• Complete FCS Football Central Preseason All-American Team
Four OVC-Big South football players have been named to the FCS Football Central 2025 Preseason All-American Team.
All four players were come from the defensive side of the ball. The selections were UT Martin defensive back
JaMichael McGoy Jr., Tennessee Tech defensive back
Tim Coutras, Southeast Missouri linebacker
McCoy Casey and UT Martin defensive back
LaMarion Pierce.
McGoy, the OVC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, earned second-team All-American honors from the Associated Press after helping UT Martin earn a share of the league title, its fourth-straight Conference championship. In 14 games the cornerback tallied 43 tackles (31 solo), 3.0 tackles for loss, 1 sack, three interceptions, 18 pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. He had an interception in the Skyhawks First Round FCS Playoff victory at New Hampshire.
Coutras finished the 2024 campaign with 59 total tackles – 46 solo and 13 assisted – with three tackles-for-loss for 12 yards. He also forced two fumbles, intercepted three passes for 30 yards and broke up eight passes. He had a season-best seven tackles twice last year against Western Illinois and Samford, broke up three passes against South Carolina State and had a 28-yard interception return against Charleston Southern.
Casey eanred second-team OVC-Big South honors in 2024 after staring 12 of 13 games for the Redhawks. He ranked fourth on the SEMO team with 61 tackles (26 solo) and added 11 tackles for loss and five sacks. Casey had a season-high nine tackles against Southern Illinois.
Pierce saw action in 12 games a season ago, starting eight contests. He tallied 49 tackles (26 solo), 2.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions and nine pass breakups.
FCS Football Central Preseason All-Americans
DB - JaMichael McGoy Jr., UT Martin (1st Team)
DB - Tim Coutras, Tennessee Tech (2nd Team)
LB - McCoy Casey, Southeast Missouri (3rd Team)
DB - LaMarion Pierce, UT Martin (3rd Team)