Tennessee State and Bethune Cookman Each Place Three Players on Steele's 2013 All-American Squad

Tennessee State and Bethune-Cookman, who battle each other in their season openers on Sept. 1, both had three players named 2013 Football Championship Series Preseason All Americans by football expert Phil Steele.

TSU tight end A.C. Leonard, left guard Kadeem Edwards and cornerback Steven Godbolt III were all first team choices by Steele, a columnist with the Orlando Sentinel.  Leonard was named to four All American teams in 2012 after hauling in 51 passes - six for touchdowns - in 2012.  Godbolt III led the FCS in interceptions last season and also was named to four All American teams. Edwards was a first team All Ohio Valley Conference pick.  Tennessee State, ranked #21 in one preseason FCS poll was the only HBCU with first team picks in the listing.  The Tigers also were the only team with more than two players on the first team.

Bethune Cookman All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference offensive lineman Terrance Hackney and 2012 All American defensive lineman LeBrandon Richardson were named to the All American second team while All-MEAC defensive back Nick Addison was a fourth team choice. 

Five Southwestern Athletic Conference players were named to Steele's squad. 

Jackson State defensive back Qua Cox, the SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, and Alabama State punter/kicker Bobby Wenzig were both second team picks while the SWAC's leader in tackles for loss in 2012, Mississippi Valley State defensive tackle Robert Simpson, was named to the third team. Also named to the third team was Alabama State running back Isaiah Crowell. Jackson State fullback Rakeem Sims was a fourth team pick.

Julien David, Howard's All-MEAC defensive back, was named to the squad's third team.

For the complete list of Phil Steele's 2013 FCS Preseason All American team, go to http://www.philsteele.com/FCSINFO/Allconf_Allamerican/2013/2013%20Preaseason/allamerican.html?SPSID=629561&SPID=91932&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=26800