Three Ga. Southern players named preseason All-Americans, including Swope

Georgia Southern senior quarterback Jerick McKinnon, senior offensive tackle Dorian Byrd and junior running back Dominique Swope were selected to the College Sports Journal preseason All-America team.

McKinnon and Swope, a Buford High graduate, were both honored as 2012 All-Americans by the publication and are among the 21 players from the CSJ 2012 postseason squad to make the preseason unit this year.

All 13 FCS conferences are represented on the preseason All-America squad, with the Colonial Athletic Association leading the way with 24 players from 10 teams. A total of 105 players were selected on the first, second and third teams from 60 different teams.

Georgia Southern had three players selected and Appalachian State had two picked in the final season of FCS competition for these storied programs, that have combined for nine national championships since 1985.

Even though Georgia Southern and Appalachian State are not eligible for postseason play and conference championships, due to NCAA regulations regarding automatic bids and Football Bowl Subdivision-transitioning, both teams are playing primarily FCS schedules this season and CSJ decided it would not punish the FCS players from the two schools because of the moves. College Sports Journal will not include transitioning teams to be eligible for its top-25 poll in 2013. Both teams will compete in the Sun Belt Conference at the FBS level beginning next season.