The SIAC Names 2019 Pre-Season All Conference Football Team

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The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Names its 2019 Pre-Season All Conference football team (Photo:Courtesy of the SIAC )

(This story and picture are  courtesy of the SIAC) 

ATLANTA, Ga. (July 9, 2019) – Junior running back Santo Dunn of Morehouse College was named the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Preseason Offensive Player of the Year along with senior linebacker Austin Stephens of Miles College who was selected as Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, announced Tuesday during media day at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Ga.

All votes are submitted by head coaches and sports information directors.

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Santo Dunn, Running back
Morehouse College

Dunn, a junior running back, was picked as last season’s SIAC Offensive Player of the Year and returns for his third year with the Maroon Tigers. The Miami, FL native led the SIAC in rushing yards (875), scoring (8.4 points per game), and touchdowns with 14. Dunn also ranked nationally in rushing yards at No. 38, tied for No. 25 in scoring and No. 17 in total touchdowns. He earned BOXTOROW National Player of the Week honors after his performance versus Tuskegee University where he ran for a game-high 125 yards and three touchdowns in the upset victory. The same week, Dunn was added to the Black College Hall of Fame Player of the Year watch list. Dunn also earned SIAC Offensive Player of the Week once this season and was named to the BOXTOROW All-American Honorable Mention Team.

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Austin Stephens, Linebacker
Miles College

Stephens, a senior linebacker, was picked as last season’s Defensive Player of the Year and returns for his fourth year with the Golden Bears. The Munford, Ala. native led the SIAC in total tackles (120), which is currently tied for seventh in Division II. Stephens had 14.5 tackles for loss, one sack, an interception and a fumble he recovered and returned for a touchdown. He also earned one SIAC Defensive Player of the Week award. Stephens became the first-ever player from Miles to be named to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II All-American Team and was the only SIAC selection in the 2018 D2CCA All-Super Region 2 Football Team.

Preseason Rankings
In the East Division, Albany State is anticipated to capture the Eastern Division Championship title as they had three first place picks. With two first place votes, Benedict was voted ahead of Morehouse, who had one first place vote. Fort Valley State was picked to finish fourth as Clark Atlanta and newest member, Savannah State, round out the eastern division.

In the West Division, defending SIAC Champions, Miles, is anticipated to top the west after receiving two first place votes and leading the poll for the first time since 2016. Tuskegee was picked to finish second with two first place votes leading Central State with three first place votes. Lane and Kentucky State round out the western division.

Football Preseason Rankings by Division
Eastern Division

  1. Albany State (3)
  2. Benedict (2)
  3. Morehouse (1)
  4. Fort Valley State
  5. Clark Atlanta
  6. Savannah State

Western Division

  1. Miles (2)
  2. Tuskegee (2)
  3. Central State (3)
  4. Lane
  5. Kentucky State

*first-place votes in parenthesis

2019 SIAC Football Preseason

First Team

Martesse Patterson Senior Offensive Lineman Tuskegee Columbus, Ohio
Jean Cyriaque Senior Offensive Lineman Morehouse Durham, NC
Darrius Hicks Junior Offensive Lineman Fort Valley State Camilla, Ga.
Aaron Scroggins Junior Offensive Lineman Miles Bessemer, Al.
Rochelin Romain Senior Offensive Lineman Tuskegee Pompano Beach, Florida
Robert Corbin, Jr. Junior Tight End Central State Cincinnati, Oh.
Leonard Tyree Redshirt Senior Wide Receiver Miles Tuscaloosa, Al.
Kevin Greenhow Senior Wide Receiver Central State Columbus, Oh.
Santo Dunn Junior Running Back Morehouse Miami, Fl.
Terraris Saffold Senior Running Back Central State Hayneville, Al.
Michael Sims Junior Quarterback Morehouse Detroit, Mi.
Deonte Jackson Senior Defensive Lineman Albany State Fairburn, Ga.
Brayce McKinzie Junior Defensive Lineman Lane Geneva, FL
Chris Roberts Junior Defensive Lineman Kentucky State Frankfort, Ky.
Breante Glover Sophomore Defensive Lineman Clark Atlanta LaGrange, Ga.
Kailen Abrams Junior Linebacker Central State Detroit, Mi.
Austin Stephens Senior Linebacker Miles Munford, Al.
Davoris Thomas Senior Linebacker Tuskegee Mobile, Ala.
Camron Young Senior Defensive Back Fort Valley State Eastman, Ga.
Robert Cummings Senior Defensive Back Benedict Macon, Ga.
Rorrick Steward Redshirt Junior Defensive Back Tuskegee Decatur, Alabama
Traviontae Brown Senior Defensive Back Benedict Albany, Ga.
Gabriel Ballinas Junior Kicker Albany State Guadalupe, Mexico
Gabriel Ballinas Junior Punter Albany State Guadalupe, Mexico
Lorenzo Smothers Junior Punt Returner Fort Valley State Buena Vista, Ga.
Anthony Evelyn Sophomore Kick Returner Lane Atlantic Beach, FL

Second Team

Lee Humphrey Senior Offensive Lineman Morehouse Plano, Ill.
Raekwon Bethea Senior Offensive Lineman Albany State Gainesville, Fl.
Paul Coleman Sophomore Offensive Lineman Clark Atlanta Montgomery, Ala.
Christian Taylor Junior Offensive Lineman Benedict Lexington, S.C.
Eliezer Hernandez Junior Offensive Lineman Kentucky State Lake Worth, Fla.
Montavious Tinch Senior Tight End Miles Elberton, Ga.
Tremell Gooden Senior Wide Receiver Morehouse Atlanta, Ga.
Johnathan Sanders Junior Wide Receiver Clark Atlanta Atlanta, Ga.
Tracy Scott Senior Running Back Albany State Greenville, S.C.
McKinley Habersham Senior Running Back Albany State Savannah, Ga.
Daniel Smith Senior Quarterback Miles Peoria, Az.
William Callaway Junior Defensive Lineman Morehouse Scottsdale, Ga.
Jaylun Thomas Senior Defensive Lineman Miles Sylacauga, Al.
Rashaad Miller Senior Defensive Lineman Benedict Inman, S.C.
Shaun McGee Senior Defensive Lineman Tuskegee Snellville, Ga.
Julien Turner Senior Linebacker Morehouse Pickerington, OH
Amari Andrews Senior Linebacker Benedict Stone Mountain, Ga.
Edward Nelson Senior Linebacker Morehouse Chester, Pa.
Dedrick Vanover Junior Defensive Back Morehouse Gainesville, Fl.
Kendrell Walker Redshirt Junior Defensive Back Miles Tuscaloosa, Al.
Zach Anderson Junior Defensive Back Fort Valley State Cairo, Ga.
Tyler Scott Junior Defensive Back Albany State Tampa, Fl.
Jackson Spradlin Sophomore Kicker Miles Dora, Al.
Ty Woods Junior Punter Clark Atlanta Montgomery, Ala.
Brett Sylve Senior Punt Returner Kentucky State Hammond, La.
Ricci Nuckles Senior Kick Returner Morehouse Suwanee, Ga.

 

For More information go to

http://thesiac.com/news/2019/7/1/general-siac-announces-2019-football-preseason-honors.aspx