KALAMAZOO, Mich.- The Western Michigan football team had six players named preseason All-Mid-American Conference in the 2018 Phil Steele College Football Preview magazine.

Senior center John Keenoy was tabbed as a first team selection while junior tight end Giovanni Ricci and junior offensive lineman Luke Juriga were each named to the second team. Earning a third team mention was junior running back LeVante Bellamy and graduate transfer wide receiver Drake Harris. Sophomore kicker Josh Grant rounded out the Western Michigan selections on the fourth team.

Keenoy has played and started in 37 of 38 possible games at Western Michigan and is on the Rimington Trophy watch list for the second straight year. He was a First Team All-MAC selection last year as a junior and was voted Second Team All-MAC as a sophomore.

Ricci moved from wide receiver to tight end this past spring and enters the fall already pegged as one of the MAC's top players in the position. Last year he played in six games as a wide out before suffering a season-ending injury in WMU's seven overtime win at Buffalo.

Juriga has started the last two seasons at right guard and was a Second Team All-MAC selection in 2017 as a sophomore. He has been a key member of an offensive line that paved the way for a running game that has been ranked in the top 25 in the nation the last two years.

Bellamy had his 2016 & 2017 seasons interrupted by injuries, but when healthy has been electrifying. Last year in the season opener at No. 4 ranked USC he ripped off a 48-yard run and rushed for 98 total yards. At Buffalo he racked up 131 yards and scored a 66-yard touchdown on the opening drive.

Harris redshirted at Michigan in 2014 before earning letters the last three seasons (2015-17) with the Wolverines. He joined the Western Michigan roster this summer as a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility remaining.

As a freshman last year, Grant handled all of the field goal and PAT duties for the Broncos. He converted 15 of 23 field goals and 45 of 46 PATs, ranking second in the MAC in PAT conversions (97.9%). He made five field goals over 40 yards, including a 49-yarder which was also the longest in the MAC in 2017.

In his evaluation of Western Michigan Steele also noted that "Provided this team stays healthy they are a legit MAC West contender ..."

Western Michigan opens the 2018 season hosting Syracuse on Friday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m.

Season tickets are currently available for purchase at wmubroncos.com/tickets or 1-888-4-WMU-TIX and start at $96.