NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - In the annual Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) preseason football media poll, Morgan State was tabbed to finish sixth in the preseason poll selected by head football coaches and sports information directors, as announced by the league on Friday afternoon at the Newport News Marriott at City Center.
For the third consecutive year,the defending MEAC champion Bulldogs of South Carolina State are favored to win the 2009 MEAC title. The Bulldogs earned 10 first-place votes and 290 points to edge runner-up Florida A&M as the 2009 top choice. The Rattlers received five first-place votes and 273 points and led the preseason All-MEAC team with 11 selections.
Hampton (197 pts.), Bethune-Cookman (185), Norfolk State (163), Morgan State (142), Delaware State (140), North Carolina A&T (48) and Howard (38) round out the remainder of the preseason poll.
The Bears, who posted a 6-6 mark and 4-4 conference record, had four players named to the preseason All-MEAC first team and three named to the second team . Senior running back Devan James, senior lineman Robert Norris, senior defensive end Justin Lawrence, junior cornerback Darren McKhan were the first-team selections. Senior linebacker Troy Leftwich, senior linebacker George Howard and senior tight end Jephte Cherenfant were selected to the second team.
Morgan State kicks off the 2009 season on the road against the Akron Zips on Saturday, September 12th, at 2 p.m.
Following are the results of the preseason media poll (first-place votes in parentheses) and the 2009 Preseason All-MEAC first-team and second team selections:
1. South Carolina State (10) 290
2. Florida A&M (5) 273
3. Hampton (1) 197
4. Bethune-Cookman (1) 185
5. Norfolk State (1) 163
6. Morgan State 142
7. Delaware State 140
8. North Carolina A&T 48
9. Howard 38
2009 Preseason All-MEAC FIRST TEAM
Offense
QB - Curtis Pulley, r-Sr., Florida A&M, Hopkinsville, KY
RB - William Ford, Sr., South Carolina State, Travelers Rest, S.C.
RB - Devan James, Sr., Morgan State, Pompano Beach, Fla.
TE - Sherron Childress, r-Jr., Norfolk State, Hampton, Va.
WR - Oliver “Trey” Young, Sr., South Carolina State, Charleston, S.C.
WR - Kevin Elliot, r-So., Florida A&M, Orlando, Fla.
OL - Johnny Culbreath, r-Jr., South Carolina State, Monroe, Ga.
OL - Anthony Collins, r-Sr., Florida A&M, Miami. Fla.
OL - Robert Okeafor, Sr., Florida A&M, Jacksonville. Fla.
C - Steve Brazzle, r-Sr., Florida A&M, Coatesville, Pa.
Defense
DL - Dexter Jackson, Sr., Bethune-Cookman, Jacksonville, Fla.
DL - Cameron Houston, Sr., Florida A&M, Rockledge, Fla.
DL - Kendrick Ellis, Jr., Hampton, West Palm Beach, Fla.
LB – Marshall McFadden, Sr., South Carolina State, Lamar, S.C.
LB - Bryan Parker, Sr., Florida A&M, Randlestown, Md.
LB - Mike Alphonse, r-Sr., Norfolk State, Miramar, Fla.
DB - Terrell Whitehead, Sr., Norfolk State, Virginia Beach, Va.
DB - Curtis Holcomb, Jr., Florida A&M, Miami, Fla.
DB - Markee Hamlin, Jr., South Carolina State, Lamar, S.C.
DB - Darren McKahn, Jr., Morgan State, Miami, Fla.
P - Jahmal Blanchard, Sr., Hampton, Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.
P/K - Justin Castellat, Sr., Norfolk State, Virginia Beach, Va.
Ret - LeRoy Vann, Sr., Florida A&M, Plantation, Fla.
2009 All-MEAC SECOND TEAM
Offense
QB - Herbert Bynes, r-Jr., Hampton, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
RB - Philip Sylvester, Jr., Florida A&M, Marianna, Fla.
RB - DeAngelo Branche, r-Jr., Norfolk State, Norfolk, Va.
WR - Willie Carter, So., Howard, Denmark, S.C.
WR - Isaac West, Jr., Florida A&M, Tallahassee, Fla.
OL - Ryan Griffin, r-Sr., Bethune-Cookman, Hollywood, Fla.
OL - Juavahr Nathan, r-Jr., South Carolina State, Ladson, S.C.
OL - Mike Maloney, Sr., Delaware State, Chicago, Ill.
OL - Nicholas Royal, Sr., Hampton, Keeling, Va.
C - Ryan Cave, Sr., Hampton, Beaufort, SC
Defense
DL - Ray Jennings, Sr., Norfolk State, Chesapeake, Va.
DL - Markus James, So., South Carolina State, Hampton, Va.
DL - James Carter, Sr., Howard, Tifton, Ga.
DL - Tyre Glasper, Sr., North Carolina A&T, Detroit, Mich.
LB - Josh Pope, r-Sr., Delaware State, Philadelphia, Pa.
LB - Andre Thornton**, Sr., North Carolina A&T, Charlotte, N.C.
DB - Antonio Cox, Sr., Bethune-Cookman, Miami, Fla.
DB - Antwuan Cox, Sr., Bethune-Cookman, Miami, Fla.
DB - Jonathan Wade, Jr., Hampton, Richmond, Va.
DB - Phillip Adams, Sr., South Carolina State, Rock Hill, S.C.
P - Justin Keable, r-Sr., Bethune-Cookman, DeLand, Fla.
P/K - Trevor Scott, r-So., Florida A&M, Jacksonville, Fla.
Ret - Dwight Fluker-Berry, r-Jr., Norfolk State, Miami, Fla.
** indicates tie
