Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Picked to Finish Fourth in Preseason MEAC Poll

NORFOLK, Virginia  – Bethune-Cookman Football has been predicted to finish fourth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) preseason poll released Friday, July 27 during the annual MEAC Kickoff Luncheon held at The Hilton The Main Hotel. Additionally, five Wildcats student-athletes were voted to the All-MEAC Preseason First-, Second- or Third Team.
 
Leading the preseason team members for Bethune-Cookman was senior offensive lineman Dwayne Brown (Indianapolis, Ind.). The only returning starter along the offensive line for fourth-year Head Coach Terry Sims and the second place team from a season ago, Brown was selected to the First Team on offense. The transfer from Eastern Michigan ended the 2017 campaign as a First Team All-MEAC Team member after playing and starting in all 11 games for the Maroon and Gold. In blocking for quarterbacks Larry Brihm Jr. and Akevious Williams, Brown helped pave the way for an offensive unit that finished fifth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) with an average of 341.2 yards/game. He was an anchor on the offensive front that finished the league season with the third-best passing offense (215.3 yards/game). He would grade out at 92 percent on all assignments throughout the campaign, seeing action on 94 percent of all plays. He was selected as the MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week (Oct. 2) following BCU's win over Savannah State.
 
Joining Brown on the All-MEAC Preseason First Team for the special teams unit is senior kicker Uriel Hernandez (Homestead, Fla.). A season ago, Hernandez led the Wildcats in scoring with 60 points, connecting on 12-of-18 field goals, in addition to 24-of-26 point-after attempts. On kickoffs, the former soccer player in high school toed the tee 24 times, booting the ball for an average of 55.8 yards per kick, totaling 1,339 yards altogether. He would also secure three punts, placing a pair inside the 20 yard line when used as a spot kicker.
 
Redshirt senior Todney Evans (Delray Beach, Fla.) represented Bethune-Cookman on the All-MEAC Preseason Second Team along the defensive line, earning his place as a defensive end/rush end. Last year, the transfer from Middle Tennessee State secured his spot as a second team member of the 2017 all-conference team. Playing and starting in 10 games – missing just one game due to injury, Evans finished the 017 campaign eighth on the team with 34 tackles (15 solo / 19 assisted). He also led the Maroon and Gold with 8.5 tackles for loss, pulling down 2.5 quarterback sacks. In all, he would tally three pass breakups and two quarterback hurries from his rush end position along the line.
 
Making his way onto preseason third team for offense is running back Tupac Isme (Naples, Fla.). The junior running back that is a deadly threat out of the backfield accepting passes from the quarterback as well, played in 10 games last season, missing just one game (at Howard). He rushed for 173 yards on 50 carries across the season, finishing third on the squad in total rushing yards. Isme, a fan-favorite since his arrival to Daytona Beach, averaged 3.5 yards per carry. He would score one touchdown via the ground, in addition to averaging 17.3 yards per game via the rush. He stepped out of the offensive backfield to register eight catches for 161 yards and an average of 20.1 yards per reception across the year.
 
The final Wildcats performer earning a spot on the all-conference preseason third team for defense is redshirt senior Kevin Thompson (Baltimore, Md.). The defensive tackle missed almost all of the 2017 campaign after suffering a season-ending injury during the Southeastern Louisiana win on the road. In two games against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent Miami (Fla.) and FCS power Southeastern Louisiana, respectfully, he secured three tackles from his interior position along the defensive front.
 
As a team, BCU was predicted to finish fourth overall, sitting behind defending champion North Carolina A&T (1st), Howard (2nd) and North Carolina Central (3rd).
 
North Carolina A&T senior quarterback Lamar Raynard was predicted as the MEAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while North Carolina central senior defensive back Davanta Reynolds was tabbed the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
 
For more information on the 2018 Preseason All-MEAC Team and predicted order of finish, please visit MEACsports.com.
 
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