S.C. State picked second in MEAC behind N.C. A&T

NORFOLK, Virginia -- South Carolina State was picked to finish second Friday in the annual Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football poll of head coaches and sports information directors. North Carolina A&T was picked first.

S.C. State received four first-place votes with North Carolina A&T State getting nine. All five teams that earned a share of the MEAC title last year rounded were in the top five spots in the preseason poll, including No. 3 Bethune-Cookman, No. 4 N.C. Central and No. 5 Morgan State.

All-American senior defensive lineman Javon Hargrave of S.C. State was named preseason Defensive Player of the Year. He earned first-team All-MEAC honors, along with sophomore linebacker Darius Leonard.

Running back Jalen Simmons, tight end Temarrick Hemingway and offensive lineman Javarius Leamon, defensive end Reggie Owens and defensive back/return specialist Antonio Hamilton were picked to the All-MEAC second team.

CONTINUE READING