June 6, 2011
SAN DIEGO - Lindy's Sports recently named 10 San Diego State football players to its 2011 preseason all-Mountain West Conference first and second teams.
Sophomore running back Ronnie Hillman and sophomore tight end Gavin Escobar, along with senior offensive lineman Tommie Draheim and senior place-kicker Abelardo Perez were selected to the all-MWC first team on offense. The first-team defense, meanwhile, consisted of senior defensive lineman Jerome Long, senior linebacker Miles Burris, junior defensive back Leon McFadden and senior punter Brian Stahovich.
Defensively, the Aztecs have one of the best players in the nation in Burris. The senior is ranked seventh among all Division I inside linebackers, according to the publication. Lindy's also has Burris at No. 7 in their MWC top-10 NFL talent list. McFadden, meanwhile, was tabbed as the "best cover corner" in the league for the upcoming campaign.
Two Aztecs were tabbed to the second team in junior offensive lineman Nik Embernate and senior quarterback Ryan Lindley. Lindley also earned preseason MWC Offensive Player of the Year honors and was tabbed as having the "strongest arm" in the league. The 6-4 signal caller received a No. 6 national ranking in Lindy's top quarterback ratings and was picked as the No. 2 player in the MWC in terms of prospective NFL talent.
SDSU's backfield, meanwhile, was ranked the No. 2 unit in the MWC and No. 7 in Lindy's overall rankings, highlighted by Hillman's No. 10 spot among the country's top running back ratings.
San Diego State, which was picked to finish in the upper half of the league at No. 4 by Lindy's, returns 14 starters and seven all-conference selections for the 2011 season, which gets underway Sept. 3.
Season tickets can be purchased online through GoAztecs.com, over the phone by calling (619) 283-7378, or by visiting the Aztec Ticket Office at Qualcomm Stadium's Window "E." The ticket office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
With renewals and season-ticket holders purchasing additional tickets, San Diego State has already surpassed its 2010 totals.