Monmouth picked to finish second in Big South

Monmouth heads into the 2019 campaign riding high after an 8-3 finish last season. After finishing second in the Big South, the Hawks were picked to finish second in the league this season in the preseason football poll. While second place is good, Monmouth wants the Big South crown as Kevin Callahan’s team return 15 starters from last year’s squad.

Adding to the expectations for a successful season was the announcement of Monmouth quarterback Kenji Bahar as the Big South preseason Player of the Year. The redshirt senior threw for over 2,600 yards and 20 touchdowns last season to lead the conference. In the 2018 season finale against Gardner-Webb, Bahar threw a league-record five touchdowns while passing for 407 yards. Going into the 2019 season, Bahar needs just 1,855 yards to break the Monmouth record for passing yards currently held by Brian Boland.

In addition to being the preseason Player of the Year, Bahar was named to the preseason All-Big South First Team. Joining him on the All-Conference team on offense is running backs Juwon Farri and Pete Guerriero. Farri and Guerriero combined for 1,942 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground. Farri led the Big South in rushing and earned ECAC Rookie of the Year honors as a true freshman.

Monmouth opens the season on August 31 against Western Michigan in Kalamazoo, MI. Stay with Double G Sports for Monmouth football coverage all season long!

PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST-TEAM

OFFENSE

QB – Kenji Bahar, R-Sr., Monmouth

RB – Juwon Farri, Soph., Monmouth

RB – Pete Guerriero, R-Jr., Monmouth

WR – Caleb Snead, R-Soph., Campbell

WR – Keith Pearson, Jr., Presbyterian

WR – Jakobi Byrd, R-Soph., North Alabama

TE – Michael Wooten, R-Sr., Campbell

OL – Zack Evans, R-Sr., Charleston Southern

OL – Jacob Cuddington, R-Sr., Campbell

OL – Brandon Leahey, R-Sr., Gardner-Webb

OL – Gibril Ghee, R-Sr., Hampton

OL – Matt Price, R-Sr., Campbell

DEFENSE

DL – Damien Dozier, R-Jr., Campbell

DL – John Singleton, R-Soph., Gardner-Webb

DL – Desmond Johnson, R-Sr., Kennesaw State

DL – Andrew Butcher, Sr., Kennesaw State

LB – Bryson Armstrong, R-Jr., Kennesaw State

LB – J.D. Sosebee, R-Sr., Charleston Southern

LB – Colby Campbell, Jr., Presbyterian

LB – Darien Reynolds, Jr., Gardner-Webb

DB – Tymere Berry, R-Sr., Monmouth

DB – Dorian Walker, Sr., Kennesaw State

DB – Cincere Mason, R-Soph., Kennesaw State

DB – Dorian Jones, Soph., Campbell

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK – Matt Mosquera, Sr., Monmouth

P – Brad Dennis, R-Sr., Campbell

KR – Isaac Foster, Soph., Kennesaw State

PR – Isaac Foster, Soph., Kennesaw State

LS – Ethan Ray, R-Jr., Charleston Southern

PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION

QB – Christian Lopez, Sr., North Alabama

RB – Shaquil Terry, Jr., Kennesaw State

WR – Ronald Bell, Gr., Hampton

OL – Eli Teeselink, R-Sr., Presbyterian

DL – Josh Ramseur, Gr., Gardner-Webb

LB – Jarrett Nagy, Soph., Presbyterian

LB – Charlie Patrick, Jr., Kennesaw State

DB – Justin Terry, Jr., Monmouth

PK – Colin Gary, R-Sr., Campbell

P – Kyle Reighard, R-Sr., Charleston Southern

LS – Jackson Hayes, Soph., Campbell

PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Kenji Bahar, R-Sr., QB, Monmouth

PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Bryson Armstrong, R-Jr., LB, Kennesaw State