MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama placed four players on the 2015 preseason All-Sun Belt Conference football teams, released Monday in conjunction with the league’s Media Day.
Offensive lineman Chris May, center Joseph Scelfo and kicker Aleem Sunanon were named to the first team, and safety Roman Buchanan was a second-team selection.
May Earns Second All-Conference Honor
May, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound senior from Tuscumbia, Ala., collected his second all-conference honor. He was a first-team All-Sun Belt pick in 2013 and earned honorable mention last season.
In 2014, May graded at 80 percent or higher six times and totaled 33 knockdown blocks. His season-high grade of 85 came against Bowling Green in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl.
Scelfo Added to National Watch Lists
Scelfo, a 6-foot-1, 295-pound junior, was recently named to the watch lists for the Rimington Trophy and the Rotary Lombardi Award.
Last season he graded at 80 percent or better six times and recorded 20 knockdown blocks. He received the coaches’ offensive line award after wins over Idaho and Troy, posting a season-high 88 percent grade against Troy as the Jaguars ran for 296 yards. Scelfo also earned the highest grade on the team in games against Southeastern Conference opponents.
Sunanon Led Team in Scoring
Sunanon, who has also been named to two national watch lists, made 15 of 18 field goal attempts last season and led South Alabama with 69 points. In 2013 he converted 18 of 23 attempts, scored a team-high 91 points and earned honorable mention All-Sun Belt.
He made his final eight field goal attempts of 2014, including four at South Carolina to tie the school single-game record. His 83.3 percent success rate tied for the Sun Belt lead and ranked 12th nationally, and he was third in the conference at 1.15 field goals per game.
Buchanan on Second Team
Buchanan, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound safety from Enterprise, Ala., ranked third on the defense with 74 tackles last season and tied for second with seven passes defended.
He had a career-high nine tackles three times, including in each of the final two games against Navy and against Bowling Green in the Camellia Bowl. He made three tackles for loss in those games, two against Navy. His first nine-tackle performance came against Georgia State, when he also forced a fumble and broke up a pass.
Season Outlook
South Alabama was picked to finish sixth in the Sun Belt preseason poll released Friday. The Jaguars, coached by Joey Jones, open the 2015 season Saturday, Sept. 5, against Gardner-Webb at 5 p.m. CDT in a game to be streamed nationally on ESPN3.
