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| COACH KERMIT BLOUNT (Courtesy DSU Athletics) |
The Hornets received a total of 201 points in the preseason poll. Bethune-Cookman is the overwhelming favorite to win its second straight MEAC championship. The Wildcats collected 16 of 21 first place votes and 480 points in the poll.
Delaware State exceeded the preseason MEAC expectations in 2012. The Hornets were tied for third in the final standings with a 5-3 record after a 10th place prediction in the preseason poll last season.
“The preseason polls are good for conversation, but what happens on the field is all that matters,” said Delaware State third-year head coach Kermit Blount. “We lost a number of key players from last year, but we have a solid group of veterans returning and some promising newcomers. There are a lot of question marks on our team, and we have great deal of work to do to get ready for the new season.”
South Carolina State, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central and Florida A&M round out the top five in the 2013 MEAC preseason poll.
The MEAC also announced its 2013 preseason all-conference teams and players-of-the-year.
Five Delaware State players were selected to the preseason All-MEAC First Team: LB Ernest Adjei (sr.); DL Rodney Gunter; DB Terrick Colston (so.): C Brandon Cunningham (sr.); and RB Malcolm Williams.
Adjei, a 2012 All-MEAC First Team pick, Adjei was tied for sixth in the MEAC in tackles at 8.5 per game last season (93 total).
Gunter was a 2012 All-MEAC Second Team selection. He was tied for seventh in the MEAC in sacks (0.5 pg; 5.5 total) and tops among DSU defensive linemen with 49 tackles (27 solo) last season.
Colston, a 2012 Jerry Rice Award nominee (top FCS freshman), was second on the Hornets and fifth in the MEAC in tackles (8.6 pg; 95 total) a year ago.
A 2012 All-MEAC Second Team selection, Cunningham is the lone returning starter on the Hornets’ offensive line.
Williams is the Hornets’ top returning rusher with 437 yards despite missing two games due to an ankle injury in 2012. He had two 100-yard games last season, including 120 vs. FBS Cincinnati.
Delaware State free safety Davon Moore (jr.) was named to the 2013 preseason All-MEAC Second Team. A 2012 All-MEAC First Team pick, Moore was third in the league in tackles (8.8 pg; 97 total) and tied for third with four interceptions in 2012. His 175 interception return yards were tops in the MEAC and second among all FCS players last season.
Florida A&M quarterback Damien Fleming and Bethune-Cookman running back Isidore Jackson were selected as the MEAC’s 2013 Preseason Co-Offensive Players-of-the-Year; while Bethune-Cookman linebacker Jarkevis Fields was named as the top defensive player.
Delaware State was 6-5 overall in 2012, its first winning season since 2007.
The Hornets report for preseason camp on Aug. 7. The first camp day on the field is Aug. 9.
DSU will open the 2013 season with four consecutive road games, beginning at Delaware on Sep. 7 in the fifth meeting between the state’s two Division I football programs. The Hornets will also visit Towson (Sep. 14), two-time defending FCS champion North Dakota State (Sep. 21) and Savannah State (Sep. 28) in the MEAC opener before playing at home.
The Hornets’ 2013 home opener is Oct. 5 against Bethune-Cookman. Game time is 2:00 p.m. at Alumni Stadium.
Delaware State will also welcome Norfolk State (Oct. 12), Howard (Nov. 2) and Morgan State
(Nov. 23) to Alumni Stadium this season.
COURTESY DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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