South Carolina State Picked Second; Six Bulldogs Earn Preseason All-MEAC Honors

SC State head coach Buddy Pough addresses the media
Friday  at the MEAC’s Annual Football Press Luncheon
held in  Norfolk, Virginia
(Courtesy SC State Athletics)

NORFOLK, Virginia — Six SC State University Bulldogs were named to the preseason all-conference team, while SC State was picked to finish second behind, the defending champion Bethune-Cookman in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) as voted by the league's head football coaches and sports information directors.

The announcements were made at the MEAC's Annual Football Press Luncheon held Friday afternoon at the Norfolk Marriott Waterside Hotel in Virginia.

Sophomore defensive lineman Javon Hargrave and redshirt-senior punter Nick Belcher earned All-MEAC First Team honors, while junior linebacker Justin Hughes earned Second Team All-MEAC accolades and senior wide receiver Tyler McDonald, redshirt-junior offense lineman Domanic Wilson, redshirt-junior defensive lineman Andrew Carter, and kicker Nick Belcher all earned Third Team All-MEAC honors respectively.

"I was surprised," head football coach Buddy Pough said. "I hadn't quite had a chance to digest it all. But I guess they still respect what we have done in the past."

Hargrave (Salisbury, NC) recorded 45 total tackles, 26 solos, with 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks as a true freshman. He was named to The College Sports Journal 2012 FCS All-Freshman Team.

Belcher (Sumter, SC) averaged 38.9 yards on 75 punts and had a long of 62 yards with 20 kicks inside the 20-yard line. He also made 8 of 15 field goal attempts, with a long of 47 yards.

SC State is coming off a 5-6 overall record and a 4-4 conference mark. The Bulldogs were picked to finish second in the MEAC standings a year ago. With a second place prediction for 2013, SC State is listed ahead No. 3 North Carolina A&T, No. 4 NC Central and No. 5 Florida A&M to round out the top five teams.

"I think we've got guys who should be disturbed that they weren't selected and it might give them some inspiration," Pough said.

The Bulldogs open the 2013 season on Aug.31 at home against Coastal Carolina at Oliver. C. Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg, SC. Season tickets to SC State's five home games are still available for more information go online to www.scsuathletics.com or contact the SC State Ticket Office at 803-536-8579 or 1-800-298-9157.



BUY  S.C. STATE SEASON FOOTBALL TICKETS

2013 Predicted Order of Finish
(First Place Votes in Parenthesis)
School Points
1. Bethune-Cookman (16) 480
2. South Carolina State (2) 365
3. North Carolina A&T 302
4. North Carolina Central 260
5. Florida A&M 250
6.Howard 227
7. Norfolk State (1) 222
8. Delaware State 201
9. Hampton (1) 196
10. Morgan State 113
11. Savannah State (1) 52

First Team All-Defense
Pos. Player Cl. Hometown
DL Javon Hargrave So. Salisbury, N.C.
P Nick Belcher r-Sr. Sumter, S.C.

Second Team All-Defense
Pos. Player Cl. Hometown
LB Justin Hughes Jr. Virginia Beach, Va.

Third Team All-Offense
Pos. Player Cl. Hometown
WR Tyler McDonald Sr. Summerville, SC
OL Domanic Wilson r-Jr. Lake City, SC

Third Team All-Defense
Pos. Player Cl. Hometown
DL Andrew Carter r-Jr. Hamlet, NC
PK Nick Belcher r-Sr. Sumter,




COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION