Seven Bears named to Phil Steele’s preseason All-UAC teams

CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas heads into the 2025 football season with no shortage of expectations, and now, seven players have the preseason accolades to match.

Phil Steele’s Preseason All-UAC selections, released Monday, shine a spotlight on a program blending seasoned leadership with rising stars, as four Bears were named to the offensive squads and three to the defensive teams.

Senior offensive linemen Will Diggins and Jamal Mull headline the group, each earning first team All-UAC honors.

Diggins and Mull have become the bedrock of UCA’s front line, combining for more than 60 starts over four years. Their consistency and experience have paved the way for three consecutive top-25 offenses, including last year’s unit, which ranked 14th nationally in both total offense and rushing.

Diggins, already an ASUN Freshman of the Year and an All-American, adds another line to an already decorated résumé as he enters his final season.

Mull, well-known for his steadfast play in the trenches, returns for a fourth year as a starter.

With coach Nathan Brown taking over play calling, Mull’s grasp of the system and leadership are expected to anchor an offense that has averaged over 427 yards per game during his tenure.

Wide receiver Malachi Henry, the only sophomore on the first team offense, is poised for a breakout campaign after a stellar freshman year that saw him named a Freshman All-American.

Henry hauled in 41 receptions for 683 yards and five touchdowns in 2024, emerging as one of the Bears’ most reliable targets. He logged at least four catches in seven games, with a season-high eight against Southern Utah, showcasing the consistency that makes him a focal point of the passing game heading into 2025.

Sophomore running back Landon Chambers earned third team recognition, a testament to his growing role in a loaded backfield.

Chambers made the most of limited opportunities last year, finishing with 176 rushing yards on 32 carries and 43 receiving yards on four catches.

His best performance came against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, when he rushed for 102 yards on just 15 attempts. Chambers’ six yards per touch suggest greater things to come as he steps into a more prominent role this fall.

On the defensive side, the Bears return talent and production at key positions. Defensive lineman Bradley Clark and defensive back Dillon Williams were each named to the second team, joining a unit that helped UCA finish as the UAC’s top defense by yards allowed last season.

Clark, a disruptive force up front, posted 29 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks, making an impact in nearly every game. His knack for plugging gaps and pressuring quarterbacks is a critical asset for the Bears’ front seven.

Williams, the team’s leading returning tackler, anchors a secondary that contributed to the league’s third-best scoring defense. In 2024, he finished with 80 tackles, four tackles for loss, and one sack, showing a relentless pursuit of the football.

Williams posted five games with at least five tackles, including a season-high nine against Abilene Christian, and recorded an interception against West Georgia.

His leadership and playmaking ability will be central to a defense aiming to build on last year’s performance.

Rounding out the list is senior safety Person, UCA’s second-leading returning tackler. With 53 stops last season, including 33 solo tackles and four pass break-ups, Person adds experience and instincts to the secondary.

His presence is vital for a defense looking to limit big plays and forcing turnovers.

The seven selections underscore UCA’s depth on both sides of the ball. With a blend of battle-tested veterans and promising underclassmen, the Bears appear well-positioned to compete in the UAC and beyond. The preseason recognition is both a testament to last season’s success and a challenge to improve in the months ahead.

There is no guarantee that preseason accolades will translate to victories, but the foundation is set.

With seven Bears on Phil Steele’s All-UAC teams, UCA heads into 2025 as one of the most watched teams in the conference.