Story Published:
Sep 20, 2007 at 4:43 PM CST
Story Updated:
Sep 20, 2007 at 4:43 PM CST
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Seniors Larry Shipp and Geoffrey Woods and junior Maurice Smith have earned spots on the preseason all-conference team, and the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles are picked for a sixth place finish in the 2007 league race, according to information announced Tuesday at the annual Ohio Valley Conference Football Media Day in Nashville. A speedy wide receiver from Memphis, Shipp earned a spot on the preseason all-OVC offense. Woods, a defensive tackle from Stone Mountain, Ga., and Smith, a defensive back from Athens, Tenn., are on the defensive honor squad.
Shipp is a two-time first-team all-OVC selection who comes into the season with a chance to smash school records for most receptions in a career and most career receiving yards. An All-America candidate, Shipp was named all-region last season after leading Tech and ranking among league leaders with 51 catches for 799 yards.
Woods earned first-team all-OVC honors a year ago after posting 46 total tackles and a team-high 12.5 tackles-for-loss. He was recently named the fourth-best defensive tackle in the nation by The Sports Network.
Smith is the team's top returning tackler and is slated to start at free safety for the Golden Eagles in 2007. He finished last season with 53 total tackles. He also led the squad with four interceptions.
In a vote of OVC head coaches and sports information directors, Eastern Illinois - Tech's opening game opponent on Aug. 30 -- is picked as the 2007 preseason favorite in the 10-team league. The Panthers have won or shared the last two OVC Championships and have won four titles since rejoining the league in 1996.
EIU (150 points) garnered eight first-place votes, while five different teams received at least one first-place nod. Jacksonville State (139 points) received six first-place votes, followed by defending co-champion Tennessee-Martin with four (126 points). Eastern Kentucky (119) and Tennessee State (103) each received one top spot vote.
Tech (79) was sixth, followed by Murray State (60), Southeast Missouri (57), Samford (46) and Austin Peay (21). With APSU rejoining the league, it puts the OVC at 10 football-playing institutions for the first time in its 60-year history.
Individually, Eastern Illinois led the way with six players on the preseason all-OVC team, including last year's Defensive Player of the Year Donald Thomas. Tennessee-Martin was next with five picks, including co-Offensive Player of the Year Don Chapman.
Following the season opener at EIU on Aug. 30, the Golden Eagles host their first of six home games on Thursday night, Sept. 6, when Cumberland University visits Tucker Stadium.
