DeLAND, Fla. — Seven members of the Stetson football team have been named to the 2026 Phil Steele Preseason All-Pioneer Football League Teams, highlighted by three Hatters earning Second Team honors.
Offensive lineman Gabe Snyder, linebacker Shug Bentley and kicker Daniel Holbrook were each selected to the Preseason All-PFL Second Team, while fullback Michael Dempsey, wide receiver Dylan Redmon, offensive lineman Jalen Foster and linebacker Kyle Elphick earned Third Team recognition.
Bentley returns to the heart of the Stetson defense after leading the Hatters with 75 tackles in 2025. The Atlanta, Georgia native started all 11 games he appeared in, recording 25 solo stops, 4.0 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and his first career interception in a win over Morehead State. Bentley, who earned All-PFL Honorable Mention honors following the season, recorded nine tackles on four separate occasions.
Elphick joins Bentley among the preseason honorees after finishing second on the team with 58 tackles last fall. He added 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, an interception, four pass breakups and a forced fumble while appearing in all 12 games. The senior enters 2026 with 160 career tackles after leading the Hatters with 102 stops and 5.5 sacks during the 2024 campaign.
On the offensive side, Dempsey is coming off a productive freshman campaign in which he appeared in all 11 games and rushed for 280 yards and two touchdowns on 50 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per attempt. He recorded a season-high 81 rushing yards against Marist and also contributed as a receiver, highlighted by 56 receiving yards against Davidson.
Redmon emerged as one of the Hatters' top receiving threats in his first season at Stetson, appearing in all 12 games and hauling in 23 passes for 341 yards and four touchdowns. He recorded a season-high 67 receiving yards against Warner, including a 67-yard reception, and caught a pair of touchdowns at Dayton.
Snyder earned Second Team recognition along the offensive line as he enters his senior campaign. The DeLand native has appeared in 11 games over the past two seasons for the Hatters, anchoring the offensive front at tackle.
Foster joined Snyder among the offensive line selections, earning a spot on the Third Team. The Auburn, Alabama native appeared in five games during the 2025 season after seeing action in eight contests in 2024.
Holbrook rounded out Stetson's Second Team selections at kicker. The senior appeared in all 11 games and converted three field goals, including a season-long 35-yarder against St. Thomas. A year earlier, Holbrook connected from a career-long 52 yards against St. Thomas.
The seven selections give Stetson representation across all three phases, with four offensive players, two defensive players and one specialist earning preseason recognition.
The Hatters open the 2026 season on the road on Saturday, August 29 at South Dakota State before returning to DeLand for their home opener against Webber International on Saturday, September 5. Kickoff at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium is set for 11 a.m.
For the latest information on Stetson Football, visit GoHatters.com and follow @StetsonFootball on social media.
2026 Phil Steele Preseason All-PFL Selections
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
