SU EARNS 11 PHIL STEELE PRESEASON HONORS

Led by senior offensive tackle Justin Pugh, 11 Syracuse football players have been named to Phil Steele's 2012 Preseason All-BIG EAST Teams. Pugh was named to the First Team for the offense, while senior offensive guard Zack Chibane, junior kicker Ross Krautman, senior wide receiver Alec Lemon, and junior linebacker Marquis Spruill were named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team.

In addition, junior center Macky MacPherson, graduate student quarterback Ryan Nassib and senior safety Shamarko Thomas were named to the Third Team, while sophomore linebacker Dyshawn Davis, redshirt-senior Marcus Sales and graduate student Dan Vaughan were named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Fourth Team.

Pugh (Holland, Pa.), who was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team last season, has started in all 25 games in his career, and has blocked for 1,000-yard rushers in each of the past two seasons, including Antwon Bailey in 2011. Chibane (Paramus, N.J.) was one of 11 players who started all 12 games for the Orange last season, and also blocked for Bailey's 1,000-yard campaign.

Krautman (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) led the BIG EAST in field goal percentage with a 78.9% conversion rate in 2011. He connected on 15-of-19 field goals.

Lemon had a breakout season for the Orange in 2011. The Crofton, Md. native set the single-season record for catches with 68 and his 834 yards is the ninth most in a season at SU. He ranks fifth in career receptions (129) and is 12th with 1,526 career yards. He led the team in receptions and in yards this season en route to a conference Second Team selection.

Spruill (Hillside, N.J.) started 11 of 12 games for Syracuse last season, and was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team after finishing fourth on the team with 62 tackles, including 8.5 for a loss and three sacks in 2011.

MacPherson (Syracuse, N.Y.) started all but one game the Orange, and also blocked for Bailey while Nassib rewrote the Orange record book in 2011. The West Chester, Pa. native set Syracuse single-season records for completions (259) and passing yards (2,685) while also tying the mark for touchdown passes in one season (22). He enters the 2012 campaign ranked fourth on both the career passing yards list (5,441) and touchdown passes list (44).

Thomas (Virginia Beach, Va.) started all 10 games he played last season, finishing third on the team with 67 tackles (47 solo), including three for a loss of yards. Davis, the 2011 ECAC Defensive Rookie of the Year, made an immediate impact on the Orange in 2011. Of his 10.5 TFLs, four of them came via sacks, which rank third on SU's all-time freshman sacks record list. Davis was named to Phil Steele's All-Freshman Team, as well as the ESPN.com BIG EAST All-Freshman Team.

Sales (Syracuse, N.Y.) did not play in any games for Syracuse during the 2011 season. In 2010, he played in 11 games, including three starts, and caught 26 passes for 414 yards and four touchdowns. Vaughan (Gibsonia, Pa.) was second on the team with 72 tackles (40 solo), including 6.5 for a loss of yards in 12 games played in 2011.

Syracuse will begin the 2012 season on September 1 against Northwestern in the Carrier Dome. Tickets are available online (suathletics.com), at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B) or by calling 1-888-DOME-TIX.

Press release provided by SU Athletics