COMMERCE – Three East Texas A&M University football players earned preseason all-Southland Conference recognition from the Phil Steele Magazine.
 
Running back EJ Oakmon (Pflugerville), punter Ben Mehan (Downingtown, Pa.), and tight end Sean Sallis (Carrollton – Creekview) are all named to second team preseason all-conference.
 
Oakmon was second on the team a season ago with 357 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 81 carries, while catching 13 passes for 93 yards.
 
Mehan recorded 50 punts on the season last year with an average of 39.8 punt yards per attempt. He had 12 punts inside the 20-yard line, two punts of 50 yards or more, and two touchbacks.
 
Sallis did not appear in a game last season due to injury, but caught 21 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns during the 2024 season, his lone season in the Blue & Gold.
 
The full Phil Steele FCS All-America and All-Conference teams can be found HERE.
 
Season and single game tickets for the 2026 Lion Football season are on sale now and can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/tickets.