DSU Motivated by 10th Place Showing in 2015 MEAC Poll

Norfolk, Virginia -- Delaware State players attending the annual Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football kickoff  affair hope to prove voters wrong in their prediction for the Hornets in the 2015 conference race. DSU has been picked to finish 10^th in the 2015 conference standings, according to a poll of league head coaches and sports information directors announced during the MEAC Kickoff Luncheon at the Norfolk Waterside Marriot today.

Delaware State first-year head coach Kenneth Carter was joined by senior receiver Morris Frasier and junior defense end Gabe Sherrod at the event.

North Carolina A&T, one of five teams to share the 2014 MEAC title, is the choice of voters to capture the crown this season. The Aggies collected nine of 22 first place votes and 425 total points in the balloting.

South Carolina State is a close second with four first place votes and 408 points. The Bulldogs also owned a share of the 2014 MEAC title.

Bethune-Cookman (387 points), North Carolina Central (334) and Morgan State (318) round out the top five in the MEAC preseason poll.  The Wildcats, Eagles and Bears also captured a share of the league championship last season.

Morgan State was awarded the MEAC’s automatic bid for the 2014 NCAA FCS playoffs in a tie-breaker among five teams.

“Polls are great for the fans and generating conversation, but games and championships are won on the field,” said Carter, who is in his first head coaching job after more than two decades as an assistant. “Our players and coaches are working extremely hard to put a great product on the field. I like our team and our chances to have a successful MEAC season.”
  
The MEAC also announced its preseason all-conference teams and players-of-the-year.

Hornet defensive back Terrick Colston (sr.; Lakeland, Fla.) was named to the Preseason All-MEAC First Team, while Sherrod (Perryville, Md.) and center Ernest Mengoni (jr.; Eynan, Pa.) were third team picks.

Colston was tied for fourth in the MEAC with four interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, last season. He set a DSU record with interceptions in four consecutive games and earned MEAC Defensive Player-of-the-Week and Special Teams Player-of-the-Week honors during the 2014 season. Colston was an All-MEAC Second Team selection in 2012 and a third team pick the last two years.

Sherrod was seventh on the Hornets with 46 total tackles in his first season at defensive end in 2014. He was second on the team with 7.5 tackles-for-loss and five sacks. Sherrod was also credited with an interception, three quarterback hurries, forced fumble and recovery and a blocked kick last season.
Mengoni, the Hornets’ 2014 team MVP, is entering his third season as the team’s starting center.
North Carolina A&T running back Tarik Cohen is the voters’ choice as the 2015 MEAC Preseason Offensive Player-of-the-Year, while South Carolina State senior end Javon Hargrave has been selected as the league’s preseason defensive player-of-the-year.

The Hornets kick off the 2015 season Sep. 5 at Liberty University. Game time is 7 p.m. in Lynchburg, Va.

Delaware State will play its 2015 home opener on Sep. 19 against Chowan. The DSU Hall-of-Fame contest is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Alumni Stadium. The Hornets will host Morgan State in their MEAC opener on Oct. 3.

DSU players report to campus Aug. 5 for preseason camp.

This year’s MEAC champion will also have the honor of representing the conference against the champ of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in the inaugural Celebration Bowl on Dec. 19 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

	Football - MEAC Media Day Interview: Gabe Sherrod
	Football - MEAC Media Day Interview: Morris Frasier

  COURTESY DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION