CIAA Announces Preseason Football Team & Ranking

Durham, North Carolina -- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and its Football Coaches Association announces the 2016 CIAA Football Predicted Order of Finish and the Preseason All-CIAA Team.

For the second consecutive season, the Rams of Winston-Salem State University have been selected as the predicted championship contender. The defending CIAA Champion Rams finished 6-5 last season with a 5-2 conference record. Bowie State University has been selected to finish second after falling to WSSU in the 2015 CIAA Championship and then to Assumption College in the first round of NCAA DII playoffs.

2016 Predicted Order of Finish

1. Winston-Salem State University
2. Bowie State University
3. Virginia Union University
4. Virginia State University
5. Fayetteville State University
6. Chowan University
7. Livingstone College
8. Elizabeth City State University
9. Johnson C. Smith University
10. Shaw University
11. Lincoln (Pa.) University
12. Saint Augustine's University

Predicted Divisional Order of Finish

Northern Division

1. Bowie State University
2. Virginia Union University
3. Virginia State University
4. Chowan University
5. Elizabeth City State University
6. Lincoln (Pa.) University

Southern Division

1. Winston-Salem State University
2. Fayetteville State University
3. Livingstone College
4. Johnson C. Smith University
5. Shaw University
6. Saint Augustine's University

The 2016 Preseason All-CIAA Football Team is led by a standout group of senior student-athletes. Stephen Scott, Lincoln (Pa.) running back, led the Conference in yards per game (125.8) and tied for first in rushing touchdowns (10) in 2015. BSU Bulldogs' wide receiver Nyme Manns highlights the preseason team after completing his junior season ranked second in the CIAA with 92 receiving yards per game and tied for the first place rank with 13 receiving touchdowns. Last season's defensive game was marked by a season-high 10 sacks, achieved by defensive linemen Paulin Miano and Miles Pace of Virginia Union.

2016 Preseason All-CIAA Football Team

Offense

TE	#17	Victor Tabbs*	ECSU	6-4	230	Sr.	Suitland, MD
OL	#62	Jac'que Polite*	WSSU	6-5	300	Sr.	Ridgeland, SC
OL	#70	Tim Samuels	WSSU	6-3	240	Jr.	Charlotte, NC
OL	#75	Justin Nester*	BSU	6-3	276	Sr.	Dayton, MD
OL	#78	Abraham Garcia	VUU	6-6	340	Sr.	Fort Lauderdale, FL
OL	#78	Victor Tamba	BSU	6-5	335	Jr.	District Heights, MD
WR	#8	Nyme Manns*	BSU	6-4	212	Sr.	Baltimore, MD
WR	#16	Jordan Garrison	BSU	6-2	229	Sr.	Baltimore, MD
QB	#12	Shawheem Dowdy	VUU	6-4	218	Sr.	Baltimore, MD
RB	#5	Stephen Scott*	LUPA	5-8	205	Sr.	Baltimore, MD
RB	#9	Hakeem Holland*	VUU	5-10	180	So.	Baltimore, MD
PK	#47	William Johnson	WSSU	5-11	175	Sr.	High Point, NC
KR	#9	Hakeem Holland	VUU	5-10	180	So.	Baltimore, MD

Defense

DL	#7	Miles Pace	VUU	6-2	250	Sr.	Miami, FL
DL	#46	Armond Cox	LC	6-3	240	So.	Teaneck, NJ
DL	#53	Paulin Miano*	VUU	6-6	265	Sr.	Washington, DC
DL	#99	Sean Copeland	BSU	6-0	325	Sr.	Baltimore, MD
LB	#20	Demetrius Newberry	CU	5-11	225	Sr.	Brunswick, GA
LB	#34	Geo Feggins	VSU	6-1	210	Sr.	South Hill, VA
LB	#44	Kevaugn Townsend*	BSU	5-8	203	Sr.	Ft. Washington, MD
DB	#8	Carlo Thomas*	JCSU	6-2	185	Jr.	East Orange, NJ
DB	#21	Rodeshawn Joseph	VUU	6-1	185	Sr.	Pompano Beach, FL
DB	#26	Travis Scales	FSU	6-0	200	Sr.	North Carolina
DB	#37	Eric Henderson*	FSU	5-8	170	Sr.	Charlotte, NC
P	#57	Christopher Palmer	BSU	6-2	274	Sr.	St. Mary's, MD
PR	#12	Robert Chesson	BSU	5-10	179	So.	Annapolis, MD

*2015 All-CIAA First Team Members

The 2016 CIAA football season opens on Saturday, September 3 with the CIAA Football Championship scheduled for November 12, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. The nationally televised championship game will be played at Durham County Memorial Stadium and feature the CIAA Northern and Southern Division champions.

CIAA Football Media Day kicks off at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 21, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Catch all the action by following the CIAA on Facebook (The CIAA), Twitter (@CIAAForLife), and Instagram (@CIAASports).

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Tuskegee’s Julian Morgan tabbed SIAC’s Defensive Player of the Year

MONTGOMERY, Alabama — The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) released its preseason awards at their annual Media Day at the Doubletree by Hilton Wednesday morning.

Senior defensive end Julian Morgan was on the receiving end of those awards, chosen the Preseason SIAC Defensive Player of the Year by a vote of the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

Despite missing three games, Morgan was named second team All-Conference last season with 56 total tackles. The senior led the team with 15.5 tackles for loss and was among the nation’s leaders with 9.5 sacks per game in 2015. He was also second on the team in quarterback hurries with nine.

His best game last season came against Stillman in which he was named the SIAC Player of the Week. The senior finished with 11 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

He also recorded 12 tackles in a second round playoff victory over North Alabama on the road. In that game, he finished with three tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.

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Alcorn State's Gatewood Signs With Green Bay Packers

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Former Alcorn State Cornerback Warren Gatewood has signed with The Green Bay Packers. The transaction was announced Wednesday by Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations.

Gatewood saw action in 42 games over four seasons at Alcorn State, recording 117 tackles, 33 passes defensed, eight interceptions and one blocked kick.



As a senior, he was named the 2015 Southwestern Athletic Conference Football Championship Defensive MVP after intercepting three passes including one returned 25 yards for a touchdown. He and leading his team to back to back football championships.

Gatewood set career highs with 47 tackles and four interceptions last season leading his team to back to back football championships in 2014 and 2015.

The Baltimore, Maryland native recorded a game high eight tackles and one pass breakup in the Inaugural Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl last December against North Carolina A&T.

Gatewood is the first player from Alcorn State to play for the Packers since receiver Donald Driver.

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Julian Morgan named SIAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) released its preseason awards at their annual Media Day at the Doubletree by Hilton Wednesday morning.

Senior defensive end Julian Morgan was on the receiving end of those awards, chosen the Preseason SIAC Defensive Player of the Year by a vote of the league's head coaches and sports information directors.

Despite missing three games, Morgan was named second team All-Conference last season with 56 total tackles. The senior led the team with 15.5 tackles for loss and was among the nation's leaders with 9.5 sacks per game in 2015. He was also second on the team in quarterback hurries with nine.

His best game last season came against Stillman in which he was named the SIAC Player of the Week. The senior finished with 11 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.



He also recorded 12 tackles in a second round playoff victory over North Alabama on the road. In that game, he finished with three tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.

It is the second consecutive such award for the Golden Tigers as Jewell Ratliff was named the SIAC Defensive Player of the Year at the conclusion of last season, on his way to 10 All-American team selections.

The Golden Tigers open the season September 3 on the road against Clark Atlanta, a game which be carried as the NCAA Division II Game of the Week on the American Sports Network.

For more information on Tuskegee University athletics, follow us on social media by searching for @MyTUAthletics and like us on Facebook.

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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.

 
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FAMU President Mangum provides performance bonuses for successful coaches

FAMU President Elmira Mangum. Ph.D.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M Athletic Director Milton Overton Jr. isn’t the only one making quality-of-life changes in the university’s athletic department.

FAMU President Elmira Mangum, using a discretionary fund from the FAMU Foundation, is doing what she can to ensure FAMU’s coaches are motivated to win and eager to stay with the Rattlers.

During a recent reception for the school’s coaches, Mangum honored track and field coach Darlene Moore, cheerleading coach Brandi Tatum and softball coach Veronica Wiggins. The coaches were given performances bonus of $2,000 for their conference titles, plus an extra $1,000 if they earned Most Outstanding Coach honors.

Moore and Wiggins were both named Most Outstanding Coach in their conference tournaments. The three coaches' assistants were also given performance bonuses.

Moore, who last week was named director of FAMU’s track and field program, won conference titles in both cross country and women’s outdoor track and field. Wiggins won her third-straight conference title in softball. Tatum's co-ed squad won its second conference championship in a row.

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Former PVAMU Lady Panther signs professional contract with Romanian club

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Former Prairie View A&M basketball player Jeanette Jackson has signed a professional contract with Phoenix Galati in Romania, the JP Sports Agency reported Tuesday.

Jackson, a four-year letterwinner with the Lady Panthers, concluded her collegiate career in 2015, and was part of three Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament teams. She scored 1,689 points during her PVAMU career, good for an average of 13.1 points per game over 129 career contests.

During her final two seasons with the Lady Panthers, Jackson averaged 17.8 points and 3.7 assists per game. She started in all 64 of the team's games during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.

A 5-7 guard out from Las Vegas, Nev., Jackson concluded her collegiate career by being named the SWAC's Player of the Year in 2015.

CS Phoenix Galati has competed in Liga Nationala, the top-flight women's basketball league in Romania, for the past three seasons after being promoted from Liga I in 2013. The team's profile on EuroBasket.com lists three Americans on the roster; Jackson will be the fourth.

The city of Galati is the capital city of Romania's Galati County, and is the nation's largest port city on the Danube River. It is in the historic region of Moldavia, and situated on Romania's border with the nation of Moldova.

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5 most intriguing SWAC games in 2016

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs was quick to promote parity in the Southwestern Athletic Conference at last week's media day.

Judging by the landscape of the league the past few years, that parity may be a parody.

While generally competitive, the SWAC has become a three- or four-team race of late with the likes of Alcorn State, Grambling and Southern battling it out for conference supremacy. This year, Prairie View A&M, the preseason favorite to upend Grambling as the SWAC West Division champs, joins the mix.

Fobbs said last Friday a league that was once top heavy now boasts competitive balance with the emergence of programs like Prairie View, the staying power of Alabama State and the potential emergence of schools like Texas Southern and the re-emergence of programs like Jackson State.

Still, some of the top games in the league this year revolve around the usual powers. Here are the five most intriguing SWAC games for 2016.

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Penn State Men’s Basketball To Host Morgan State On Dec. 21

STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania -- Penn State men’s basketball added another opponent to its non-conference schedule, and no, it’s not Kentucky.

The Lions will host Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference resident Morgan State on Dec. 21 at the Bryce Jordan Center just two weeks after trekking to Newark, N.J. to face Pitt. Morgan State’s 2015-16 campaign was less than stellar after the Bears compiled a lowly 9-22 record, finishing 6-10 in the MEAC. Their 2015-16 non-conference slate included trips to Virginia and Cincinnati — both of which resulted in double-digit losses.

The Lions last played Morgan State in 2014, where they won 61-48 behind 17 points from star guard D.J. Newbill and 14 from then-freshman Shep Garner.

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Playing 11 questions and 11 answers with Jarrett Payton, son of Walter Payton

CHICAGO, Illinois -- Jarrett Payton, who is now 35 and a sportscaster in Chicago, learned his father, Walter, was an extraordinary guy at the age of 4 when Walter broke Jim Brown’s all-time rushing record in 1984 at Soldier Field, the Chicago Bears’ home stadium.

And Payton was just 12 when he introduced his father, who went to Jackson State University, on the dais for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Walter Payton died in 1999 of bile duct cancer at age 45.

On Sept. 4, Bethune-Cookman University will play Alcorn State University in the 2016 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC)/Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Challenge in Daytona Beach, Florida. The game will be played at 1 p.m. EST at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium and be televised on ESPN. There, the Walter Payton Achievement Award, which recognizes outstanding accomplishments in academics and football, will be given to one member from each of the two teams.

Voting for the 2016 Walter Payton Achievement Award has already begun and closes Aug. 19. The final two winners will be announced at the game’s welcome banquet on Sept. 2.

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NC Central Coach Jerry Mack and players eye Celebration Bowl

CARY, North Carolina -- North Carolina Central Coach Jerry Mack begins only his fourth season, but he has the Eagles seeking a third conference title in a row at the same time they enjoy the best of two national championship worlds.

That takes some clarification.

NC Central is a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference member that is playing first and foremost for a bid to the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl.

The Celebration Bowl in Atlanta made its debut last year, with the backing of ESPN money and exposure. The national championship game matches champions from the MEAC and Southwestern Athletic Conference, two long-standing leagues among Historically Black College and Universities

But Mack also tells his team if it comes up short of the Celebration Bowl, they need to compile a MEAC runner-up season worthy of earning one of the 16 bids into the Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

“We like that the MEAC and SWAC have a chance to play in a bowl game in Atlanta,” said Mack, “and our guys also have a chance to compete in the FBS playoffs.”

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Florida A&M Men's Basketball Gearing Up For Exciting Season

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The Florida A&M men's basketball program quadrupled it's win total last season from the year before, going 8-21. This year, the Rattlers hoping for even bigger results, as for the first time since 2014, they can participate in postseason play.

FAMU's APR related sanctions were lifted back in February, so that means head coach Byron Samuels is working with a full scholarship amount. He said there's a buzz in the air, and just about the entire team is here this summer working out and building team chemistry.

Come August 1st, the Rattlers hit the court to prepare for a week long trip to Canada for a tournament, and Samuels said he can't wait to get started.

"I'm excited about it, the kids are excited about it, their parents are excited about it, and we just feel like it's a blessing," he said. "It's another one of those steps. A lot of teams take these trips to get an eyeball on their team. It'll give us a chance to see what we have, to tweak some things and just maybe one step ahead of where we were in the previous two years."

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Former Jags/FAMU QB Quinn Gray making strides at Jacksonville Mandarin

JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- It didn't take long for former Jaguars quarterback Quinn Gray to start having an impact at Jacksonville Mandarin High, where he was hired as head football coach in April.

Gray coached the Mustangs to the New Smyrna Beach 7on7 title this past weekend, upending Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer in the championship game. Gray did no take over an empty cupboard at Mandarin, which went 12-1 last season and made it to the Class 8A region finals, losing to Winter Garden West Orange.



Former coach Brian Braddock left to take the same position at his alma mater St. Augustine, opening the door for Gray, who attended FAMU, to return to the area. Gray was last the head coach at Mableton (Ga.) Whitefield Academy near Atlanta.

"It feels great. We had a long week and our kids have really shown some grit and some intestinal fortitude," Gray said. "I'm proud of these guys, man .. they were challenged and they stepped up to the plate."

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Xavier lands FAMU transfer Bernard

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Guard Malcolm Bernard announced on Twitter that he will play his final season for Xavier.

The 6-foot-6, 195-pounder will be eligible to play immediately for the Musketeers as a graduate transfer from Florida A&M. Bernard, 22, played two years at Charleston Southern before transfering to FAMU and sitting out a season due to NCAA transfer rules. He then led the Rattlers in points (14.4 ppg) and rebounds (7.1 rpg) last season.

"I'm happy to be a Musketeer and I'm glad I'm getting to spend my last year at Xavier," Bernard told Enquirer.com late Monday. "I'm coming to work with the best and play with the best and win with the best.

"I'm stat stuffer. I like to stuff stats all over. I think that's why Xavier chose me because of how versatile I can be and all the things I can bring to the table."

Bernard told the Tallahassee Democrat in April that he had committed to Richmond, then reportedly rescinded his committment earlier this month. The Miami native then considered Fordham, Miami, Missouri, VCU and Virginia before landing at Xavier.

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