CLARKSVILLE, Tenn.—Austin Peay State University linebacker Daniel Becker and cornerback Kevin Buckley have been named first-team preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference by Phil Steele's 2009 Preview, one of the nation's most informative preseason football magazines.

In addition, six other Governors, kick returner Terrence Holt, running back Ryan White, offensive guard Kelvin Little, defensive tackle Dee Peeler, linebacker Kit Hartsfield and safety Tremayne Townsend, have been name preseason second-team All-OVC by Phil Steele.

Becker, a senior from Brentwood, earned second-team All-OVC post-season honors a year ago after bouncing back from a knee injury that forced him to miss the 2007 season's latter half. He finished with a team-best 102 tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss, in 2008.

Meanwhile, Buckley, also a senior, earned first-team All-OVC honors last fall after intercepting six passes in 2008, the second highest single-season total in APSU history. The Lexington native also had 26 solo tackles, 40 stops overall. 

Holt, despite being first-team All-OVC a year ago, was only allotted second-team Phil Steele honors as a kick returner for 2009. For the second straight season the junior broke the OVC record for kickoffs returns and yardage. In addition, the Nashville native set the OVC single-game yardage return mark (250 yards) in the season opener at North Dakota State.

White, meanwhile, rolled off three straight 100-yard rushing efforts after being inserted into the starting lineup late in the season. The rising sophomore from Nashville finished 2008 with 600 yards in his first season.

Little, a junior from Clarksville, moved into the lineup at guard last season and started every game replacing departed senior Duncan Williams.

The veteran Peeler, a senior from Kingsport, is the defensive line's anchor. He was credited with 37 tackles, including four for loss, a year ago.

Hartsfield was APSU's leading tackler two seasons ago with 88 in 10 games. However, a foot injury forced him to miss three games in 2009 and slowed him in others. Still the three-year starter from Murfreesboro finished with 45 stops.

Townsend has been APSU's starting free safety the last two season after moving from cornerback. However, in the Govs' new 4-2-5 alignment, Townsend has been shifted to the strong safety position. The Antioch native tied for fourth on the team in tackles a year ago with 45, plus had a pair of interceptions.

-AP-