HBCU Gameday D2 All-Americans 2016

 

Quarterback
First Team:
Amir Hall, Bowie State (61.9 percent comp., 3,596 passing yards, 30 TDs passing, 9 TDs rushing)

After seeing limited duty in 2015, Hall assumed the reins of Bowie State’s offense for Nyema Washington after a preseason injury and never looked back. The sophomore quarterback threw for a CIAA-record 3,596 yards while completing nearly 62 percent of his passes for 30 touchdowns. He also ran for nine touchdowns.

Second Team: Kevin Lacey, Tuskegee

Running Backs

First Team:
Trent Cannon, Virginia State (1,214 yards, 18 TDs, 169.6 total yards per game)
William Stanback, Virginia Union (1,299, 15 TDs)

Cannon came into the season as HBCU Gameday’s top D2 back, and he proved it, especially late in the season. He put up big numbers despite sharing the rushing load with fellow 1,000-yard rusher Kevon Bellamy. Down the road in Richmond, Will Stanback did exactly what a D2 program hopes for when it lands a former FBS player: Dominate. Stanback led the CIAA in rushing and finished second in touchdowns to Cannon.

Second Team: Kerrion Moore (WSSU), George Myers, Jr. (Benedict)

Receivers

Nyme Manns, Bowie State (83 catches, 1,241 yards, 8 TDs)
Desmond Reece, Tuskegee (58 catches, 910 yards, 10 TDs)

For the second year in a row, Manns was Bowie State’s primary offensive weapon and one of the best receivers in D2 college football period. Reece led the SIAC in receptions, yards and touchdowns.

Second Team: Lavatiae Kelly (Va. Union), Sam Boyd, St. Aug

Tight End
Victor Tabbs, Elizabeth City State (39 catches, 639 yards, 3 TDs)

Tabbs led ECSU in receiving and averaged 16.4 yards per catch, which is impressive for a receiver, no less a tight end.

Offensive Line
First team: 

Javoris Wilburn, Albany State
Jac’Que Polite, Winston-Salem State
Justin Nestor, Bowie State
Tedrick Cofield, Albany State
Kevin Shelton, Tuskegee

Second team: Tyshon Henderson (CAU), Leeward Brown (Tusgkegee), Victor Tamba (Bowie State), Daris Johnson (Bowie State), Abraham Garcia (Virginia Union)

Defensive Line

First team: 
Whitney Richardson, Lane (17.5 sacks, 32.5 tackles for loss)
Bryant Frazier, Virginia State (14.5 sacks, 24 tackles for loss)
Grover Stewart, Albany State (7.5 sacks)
Jarrell Bright, Winston-Salem State (12 sacks, 17 Tackles For Loss)

Second team:
Dominique Hannibal (Shaw), Miles Pace (Va. Union), Julian Morgan (Tuskegee), Monte Taylor (Albany State)

Linebackers

Osband Thompson, Tuskegee (137 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles)
Geo Feggins, Virginia State (96 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks)
David Smith, Morehouse (103 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries)

Second Team: 
Deonte Gary (Central State), Kevaughn Towsend (Bowie State), Brandon Lynch (Va. State)

Defensive Backs
First Team: 

Carlo Thomas, Johnson C. Smith (7 interceptions, 5 breakups,
Brian Walker, Fort Valley State (6 interceptions, 5 breakups, 2 TD returns)
Malcolm Cherry, Elizabeth City State (49 tackles, 4 interceptions, 17 breakups, 2 FG blocks)
Rodeshawn Joseph, Virginia Union (49 tackles, 4 interceptions, 10 breakups)
Second Team:

Eric Henderson (Fayetteville State), Jonah McCutcheon (Tuskegee), Rahman Kamara (Bowie State), Edward Kirkland, (Benedict)

Punter
Cody Waddell, Lincoln (PA)
Waddell got off a 70 yard punt, but he’s here mostly because 17 of his punts landed in his opponents 20.

Kicker
Will Johnson, Winston-Salem State
The hero of the 2015 CIAA Championship Game, Johnson connected in 13 field goal attempts, including a 50-yarder.

Punt Returns
Lavatiae Kelly, Virginia Union

Kelly averaged 16.5 yards per punt return, including an 86-yarder.

Kick Returns
Canard Brown, Winston-Salem State

Brown was solid all year, averaging 25.8 yards per kick return, but his 87 yard touchdown return against Bowie State may have been the turning point of the CIAA Championship. He also scored a touchdown on a punt retun.