SIAC Football preseason honors

SIAC ANNOUNCES 2019 FOOTBALL PRESEASON HONORS

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.

Let the countdown continue…#Morehouse pic.twitter.com/AJRp5Z19Tu

— Morehouse Maroon Tigers (@MaroonTigers) June 30, 2019

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

[inArticle]

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.

pic.twitter.com/CKIjUcYe3c

— Miles College Birmingham Alumni Chapter TM (@MilesBhamAlumni) June 14, 2019

[inArticle]

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.

[inArticle]

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 Team

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.