Mercer Tops 2026 SoCon Football Preseason Poll
Photo courtesy NCAA
GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Southern Conference has unveiled its 2026 preseason football poll and all-conference teams, with Mercer selected as the favorite to capture the conference championship in a vote conducted by the league's nine head coaches.
Mercer senior wide receiver and return specialist Brayden Smith was named the 2026 Southern Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Furman defensive end Joshua Stoneking earned Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors after standout performances during the 2025 campaign.
The preseason awards and all-conference selections were determined by the conference's head coaches, who were prohibited from voting for their own players or programs.
Mercer Headlines Preseason Coaches Poll
After finishing the 2025 season with a 9-3 overall record and an undefeated 8-0 mark in conference play, Mercer enters the new season as the team to beat. The Bears received 76 points and six first-place votes in the preseason poll while placing six players on the preseason first-team all-conference squad.
Tennessee Tech, fresh off an undefeated 8-0 conference season in the Big South-OVC, finished second with 70 points and three first-place votes. ETSU rounded out the top three after earning 61 points and the remaining first-place vote.
2026 Southern Conference Preseason Coaches Poll
Mercer – 76 points (6 first-place votes)
Tennessee Tech – 70 points (3 first-place votes)
ETSU – 61 points (1 first-place vote)
Western Carolina – 58 points
Chattanooga – 48 points
Furman – 46 points
Wofford – 36 points
Samford – 23 points
The Citadel – 22 points
VMI – 10 points
Smith Continues to Build Stellar Career at Mercer
Smith enters the 2026 season as one of the conference's premier offensive playmakers after another productive campaign.
The Macon, Georgia, native started all 12 games for Mercer last season, compiling 1,267 all-purpose yards while leading the Bears in return yards and finishing second on the team in receiving yards. Smith surpassed the 100-yard mark in seven contests during the 2025 season.
A two-time All-SoCon selection following the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Smith was also recently named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List, recognizing the top offensive player in the FCS.
Stoneking Returns After Historic Defensive Season
Stoneking headlines the SoCon defense after delivering one of the most dominant defensive seasons in Furman history.
The Raleigh, North Carolina, product earned recognition on seven All-America teams in 2025, setting a program record while finishing as the runner-up for the Buck Buchanan Award, presented annually to the nation's top FCS defensive player.
Stoneking led the nation with 14.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss, earning Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors three times. He recorded multiple sacks in five games and was recently named to the 2026 Buck Buchanan Award Watch List.
ETSU Leads Conference in Preseason Selections
Although Mercer claimed the top spot in the preseason poll, ETSU led all conference schools with nine preseason all-conference selections.
Furman and Chattanooga followed with eight and seven selections, respectively, while Mercer placed six players on the first team.
2026 Preseason Players of the Year
Offensive Player of the Year: Brayden Smith, WR/RS, Mercer
Defensive Player of the Year: Joshua Stoneking, DL, Furman
First-Team All-Southern Conference Offense
Quarterback
Quentin Hayes, The Citadel
Running Backs
Jason Albritton, ETSU
Leo Boehling, VMI
Offensive Line
Tyler Heggins-Hill, The Citadel
Will McCraw, ETSU
Brody Balliew, Mercer
Tyler Murray, Mercer
Aidan Donald, Chattanooga
Tight End
Charlie Browder, ETSU
Wide Receivers
Brayden Smith, Mercer
Preston Bird, Samford
First-Team All-Southern Conference Defense
Defensive Line
Brenden LeBlanc, ETSU
Joshua Stoneking, Furman
Kobe McInnis, Mercer
Orlando Daniels, Chattanooga
Linebackers
Raleigh Herbert, Furman
Jyarius Carter, Mercer
Zion Rutledge, Chattanooga
Defensive Backs
Mike Jenkins, ETSU
Kam Baah-Slay, Chattanooga
Ken Moore Jr., Western Carolina
Eli Campbell, Wofford
First-Team Specialists
Placekicker: Ewan Johnson, ETSU
Punter: Ben Shrewsbury, VMI
Long Snapper: Tommy DiLiegro, The Citadel
Return Specialist: Brayden Smith, Mercer
Season Opens Aug. 27
The 2026 Southern Conference football season officially begins on Thursday, Aug. 27, with Furman hosting Anderson and Chattanooga traveling to West Georgia. The remaining conference programs will kick off their seasons on Saturday, Aug. 29.
