SAN ANTONIO -- Six members of the University of the Incarnate Word football team landed on the Phil Steele Preseason All-Southland Conference Team, with wide receiver Roy Alexander being named SLC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

Steele also honored Alexander as a Preseason All-American, giving him Second-Team designation. This is the second Preseason All-American honor for the Fort Meyers, Fla. native, who was named a Stats Perform Third-Team All-American last month.



After playing at Texas Tech a season ago, Alexander returns to UIW, where he had 100 receptions, 1,108 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2024. He was second in the FCS in both receptions and touchdown catches that year, with his 100 grabs standing as a single-season program record.



Joining him on the Southland Offensive First Team is fellow wide receiver Jameson Garcia.

Garcia had a breakout campaign in 2025, catching 40 passes for 546 yards and three touchdowns.



Offensive lineman Ryan Dirksen was honored as a Second-Team All-Conference offensive player.

Dirksen, who is in his first season at UIW, began his career at San Diego State before starting all 12 games at Bryant (R.I.) a season ago.

Defensively, the Cardinals had three Second-Team All-SLC selections in Terrell Elliott, Chase Carter and A.J. Tisdell.



Elliott, the team's nose tackle, had 14 tackles and a sack in 14 games in 2024 before being limited to just four games due to injury last fall.

He'll be joined up front by Carter, who returns to UIW after a season at Memphis. In two year with the Cardinals, Carter has 50 tackles and seven tackles for loss and was named an FCS Third-Team Freshman All-American at the conclusion of the 2023 season.

Tisdell, a defensive back, returns for a third season with the program as well, having been credited for 104 tackles, 12 pass breakups and an interception over the previous two.

To view the full Phil Steel Preseason All-American and all-conference list, click here. 

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