Williams, Wright, Valentine Named to Bissell Division Preseason Team

Three of Avila's brightest stars from last year's historic season are returning as the headliners in a new era of Avila Football in 2023: quarterback Eli Williams, offensive lineman Cor'Darius Wright, and cornerback Terrell Valentine were all named to the KCAC Football Bissell Division Preseason Team, announced by the conference in late August.

All three standouts were First Team All-KCAC selections at their positions a season ago, proving themselves to be among the best at their positions not just in the KCAC, but in this region of the NAIA. The trio were among Avila's eight First Team All-KCAC honorees in a historic 10-2 2022 campaign that saw the Eagles earn a share of the KCAC regular season championship for the second time in three seasons as well as a berth in the NAIA Football Championship Series for the first time in program history.

Eli Williams took full advantage of his first chance to be a full-time starting quarterback at a four-year school last season. The rising sophomore from Sapulpa, Oklahoma took over as the Eagles' QB1 midway through last season's opener and never relinquished the job, ultimately leading the KCAC in passing yards (1,846) and passing touchdowns (19), rushing for 10 more scores, and amassing more than 2,500 total yards of offense.

In addition to First Team All-KCAC status, Williams was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year, the second time in three seasons an Eagle earned that honor, following Malik Nesbitt in 2021. Williams was also one of five Eagles – and the only underclassman – to earn Honorable Mention NAIA All-American status from the AFCA.

He's long been one of the best players on the team that has simply gone under the radar by virtue of his position, but the KCAC is now fully aware that Cor'Darius Wright is one of the best offensive linemen in the league. A staple at left guard for years now, Wright was an interior anchor of the line for one of the NAIA's best overall offenses a season ago and the junior from Jackson, Louisiana returns this fall as the most veteran member of a new-look O-line.

By no means an underrated player in the conference, Terrell Valentine has established himself as one of the best all-around corners in the league. He recorded five total takeaways along with three pass breakups and three sacks last season, among the tops on the team and the league in all of those categories. The former Avila Athletics Male Newcomer of the Year, the now-senior from Goldsboro, North Carolina is a two-time All-KCAC honoree back for one final go-round.

Now that the KCAC is operating under a divisional format beginning with the 2023 season, the conference elected to establish two different preseason all-conference squads. The complete 2023 KCAC Football Bissell Division Preseason Team can be found below, and on the KCAC website.

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2023 KCAC FOOTBALL BISSELL DIVISION PRESEASON TEAM

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

SPECIAL TEAMS