Football
Bears will have some preseason All-Americans this season
Three UCA players on national preseason All-American team as start of fall practices coming up quickly for Nathan Brown’s team.
CONWAY, Ark. — While it guarantees nothing, it is a sign Central Arkansas will be starting football practices in a couple of weeks with some All-Americans on the roster. The Bears got three players on FCS Central’s preseason list.
UCA had two players on the first team. Running back ShunDerrick Powell and defensive lineman David Walker topped the list that was comprised of 78 FCS players, representing all 13 conferences.
Defensive back TaMuarion Wilson was listed on the second team.
That’s a heckuva representation, landing nearly four percent of the total number of players that puts things in a little better perspective.
Powell ran for 1,016 yards last season (92.4 yards per game) after transferring from North Alabama. He was named an FCS All-American and a Sophomore All-American and a finalist for the Walter Payton Award that goes to the national FCS Offensive Player of the Year.
He led the ASUN in rushing with 1,508 yards and 18 touchdowns and set a new North Alabama single-season record in both categories. He had at least 100 yards rushing in seven games, and more than 200 yards in four games, averaged 137 yards rushing per game.
Walker is a three-time All-American in 2023 after being named to six All-America teams in 2022 and was the inaugural United Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 and a first-team All-UAC selection.
He had 57 total tackles, including 18 tackles for loss (-69 yds) and 8.5 sacks (-53 yds), both which led the UAC, forced a fumble and had a pass break up. Walker was eighth in the nation in FCS in tackles for loss and 20th in the nation in sacks. He broke the school record for single-game tackles for loss with 6.5 against Tarleton State, a game in which he had a season-high 13 tackles.
UCA reports July 31 for fall camp and practices will begin Aug. 1.
