Photo: Morgan State senior running back Chad Simpson is looking to be the conference’s top rusher this season after posting 795 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
Mike Peters, The Examiner
BALTIMORE -
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. Hampton: Hampton is the three-time defending conference champion. The defense, led by senior DE Kendall Langford, who is coming off a 55-tackle, eight-sack season last year, makes the Pirates the team to beat.
2. South Carolina State: The Bulldogs finished third last season, but many of the conference’s coaches believe they are the team to beat this fall. South Carolina State gradated the MEAC’s leading rusher, DeShawn Baker, but returns sophomore RB William Ford, who rushed for 752 yards last season.
3. Delaware State: Coming off an 8-3 season in which it placed second in the MEAC, Delaware State returns senior WR Shaheer McBride, who caught 11 of the team’s 12 touchdown receptions last year. However, the Hornets are counting on senior RB Lennox Norville to establish the running game after the team’s leading rusher, Emmanuel Marc, graduated last year.
4. Florida A&M: Behind QB Albert Chester, the Rattlers led the MEAC in passing offense last season. Chester, a senior, led the conference with 168 completions, 18 touchdowns and 198.6 passing yards a game last season.
5. Morgan State: The Bears return 10 starters on offense this season, including QB Mario Melton, WR Roderick Wolfe and RB Chad Simpson. Cliff Louis, who started at left tackle last season, signed with the Cleveland Browns after graduation, but Virginia Tech transfer Robert Norris will replace him and open running lanes for Simpson.
6. Bethune-Cookman: The Wildcats went 4-7 last season, their first losing record since 1997. Senior FS Bobbie Williams, who intercepted six passes in each of the last two seasons, will lead a defense that will likely carry a team that graduated its leading rusher, passer and receiver.
7. Howard: Despite losing five of its first six games, Howard finished 5-6 last season. The Bison must count on a repeat performance from senior linebacker Rudy Hardie, who compiled 54 tackles, 10 sacks and 3 forced fumbles in last fall.
8. Norfolk State: The Spartans are counting on improved play from senior QB Casey Hansen (conference-high 2,166 yards, 10 TDs, 16 INTs) and sophomore RB DeAngelo Branche (341 yards, 3 TDs) to turn around a team that went 4-7 last year.
9. North Carolina A&T: After finishing 0-11 and allowing 475 points last season, the Aggies may not be leaving the cellar soon. But if they are going to make a move, they will need a huge year from junior running back Mike Ferguson, who ran for 631 yards last fall.
Morgan State Bears
» Coach: Donald Hill-Eley (sixth year, 25-31)
» Last year: 5-6 overall, 4-4 league
» Returning starters on offense: 10. QB Mario Melton; RB Chad Simpson; WR Roderick Wolfe; WR Edwin Baptiste; WR Robert Surratt; OL Dakarai Grimsley; OL James Key; OL Dwayne Delaney; OL Nathan Soto; K Johnathan Skeete.
» Returning starters on defense: 8. CB Dakota Bracey; S Kendell Jackson; LB Kofi Nkrumah; DT Anthony Young; DL Dominique Laurent; DL Justin Lawrence; LB Jerrell Guyton; P James Meade.
» Shining star: Simpson. The senior running back rushed for 795 yards and nine touchdowns in 11 games last fall.
» Keep an eye on: WR Edwin Baptiste. The sophomore was the team’s third-leading receiver last year with 12 catches for 184 yards and should flourish opposite Wolfe.
» Big Shoes: LT Robert Norris: The 6-foot-4, 335-pound transfer from Virginia Tech will be counted on to take the place of Cliff Louis, who signed with the Cleveland Browns this spring.
Mike Peters, The Examiner
BALTIMORE -
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. Hampton: Hampton is the three-time defending conference champion. The defense, led by senior DE Kendall Langford, who is coming off a 55-tackle, eight-sack season last year, makes the Pirates the team to beat.
2. South Carolina State: The Bulldogs finished third last season, but many of the conference’s coaches believe they are the team to beat this fall. South Carolina State gradated the MEAC’s leading rusher, DeShawn Baker, but returns sophomore RB William Ford, who rushed for 752 yards last season.
3. Delaware State: Coming off an 8-3 season in which it placed second in the MEAC, Delaware State returns senior WR Shaheer McBride, who caught 11 of the team’s 12 touchdown receptions last year. However, the Hornets are counting on senior RB Lennox Norville to establish the running game after the team’s leading rusher, Emmanuel Marc, graduated last year.
4. Florida A&M: Behind QB Albert Chester, the Rattlers led the MEAC in passing offense last season. Chester, a senior, led the conference with 168 completions, 18 touchdowns and 198.6 passing yards a game last season.
5. Morgan State: The Bears return 10 starters on offense this season, including QB Mario Melton, WR Roderick Wolfe and RB Chad Simpson. Cliff Louis, who started at left tackle last season, signed with the Cleveland Browns after graduation, but Virginia Tech transfer Robert Norris will replace him and open running lanes for Simpson.
6. Bethune-Cookman: The Wildcats went 4-7 last season, their first losing record since 1997. Senior FS Bobbie Williams, who intercepted six passes in each of the last two seasons, will lead a defense that will likely carry a team that graduated its leading rusher, passer and receiver.
7. Howard: Despite losing five of its first six games, Howard finished 5-6 last season. The Bison must count on a repeat performance from senior linebacker Rudy Hardie, who compiled 54 tackles, 10 sacks and 3 forced fumbles in last fall.
8. Norfolk State: The Spartans are counting on improved play from senior QB Casey Hansen (conference-high 2,166 yards, 10 TDs, 16 INTs) and sophomore RB DeAngelo Branche (341 yards, 3 TDs) to turn around a team that went 4-7 last year.
9. North Carolina A&T: After finishing 0-11 and allowing 475 points last season, the Aggies may not be leaving the cellar soon. But if they are going to make a move, they will need a huge year from junior running back Mike Ferguson, who ran for 631 yards last fall.
Morgan State Bears
» Coach: Donald Hill-Eley (sixth year, 25-31)
» Last year: 5-6 overall, 4-4 league
» Returning starters on offense: 10. QB Mario Melton; RB Chad Simpson; WR Roderick Wolfe; WR Edwin Baptiste; WR Robert Surratt; OL Dakarai Grimsley; OL James Key; OL Dwayne Delaney; OL Nathan Soto; K Johnathan Skeete.
» Returning starters on defense: 8. CB Dakota Bracey; S Kendell Jackson; LB Kofi Nkrumah; DT Anthony Young; DL Dominique Laurent; DL Justin Lawrence; LB Jerrell Guyton; P James Meade.
» Shining star: Simpson. The senior running back rushed for 795 yards and nine touchdowns in 11 games last fall.
» Keep an eye on: WR Edwin Baptiste. The sophomore was the team’s third-leading receiver last year with 12 catches for 184 yards and should flourish opposite Wolfe.
» Big Shoes: LT Robert Norris: The 6-foot-4, 335-pound transfer from Virginia Tech will be counted on to take the place of Cliff Louis, who signed with the Cleveland Browns this spring.
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