FRISCO, Texas – HBU senior defensive end
Andre Walker, junior linebacker
Caleb Johnson and sophomore wide receiver
Jerreth Sterns were each named to the Preseason All-Southland Conference Football Second Team, the league office announced Thursday.
Walker recorded 45 tackles (20 solo), including 9.5 for loss and led the team with five sacks and forced a fumble in 2018. The Slidell, Louisiana, native became the Huskies' all-time sacks leader with 11.5 and ranked among the top 20 in the league in both sacks and tackles for loss. He tied the school record with 2.5 sacks and forced a fumble at Southeastern Louisiana. As a sophomore, he led all Southland defensive linemen with 65 tackles, ranked sixth in the league with 14.5 TFLs and 16
th with four sacks. Walker is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District and Southland Academic All-Conference selection and earned All-Southland Conference honorable mention as a freshman.
Johnson ranked second on the team with 102 tackles, including 13 TFLs, last season. The San Diego, California, native ranked fifth in the conference with 9.3 tackles per game and tied for the league lead with four fumble recoveries. He also recorded a safety, three sacks, three pass breakups and forced a fumble. Johnson posted double-digit tackles five times and did not have fewer than seven tackles in a game. He made a career-high 12 stops and recovered a fumble at Central Arkansas. Johnson posted 11 tackles against Southwest Baptist, McNeese and Southeastern Louisiana and also recovered a fumble and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown against the Lions.
Sterns earned all-conference honorable mention as a freshman, leading the Southland and setting the school record with 68 catches for 684 yards and four touchdowns. The Midlothian, Texas, native also added a rushing and passing touchdown. He recorded three of the seven 100-yard receiving performances in HBU history, including 11 catches for 115 yards at Central Arkansas, then tying his own school record with 11 catches for 67 yards and rushed for a touchdown against Nicholls. Sterns made nine catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns and added a 42-yard touchdown pass at Southeastern Louisiana.
The Huskies open the season on the road against FBS and Conference USA foe UTEP on Aug. 31 at the Sun Bowl in El Paso. Fall camp begins Monday, Aug. 5 with a 7:30 p.m. workout at Husky Stadium.
Walker, junior quarterback
Bailey Zappe and head coach
Vic Shealy will represent HBU at Southland Conference Football Media Day Thursday, July 18 at the Hilton Post Oak in Houston.
To view the complete Preseason All-Southland Conference Football Teams, please visit
southland.org.
