TOWSON, Md. – Three Towson University football players have been named to the 2019 Phil Steele Preseason FCS All-America Teams.
 
Tom Flacco is a First Team Preseason All-American and the publication's Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.  Aidan O'Neill is on the second team at kicker while Shane Leatherbury got on the fourth team at wide receiver.
 
In addition, the publication released its Preseason All-CAA Teams.  Flacco, Leatherbury, O'Neill, Shane Simpson and Robert Heyward all were First Team, Jabari Allen, Aaron Grzymkowski, Ricky DeBerry, Keon Paye and Yeedee Thaenrat were placed on the Second Team while Bryce Carter got Third Team, being joined by Simpson twice for special teams.
 
Towson, ranked No. 11 in the Preseason STATS FCS Poll, was picked to finish second in the CAA in the preseason coaches/SID poll after tying for third in the league in 2018, going 7-5 with a 5-3 conference record and an appearance in the NCAA FCS Playoffs.
 
Flacco is the reigning CAA Offensive Player of the Year, finishing fifth in the Walter Payton Award voting last season.  He was third in FCS in total offense and fifth in passing yards, leading the CAA with 270.9 passing yards a game and 332.8 yards of total offense a game, tying a program record with 28 touchdowns.  The redshirt senior accumulated 3,251 passing yards and 742 rushing yards in 12 games, each team-highs.
 
Leatherbury was a First Team All-CAA wide receiver in 2018, being top-30 in all of FCS in receptions per game and receiving yards.  Entering his redshirt senior season, he caught 67 passes last year, tying for third in Towson single season history, accumulating 885 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 73.8 per game.
 
O'Neill was selected as an All-American by four publications in 2018 plus was the All-CAA First Team kicker.  The senior is Towson's all-time leader in field goals plus set the program single season record last year with 22 field goals converted, being second in FCS in field goals per game with 1.83 and seventh in points scored per game at nine.  He went 22-for-29 on field goals (75.9%) and 42-for-43 on extra points (97.7%).
 
To purchase or renew your season tickets, calling 1-855-TU-TIGER, email 4tigertix@towson.edu or visit www.towsontigers.com.  Season tickets for football are currently available for $150 in section 211 and $100 in all other sections and are good for all six home games in 2019.
 
2019 Phil Steele Preseason All-America/All-CAA Teams
All-America
--Tom Flacco (QB), First Team
--Aidan O'Neill (K), Second Team
--Shane Leatherbury (WR), Fourth Team
 
All-CAA
--2019 Preseason CAA Offensive Player of the Year: Tom Flacco
--First Team: Tom Flacco (QB), Shane Simpson (RB), Shane Leatherbury (WR), Robert Heyward (LB), Aidan O'Neill (K)
--Second Team: Jabari Allen (WR), Yeedee Thaenrat (FB), Aaron Grzymkowski (OL), Ricky DeBerry (LB), Keon Paye (LB)
--Third Team: Bryce Carter (DL), Shane Simpson (KR/PR)
 
- TowsonTigers.com –