SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Elon quarterback Scott Riddle has been selected as the Southern Conference's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year by the league's coaches while the Phoenix was tabbed to place second in the conference by both the coaches and media as released on Monday. Including Riddle, the Elon program placed six players on the preseason all-conference squad.

Riddle was Elon's lone first-team offensive selection while defensive lineman Brandon Ward was named as a first-team defensive player. The second team featured offensive lineman Rodney Austin, defensive lineman Jordan Gibson, linebacker Joshua Jones and defensive back Terell Wilson.

Riddle, who is a member of the 20-player watch list for the Walter Payton Award, completed 285 passes for 3,345 yards and 23 touchdowns during his junior season. He averaged 278.67 total yards per game, ranking 13th nationally. The Ramseur, N.C. native passed for 300 or more yards in six of Elon's 12 contests and twice threw four touchdown passes in a single game. In a victory at Furman, Riddle passsed for a season-high 374 yards and a touchdown while completing 35 of his 48 passes. He was honored as the SoCon Player of the Week after passing for 338 yards and a TD and rushing for another score in a win over Georgia Southern.

In Elon's FCS Playoff game at Richmond, Riddle became the first quarterback in the history of the Southern Conference to eclipse the 10,000-yard passing mark. He finished his junior campaign with 10,033 career passing yards and is the FCS active leader in that category.

A second-team All-Southern Conference choice a year ago, Riddle set a new SoCon record with 218 pass attempts between interceptions. He also holds league career records in completions (894), touchdown passes (78) and pass attempts (1,374).

Ward started 10 of Elon's 12 games during his junior season. The 6-5, 234-pound defensive end totaled 42 tackles, 22 of which were solo stops. Among those tackles were 5.5 sacks and 10 tackles for a loss, both second on the squad. In a league victory at Samford, Ward, of Webster, Fla., made a career-best seven tackles, including five solo takedowns.

Austin, who hails from Charlotte, N.C, made five starts and appeared in 10 games for the Phoenix as a sophomore in 2010. Austin stands 6-3 and checks in at 314 pounds and is expected to start for Elon this season.

A Thomasville, N.C. native, Gibson appeared in nine contests as a junior a year ago. He made 18 tackles, including 1.5 stops for a loss. In Elon's tilt at Wake Forest, Gibson recorded a season-best five tackles.

Jones amassed a team-leading 89 tackles, including 40 solo stops, for Elon's defense which rated fourth in total defense nationally last season. The Tampa, Fla. native intercepted his first two career passes during his sophomore campaign and he totaled a career-high 11 tackles in a league win over Georgia Southern. Jones also notched 10 stops against Appalachian State on his way to first-team all-league accolades.

Wilson, who hails from Jacksonville, Fla., started 10 games and appeared in 11 contests as a junior in 2010. He finished tied for second on the team with three interceptions and led the squad with six pass break-ups. Of Wilson's 37 tackles, 26 were of the solo variety. In a league decision over Western Carolina, Wilson tallied a season-high six tackles. He tied a personal-best by intercepting two passes in Elon's FCS Playoff game at Richmond.

The league's coaches selected Elon to finish second in the standings behind reigning five-time champion Appalachian State. The Phoenix garnered two first-place votes. The coaches picked Furman to finish third followed by Samford, Chattanooga, Wofford, Georgia Southern, The Citadel and Western Carolina.

The media poll was nearly the same as Elon was chosen second to Appalachian State. Furman again was third and was followed by Chattanooga, Wofford, Samford, Georgia Southern, Western Carolina and The Citadel.

Elon opens up its 2010 campaign by visiting Duke for a 7 p.m. contest on September 4.