CLEVELAND, Ohio – Phil Steele officially released his 2026 Preseason All-American and All-Conference selections, distinguishing six total Bulldogs -- QB Quentin Hayes (first team), OL Brady Pickett (first team), DL Chris Benton (first team), LS Tommy DiLiegro (first team), OL Tyler Heggins-Hill (second team) and KOS Braylon Knauth (third team) -- as members of the All-Southern Conference teams while both Benton (second team) and DiLiegro garnered position on the All-American squads.

A product of Haines City, Fla., Benton acted as a dynamic pass rusher for the Bulldogs across the 2025 season, logging a start or key playing time in all 12 games at defensive end. He closed out the year with 26.0 total tackles, including 11.0 solo, while racking up consistent backfield pressure, logging a team second-best 5.0 sacks with another five QB hurries.

DiLiegro handled The Citadel's primary long-snapping duties across all 12 games during his first season with the Bulldogs. Notably, the Charleston native bolstered the special teams unit as the Citadel completed the year without allowing a blocked punt or kick. DiLiegro paired with All-American punter James Platte on the latter's journey to FCS Punter of the Year accolades, not to mention the Bulldogs' program record for career punt average.

Hayes, a native of Enterprise, Ala., started or made significant contributions as a signalcaller across all 12 games during the 2025 campaign, completing 58-of-92 passes for 897 yards and eight TDs while rushing for a team-high 682 yards and seven scores on 153 carries, finishing the season with 1,579 yards of total offense and 15 total touchdowns. He rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns in The Citadel's 28-10 road victory over Chattanooga before later serving as the lynchpin in a a fourth-quarter comeback against rival VMI, throwing two of his three touchdown passes in the final period as the Bulldogs scored 28 unanswered points to earn a 35-24 victory.

A product of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Pickett served as a consistent edge protector throughout the season, starting all 12 games for The Citadel at right tackle. On the ground, he played a key role within the veteran five-man corps as the unit carved out one of the nation's top rushing offenses, averaging 210.6 yards per game, good for ninth in the FCS and first amongst SoCon brethren. Pickett & Co. also only gave up 1.67 sacks per game, ranked second league-wide, while notably showcasing impressive discipline throughout the year behind just 4.42 penalties per game, good for ninth nationally and the top spot within the conference.

Heggins-Hill acted as a key member of The Citadel offensive line throughout the 2025 campaign, playing a versatile role as a starter for the Bulldogs at either guard or tackle every game. The Raleigh, N.C., product served as an anchor as the Bulldogs averaged 210.6 rushing yards per game, good for ninth nationally in the FCS and first in the Southern Conference. The offensive line also allowed just 1.67 sacks per game, the second-best mark in the league.

Knauth, who hails from Orlando, Fla., stepped up into a starting role at wide receiver for the Bulldogs during the 2025 season, pulling down 16 receptions for 240 yards and two scores. Additionally, the then-sophomore acted as the team's primary returner across all 12 games, catching a heavy majority of all kickoffs and punts (29-of-38), averaging 5.72 yards per return on the former and 20.09 yards on the latter.

The Citadel kicks off the 2026 season with a Southern Conference road matchup at Wofford on Saturday, Aug. 29, before traveling to Charlotte on Sept. 5. The Bulldogs open the home slate at Johnson Hagood Stadium against cross-city rival Charleston Southern on Sept. 12 in the second edition of the Lowcountry Boil Bowl.




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