Running back Tim Flanders, defensive end J. T. Cleveland, defensive backs Darnell Taylor, Dax Swanson and Kenneth Jenkins, quarterback Brian Bell and offensive lineman Kaleb Hopson all were listed.

The seven are part of a group of 19 starters that return from last year's 14-1 Southland Conference championship team that earned a spot in the NCAA Division I Championship game in Frisco with playoff victories over Stony Brook, Montana State and Montana.

Flanders, Cleveland and Taylor were first team selections.

Flanders finished seventh in the voting for the Walter Payton Award and was Southland Conference "Player of the Year" after setting a league record with 1,644 yards rushing.

 Taylor was voted as the league's "Defensive Player of the Year" after leading the Kats with 128 tackles, the highest season total by a Sam Houston defensive player since 1988.

Cleveland led the Bearkat defensive line with 46 tackles including nine for losses as he earned first team All-Southland honors.

Bell, Hopson and Swanson were selected to the watch list third team and Jenkins was an honorable mention pick.

Bell, who has directed the Bearkats to 19 victories in 23 starts as quarterback, passed for 2,069 yards and 20 touchdowns as a sophomore.

Hopson started as a tackle for the Bearkat offense that led the Southland in rushing, scoring and passing efficiency. He was a second-team all-league selection.

Swanson set a school record, led the Southland Conference and ranked No. 3 nationally with eight interceptions last year. He also was credited with 49 tackles.

Jenkins begins his senior season ranked No. 9 in SHSU career tackles (240) and was the team's second leading tackler in 2012 with 95 stops.

Sam Houston State begins the 2012 season on Saturday, September 8 when the Bearkats play host to Incarnate Word at Bowers Stadium.

Ticket information for the 2012 season is available online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets or by calling the SHSU athletic ticket office at the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.