Savannah State picked 11th in Preseason MEAC Poll

Two Tigers earn Preseason All-Conference honors

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Savannah State seniors Marquis Smith and John Barron have been named to the Preseason All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Third Team.

Smith, a linebacker from Prince Georges County, Maryland, was second on the team last season with 57 tackles. He led the squad with tackles for losses (7) and also had one interception, one sack, one forced fumble and one blocked kick.



For his career, he enters the season with 241 tackles, having got 124 as a freshman in 2013 and 60 as a sophomore during the 2014 campaign. He has 10 career sacks, two interceptions, three pass breakups, three fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and one blocked kick.

Barron, who is sharing preseason honors with South Carolina State kicker Tyler Scandrett, is a native of Marietta, Georgia. Last season, Barron made 11 of 13 extra point attempts and converted 11 of 17 field goal attempts for a team-leading 44 points. He kicked a career-long 44 yard field goal against Colorado State. Barron also handled the kickoffs where he had 36 for 2,012 yards for a 55.9 yard average. Ten of those went for touchbacks.

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SC State Picked To Finish Fourth In The MEAC

NORFOLK, Virginia -- South Carolina State has been picked to finish fourth in the MEAC, according to the preseason poll of MEAC head coaches and sports information directors.

North Carolina A&T State received 13 first-place votes, to receive the first place ranking, while Bethune-Cookman was picked second and North Carolina Central third followed by SC State to round out the top four spots of this year's preseason predicted order of finish.


All-MEAC linebacker redshirt junior Darius Leonard was named Preseason MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, along with earning All-MEAC First Team honors for the second straight year.

Leonard (6-3, 200) finished the 2015 season recording 70 total tackles, one forced fumble, one recovered fumble, two quarterback hurries, four passes deflected and two breakups. He notched two interceptions, one for a touchdown, and 13.5 tackles for a loss. Leonard was second on the team in sacks (5.0) and interceptions.

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NSU Spartans' coach: Middle-of-the-pack MEAC pick seems about right

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Coaches often feel either shortchanged or concerned about overconfidence when preseason polls come out.

Second-year Norfolk State football coach Latrell Scott figures that the league’s coaches and sports information directors got the Spartans’ spot right this year.

NSU, on the heels of a 4-7 overall and 4-4 MEAC mark, was picked sixth in the 11-team poll released Friday as part of the MEAC’s media day. Of the five teams picked ahead of the Spartans, only one – rival Hampton – lost to them last season.

“I think if you look at it, it’s right where we should be,” Scott said. “If we want to be ranked high, we need to beat those teams.”

Defending co-champions North Carolina A&T, Bethune-Cookman and N.C. Central, respectively, were the top three picks. N.C. A&T won a tiebreaker and represented the MEAC in the inaugural Celebration Bowl , where the Aggies defeated SWAC champion Alcorn State.

For the long-struggling frontrunners, being picked to win the league again is an honor.

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Ten NCCU Eagles Announced to Preseason All-MEAC Football Team

NORFOLK, Virginia --Ten North Carolina Central University Eagles have been voted to the 2016 Preseason All-MEAC Football Team, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference announced Friday.
 
Leading the way for NCCU on the All-MEAC First Team are senior quarterback Malcolm Bell (Richmond, Va.), senior center Carl Jones (Nashville, Tenn.), senior offensive lineman Desmond Cooper (Stafford, Va.) and senior linebacker Jeremy Miles (Durham, N.C.).
 
All-MEAC Second Team distinction was awarded to sophomore running back Dorrel McClain (Cary, N.C.), senior offensive lineman Tarrance Wells (Oxon Hill,, Md.), junior defensive lineman Antonio Brown (Jacksonville, Fla.), sophomore defensive back Davanta Reynolds (Tucker, Ga.) and senior return specialist LaVontis Smith (Maben, Miss.). Junior defensive lineman Ja'Quan Smith (Miramar, Fla.) rounded out NCCU's selections with a spot on the All-MEAC Third Team.
 
In a vote by the conference head football coaches and sports information directors, NCCU is picked to place third the predicted order of finish, which was unveiled during the MEAC Football Press Luncheon in Norfolk, Virginia on Friday afternoon.
 
NCCU, back-to-back conference co-champions with an 8-3 overall record and a 7-1 league mark last year, received four first place votes and 388 total points, while second place Bethune-Cookman captured three first place votes and 447 points, and predicted MEAC champion North Carolina A&T amassed 13 first place votes and 489 points to claim the top spot.
 
The Eagles were followed by fourth place South Carolina State (351), then Hampton (265), Norfolk State (239), Morgan State (192), Florida A&M (164), Delaware State (121), Howard (90) and Savannah State (48).
 
For more information about NCCU football, the complete season preview is available online atNCCUEaglePride.com.

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Despite losing coach, chance at postseason, Morgan State football 'still hungry' for MEAC title

NORFOLK, Virginia -- After a volatile offseason in which the Morgan State football team lost its head coach and an opportunity to play in the postseason, the Bears are looking forward to opening training camp Aug. 7 and trying to capture the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title.

“We still can win the MEAC,” senior wide receiver Ricky Fisk said Friday at the conference's media day in Norfolk, Va. “Nobody really talks about the postseason. At the end of the day, it's about who was the conference champion. We're striving to be the conference champion and go out with a bang.”



The hazy and humid conditions normally associated with August are almost a welcomed respite for the program. In February, Lee Hull left after two years to become the wide receivers coach for the Indianapolis Colts. Two months later, the NCAA banned the team from postseason play after failing to meet a satisfactory score in the Academic Progress Rate report.

But Morgan State can still win the MEAC crown for the second time in three years, and Fred Farrier, the offensive coordinator who was promoted to interim head coach, said that goal takes precedence.

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Cohen, Leonard Highlight 2016 MEAC Preseason Football Teams

NORFOLK, Virginia – North Carolina A&T State running back Tarik Cohen was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while South Carolina State linebacker Darius Leonard was selected as preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

All votes are submitted by the MEAC’s head football coaches and sports information directors/football contacts.

Cohen, the two-time defending Player of the Year, led the MEAC in rushing with 977 total yards in 2015. A two-time MEAC Offensive Player of the Week, Cohen led the conference with 122.1 rushing yards per game, carrying the ball 183 times, with nine touchdowns in eight games. He finished first in the MEAC in touchdowns and all-purpose yards (141.1 avg./g). He helped lead the Aggies to a share of the conference title and a win at the inaugural Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl. Cohen rushed for 295 yards for three touchdowns during the nationally televised win over Alcorn State.

Leonard was named to the 2015 All-MEAC First Team, as a linebacker. A one-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Week, Leonard finished the season recording 70 total tackles, one forced fumble, one recovered fumble, two quarterback hurries, four passes deflected and two breakups. He notched two interceptions, one for a touchdown, and 13.5 tackles for a loss. Leonard was second on the team in sacks (5.0) and interceptions.



Listed below are the 2016 Preseason All-MEAC teams:

2016 MEAC Football All-Conference Preseason Teams

First Team Offense
First Team Defense
Second Team Offense
Second Team Defense
Third Team Offense
Third Team Defense

Offensive Player of the Year: Tarik Cohen, North Carolina A&T State
Defensive Player of the Year: Darius Leonard, South Carolina State

First-Team Offense

Pos.	Name	Cl.	School	Hometown
QB	Malcolm Bell	r-Sr.	North Carolina Central	Richmond, Va.
RB	Tarik Cohen	Sr.	North Carolina A&T State	Bunn, N.C.
RB	Michael Jones	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Sarasota, Fla.
WR	Twarn Mixson	r-Sr.	Hampton	Charlotte, N.C.
WR	Jawill Davis	r-Jr.	Bethune-Cookman	Miami, Fla.
TE	Ja-Quan Lumas	r-Jr.	Bethune-Cookman	Orlando, Fla.
C	Carl Jones	r-Sr.	North Carolina Central	Nashville, Tenn.
OL	Brandon Parker	r-Jr.	North Carolina A&T State	Kannapolis, N.C.
OL*	Javarius Leamon	r-Sr.	South Carolina State	Woodruff, S.C.
OL*	Trevin Huff	r-Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Tallahassee, Fla.
OL	Desmond Cooper	r-Sr.	North Carolina Central	Stafford, Va.

First-Team Defense

Pos.	Name	Cl.	School	Hometown
DL	Marquis Ragland	r-Sr.	North Carolina A&T State	Fayetteville, N.C.
DL	Angelo Keyes	r-Sr.	North Carolina A&T State	Kinston, N.C.
DL	Curtis Alexander	Sr.	Florida A&M	Quincy, Fla.
DL	Kevin Thompson	Jr.	Bethune-Cookman	Baltimore, Md.
LB	Darius Leonard	r-Jr.	South Carolina State	Lake View, S.C.
LB	Dayshawn Taylor	r-Jr.	South Carolina State	Lincolnton, Ga.
LB	Jeremy Miles (Thompson)	r-Sr.	North Carolina Central	Durham, N.C.
DB	Jacques Bryant	Sr.	Florida A&M	Tallahassee, Fla.
DB	Diquan Richardson	Jr.	Bethune-Cookman	Alvin, S.C.
DB	Phillip Henry	r-Sr.	South Carolina State	Manning, S.C.
DB	Delonta Hall	r-Sr.	Morgan State	Fort Washington, Md.
PK	Cody Jones	Sr.	North Carolina A&T State	Gastonia, N.C.
P*	Jonathan Cagle	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Pensacola, Fla.
P*	Christian Faber-Kinney	r-Sr.	Hampton	Williamsburg, Va.
RS	Khris Gardin	Jr.	North Carolina A&T State	Morganton, N.C.

Second-Team Offense

Pos.	Name	Cl.	School	Hometown
QB	Greg Hankerson	Sr.	Norfolk State	Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.
RB	Dorrel McClain	r-So.	North Carolina Central	Cary, N.C.
RB	Orlando Johnson	Sr.	Morgan State	Memphis, Tenn.
WR	Denzel Keyes	Sr.	North Carolina A&T State	Kinston, N.C.
WR	Montavious Williams	r-So.	Florida A&M	Tallahassee, Fla.
TE	Justin Chaney	Jr.	Howard	Hammond, La.
C	Phillip Norman	r-Jr.	Bethune-Cookman	Sebastian, Fla.
OL	Toree Boyd	Sr.	Howard	Miami, Fla.
OL	Marcus Pettiford	So.	North Carolina A&T State	Durham, N.C.
OL*	Tarrance Wells	Sr.	North Carolina Central	Oxon Hill, Md.
OL*	Keonte Cash	So.	Florida A&M	Miami, Fla.

Second-Team Defense

Pos.	Name	Cl.	School	Hometown
DL	Antonio Brown	r-Jr.	North Carolina Central	Jacksonville, Fla.
DL	Gregtavious Newell	r-Jr.	South Carolina State	Columbia, S.C.
DL	Chris Lee	Jr.	Norfolk State	Woodbridge, Va.
DL*	Todney Evans	r-So.	Bethune-Cookman	Delray Beach, Fla.
DL*	DeMarcus Womack	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Orlando, Fla.
LB*	Jalen Day	r-Sr.	Howard	Winston Salem, N.C.
LB*	Marcus Albert	r-Jr.	North Carolina A&T State	College Park, Ga.
LB	Malik Harris	Jr.	Delaware State	Washington, D.C.
DB*	William Burton	Sr.	Delaware State	Washington Township, N.J.
DB*	Zerius Lockhart	r-Jr.	North Carolina A&T State	Auburn, Ala.
DB	Craig Johnson	Sr.	Howard	Brooklyn, N.Y.
DB*	Davanta Reynolds	r-So.	North Carolina Central	Tucker, Ga.
DB*	Sandy Chapman	Sr.	Norfolk State	Raleigh, N.C.
PK	Cameron Marouf	Sr.	Norfolk State	Woodbridge, Va.
P*	Jerome Pettiway	Jr.	South Carolina State	York, S.C.
P*	Colby Blanton	r-So.	Florida A&M	Jacksonville, Fla.
RS	LaVontis Smith	Sr.	North Carolina Central	Maben, Miss.

Third-Team Offense

Pos.	Name	Cl.	School	Hometown
QB	Larry Brihm, Jr.	r-Jr.	Bethune-Cookman	Delray Beach, Fla.
RB	Dondre Brown	Jr.	South Carolina State	Varnville, S.C.
RB*	Gerard Johnson	Sr.	Norfolk State	Richmond, Va.
RB*	Dwayne Garrett	r-Sr.	Hampton	Phoenix, Ariz.
WR	Frank Brown	r-Jr.	Bethune-Cookman	Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
WR	Aris Scott	Sr.	Delaware State	Harrisburg, Pa.
TE	Willie Gillus	r-Jr.	Morgan State	Suffolk, Va.
C	Darriel Mack	r-Jr.	North Carolina A&T State	Cilo, S.C.
OL	Donovan Johnson	Sr.	Hampton	Clifton, Md.
OL	Joshua Miles	Jr.	Morgan State	Baltimore, Md.
OL	Ryan Gould	Jr.	Hampton	Clemmons, S.C.
OL	Chuka Ezeuzoh	So.	Delaware State	Wilmington, Del.

 Third-Team Defense

Pos.	Name	Cl.	School	Hometown
DL	Malik Hampton-Prioleau	Sr.	North Carolina A&T State	Bossier City, La.
DL	Jai Franklin	Jr.	Morgan State	Clinton, Md.
DL*	Walter Brantley	So.	Norfolk State	Hampton, Va.
DL*	Ja’Quan Smith	r-Jr.	North Carolina Central	Miramar, Fla.
LB	Marquis Smith	Sr.	Savannah State	Prince Georges County, Md.
LB*	Rashawn Barrett	Sr.	Delaware State	Montclair, N.J.
LB*	Trenton Bridges	r-So.	Bethune-Cookman	Deland, Fla.
DB	Tard McCoy	r-Jr.	North Carolina A&T State	Delray Beach, Fla.
DB	Myles Morris	r-Sr.	Hampton	Greensboro, N.C.
DB	Arthur Williams	Jr.	Bethune-Cookman	Sebring, Fla.
DB	Devondre Powell	Jr.	South Carolina State	Miami, Fla.
PK*	Uriel Hernandez	So.	Bethune-Cookman	Homestead, Fla.
PK*	Tyler Scandrett	Jr.	South Carolina State	Barnesville, Ga.
P	John Barron	Sr.	Savannah State	Marietta, Ga.
RS	Marcus Taylor	So.	Norfolk State	Highland Springs, Va.

*denotes tie

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North Carolina A&T State Picked To Win 2016 MEAC Football Title

NORFOLK, Virginia -- North Carolina A&T State received 13 first-place votes, to receive the first place ranking in the conference’s preseason poll for the 2016 MEAC Football season.

All three teams (North Carolina A&T State, Bethune-Cookman, North Carolina Central) that earned a share of the conference title last year rounded out the first three spots of this year’s preseason predicted order of finish.

2016 MEAC FOOTBALL
PRESEASON PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

Rank	School	Points
1.	North Carolina A&T State (13)	489
2.	Bethune-Cookman (3)	447
3.	North Carolina Central (4)	388
4.	South Carolina State	351
5.	Hampton (1)	265
6.	Norfolk State	239
7.	Morgan State	192
8.	Florida A&M	164
9.	Delaware State (1)	121
10.	Howard	90
11.	Savannah State	48

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