NSU Spartans Voted 6th in MEAC, Garner 8 Preseason All-MEAC Picks

NORFOLK, Virginia – The Norfolk State football team has been picked to finish sixth in this year's preseason MEAC poll of head coaches and sports information directors, and seven Spartans earned a total of eight spots on the preseason All-MEAC teams, which were released Friday at the conference's annual media day.

Junior linebacker Nigel Chavis and senior kick returner Marcus Taylor were voted to the preseason All-MEAC first team. Taylor, as a receiver, joined senior center Wes Jones, junior offensive lineman Kenneth Kirby and junior defensive back J.T. Wahee on the preseason second team. Junior running back Aaron Savage and senior defensive lineman Deshaywn Middleton were selected to the third team.

Defending MEAC champion North Carolina A&T was chosen the preseason favorite and received 19 of a possible 20 first-place votes in the preseason poll. Howard, North Carolina Central, Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M (one first-place vote) occupied second through fifth places, respectively, ahead of the Spartans. South Carolina State, Savannah State, Morgan State and Delaware State rounded out the poll in seventh through 10th places.

Chavis, an All-MEAC third-team pick as a defensive end last season, was third on the team with 82 tackles, including 8.5 stops for loss and five sacks in 2017. He forced three fumbles, recovered one and notched one interception.

Taylor was a second-team All-MEAC kick returner and third-team receiver last season, when he led the MEAC with 1,392 all-purpose yards. He caught a MEAC-high 60 passes for 629 yards and five touchdowns, and averaged 23.8 yards with one touchdown (covering 100 yards) as a kickoff returner.

Jones and Kirby helped anchor the Spartans' offensive line last season, with Jones starting all 11 games at center and Kirby doing likewise at left tackle for the second straight year. They helped lead a unit which allowed 13 fewer sacks over the 2016 season.

Wahee was also a third-team All-MEAC pick last season after leading NSU with four interceptions and nine total passes defended. He also racked up 63 tackles, 3.5 for loss, with a fumble recovery that he returned 96 yards for a touchdown against Florida A&M.

Savage was the primary starter at tailback for NSU in 2017 and led the team with 427 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. He saved his best for last, rushing for 188 yards and all three of his scores in the Spartans' final two games, including a career-high 112 yards at Howard.

Middleton started all 11 games for NSU last season at nose guard. He tallied 39 tackles, 1.5 for loss, and recovered a pair of fumbles in his junior campaign. He enters his third season as the starter at nose guard.

Reigning MEAC Offensive Player of the Year Lamar Raynard, North Carolina A&T quarterback, was chosen the preseason MEAC Offensive Player of the Year. N.C. Central defensive back Davanta Reynolds was voted preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

NSU opens preseason camp with its first practice on Friday, Aug. 3.



NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS