2026 LSC Football Preseason Guide
Western Oregon quarterback Jordan McCarty and Central Washington linebacker Brycen Indell – both seniors – were selected as the 2026 Lone Star Conference Football Preseason Players of the Year, it was announced on Thursday (July 23) at LSC Football Media Day at McKinney ISD Stadium’s Community Event Center in McKinney, Texas.
McCarty received Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honors, while Indell claimed Preseason Defensive Player of the Year recognition.
McCarty, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound Business major from Silverton, Ore., threw for 12 touchdowns and ran for six more to lead WOU to an 8-3 overall record and a conference runner-up finish last season. McCarty, who has played in 32 games under center for the Wolves over the past three years, averaged 184.4 yards of total offense per game in 2025. He passed for 1,521 yards and ran for 507. His play helped the Wolves win six of their final seven games.
Indell, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound Kinesiology major from Eugene, Ore., helped CWU win its first LSC title in 2025 and reach the NCAA Division II playoffs the past three seasons. Indell was limited to just three games last year but has 64 tackles – five for loss – three sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery over his career. He played in all 12 games for the 2024 CWU defense that led the league by allowing only 12.7 points per game.
The league’s preseason awards were selected by a vote of LSC head coaches, sports information directors and media members.
Additionally, 20 players – 10 offensive and 10 defensive, including McCarty and Indell – were selected for the 2026 LSC Football Preseason Players to Watch list. These student-athletes were nominated by their member institution.
The new season of LSC football kicks off as early as Aug. 27. To follow along, click
here. Fans can also watch games live on
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2026 LSC FOOTBALL PRESEASON AWARDS
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Jordan McCarty, QB, Sr., Western Oregon
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Brycen Indell, LB, Sr., Central Washington
Preseason Offensive Players to Watch
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
| Cameron Dischler |
Angelo State |
RB |
Jr. |
Kinesiology |
Orangefield, Texas |
| Tyler Luzan |
Central Washington |
OL |
Sr. |
P.E. and School Health |
Bothell, Wash. |
| Robert Nora |
Eastern New Mexico |
WR |
So. |
Psychology |
Clovis, N.M. |
| Paul Ledet |
Midwestern State |
OL |
Sr. |
Accounting |
Spring, Texas |
| Ryan Van Roekel |
Sul Ross State |
WR |
So. |
Business Administration |
Frisco, Texas |
| Christian Kretz |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
WR |
Sr. |
Sociology |
Temecula, Calif. |
| Traylen Suel |
UT Permian Basin |
WR |
Sr. |
Human Performance |
College Station, Texas |
| Contae Cason |
West Texas A&M |
RB |
Sr. |
Athletic Training |
Brooksville, Fla. |
| Daniel Gonzalez |
Western New Mexico |
OL |
Sr. |
Criminal Justice |
Norco, Calif. |
| Jordan McCarty |
Western Oregon |
QB |
Sr. |
Business |
Silverton, Ore. |
Preseason Defensive Players to Watch
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
| Eugene “Tre” Liger |
Angelo State |
DB |
Sr. |
Mass Media |
Cypress, Texas |
| Brycen Indell |
Central Washington |
LB |
Sr. |
Clinical Physiology |
Eugene, Ore. |
| Matthew Quartieri |
Eastern New Mexico |
LB |
Sr. |
Kinesiology |
Raton, N.M. |
| Charles McKnight |
Midwestern State |
DL |
Sr. |
Biology |
Cypress, Texas |
| Emmanuel Osom |
Sul Ross State |
LB |
So. |
Business Administration |
Missouri City, Texas |
| Jeremiah Conaway |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
DB |
Jr. |
Psychology |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Godgive Ugochukwu |
UT Permian Basin |
DL |
So. |
Kinesiology |
Denton, Texas |
| Miles Hill |
West Texas A&M |
DB |
Jr. |
Mechanical Engineering |
Bixby, Okla. |
| Clayton Zentner |
Western New Mexico |
DB |
Jr. |
Psychology |
Corona, Calif. |
| Nijawn Sterling |
Western Oregon |
DL |
Sr. |
Exercise Science |
Seattle, Wash. |
