Monday, July 20, 2015

SIAC Announces 2015 Pre-Season All-Conference Football Team

ATLANTA, Georgia -- The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) released their annual Football Preseason All-Conference Teams as voted on by the league's head coaches on Monday, with a pair of Albany State players coming away with the top honors.

Taking home the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year award was a name familiar to those in the SIAC, running back Jarvis Small, who won the 2014 Offensive Player of the Year Award after leading the SIAC in rushing with 1,196 yards and 13 touchdowns. Joining him in the superlatives is teammate Tavarius Washington, a senior linebacker who is the top returning tackler from a year ago recording 93 tackles, with 17.5 of those coming behind the line of scrimmage. In addition to these recognitions, both players were also placed on the Preseason All-Conference First Team.

Highlighting the Second Team is 2014 Freshman of the Year, Tuskegee linebacker Osband Thompson. Thompson recorded 80 tackles last season, good enough for 12th best in the conference, while adding three sacks along the way.

Three teams placed the most student-athletes on the two preseason squads, as Albany State, Central State and Tuskegee all had nine recipients, with ASU and TU having five selected to the first team.

In addition to the individual awards, the league also announced the projected order of finish for the 2015 season. Foreseeing a repeat of last season's championship game, the coaches picked Albany State to win the East Division with six first place votes, and Tuskegee in the West Division in a unanimous decision. Fort Valley State (3) and Benedict (2) were the only other schools to receive first place votes in their respective divisions.

2015 SIAC FOOTBALL PRE-SEASON ALL CONFERENCE

Pre-Season Offensive Player of the Year
Jarvis Small (Albany State)

Pre-Season Defensive Player of the Year 
Tavarius Washington (Albany State)

OFFENSE
FIRST TEAMSECOND TEAM
Josh StraughanStillmanQBMonqavious JohnsonMorehouse
Jarvis SmallAlbany StateRBOtis BrownFort Valley State
Jonathan ClarkMilesRBIsaiah GroomsCentral State
Drelon FreemanFort Valley StateWRChristopher MurrayCentral State
Marquel GardnerTuskegeeWRDevon MannMorehouse
Zach ThomasCentral StateTELeonard WalkerAlbany State
D'Mon TuckerLaneOLKenneth AverhartAlbany State
Javoris WilburnAlbany StateOLDevin RadcliffeCentral State
Tyree BellStillmanOLMichael BrownFort Valley State
Kelvin SheltonTuskegeeOLJustice ThomasMorehouse
Terrence OwensMilesOLMontell CollinsMiles
DEFENSE
Braysean JonesMilesDLDarian HallTuskegee
Artrell McMillanCentral StateDLGrover StewartAlbany State
Julian MorganTuskegeeDLTayvin ZieglerCentral State
Jack NdemAlbany StateDLGabriel MassLane
Lydell SimonKentucky StateLBOsband ThompsonTuskegee
Jewell RatliffTuskegeeLBGervell MorganCentral State
Tavarius WashingtonAlbany StateLBTrevon SpencerKentucky State
Will LacyLaneDBOkoye BozemanCentral State
Brian WalkerFort Valley StateDBDashad TuckerCentral State
Michael RobinsonTuskegeeDBJermaine GrahamKentucky State
Nick ScottAlbany StateDBCedric CuffTuskegee
Juan SernaFort Valley StateKZachery Gayden-HolleyAlbany State
Juan SernaFort Valley StatePTemitayo ArgoroMorehouse
Corey SlaughterKentucky StateKRDarrius MitchellLane
Darius MitchellLanePRDevozea GainesTuskegee
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

EASTERN DIVISION                                           WESTERN DIVISION
Albany State University (6)                               Tuskegee University (10) **
Fort Valley State University (3)                         Miles College
Benedict College (2)                                           Stillman College
Morehouse College                                             Central State University
Clark Atlanta University                                     Kentucky State University
                                                                            Lane College

**2014 SIAC FOOTBALL CHAMPTIONS

COURTESY SIAC MEDIA RELATIONS

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