Four Lone Star Conference football stars earned LSC Preseason Player of the Year acclaim for the 2010 season league officials announced Tuesday.

   Midwestern State quarterback Zack Eskridge was named LSC South Division Offensive Player of the Year, while Abilene Christian defensive end Aston Whiteside picked up the division’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Southeastern Oklahoma running back Baylen Laury was chosen as Offensive Player of the Year in the North Division and Texas A&M-Commerce linebacker Cory Whitfield earned the North’s Defensive Player of the Year acclaim.

   The league’s preseason awards were selected by a vote of LSC head coaches and sports information directors, plus various media representatives from throughout the region.

   Eskridge, a 6-4, 215-pound senior from Rowlett, Texas, completed 71.3 percent of his passes for a school record 3,295 yards last season while helping the Mustangs to a LSC championship and to their third trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs. The 2009 Harlon Hill finalist connected for another school record 29 touchdowns and threw six interceptions to earn LSC South Offensive Back of the Year honors in 2009, while leading NCAA Division II with a 180.2 pass efficiency rating.

   With 10 votes, Eskridge topped West Texas A&M’s Taylor Harris (four), Angelo State’s Josh Neiswander (two) and Texas A&M-Kingsville’s Fred Winborn (one).

   Whiteside, a 6-2, 255-pound junior from Vernon, Texas, was a first team all-LSC South Division selection in 2009 and ranked among NCAA Division II leaders in both sacks (9.5) and tackles for loss (14.5).

   He picked up the honor with nine votes to finish in front of Tarleton State’s Lonnie Buchanan (two) and five others with one vote.

   Laury, a 5-10, 185-pound senior from Forney, Texas, was a second-team all-LSC North Division pick in 2009. He rushed for 637 yards and four scores, while adding 41 catches for 355 yards and three TD’s last season.

   With four votes, Laury edged out A&M-C’s Adam Farkes and Marcus Graham, who each received three votes, and Eastern New Mexico’s Jesse Poku (two).

   Whitfield, a 6-2, 195-pound senior from Palestine, Texas, had a breakout season in 2009 earning LSC North Division Linebacker of the Year and first team all-LSC North Division recognition. He led the Lions with 111 tackles, including six-straight games of double digit tackles; plus he was third on the team with 13.5 tackles for minus yardage in 2009.

            He earned the acclaim with seven votes to edge ENMU’s Nathan Uland (six), Northeastern State’s Nick Dobler (two) and three others with one vote.