rhyne
Tye Roberson, RB, Sr., Laurens, S.C.
Rubens Joseph, OL, R-Jr., Marietta, Ga.
LJ Turner, RB, Sr., Palm Bay, Fla.
Carnell Ferguson, DL, So., Los Angeles, Calif.
Brodie Bradburn, LB, So., Carrollton, Ga.
KJ Whitehead, DB, Fr., Athens, Ga.

Mars Hill
Charlie Guinade, WR, Sr., Griffin, Ga.
Lukas Kachillo, QB, R-Jr., Mills River, N.C.
JT Way, RB, So., Atlanta, Ga.
Russell Barnette, DT, Sr., Asheville, N.C.
Jayden Alberty, C, Sr., Orlando, Fla.
Isaac Weaver, LB, Sr., Andrews, N.C.

Newberry
DeAndre Colman, WR, Jr., Hueytown, Ala.
Jonah Norris, RB, R-Jr., Lexington, S.C.
Mason Kidd, QB, R-Jr., Lawrenceville, Ga.
Mikey Blandin, LB, Sr., Charleston, S.C.
Avery McFadden, DB, R-So., Simpsonville, S.C.
Mason Grier, LB, So., Rock Hill, S.C.

UVA Wise
Daniel Thomas, RB, Jr., Middlesboro, Ky.
McCalan Beason, QB, So., Hoover, Ala.
Jack Tews, OL, So., Brandon, S.D.
KD Long, DL, Sr., Huntsville, Ala.
Jalen Pickens, LB, R-Jr., Gainestown, Ala.
Braylon Henry, DB, So., Birmingham, Ala.

Wingate
Xavier Jackson, WR, R-Jr., Kennesaw, Ga.
Jesse Clinesmith, TE, R-Jr., Chinquapin, N.C.
Ethan Wallace, RB, R-Jr., Tallahassee, Fla.
Brandon Perry, DB, Sr., Indian Trail, N.C.
Tyson Brown, DE, R-Jr., Rome, Ga.
Jaden White, DB, R-Sr., Flowery Branch, Ga.