BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—College Sports Madness released its preseason Division I-FCS All-America teams on Friday, and three Samford players were named to the teams. Jaquiski Tartt, Fabian Truss and Kelsey Pope were all named to the website's preseason All-America teams.

Tartt was named first team All-American as a safety, while Truss made the first team as a kick returner. Pope was named to the second team as a wide receiver. All three players were also named to the preseason All-America teams by the Sports Network earlier this summer.

Tartt was named to the preseason watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award recently as well. The award goes to the top defensive player in all of Division I-FCS football. As a sophomore in 2012, Tartt led the team and tied for seventh in the Southern Conference in tackles with 94. He led the SoCon in passes defended with 14, and he tied for the league lead in interceptions with four.

Tartt, in his first season as a starter for the Bulldogs, was named All-American and All-SoCon at the conclusion of the 2012 season. During the season, he was named the SoCon Defensive Player of the Month for September, and he earned SoCon Defensive Player of the Week honors twice.

Truss, who also serves the team as a running back, ranked third in the SoCon, averaging 27.1 yards per return. Overall, Truss led the league in all-purpose yards per game, averaging 179.8 yards per contest. At the conclusion of the season, Truss was named second team All-SoCon by the media as a kick returner.

As a running back, Truss rushed for 1,063 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior in 2012. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry and 96.6 yards per game. Truss was also named second team All-Conference as a running back by the Southern Conference's coaches and media.

Pope led Samford in receiving, catching 68 passes for 552 yards and four touchdowns. Pope averaged 8.1 yards per catch and 50.2 yards per game. Pope also rushed six times for 25 yards and a touchdown.

The 2012 season marked the second-straight season Pope has led Samford in receiving. At the conclusion of the season, Pope was named second team All-SoCon by both the league's coaches and media.

The Bulldogs open the 2013 season on Friday, Aug. 30, when Samford travels to Atlanta to take on Georgia State in the Georgia Dome. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. (CT) start.