GEORGETOWN, Texas – Eight Southwestern student-athletes were named to the 26th Annual USA College Football Preseason All-America teams, American Football Networks announced earlier this week.

Justin Broussard led the way with first-team All-America honors, while Taylor Fann, Matt Gillen, Bryan Hicks, DeeJay Johnson, Nik Kelly, Micah Sherman and Dylan Wilburn all garnered honorable mention.

Broussard, a junior-to-be from Beaumont, earned first-team All-SCAC honors last fall. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound defensive lineman ranked second in the league with six sacks, while racking up 58 tackles (28 solos) and forcing four fumbles.

Fann, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound defensive back, ranked second in the SCAC with five interceptions, while earning honorable-mention all-conference honors as a sophomore. The defensive back amassed 47 total tackles (28 solos) and broke up 14 passes a year ago.

Gillen, who will enter his junior campaign this fall, is a two-time, first-team All-SCAC honoree. Last year, the Coppell native caught 41 passes for 569 yards. He found the end zone three times, including a 26-yard touchdown reception in the Pirates' 27-20 victory over Sul Ross State in the season opener.

Hicks, a sophomore-to-be out of Humble, picked up honorable-mention All-SCAC accolades last fall after finishing third in the league with 11 touchdowns. The 6-foot, 180-pound quarterback passed for 1,056 yards, while completing 88-of-150 attempts.

Johnson, a 6-foot-3, 160-pounder, was an honorable-mention All-SCAC defensive back a year ago. The sophomore-to-be tallied 26 total tackles (16 solos), including one for loss. Additionally, the Humble native picked off one pass and broke up seven others.

Kelly, a 5-foot-7, 160-pound defensive back, was named SCAC Newcomer of the Year and first-team all-league as a first-year standout last season. The Houston product racked up 42 total tackles (24 solos), including a pair for loss. He recovered two fumbles and picked off six passes, while breaking up 13 other attempts.

Sherman, who will enter his junior campaign this fall, picked up first-team All-SCAC honors last year after leading the squad with 44 receptions. The 6-foot, 170-pound wide receiver caught four touchdown passes and averaged 13.3 yards per catch during the year.

As a sophomore last season, Wilburn rushed for 540 yards (4.5 yards per carry) and collected honorable-mention All-SCAC laurels. The Houston native scored six touchdowns, including a pair at Austin College on Nov. 1.

Southwestern opens up its 2015 campaign on Sept. 5 at Hardin-Simmons. The Pirates will begin their home slate on Sept. 19 versus East Texas Baptist.