RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech football picked up more preseason honors for the 2022 season with ten selections from nine players named to the Phil Steele Preseason All-Conference USA teams. 
 
The Bulldogs picked up four second-team selections in linebacker Tyler Grubbs, safety BeeJay Williamson, and Smoke Harris who was picked at wide receiver and punt returner. Offensive lineman Joshua Mote and Dakota White along with cornerback Myles Brooks and kicker Jacob Barnes were named to the third team, while cornerback Cedric Woods and kick returner Solomon Lewis were named to the fourth team.
 
Grubbs, a two-time All-Conference USA and All-Louisiana selection has started all 22 of his games as a Bulldog and led the team in total tackles (99 and 97) in each of his first two seasons. The 247Sports freshman All-American selection finished in the top five last season in C-USA tackles per game (8.1) and also led the team in tackles for loss (10.0) while registering a season-high 13 tackles against SMU. Grubbs was also recently named to the Athlon Sports preseason first team at linebacker.
 
Williamson earned All-Conference USA honorable mention honors for his play last season while appearing in all 12 games during the 2021 campaign, including 11 starts at safety. He finished third on the team in total tackles (52), including 2.5 tackles for loss, and a team-best three interceptions and two forced fumbles. Williamson's season was highlighted by a six-tackle effort in a win over Southeastern that included two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and two forced fumbles. Williamson was recently selected to the second team on Athlon Sports' preseason list.
 
Harris, another All-Conference USA selection and All-Louisiana selection last season made nine starts at wide receiver while appearing in all 12 games as Tech's most explosive threat on offense and special teams finishing second in all-purpose yards (955) during 2021. Harris led the Bulldog offense in receptions (71), receiving yards (756), and receiving touchdowns (6) while posting at least three receptions in every game and finishing with 195 punt return yards on 22 attempts. Harris was also recently named to the Athlon Preseason second team as an all-purpose player on offense and a punt return specialist. 
 
Mote, an Oak Grove, La. product, has started his last 22 games at left guard for the Bulldogs including all 12 contests during 2021 earning him All-Conference USA honorable mention honors for the second straight season. Mote helped anchor an offensive front that ranked in the top half of the conference in scoring offense (28 ppg), passing offense (262.6 ypg), passing touchdowns (22), and completion percentage (.602). Mote recently picked up a second-team selection to Athlon's preseason list at offensive guard.
 
White, alongside Mote, helped the Bulldog's offensive front at right tackle appearing in all 12 games during the 2021 season including four starts, and has been a regular contributor at the tackle position appearing in 20 games in his first two seasons with the Bulldogs. The Katy, Texas native earned a spot on the Conference USA All-Freshman Team in 2020. 
 
Brooks, a newcomer to the Bulldog defense, transfers in from Stephen F. Austin where he registered 65 total tackles, including 28 solo, during his 31 career games for SFA. A Hendrickson High School product out of Pflugerville, Texas, Brooks registered 17 pass breakups and six interceptions in the Lumberjack's secondary from 2019 to 2021 and also picked up a fourth team honor from Athlon Sports this preseason.
 
Barnes, a 2020 Lou Groza semifinalist and 2022 Athlon preseason honoree, is a perfect 72-72 in career PATs including a 39-39 2021 campaign while also connecting on 80.9 percent of his field goals with a long of 47 yards last season. A C-USA and All-Louisiana selection each of the last two seasons, Barnes began and finished the year with two separate stretches going 8-of-9 in FGA and has a career-long of 51 yards to his name. 
 
Woods has started all 22 of his games with the Bulldogs in his first two seasons at cornerback, including 10 as a true freshman during the 2020 campaign earning a spot on Conference-USA's All-Freshman Team. The Carroll High School product registered 31 total tackles last season, including 26 solo, and led the Bulldog defense with seven pass breakups.  
 
Lewis, who appeared in four games as a freshman during 2021, made the most of his special team's opportunities racking up 251 yards on 10 kick returns, including a 126-yard effort on four returns at Old Dominion with a season-long 61-yard return. 
 
The Sonny Cumbie era grows closer with the season opener scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 1 in Columbia, Mo. against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium for a game televised on ESPNU. 
 
The Bulldog's home opener will kick off a five-game home slate during 2022 with a matchup against SFA on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. on ESPN3. The remaining four home games will feature C-USA opponents UTEP (Oct. 8), Rice (Oct. 22), Middle Tennessee (Nov. 5), and UAB (Nov. 6). It was recently announced that Homecoming will be on Oct. 22 against Rice at 2 p.m.
 
Season tickets for the 2022 Louisiana Tech football season are on sale now with the renewal deadline set for June 30. Fans can purchase season tickets online at LATechSports.com/tickets or by calling the LA Tech Ticket Office at (318) 257-3631.
 
For all the latest in Bulldog Football, follow them on Twitter (@LATechFB), Instagram (@LATechFB) and Facebook (LATechFootball) or visit the official website at LATechSports.com.