ARLINGTON, Texas (July 23, 2024) – The United Athletic Conference unveiled its preseason rankings and all-conference team on Tuesday at Texas Live! in Arlington, Texas. The University of North Alabama had two on the team, including redshirt junior safety Edwin White Schultz and redshirt senior wide receiver Takairee Kenebrew.
 
White Schultz was not only named to the preseason all-conference defensive team, but he was also voted by the UAC head coaches as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Last season, White Schultz was a first team all-conference selection and led the Lions with 87 tackles, including 49 solo. He added 6.0 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble, one hurry and two sacks.
 
Meanwhile, Kenebrew was a unanimous selection to the preseason all-conference offensive team. Kenebrew finished with second team all-conference honors from Phil Steele and FCS Football Central last season and enters his seventh season of college football with 98 career receptions for 1,838 yards and a school record 26 touchdowns — including 10 last season.
 
Kenebrew was in attendance for the unveiling as part of the 2024 UAC Media Day in Arlington, Texas. He was joined by head coach Brent Dearmon and incoming senior linebacker Jackson Bratton, a transfer from Alabama and UAB. Bratton was also a former four-star recruit at Muscle Shoals High School.
 
In the preseason poll, UNA was picked to finish seventh ahead of Utah Tech and new member West Georgia, who enters its first season of Division I in 2024. The Lions finished 3-8 overall and 1-5 in the UAC last season, including wins over Chattanooga, Tennessee Tech and Utah Tech.
 
Central Arkansas was picked to finish atop the league with five first place votes, followed closely by Tarleton State with three first place votes. Southern Utah was picked third, while EKU was one point behind in fourth. Defending UAC Champion Austin Peay was picked fifth and received one first place vote. Abilene Christian was sixth.
 
UNA opens the 2024 season one week early, as the Lions will participate in the Week 0 FCS Kickoff hosted by ESPN Events on Saturday, August 24 at the historic Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala. The game will kickoff at 6 p.m. against Southeast Missouri and will be nationally televised on ESPN.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.