SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Led by first-team selection Jonathan Spain at linebacker, the Elon Phoenix football team had four players named to the preseason All-Southern Conference teams as announced at the league's annual media day on Wednesday, July 24.

Spain was joined by second-team selections Clay Johnson (senior offensive lineman), Kierre Brown (junior wide receiver) and Chandler Wrightenberry (senior defensive back).

A Greensboro, N.C., native, Spain was a second-team all-conference honoree as a sophomore.  In 2012 he led the team and ranked third in the league with 120 total tackles, the fourth-highest single-season total in Elon's NCAA Division I history.  His 10.91 tackles per game rated 12th nationally.  Spain added 5.5 tackles for loss, including 2.5 sacks.  With his 20 tackles against Samford, Spain became the first Phoenix player since 2006 to notch a 20-tackle game.  He added 16 stops at No. 10 Georgia Southern and tallied at least 10 tackles in each of Elon's final eight games of the 2012 campaign.

Johnson started all 11 games of the 2012 season as Elon's center.  The Hickory, N.C., resident has started 19 consecutive games for the maroon and gold and has a total of 21 career starts.  He is one of two returning starters on the offensive line for the Phoenix this year.

Brown was Elon's second-leading receiver a year ago, posting 45 receptions for 642 yards and four touchdowns.  Against No. 10 Georgia Southern, the Charlotte, N.C., native caught five passes for a career-best 110 yards.  In a conference victory over Western Carolina, Brown hauled in a 55-yard touchdown catch, the longest reception of his career.  Also a kick returner, Brown averaged 24.6 yards on 25 kickoff returns in 2012.

Wrightenberry, who hails from Asheville, N.C., has started every game for Elon the past two seasons.  In 2012, Wrightenberry was third on the team with 70 total tackles.  Among those stops were 4.0 tackles for loss.  He broke up three passes and recorded a personal-best 10 tackles, all solo, at No. 14 Appalachian State.  In his three seasons with the maroon and gold, Wrightenberry has amassed 156 total tackles and broken up 11 passes.

The league also announced its preseason polls with Elon being selected to finish eighth by both the coaches and media.  Georgia Southern was tabbed the preseason favorite by both groups.

Elon will open its 2013 campaign at Georgia Tech on August 31.  The game is scheduled for a noon start and will air on ESPN3.

2013 Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Georgia Southern (6 first-place votes) - 57 points
2. Appalachian State (2) - 51
3. Chattanooga (1) - 47
4. Samford - 43
5. Wofford - 40
6. The Citadel - 33
7. Furman - 25
8. Elon - 16
9. Western Carolina - 12

2013 Preseason Media Poll 
1. Georgia Southern (15) - 210
2. Wofford (4) - 194
3. Appalachian State (6) - 190
4. Chattanooga (2) - 176
5. Samford - 149
6. The Citadel - 126
7. Furman (1) - 107
8. Elon - 61
9. Western Carolina - 47

2013 Preseason All-Southern Conference Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Jamal Londry-Jackson, Sr., QB, Appalachian State
Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Jaquiski Tartt, Jr., DB, Samford and Davis Tull, Jr., DL, Chattanooga

First Team Offense
QB - Jamal Londry-Jackson, Sr., Appalachian State
RB - Dominique Swope, Jr., Georgia Southern
RB - Fabian Truss, Sr., Samford
OL - Kendall Lamm, Jr., Appalachian State
OL - Dakota Dozier, Sr., Furman
OL - Dorian Byrd, Sr., Georgia Southern
OL - Ty Gregory, Sr., Wofford
OL - Jared Singleton, Sr., Wofford
TE - Faysal Shafaat, Jr., Chattanooga
WR - Andrew Peacock, Sr., Appalachian State
WR - Sean Price, So., Appalachian State
WR - (tie) Kelsey Pope, Sr., Samford
 
First Team Defense
DL - Ronald Blair, Jr., Appalachian State
DL - Derek Douglas, Sr., The Citadel
DL - Derrick Lott, Sr., Chattanooga
DL - Davis Tull, Jr., Chattanooga
LB - Jonathan Spain, Jr., Elon
LB - Wes Dothard, Sr., Chattanooga
LB - Alvin Scioneaux, Sr., Wofford
DB - Lavelle Westbrooks, Sr., Georgia Southern
DB - Jaquiski Tartt, Jr., Samford
DB - D.J. Key, Sr., Chattanooga
DB - Kadeem Wise, Sr., Chattanooga
 
First Team Specialists
PK - Ray Earley, Sr., Furman
P - Ray Earley, Sr., Furman
RS - Tony Washington, Sr., Appalachian State
 
Second Team Offense
QB - Jacob Huesman, So., Chattanooga
RB - Darien Robinson, Sr., The Citadel
RB - Donovan Johnson, Sr., Wofford
OL - Cullen Brown, Sr., The Citadel
OL - Clay Johnson, Sr., Elon
OL - Garrett Frye, Jr., Georgia Southern
OL - Kasey Morrison, Sr., Samford
OL - Kevin Revis, Sr., Chattanooga
TE - Zeke Walters, Sr., Samford
WR - Kierre Brown, Jr., Elon
WR - Terrell Robinson, Jr., Chattanooga
 
Second Team Defense
DL - Gary Wilkins, Jr., Furman
DL - Javon Mention, Sr., Georgia Southern
DL - Jerry Mathis, Jr., Samford
DL - Tarek Odom, Jr., Wofford
LB - Carson Smith, Jr., The Citadel
LB - Justin Shade, Sr., Samford
LB - Mike McCrimon, Sr., Wofford
DB - Joel Ross, Jr., Appalachian State
DB - Brandon McCladdie, Sr., The Citadel
DB - Chandler Wrightenberry, Sr., Elon
DB - Ace Clark, Jr, Western Carolina
DB - (tie) James Zotto, Sr., Wofford
 
Second Team Specialists
PK - Drew Stewart, Sr., Appalachian State
P - Clark Sechrest, Sr., Western Carolina
RS - Fabian Truss, Sr., Samford