CHARLOTTE, NC- Monmouth University's football team was selected as the preseason favorite in the 2021 Big South Conference Preseason Poll while Anthony Budd and Juwon Farri were each named preseason players of the year, the conference announced at media day on Tuesday.
 
The Hawks, two-time defending champions, garnered 16 of a possible 18 first-place votes (141 points) with Kennesaw State coming in second with 117 points and one first-place vote. Newcomer North Carolina A&T was third with 100 points while Charleston Southern was fourth with 85 points and a first-place vote. Campbell, Gardner-Webb, Hampton and Robert Morris rounded out the eight-team poll.
 
Budd is a two-time first team all-league selection, having started 26 career games over the last three seasons. Last year he led the team in interceptions and had 26 tackles including two for a loss. The Riverdale, MD native has recorded seven interceptions in the last two years. Budd has 126 career tackles including 90 solo stops and has registered 16 passes defended.
 
Farri led the nation in scoring in spring 2021 en route to earning Big South Offensive Player of the Year honors. He was a consensus Second Team All-America honoree, averaging 5.0 yards per rush and scoring 10 touchdowns in four games, finishing with 520 yards. He had three games of 100+ yards while ranking first among conference members in seven different offensive categories.
 
A school-record 15 players earned Preseason All-Big South conference honors including Farri and Budd. Monmouth redshirt freshman quarterback Tony Muskett, tight end Gene Scott, wide receivers Lonnie Moore IV and Terrance Greene Jr. were preseason all-conference members. The offensive line was well represented with Justin Szuba, AJ Farris, Manny Christian and Mahmoud Shabana all appearing.
 
Defensively, linebackers Da'Quan Grimes and Eddie Hahn, defensive lineman Kahari Scarlett, defensive backs Budd and Justin Terry represented the Hawks. Long snapper Kent Vines was the lone specialist to earn preseason all-conference honors.
 
Monmouth also had four players earn honorable mention Preseason All-Big South in a total of five spots. Junior Eddie Morales III was selected honorable mention at both defensive back and punt returner and was joined by Lonnie Moore IV (KR), punter Ryan Kost and defensive lineman Erik Massey.
 
The Hawks return 21 of 22 starters on offense and defense and have posted perfect Big South records in each of the last two seasons.
 
Monmouth football begins camp on Friday, August 6, 2021. The Hawks will open the season at Middle Tennessee State on September 4, 2021.
 
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