SIAC Announces 2018 Football Preseason Honors

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Running back Justin Hardy of Miles College was named the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Preseason Offensive Player of the Year along with linebacker Davoris Thomas of Tuskegee University who was selected as Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, announced Tuesday during media day at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Ga.

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

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Justin Hardy, Running back
Miles College

Hardy, a senior from Homewood, Ala., led the SIAC last season in total rushing yards (1,197), yards per game (119.7), rushing touchdowns (12), total touchdowns (13), and scoring (78 points). He was ninth in Division II in rushing yards and had six 100-yard games and four games with more than 165 yards, including a 210-yard, three-touchdown effort against Central State.

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Davoris Thomas, Linebacker
Tuskegee University

Thomas, a junior from Mobile, Ala., finished the season with 80 tackles (44 solo, 36 assist), which included five and a half tackles for loss, a pass breakup, and four quarterback hurries. In conference, Thomas managed 7.2 tackles per game, which placed him at No. 13 in conference for tackles. The junior linebacker recorded three sacks on the season for the Golden Tigers to claim the conference championship title.

Preseason Rankings
In the East Division, Albany State is anticipated to capture the Eastern Division Championship title as they had seven first-place picks. With two first place votes, Benedict was voted ahead of defending Eastern Division Champs, Fort Valley State, who had one first place vote. Morehouse and Clark Atlanta round out the eastern division.

In the West Division, defending SIAC Champions, Tuskegee, is anticipated to top the West as they received six first place votes. Miles is picked to finish second with three first place votes. With one first place vote, Kentucky State is predicted to finish third above Central State and Lane who rounds out the western division.

Football Preseason Rankings by Division
East Division
1. Albany State (7)
2. Benedict (2)
3. Fort Valley State (1)
4. Morehouse
5. Clark Atlanta

West Division
1. Tuskegee (6)
2. Miles (3)
3. Kentucky State (1)
4. Central State
5. Lane

*First place votes in parenthesis.

2018 SIAC Football – Preseason Team

First Team

Jamarcus Ezell	Quarterback	Tuskegee	Demopolis, Al
Joseph Castellanos	Tight End	Kentucky State	North Brunswick, N.J.
Javarrius Cheatham	Wide Receiver	Tuskegee	Greenville, Al
Mike Green	Wide Receiver	Albany State	Albany, GA
Justin Hardy	Running Back	Miles	Homewood, AL
Brett Sylve	Running Back	Kentucky State	Hammond, LA.
Jamie Glenn	Offensive Lineman	Albany State	Snellville, GA
Jean Cyriaque	Offensive Lineman	Morehouse	Durham, N.C.
Justin Brown	Offensive Lineman	Benedict	Marietta, Ga
Darrius Hicks	Offensive Lineman	Fort Valley State	Camilla, Ga
Lowell Richardson	Offensive Lineman	Tuskegee	Miami, Fl.
Antonio Johnson	Defensive Lineman	Morehouse	Birmingham, Al
Marquel Shelton	Defensive Lineman	Miles	Bessemer, Al.
Terrance Leatherwood	Defensive Lineman	Tuskegee	Northport, Al
Charles Williams	Defensive Lineman	Benedict	Barnwell, S.C
David Brown	Linebacker	Fort Valley State	Ellenwood, GA.
Davoris Thomas	Linebacker	Tuskegee	Mobile, Ala.
Xavier George	Linebacker	Benedict	Jacksonville, Fla.
Aaron Dore	Defensive Back	Fort Valley State	McDonough, GA.
Darnell Hill	Defensive Back	Tuskegee	Miami, Fl.
Cameron Young	Defensive Back	Fort Valley State	Eastman, Ga
Travionte Brown	Defensive Back	Benedict	Albany, GA
Dalton Hall	Kicker	Tuskegee	Hartsville, South Carolina.
Gabriel Ballinas	Punter	Albany State	Guadeloupe, Mexico
Brett Sylve	Kick Returner	Kentucky State	Hammond, La.
Lorenzo Smothers	Punt Returner	Fort Valley State	Buena Vista, Ga

   
Second Team

Slade Jarmon	Quarterback	Fort Valley State	Pensacola, Fl
Ryan Edwards	Tight End	Morehouse	Atlanta, Ga
Johnathon Sanders	Wide Receiver	Clark Atlanta	East Point, Ga
Amyr Smith	Wide Receiver	Morehouse	Atlanta, Ga
Terraris Saffold	Running Back	Central State	Hayneville, AL.
McKinley Habersham	Running Back	Albany State	Savannah, Ga
Marcus Campbell	Offensive Lineman	Kentucky State	Radcliff, Ky.
Roger Womack	Offensive Lineman	Miles	Birmingham, Ala.
Craig Hinson	Offensive Lineman	Benedict	Hephzibah, Ga
Rochelin Romain	Offensive Lineman	Tuskegee	Pompano Beach, Fl.
Jah-Mai Davidson	Offensive Lineman	Clark Atlanta	Snellville, GA.
Demetrius Harris	Defensive Lineman	Fort Valley State	Decatur, Ga
Kamari Jones-Hunter	Defensive Lineman	Morehouse	New York, NY
Bundrea Conway	Defensive Lineman	Morehouse	Lansing, MI
Kali James	Defensive Lineman	Tuskegee	Stockbridge, GA.
Austin Stephens	Linebacker	Miles	Mumford, Ala.
Kailen Abrams	Linebacker	Central State	Detroit, Mi.
Kevin Dawson	Linebacker	Tuskegee	Tallahassee, Fl
Quantavious Singletary	Defensive Back	Clark Atlanta	Moultrie, Ga.
Nicco Whigham	Defensive Back	Fort Valley State	North Lauderdale, Fl.
Jaylin Boyd	Defensive Back	Albany State	Fairburn, Ga
Macaiah Page	Defensive Back	Morehouse	Upper Marlboro, MD
Carlos Saldana	Kicker	Clark Atlanta	Austell, Ga.
Vincente Luis Juan-Pena	Punter	Lane	Temple City, Ga
Lorenzo Smothers	Kick Returner	Fort Valley State	Buena Vista, GA
Brett Sylve	Punt Returner	Kentucky State	Hammond, La.

SIAC MEDIA RELATIONS