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RICHMOND, Ky. – Senior offensive tackle Derek Hardman was named to the preseason Sports Network All-America football team Thursday. Hardman was one of six OVC players to make the list.

Hardman, a native of Spencer, W.Va., is penciled in to be a starter on the Colonel offensive line for the fourth consecutive year. As a freshman in 2006, he was named to the All-OVC newcomer team after starting all 11 games at right tackle. Hardman made the transition to left tackle one year ago and proceeded to earn first team all-conference honors. He has started 35 straight games in the trenches for the Colonels.

Besides Hardman, EKU has three other returning starters back on the offensive line in 2009 – junior Chris Krack (left guard), senior Michael Howard (center) and senior Andre Barbour (right tackle).

Hardman earned his bachelor’s degree in business in December 2008 and is currently working on his master’s degree.

The EKU football team concluded the 2008 season 8-4 overall while earning the program’s 20th Ohio Valley Conference title and 31st consecutive winning season. The Colonels are tentatively slated to begin preseason practice on Tuesday, Aug. 4.