Youngstown State senior offensive lineman Chris Elkins (Beaver Falls, Pa.) was named to the Phil Steele's College Football Preview preseason All-America team, the publication announced last week.
Elkins was named to The Sports Network's preseason first-team All-America squad on July 1. Phil Steele's publication also had Elkins as the top center in the FCS ranks. Overall he was named the 30th-best player at the FCS level.
Elkins has started the last 26 games for the Penguins, including each contest each of the past two seasons. In 2011, he started every contest at right guard en route to earning first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors. He was the YSU offensive lineman to be named first-team all-league since Brad Samsa in 2008. As a unit, the Penguins led the Missouri Valley Football Conference in total offensive yards per game during the regular season averaging 385.6 yards per contest.
Elkins was an honorable-mention All-MVFC selection in 2011.
Additionally, Steele announced his preseason Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason picks. Elkins was a first-team pick, senior quarterback Kurt Hess and linebackers Teven Williams and Travis Williams were second-team all-conference preseason picks.
Hess was tabbed the FCS's 10th-best quarterback and 99th-best player overall, Teven Williams was the 34th-best linebacker, Travis Williams the 45th-best linebacker, senior Julius Childs as the 45th-best cornerback and sophomore Andre Stubbs as the 30th-best all-purpose player.
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