FRANKLIN, TENN. – On Tuesday, the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) released the 2022 Preseason All-OVC Football Team and rankings at the OVC Media Day in Franklin, Tenn.  The Lions were picked seventh in the poll, while Cade Brister, Kai Ross, and Kobe Smith earned individual recognition.
 
Lindenwood earned 19 points as votes were compiled from OVC head coaches and communications directors.  The Lions were just one point behind Eastern Illinois, while UT Martin was picked to finish first with 10 first-place votes.  Southeast Missouri State (3) and Tennessee Tech (1) also earned first place nods.
 
Brister was named to the all-OVC offensive team, as he enters his final season with the Lions.  The O'Fallon, Mo. native has his name all over the program's record book after 31 games as the starting quarterback.  The Fort Zumwalt North product has thrown for nearly 8,000 yards and 70 touchdown in his career, while adding more than 1,400 yards and 20 scores on the ground.  After winning the 2019 GLVC Offensive Player of the Year award, Brister was on track to have another successful season in 2021, before his year came to an end in week seven.  Brister led the team in passing with 1,572 yards and 10 touchdowns on 138-for-195 passing, as he landed on the GLVC second team.  The 6-0 senior racked up 317 yards on the ground, and used his feet to score seven touchdowns.
 
Ross earned attention from OVC schools, as he was recognized on the preseason defensive team as a safety.  In 2021, Ross led the Lions with six interceptions, while adding two fumble recoveries.  The 6-2 senior ranked third on the squad with 64 tackles, including 16 stops in the first round of the playoffs.  Ross was a unanimous first-team all-GLVC selection, as he added one GLVC Defensive Player of the Week award when he snagged three interceptions in one game.  The Huntington Beach, Calif. native was named second-team Academic All-American for the Lions last year.
 
Smith made the short list of Newcomers to Watch in 2022.  Smith joins the Lions as a 6-2 wide receiver from Compton, Calif.  Smith spent three seasons at San Diego State, where he hauled in 83 passes for 979 yards and six scores.  Smith had his best season in 2019 when he compiled 691 yards and four touchdowns to lead the team.  Out of Junipero Serra High School, Smith was a consensus three-star recruit by Rivals, and received an ESPN scout grade of 78.
 
Lindenwood will head to Houston, Texas on September 10 to kickoff the season against Houston Baptist University.  The Huskies went 0-11 last season, while they posted a 5-7 mark in 2019.  Houston Baptist is a member of the Southland Conference, which featured six member schools for football in 2021.  The Lions will host their first home game of the season on September 17, as they welcome NAIA powerhouse in Keiser University.  The Seahawks started their program in 2018, since then they have posted an overall record of 33-9 with three NAIA Playoff appearances.
 
The Lions will return to the road on September 24, as they visit the University of Tennessee at Martin in the OVC opener in Martin, Tenn.  The Skyhawks won the 2021 OVC title with a 5-1 record inside conference play, before advancing to the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs.  Lindenwood will hold its first OVC home game on October 1, when the Lions host Southeast Missouri State University.  The Redhawks were 4-7 last year, including a 4-2 mark in OVC play.  SEMO appeared in the playoffs in 2018 and 2019, posting a combined record of 1-2 in those games.
 
Lindenwood will hit the road for two-straight weeks, starting with a visit to Conway, Ark. for a game against the University of Central Arkansas on October 8.  Last season, the Bears went 5-6 after going 5-4 in 2020.  Central Arkansas made it to the FCS Playoffs in 2019, which included a Southland Conference Championship.  The Lions will jump back into OVC play on October 15, for a matchup with Eastern Illinois University.  The Panthers have won one game in each of the last three seasons, but four of their losses in 2021 were decided by one possession.
 
Lindenwood plays host to Murray State University on October 22 for the final OVC home game of the season for the Lions.  The Racers posted a record of 6-5 last season, with the help of three-straight wins to close out the year.  On October 29, the Lions will host former conference foe in William Jewell.  The Lions earned a 53-10 win over the Cardinals last season, bringing the series winning streak to six games.
 
The conference schedule for the Lions will conclude on November 5, when Lindenwood heads to Cookeville, Tenn. to take on Tennessee Tech University.  The Golden Eagles were 3-8 in 2021, including a 2-3 mark at home.  Lindenwood ends the 2022 season at home, playing host to McKendree on November 12.  The Lions took care of the Bearcats last year, winning its second game over the Bearcats in as many seasons.
 
Lindenwood announced on February 23, 2022 that it had accepted an invitation to join the Ohio Valley Conference starting in the fall of 2022.  The football team brings recent success from NCAA Division II into the mix.  The Lions won two GLVC Championships, and made appearances in the NCAA Division II Playoffs in both 2019 and 2021.  In those two years, Lindenwood garnered three All-Americans, while four players received major conference awards.  In 2019, Brister (offensive) and Drew Seers (defensive) claimed GLVC Player of the Year honors.  Last season, Seers repeated as the top defensive player in the league, while Robert Giaimo (freshman) and Spencer Redd (special teams) collected award recognition as well.  Stugart was honored as GLVC Coach of the Year in 2019 and 2021, as the Lions were a perfect 14-0 in league play with two conference titles.

2022 OVC Preseason Poll

Rank	School (First-Place Votes	Points
1.	UT Martin (10)	70
2.	Southeast Missouri State (3)	59
3.	Murray State	51
4.	Tennessee State (1)	46
5.	Tennessee Tech	29
6.	Eastern Illinois	20
7.	Lindenwood	19

*Selected by OVC Head Football Coaches and Communications Directors