LAKE CHARLES – McNeese landed eight selections on the 2022 Southland Football Preseason All-Conference Teams, six of those earning first team nods, the league office announced on Wednesday.
Defensive lineman Mason Kinsey, linebacker Kordell Williams and offensive lineman Caron Coleman, all first-team selections in 2021, were automatically named to the preseason first team. Joining the trio on the first team are running back Deonta McMahon, defensive lineman Accord Green and punt returner Mason Pierce.
Pierce was listed to the preseason second team as a wide receiver along with offensive lineman Calvin Barkat.
In 2021, Kinsey ranked second on the team and third in the Southland Conference with 6.5 sacks while his 8.5 tackles for a loss was second on the squad and seventh in the league. A first team All-Louisiana selection, Kinsey stated all 11 games and recorded 41 total tackles and five quarterback hurries. He intercepted a first quarter pass against nationally ranked UIW in the Cowboys’ Homecoming game which led to a touchdown and a Cowboy win. He posted a season-high eight tackles at LSU then matched that at Northwestern State in a game where he finished with two sacks and three TFLs in which he was named SLC Player of the Week. He also posted two sacks at home against NSU in the season finale.
Coleman, a first team All-SLC and second team All-Louisiana selection last year, started all 11 games in 2021 at the left guard position. He played a total of 776 snaps and allowed only three sacks. He took 95 snaps against West Florida in the season opener.
Williams earned first team All-SLC and second team All-Louisiana honors last year after collecting 100 tackles, the first Cowboy to do so in three years. A starter in all 11 games at linebacker, Williams added three sacks and eight tackles for a loss to go along with an interception, pass break-up, five QB hurries, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He recorded 10 or more tackles in a game seven times including a career-high 17 stops (15 solos) against Southeastern Louisiana.
McMahon, a second team All-SLC selection in 2021, led McNeese in rushing last season with 558 yards and scored eight touchdowns. His yardage ranked fifth in the conference while his eight rushing TDs ranked tied as the fifth most in the league. He also ranked third on the team with 27 pass receptions for 232 yards. The senior ran for 100 yards or more twice last season, both of those coming in the final two games of the year. He ran for 124 yards on 23 carries with a touchdown at HBU then rushed for 111 yards on 17 carries and two TDs against Northwestern State. He scored at least one touchdown in five straight games to end the season and totaled six of his eight scores on the year during that span.
Green earned All-SLC second team honors last year after recording two sacks, 4.5 tackles for a loss and 17 total tackles. He started in eight of 10 games played and had a season-high of five tackles in a win at Northwestern State where he also recorded 1.5 tackles for a loss. His sacks came against Southern and UIW, both Cowboy victories.
Pierce earned second team All-SLC honors as a punt returner last season after averaging 8.9 yards per return. He was stellar in the kick return department with a 24.9 average and tied a school, conference and NCAA record with a 100-yard return for a touchdown against Southern. At wide receiver, he ranked second on the team and tied for 18th in the league with 30 catches while reeling in 362 receiving yards (second on team, 17th in SLC). He pulled in a season-high six passes for 79 yards and two TDs against Southeastern.
Barkat started in all 11 games last season, running his streak to 16 consecutive starts heading into the 2022 season. The senior started at three different positions during the season – five at center, one at left tackle, and four at right tackle – due to injuries throughout the line. He played a total of 783 plays on the season and allowed just two sacks. Played 98 snaps against West Florida in the season opener.
McNeese will take part in the Southland Football Media Day on Wednesday, July 20, at L’auberge Casino Resort in Lake Charles.