Former Husky Dunn picks up preseason All-American honors

By David Knox, Sports Editor

TRUSSVILLE – Former Hewitt-Trussville lineman Casey Dunn led four Jacksonville State players were on the 2016 STATS FCS Preseason All-America Team, which was released Monday.

Photo courtesy Jacksonville State sports information

Dunn, a senior center who was a first-team All-American a year ago, was picked along with senior quarterback Eli Jenkins, wide receiver Josh Barge (second team) and offensive lineman Justin Lea (third team).

Dunn was a First-Team All-American in 2015 after serving as the anchor of a record-setting offensive line. He received multiple All-America honors for his efforts in guiding the Gamecocks to their first No. 1 national ranking, a 13-2 record, their second-straight unbeaten OVC season and into the FCS National Championship Game in Frisco, Texas.

He was a First Team All-American by the AFCA and a second-team selection by STATS, while also appearing on the College Sporting News All-America squad.

In his first season as the starter at center for Jax State, Dunn was one of four First Team All-OVC linemen from JSU and led a unit that paved the way for an offense that ran for a school-record 4,511 yards, the first 4,000-yard rushing season in school history, and gained a school-record 7,613, the first 7,000-yard season by a JSU offense.

Dunn, a 6-foot-3, 285-pounder, was selected to the Ohio Valley Conference’s first team for 2016.