Five UCA players named to UAC preseason All-Conference teams

CONWAY, Ark.  — Five Central Arkansas football players have been named to the United Athletic Conference Preseason All-Conference Teams, the league announced Wednesday.

The Bears landed three players on the preseason offensive team and two on the defensive side. Senior offensive linemen Will Diggins and Jamal Mull headline the offensive selections.

The pair has started more than 60 games combined over their careers and have helped UCA to three consecutive top-25 national offensive rankings, including last season’s No. 14 offense and the nation’s No. 4 rushing attack.

Diggins, a former ASUN Freshman of the Year and All-American lineman, was also recently named a preseason All-American.

“He has been a staple for us on the front,” Bears coach Brown said. “He needs to have a big year for us to succeed on offense.”

Mull, a three-year starter, has provided leadership and consistency. UCA has averaged more than 427 yards per game over the past three seasons behind Mull and the offensive line.

“Jamal is a unique story; we signed Jamal as a defensive lineman and he turned himself into one of the best offensive linemen in the country after making the position change,” Brown said. “He is extremely athletic and has NFL size. Jamal is also one of the strongest big guys I have ever coached. I’m excited to watch him perform this year.”

Wide receiver Malachi Henry, a freshman All-American in 2024, rounds out the Bears’ preseason offensive picks. Henry made 41 receptions for 683 yards and five touchdowns last season. He had four or more catches in seven games, including a season-high eight against Southern Utah.

“Malachi is coming off one of the best freshmen seasons a wide out has had here at UCA,” Brown said. “He is explosive and has great hands. His work ethic is really what separates him from most.

“He is the son of a coach, and you can tell that he carries himself with that mentality every single day. He is poised to have an even bigger sophomore campaign.”

On defense, Bradley Clark and Dillon Williams made the preseason list.

Clark, a defensive lineman, recorded 29 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss for a loss of 32 yards, and 2.5 sacks for a loss of 23 yards last season. He logged tackles in all but one game and had a tackle for loss in six contests.

“Bradley has worked himself into the best interior defensive lineman in our league,” Brown said. “He doesn’t wow you with his stats, but he impacts the game every single play.

“Playing interior defensive lineman can sometimes be an unappreciated position, but we greatly appreciate Bradley’s play. He graded out as a PFF top-three defensive lineman last year in Division I FCS football.”

Williams leads a secondary that helped UCA produce the No. 3 scoring defense in the UAC last year. Williams led the Bears with 80 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss for a loss of 11 yards, and one sack.

He registered at least five tackles in five games, including a season-high nine against Abilene Christian, and had an interception against West Georgia.

“Dillon is a rare combination of size and speed,” Brown said. “He stands over six feet tall and weighs 210 pounds, and is one of the five fastest guys on our team. He is so versatile as a football player; he can cover any position and can also tackle like a linebacker. He is a unique player that is going to be in the argument as an All-American when the season is done.”

The five preseason All-Conference selections reflect UCA’ balance of veteran experience and young talent as the program prepares for the 2025 season.

The Bears’ offensive line, anchored by Diggins and Mull, has set the standard for production and reliability in the league.

Henry’s emergence as a top receiving threat and the continued development of Clark and Williams on defense have raised expectations for both sides of the ball. Brown emphasized the importance of work ethic and versatility in his players’ success.

“He is poised to have an even bigger sophomore campaign,” Brown said of Henry.

UCA averaged more than 427 yards per game over the last three seasons and returns several key contributors on both offense and defense.

With five players honored in the preseason, the Bears are positioned to contend for the UAC title in 2025.

The Bears open their 2025 campaign this fall, aiming to build on their recent success and capitalize on the experience and talent recognized by the league’s preseason awards.