ST. LOUIS – Three members of the Jacksonville University football team made the Preseason All-Pioneer Football League Team, as announced by the league Monday.
 
Junior quarterback Calvin Turner Jr., sophomore B-Back Garnett Nicolas and redshirt-junior center Dane Cordell are the Dolphins representatives on the squad, as selected by the league's head coaches.
 
"It's great for each of these young men to be recognized in the preseason, which is a reflection of their past work," said Head Coach Ian Shields. "We look forward to these men and more being recognized once this season is complete for excelling in leading our team towards the top of the conference standings."
 
Turner Jr., an Honorable Mention All-PFL selection last year for the second straight season after earning the honor as a defensive back in 2017, led all FCS quarterbacks with 1,431 rushing yards last year, and set new JU single-season records for rushing touchdowns (17), rushing yards per game (143.1), yards per carry (6.9) and points scored (110). His 11.0 points per game was tops in the PFL and ranked second in the FCS.
 
Nicolas, a First Team All-PFL team member last year, returns after rushing for the second-most yards ever by a JU freshman, totaling 718 yards while finding the end zone seven times while starting only six games. He topped the century mark three times in his last four games, and is part of a backfield that returns three starters that set a new school record for rushing yards in a season last season.
 
Cordell, who started every game in 2018 in the middle of the offensive line, was a key component in the 3,453 yards racked up on the ground last season. He was an Honorable Mention All-PFL honoree last year, and blocked for the school's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2014 in Turner Jr.
 
The annual preseason coach's poll was announced Tuesday, with the Dolphins picked to finish eighth out of the 10 teams in the league.
 
Jacksonville begins fall camp on Wednesday, July 31 and kicks off the season on Thursday, August 29 at Richmond.