Austin Peay State University announced that senior offensive lineman Joshua Sales Jr. and junior quarterback Chris Parson have been selected to the FCS Football Central 2026 Preseason All‑American Team, a recognition that underscores the program’s rising profile and reflects strong performances in the United Athletic Conference.
Preseason Accolades
Sales, a native of South Bend, Indiana, earned first‑team honors along the offensive line and was one of only two players from the United Athletic Conference named to the preseason first‑team. His contributions helped the Governors rank among the nation’s top‑25 teams in rushing yards per game and limited opponents to just three sacks per game, the third‑best mark in the conference.
Parson, hailing from Brentwood, Tennessee, was tabbed the UAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and received a second‑team preseason All‑America nod. In his debut season as a Governor, he threw for 3,003 yards with 23 touchdowns, added 14 rushing scores, and became just one of three quarterbacks nationwide to surpass 3,000 passing yards and 700 rushing yards.
The Governors open their 2026 campaign on August 27 at Fortera Stadium against Gardner‑Webb, a matchup that will test the momentum generated by these preseason honors and set the tone for a season that could see the team climb even higher in the national rankings.