MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Morehead State football was well-represented on the Phil Steele Preseason All-Pioneer League lists as nine Eagles earned spots on the first, second or third teams.
The Eagle nonet includes one first-team selection, four on the second-team and an identical four on the third team. It is defensive and special teams heavy as eight of the nine line up on that side of the line of scrimmage.
The first-team pick is defensive lineman
KJ Hardesty, who was also on the official team picked by the league office. Second-teamers are defensive lineman
Jake Rhodes, linebacker
Chris Johnson, kick returner
Sidney Webb and long snapper
Colton Carmichael. Third-team choices are running back
Craig Cunningham, linebacker
Luke Popovich, defensive back
Luciano Corpora-Ellis and kicker
Jordan Price.
Hardesty returns to the trenches after tying for the team lead with 7.5 tackles for loss in 2025. He had 46 total stops and a team-best six quarterback hurries.
Rhodes finished with 17 tackles and a tackle for loss. Johnson ranked second on the team with 73 total tackles, including 4.5 for losses. Webb ranked among the PFL and national leaders in kick returns at 27.1 yards per return. Carmichael was an All-PFL performer at long snapper.
Cunningham rushed for 314 yards and three touchdowns. Popovich tied with Hardesty for tackles for loss with a team-best 7.5. Corpora-Ellis expects to see more time in the secondary in 2026 after collecting 10 tackles last fall. Price, in his freshman campaign, was a perfect 30-for-30 on extra-point kicks and nailed three field goals.
The Eagles open the season on Aug. 27 at home versus new opponent, Division II Ohio Dominican.
Season tickets and
tailgate spots are now on sale.
