HUNTINGTON, WV -- The Sporting News, one of the nation’s oldest and most respected sports publications, announced it’s 2002 preseason All-America teams as well as their preseason Top 25 on Monday.

Marshall is ranked 14th in the preseason poll, the highest preseason ranking ever for the Thundering Herd.

“It is exciting for us to be ranked in the top 25 of so many preseason polls,” Herd coach Bob Pruett said. “We thought that we had a chance to be in the top 20 or even top 15, but it is not where you start, it’s where you finish that matters.”

In addition to the preseason poll, the publication also announced it’s preseason All-America teams. That group included junior receiver Darius Watts on the first team.

“This is the third of five guys who could be first team All-America in some preseason magazine,” Pruett said of Watts’ selection. “We are certainly excited about that and, at this point, I really don’t know of any other All-Americans in the state of West Virginia.”

In addition to Watts, offensive lineman Steve Sciullo was named to the Playboy All-America team. Quarterback Byron Leftwich has also been mentioned on several preseason teams and punter Curtis Head and defensive back Chris Crocker are both receiving preseason recognition.

Below is the complete preseason top 25 as well as The Sporting News All-America teams.

THE SPORTING NEWS PRESEASON TOP 25

1. Oklahoma; 2. Florida State; 3. Texas; 4. Miami (Fla.); 5. Georgia; 6. Washington State; 7. Tennessee; 8. Florida; 9. Colorado; 10. Ohio State; 11. Nebraska; 12. Washington; 13. Louisville; 14. Marshall; 15. Michigan; 16. Penn State; 17. LSU; 18. USC; 19. Auburn; 20. Oregon; 21. Virginia Tech; 22. Purdue; 23. Michigan State; 24. N.C. State; 25. Oregon State

THE SPORTING NEWS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAMS

FIRST TEAM - Offense: WR Andre Johnson, Miami (Fla.), Jr.; WR Darius Watts, Marshall, Jr.; TE Trent Smith, Oklahoma, Sr.; C Al Johnson, Wisconsin, Sr.; G Montrae Holland, Florida State, Sr.; G Derrick Dockery, Texas, Sr.; T Brett Williams, Florida State, Sr.; T Jon Stinchcomb, Georgia, Sr.; QB Rex Grossman, Florida, Jr.; RB Onterrio Smith, Oregon, Jr.; RB Anthony Davis, Wisconsin, So.

FIRST TEAM - Defense: E Jimmy Wilkerson, Oklahoma, Jr.; E Jerome McDougle, Miami (Fla.), Sr.; T William Joseph, Miami (Fla.), Sr.; T Darnell Dockett, Florida State, Jr.; OLB Boss Bailey, Georgia, Sr.; MLB E.J. Henderson, Maryland, Sr.; OLB Michael Boulware, Florida State, Jr.; CB Dennis Weathersby, Oregon State, Sr.; CB Eugene Wilson, Illinois, Sr.; SS Mike Doss, Ohio State, Sr.; FS Ken Hamlin, Arkansas, Jr.

FIRST TEAM - Specialists: K Seth Marler, Tulane, Sr.; P Freddie Capshaw, Miami (Fla.), Sr.; KR Nathan Vasher, Texas, Jr.

SECOND TEAM - Offense: WR Charles Rogers, Michigan State, Jr.; WR Lee Evans, Wisconsin, Sr.; TE Doug Zeigler, Mississippi, Sr.; C Brett Romberg, Miami (Fla.), Sr.; G Derrick Roche, Washington State, Sr.; G Todd Wike, Maryland, Sr.; T Tony Pashos, Illinois, Sr.; T Mike Saffer, UCLA, Sr.; QB Ken Dorsey, Miami (Fla.), Sr.; RB Cedric Benson, Texas, So.; RB Bruce Perry, Maryland, Jr.

SECOND TEAM - Defense: E Dewayne White, Louisville, Jr.; E Terrell Suggs, Arizona State, Jr.; T Tommie Harris, Oklahoma, So.; T Ian Scott, Florida, Jr.; OLB Dontarrious Thomas, Auburn, Jr.; MLB Bradie James, LSU, Sr.; OLB Jarrod Penright, Texas A&M, Sr.; CB Marlin Jackson, Michigan, So.; CB Derrick Strait, Oklahoma, Jr.; SS Troy Polamalu, USC, Sr.; FS Dexter Reid, North Carolina, Jr.