CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- University of North Alabama senior punter Joe Gurley of Killen., is a pre-season first-team All-Big South Conference selection in voting by the league’s head football coaches and a media panel.

 

Gurley was also an honorable mention all-conference selection as place-kicker and was joined on the squad by senior defensive lineman Wallace Cowins, Jr., of Conyers, Ga.

 

They were the only two Lions named to the squad. 

 

A three-time Big South Conference Special Teams Player of the Week in 2019, Gurley ranked second in Big South in punting average at 42.4. He had 60 total punts for 2,545 yards, with 14 punts over 50 yards and a long of 61. He had 16 of his punts downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line and was second in league for most punts over 50 yards. He was a third-team Phil Steele's All-Big South Conference pick as a punter last season. A three-year starting punter for the Lions, Gurley has 161 career punts for a 39.9-yard average and a long of 61 yards (twice).

 

Cowins was the leading tackler in the Big South among all defensive linemen last season with 66. He also led that position with 6.0 tackles per game. He ranked as the 15th leading tackler in the entire league regardless of position. He ranked third in the Big South in tackles for loss (12) with 1.09 per game and finished third on UNA team in tackles. He finished the season with 12.0 tackles for loss of 36 yards and two sacks for 10 yards. He added four pass breakups and one recovered fumble. He was a second-team Phil Steele's All-Big South Conference pick last season.

 

2020 Big South Football Preseason All-Conference Teams

 

PRESEASON ALL-BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE FIRST-TEAM

 

OFFENSE                                                                      

QB    Hajj-Malik Williams, Soph., Campbell

RB    Isaac Foster, Jr., Kennesaw State

RB    Juwon Farri, R-Soph., Monmouth

WR   Izaiah Gathings, Jr., Gardner-Webb

WR   Jadakis Bonds, Jr., Hampton

WR   Lonnie Moore IV, R-Sr., Monmouth

WR   Terrance Greene Jr., R-Jr., Monmouth (tie)

WR   Caleb Snead, R-Jr., Campbell (tie)

TE    Gene Scott, Jr., Monmouth

OL    AJ Farris, R-Sr., Monmouth

OL    Chris Dye, Sr., Kennesaw State

OL    Jake Lassiter, Sr., Kennesaw State

OL    Justin Szuba, Jr., Monmouth

OL    William Nana-Fabu, Jr., Kennesaw State

 

DEFENSE

DL    Shaundre Mims, R-Jr., Charleston Southern

DL    Brevin Allen, Jr., Campbell

DL    Nick Salley, R-Sr., Charleston Southern

DL    Anton Williams, R-Jr., Charleston Southern

LB    Bryson Armstrong, R-Sr., Kennesaw State

LB    Da’Quan Grimes, R-Sr., Monmouth

LB    Darien Reynolds, Sr., Gardner-Webb

LB    Justice Galloway-Velazquez, Jr., Campbell

DB    Anthony Budd, Sr., Monmouth

DB    Cody Cline, Soph., Charleston Southern

DB    Darion Slade, R-Sr., Campbell

DB    Justin Terry, Sr., Monmouth

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK    Alex Usry, R-Jr., Charleston Southern

P      Joe Gurley, Sr., North Alabama

KR    Lonnie Moore, R-Sr., Monmouth

PR    Devron Harper, Soph., Gardner-Webb

LS    Ethan Ray, R-Sr., Charleston Southern

 

PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION

QB    Jack Chambers, R-Jr., Charleston Southern

RB    Shaquil Terry, Sr., Kennesaw State

WR   Garris Schwarting, R-Sr., Charleston Southern

OL    Tyler McLellan, R-Jr., Campbell (tie)

OL    JT Melton, R-Jr., Charleston Southern (tie)

DL    Wallace Cowins Jr., Sr., North Alabama

LB    Cade Hamilton, Jr., Gardner-Webb

DB    Demetrius Pettway, Jr., Kennesaw State

PK    Joe Gurley, Sr., North Alabama

P      Nicholas Jones, Sr., Kennesaw State

KR    Devron Harper, Soph., Gardner-Webb (tie)

KR    Issac Foster, Jr., Kennesaw State (tie)

PR    Issac Foster, Jr., Kennesaw State

LS    Will Mullins, Sr., Gardner-Webb