ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - The 2014 Great American Conference champion Ouachita Tigers are the preseason pick to finish atop the 2015 GAC standings. In the annual coaches poll released today by the conference office, the Tigers received 113 points, including six first place votes, to finish ahead of second-ranked Harding University. Ouachita will open the 2015 season at East Central University on September 3.

14 starters return from last season's team that recorded the program's first undefeated and untied 10-0 record. Eight starters return on offense, while the defense brings back six. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Austin Warford (Malvern) will lead an offense that has set single-season scoring average records in each of the past two seasons. Junior running back Brandon Marks (Prescott) and wide receiver Ke'Vontae Pope (Jonesboro) will fill the roles of feature players in the Tigers spread offense. Marks scored nine touchdowns in 2014 and gained 903 yards of total offense. Pope caught 37 balls for 564 yards and averaged 23.5 yards on kickoff returns. Seniors Michael Russell (Charleston) and Javin Prunty (Jonesboro) will anchor an offensive line that is the heart and soul of the offense.

Six starters return to a defense that held opponents to 20.9 points per game last season and forced 29 turnovers. The Tigers front four will be led by returning defensive end Waymon Johnson Jr. (Stuttgart) and nose guard Andrew Ghendi (Houston, Texas). The two combined for 47 tackles. Johnson had six sacks in 2014, second best on the team. Senior linebacker Mike Williamson (Hollywood, Fla.) led the Tigers with 77 tackles last season and added 5 sacks to the Tigers total of 25. The biggest changes for Ouachita on the defensive side of the ball in 2015 will be in the secondary. Shaquille Hunter (Junction City) and Alex Myres (The Woodlands, Texas) will take over the corner positions, while Devin Price (Ruston, La.) and Ricardy Joseph (Fort Myers, Fla.) fill the safety positions. The 2014 secondary graduated two All-Americans and three All-GAC performers.

The 2015 season will feature six home games at Cliff Harris Stadium. This will be the first time the in program history that Ouachita will play six games at home. The Tigers will host the Harding Bisons on October 3 for homecoming. Ouachita will host Henderson State on November 14 for the 89th Battle of the Ravine. 

Tickets for all home games are available now and can be purchased by clicking here.

2015 GAC Preseason Coaches Poll
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	TOT	1ST
Ouachita Baptist	113	6
Harding	111	3
Henderson State	101	2
East Central	89	1
Southeastern Oklahoma State	89
Southern Arkansas	70
Arkansas Tech	57
Southwestern Oklahoma State	49
Arkansas-Monticello	41
Northwestern Oklahoma State	38
Southern Nazarene	18
Oklahoma Baptist	16

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