SIAC Announces 2016 Preseason Football All-Conference Awards

MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Albany State running back Jarvis Small was named the 2016 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Preseason Offensive Player of the Year while Tuskegee defensive lineman Julian Morgan was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year, announced by the league on Wednesday.

All votes are submitted by SIAC head football coaches and sports information directors.

Small, who was the 2015 SIAC Offensive Player of the Year, led the SIAC in rushing averaging 103.7 yards per game. Small recorded 1,037 yards in 2015 and scored a conference-high 11 touchdowns. He recorded six games last year where he rushed for over 100 yards, including a season-best 173 yards against Morehouse.

Morgan recorded 54 tackles in 2015 and led the Golden Tigers in sacks (9.5). He tallied nine quarterback hurries and forced three fumbles. Morgan also finished the 2015 campaign with 15.5 tackles for loss.

In addition to the individual awards, the league also announced the predicted order of finish for the 2016 season. Albany State garnered 14 first place votes and 78 points to lead the east division. Morehouse was second (52) followed by Fort Valley State (49), Clark Atlanta (29), and Benedict (22).

In the west division, Miles was picked to finish first with eight first place votes and 72 points. Tuskegee was voted second with seven first place votes and 69 points. Central State followed in third (34), ahead of Lane (27) and Kentucky State (25).

2016 SIAC Football Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
 (First Place Votes in Parenthesis)
 
East Division                                   Points
 Albany State (14)                 78

1. Morehouse (2)                     52
2. Fort Valley State (1)             49
3. Clark Atlanta                        29
4. Benedict                               22

 
West Division                                  Points
 Miles (8)                                72

1. Tuskegee (7)                         69
2. Central State                         34
3. Lane (1)                                 27
4. Kentucky State                      25

Offensive Player of the Year: Jarvis Small, Albany State
Defensive Player of the Year: Julian Morgan, Tuskegee
 
2016 SIAC Preseason Football First Team

QB	David Whipple		Miles	Senior	Gordon, Ga.
TE	Leo Gilbert		Tuskegee	Senior	Miami, Fla.
WR	Desmond Reece		Tuskegee	R-Senior	Valley, Ala.
WR	Quadrey Simmons		Albany State	Junior	Cope, S.C.
RB	Jamarcus Nance		Miles	Senior	Muscle Shoals, Ala.
RB	Jarvis Small		Albany State	Senior	Brunswick, Ga.
OL	Chris Ruffin		Miles	Junior	Bessemer, Ala.
OL	Leeward Brown		Tuskegee	Junior	Miami, Fla.
OL	Javoris Wilburn		Albany State	Senior	Warrenton, Ga.
OL	Marcus Campbell		Kentucky St.	Sophomore	Radcliff, Ky.
OL	Tedrick Cofield		Albany State	Junior	Atlanta, Ga.
DL	Grover Stewart		Albany State	Senior	Camillia, Ga.
DL	Julian Morgan		Tuskegee	Senior	Lithia Springs, Ga.
DL	Daryl George		Tuskegee	Senior	Douglasville, Ga.
DL	Bretton Ervin		Kentucky St.	Sophomore	Louisville, Ky.
LB	Deonate Gary		Central State	Senior	Lakeland, Fla.
LB	Javonte Kelly		Lane	Senior	Memphis, Tenn.
LB	Osband Thompson		Tuskegee	Junior	Miami, Fla.
DB	Clim Robbins		Central State	Senior	West Orlando, Fla.
DB	Jonah McCutcheon		Tuskegee	R-Junior	Mobile, Ala.
DB		Nick Scott	Albany State	Senior	Ellabell,Ga.
DB		Nehemiah Coward	Central State	Senior	Clermont, Fla.
K	Nick Christiansen		Miles	Junior	Clayton, N.C.
P	Juan Serna		Fort Valley	Junior	Douglasville, Ga.
KR	Amyr Smith		Morehouse	Sophomore	Atlanta, Ga.
PR	Amyr Smith		Morehouse	Sophomore	Atlanta, Ga.

 
2016 SIAC Preseason Football Second Team

QB	Caleb Edmonds	Albany State	Senior	Smyrna, Ga.
TE	Ryan Edwards	Morehouse	Senior	Atlanta, Ga.
WR	Charles Johnson	Kentucky St.	Junior	Erlanger, Ky.
WR	Brenton Martin	Clark Atlanta	Sophomore	Marietta, Ga.
RB	Reginal Harris	Kentucky St.	Sophomore	Miami, Fla.
RB	Jaha McCray	Clark Atlanta	Junior	Jacksonville, Fla.
OL	Trey Wilson	Morehouse	Sophomore	Lawrenceville, Ga.
OL	Howard Bush	Lane	Junior	Mobile, Ala.
OL	Michael Moaga	Kentucky St.	Senior	Lexington, Ky.
OL	Aliou Diouf	Central State	Junior	Cincinnati, Ohio
OL	Darryl Carr	Lane	Junior	Sauk Village, Ill.
DL	Devonta Ramseur	Tuskegee	Junior	Shelby, N.C.
DL	Ray Taylor	Lane	Sophomore	Memphis, Tenn.
DL	Voris Bryant	Morehouse	Junior	Gray, Ga.
DL	Darion Hall	Tuskegee	Senior	Wetumpka, Ala.
LB	Trevon Spencer	Kentucky St.	Senior	Louisville, Ky.
LB	Stephen Williams	Benedict	Senior	Williamston, S.C.
LB	Zavondric Shingleton	Albany State	Senior	Millen, Ga.
DB	Darius Holmes	Tuskegee	R-Sophomore	Warner Robins, Ga.
DB	Cedric Poole	Miles	Senior	Birmingham, Ala.
DB	Jaquatin Victrum	Clark Atlanta	Junior	Miami, Fla.
DB	Emmauel Parks	Morehouse	Senior	Atlanta, Ga.
K	Bill Rose	Kentucky St.	Senior	Lawrenceburg, Ky.
P	Terry Wiley	Albany State	Junior	Douglas, Ga.
KR	George Myers, Jr.	Benedict	Junior	Hephzibah, Ga.
PR	Clim Robbins	Central State	Senior	West Orlando, Fla.

 
 COURTESY SIAC MEDIA RELATIONS