CONTRIBUTED BY ETSU ATHLETICS

JOHNSON CITY – Three Buccaneers landed on the HERO Sports Preseason All-American teams as announced by HERO Sports earlier this afternoon.

Defensive lineman Nasir Player (Columbia, S.C.) was placed on the first team, while both Quay Holmes (Powder Springs, Ga.) and Tyree Robinson (Gainesville, Ga.) landed on the second team.

Player had a strong junior campaign in which he finished with 43 tackles (25 solo), 11 tackles for loss, six sacks, three forced fumbles and two pass breakups. The experienced lineman was also credited with 11 quarterback hurries.

The South Carolina native drew the attention of offensive linemen each game, having to fight through double and triple teams.

Nothing could slow down the dynamic star as he was placed on the First Team All-SoCon Defense as well as the three different All-American squads, including the STATS FCS All-American team.

In addition, Player was named a STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award Finalist.

Holmes broke through and became a household name after a stellar freshman season in which he started all 12 games and finished the year with 928 rushing yards and 279 receiving yards with 15 total touchdowns (13 rushing).

The Georgia freshman concluded the season with 1,480 all-purpose yards and finished the campaign with five 100-yard rushing games.

Holmes lifted the Bucs to a SoCon-clinching win over Mercer with 114 yards on the ground and two touchdowns to go along with 17 receiving yards and one touchdown.

Holmes was named the SoCon Freshman of the Year as well as a STATS FCS Jerry Rice Award Finalist. In addition, Holmes was tabbed to the First Team All-SoCon Offense, Second Team All-SoCon Special Teams and SoCon All-Freshman Team.

This is the second year that HERO Sports has recognized Holmes as he was named to the HERO Sports Freshman All-American team last season.

Robinson rounds out the preseason All-American honorees with a second-team appearance after a dominating sophomore season.

Robinson finished the 2018 campaign with 71 total tackles (47 solo), six interceptions (two touchdowns), one fumble recovery and nine pass breakups.

The Gainesville, Ga. native tallied five or more tackles in 10 of his 12 games played, including a season-high nine tackles against Western Carolina.

Robinson picked off two passes against The Citadel, including returning one 42 yards to seal the victory for the Bucs.

The rising junior earned a spot on the First Team All-SoCon Defense as well as four All-American honors, including AP FCS All-American and HERO Sports Sophomore All-American.