ARLINGTON, Texas — Four Eastern Kentucky University student-athletes were named to the United Athletic Conference (UAC) Preseason All-Conference Team on Tuesday morning at the league's official media day in Arlington.
 
As a team, EKU was voted to finish fourth in the preseason coaches' poll, with Central Arkansas being tabbed as preseason favorites.
 
The full release of the UAC preseason poll and conference team can be found here.
 
Offensive lineman Payton Collins and tight end Hunter Brown were named to the offensive team, while on the other side of the ball, defensive back Mike Smith Jr. earned the preseason recognition.
 
Rounding out the selections for EKU was kicker Patrick Nations as a member of the all-conference specialist team.
 
Up front offensively, Collins earns the selection after an impressive 2023 season where he earned multiple first-team all-conference selections from the UAC, FCS Football Central, and Phil Steele.
 
The Columbus, Ohio, native started every game in 2023, helping EKU produce the top offense in the league with 4,811 yards of total offense and 37 touchdowns.
 
Collins was also recently selected to the FCS Football Central Preseason All-American Team.
 
At tight end, Brown made an immediate impact in his first year in Richmond, leading conference tight ends with 387 receiving yards and three touchdowns on just 33 receptions.
 
His play on the field earned him unanimous selection to the All-UAC First Team, with first-team selections to the Phil Steele and FCS Football Central All-UAC First Teams.
 
On defense, Smith Jr. earns the preseason honor after finishing 2023 tied for the most passes defended in the conference with 13.
 
In his second season in Maroon and White, Smith Jr. played in 11 games, recording two interceptions and 11 pass breakups. He also added 56 total tackles.
 
For the specialists, Nations ended 2023 with the most field goals per game in all of FCS, earning All-UAC honors from FCS Football Central and Phil Steele, while also being named the conference's special teams player of the week twice.
 
On the year, Nations went 19-of-25 in field goal attempts, also converting 31 extra points.

The Colonels will kick off the 2024 season on Aug. 31 on the road against Mississippi State.
 
Season tickets for the 2024 season remain on sale for just $50 and can be purchased HERE. If you have any questions, please call the EKU Ticket Office at 859-622-2122, or email tickets@eku.edu.
 
To keep up with the latest about EKU Athletics, make sure to subscribe to The Maroon Message, download the EKUSports app, and follow EKU Football on Instagram, Facebook, and X.