16 Jul 2025 Five Bears named to UAC Preseason All-Conference Teams
CONWAY — The United Athletic Conference has released its Preseason All-Conference selections, with Central Arkansas football receiving five athletes across the 27 honorees. The Bears earned three spots on the league’s preseason offensive team, and two spots on the defensive side of the ball.
Two senior offensive lineman, Will Diggins and Jamal Mull, start the list for the Bears. The two have combined for over 60 starts across their four seasons, and the duo has blocked for three-straight top-25 offenses in the nation, including last season’s 14th-ranked offense and 4th-best rushing attack. Diggins, a former ASUN Freshman of the Year, All-UAC and All-American lineman, adds another preseason honor to his ledger, after being named a preseason All-American yesterday.Head coach Nathan Brown made statements about Diggins and Mull:
“Will Diggins has been a starter since the day he stepped on campus at left guard for us. He has been a freshman of the year and an All-American, and he’s been a staple for us on the front. He needs to have a big year for us to succeed on offense.”
Mull, a three-year starter in the trenches, brings another dose of leadership and understanding of the Bears’ offense. Behind Mull and the offensive line, the Bears have averaged over 427 yards of offense per game over the last three years.”
“Jamal is a unique story; we signed Jamal as a defensive lineman and he turned himself into one of the best offensive lineman in the country after making the position change. He is extremely athletic and has NFL size. Jamal is also one of the strongest big guys I have ever coached, I’m excited to watch him perform this year.” – Coach Brown
The third offensive player on the list for Central Arkansas is standout wide receiver Malachi Henry. A Freshman All-American last year, Henry posted 41 catches, 683 yards and five touchdowns for one of the best offensive teams in the nation. He had four or more catches in seven games, including a season-best eight against Southern Utah, and is set to add to his workload in 2025.
“Malachi is coming off one of the best freshmen seasons a wideout has had here at UCA,” Brown said. “He is explosive and has great hands. His work ethic is really what separates him from most. He is the son of a coach, and you can tell that he carries himself with that mentality every single day. He is poised to have an even bigger sophomore campaign.”
Defensively, the Bears bring back talent along the defensive line and in the secondary, with Bradley Clark and Dillon Williams being named to the conference’s preseason list. Clark, a menace in the trenches, recorded 29 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss (-32 yards) and 2.5 sacks (-23 yards) last season. His ability to plug holes, shut down runs and pass rush is a key skill set for the Bears. He logged tackles in all but one game last year, and had a TFL in six different contests.
“Bradley has worked himself into the best interior defensive lineman in our league,” Brown said. “He doesn’t wow you with his stats, but he impacts the game every single play. Playing interior defensive lineman can sometimes be an unappreciated position, but we greatly appreciate Bradley’s play. He graded out as a PFF top-three defensive lineman last year in Division I FCS football.”
Williams, who returns to a secondary that helped produce the third-best scoring defense in the UAC last year, is also the Bears’ leading returning tackler. After posting 80 total tackles, 4.0 TFLs (-11 yards) and 1.0 sacks (-3 yards), Williams’ nose for the ball and relentless pursuit will stand out among a secondary that returns multiple starters. Williams had five games of five or more tackles, with a season-best nine against Abilene Christian, and had an interception against West Georgia.
“Dillon is a rare combination of size and speed,” Brown said. “He stands over six feet tall and weighs 210 pounds, and is one of the five fastest guys on our team. He is so versatile as a football player; he can cover any position and can also tackle like a linebacker. He is a unique player that is going to be in the argument as an All-American when the season is done.”
