Blue Ribbon Picks LA Tech As Favorites
By:
Updated: June 26, 2012
RUSTON - Louisiana Tech is the preseason favorite to repeat as Western Athletic Conference champions while Bulldog wide receiver Quinton Patton is the preseason offensive player of the year according to Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook.
Tech, which captured the 2011 WAC crown and participated in the Poinsettia Bowl last December, is picked first by the publication followed by Utah State, San Jose State, Idaho, New Mexico State, Texas State and UTSA.
Patton, who caught 79 passes for 1202 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, is the preseason offensive player of the year and one of four Bulldogs to earn first team preseason honors on the offensive side of the football.
Quarterback Colby Cameron and offensive linemen Stephen Warner and Kevin Saia join the "General" on the publication's preseason first team offense.
Tech boasts three players on the defensive side of the football in defensive linemen IK Enemkpali and Justin Ellis and safety Chad Boyd. The Bulldogs also claimed both of the kicking slots on Blue Ribbon's squad as kicker Matt Nelson and punter Ryan Allen were recognized. Allen won the Ray Guy Award last year as the nation's top punter.
LA Tech led all the programs with nine members on the team followed by San Jose State (7), Utah State (5), Idaho (3) and New Mexico State (2). Neither Texas State nor UTSA had a player on the team.
Louisiana Tech opens the 2012 season on Aug. 30 as the Bulldogs host Texas A&M at Shreveport's Independence Stadium. Individual tickets for that and all six home games go on sale Monday at 10 a.m.
