Phil Steele Preseason All-Conference Football Honors Spotlight Lindenwood and UTRGV

Phil Steele released its preseason All-Conference football teams for two separate leagues. In the Ohio Valley Conference, Lindenwood University had twelve athletes recognized, with five—Steve Hall, Jalen Smith, Andrew Swingle, Jacob Waller and Christopher Bennett Jr.—named to the first team. The selections highlighted the Lions' strong rushing attack and special‑teams contributions.

In the Southland Conference, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) also saw twelve players earn preseason honors, including three offensive linemen on the first team and a total of five defensive honorees. The Vaqueros ranked second in the conference for the number of offensive and special‑teams selections, underscoring their balanced offensive line and defensive play.

Both schools used the recognitions to promote their programs ahead of the upcoming season, emphasizing the depth of talent identified by Steele’s analysis.