WS Moore, Sports Correspondent.

ATLANTA — Hinesville native Kenneth Lockhart was one of four Savannah State University football players named to the 2022 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Football All-Conference preseason team.

The conference announced the all-conference teams on July 12 at the 2022 SIAC Media Day at the College Hall of Fame in Atlanta. The poll and all-conference teams are voted on by conference head coaches and sports information directors. Lockhart was named to the All-SIAC First Team twice this year, as both a punter and kicker. In his red-shirt freshman season, Lockhart led the Tigers’ special teams at both positions. He was the No. 1 punter in the SIAC and finished as the No. 19 best punter in NCAA Division II. He averaged 42 yards per punt and had a long of 58 yards against Benedict College. Nine of his punts were 50 yards or longer, and 12 landed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. As a kicker, made six of 10 field goal attempts, with his longest coming against Benedict for 44 yards. He made 32 of 35 extra point attempts, including all seven attempts against Clark Atlanta University.

Other SSU players earning preseason honors are defensive lineman Makenyl Newbill, offensive lineman Kyle Frazier and running back Shamarcus Poole. Newbill earned First Team honors, while Frazier and Poole were named to the Second Team.

The conference also announced the team preseason rankings, and SSU was picked to finish third in the SIAC East Division. Albany State University, the reigning SIAC Champion, was voted to win the division, followed by Benedict, SSU, Morehouse College, Fort Valley State University, Edward Waters University, Clark Atlanta and Allen University.

Miles College was voted to a repeat win of the SIAC West Division, followed by Lane College, Tuskegee University, Kentucky State University and Central State University.

Savannah State will open the 2022 season at home on Sept. 3 against Southeastern University. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Theodore Wright Stadium.