NORFOLK, Va. – The Morgan State football team had four student-athletes recognized when the 2016 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Teams were released Tuesday afternoon.
Senior linebacker
Greg Gibson and junior defensive lineman
Jai Franklin earned second-team All-MEAC recognition, while sophomore defensive back
Carl Garnes and senior tight end
Willie Gillus III earned third-team honors.
Gibson led the Bears on defense and ranked No. 8 in the league with 77 tackles, to go along with 8 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and an interception. The Houston product also ranked No. 5 in the conference with two fumble recoveries on the season.
Franklin started in nine games and was a force on the Bears' defensive line. The junior posted 50 tackles, and led the team in tackles for loss (13), sacks (4) and quarterback hurries (4). He also posted a strip-sack-fumble recovery for a 10-yard TD return at Florida A&M (Nov. 12).
Garnes had a solid first season as a standout in the Bears' secondary. The Columbus, N.J. native ranked seventh on the team with 35 tackles from his safety position and completed the season with a pair of interceptions in 10 games played.
Willie Gillus III was the lone offensive selection for the Bears. The senior saw action in every game and finished the season with 10 catches for 126 yards (12.6 avg) and had a 44-yard touchdown reception during the Bears' home win against Howard (Sept. 24).
Overall, the Bears completed the season with a 3-8 record and were 3-5 in the final MEAC standings.
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Champion North Carolina Central University and runner-up North Carolina A&T State University dominated the 2016 All-MEAC Football Team with 30 student-athletes between both teams.
North Carolina A&T State redshirt junior offensive lineman Brandon Parker was named Offensive Lineman of the Year for the second consecutive year while Aggie wide receiver Elijah Bell received Rookie of the Year honors. North Carolina Central's Jerry Mack was selected as Coach of the Year.
The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced a partnership with the MEAC to reveal the league's offensive and defensive players of the year as part of the festivities surrounding the 59th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Dec. 6 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.
Listed below are the 2016 All-MEAC teams:
2016 All-MEAC Football All-Conference Teams
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Brandon Parker, North Carolina A&T State
Rookie of the Year: Elijah Bell, North Carolina A&T State
Coach of the Year: Jerry Mack, North Carolina Central
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
| Pos. |
Name |
Cl. |
School |
Hometown |
| QB |
Malcom Bell |
R-Sr. |
North Carolina Central |
Richmond, Va. |
| RB |
Tarik Cohen |
Sr. |
North Carolina A&T State |
Bunn, N.C. |
| RB |
Anthony Philyaw |
Jr. |
Howard |
Los Angeles, Calif. |
| WR |
Rashawn Proctor |
Sr. |
Hampton |
Hampton, Va. |
| WR |
LaVontis Smith |
Sr. |
North Carolina Central |
Maben, Miss |
| TE |
Leroy Hill |
R-So. |
North Carolina A&T State |
Smithfield, N.C. |
| C |
Carl Jones |
R-Sr |
North Carolina Central |
Nashville, Tenn. |
| OL |
Brandon Parker |
R-Jr. |
North Carolina A&T State |
Kannapolis, N.C. |
| OL |
Wes Cole |
Sr. |
North Carolina A&T State |
Norwood, N.C. |
| OL |
Tarrance Wells |
Sr. |
North Carolina Central |
Oxon Hill, Md. |
| OL |
Toree Boyd |
Sr. |
Howard |
Miami, Fla. |
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
| Pos. |
Name |
Cl. |
School |
Hometown |
| DL |
Marquis Ragland |
R-Sr. |
North Carolina A&T State |
Fayetteville, N.C. |
| DL |
Angelo Keys |
R-Sr. |
North Carolina A&T State |
Kinston, N.C. |
| DL |
Marquis Smith |
Sr. |
Savannah State |
Prince Georges County, Md. |
| DL |
Frederick Henry-Ajudua |
Sr. |
North Carolina Central |
Durham, N.C. |
| LB |
Darius Leonard |
R-Jr. |
South Carolina State |
Lake View, S.C. |
| LB |
Dayshawn Taylor |
R-Jr. |
South Carolina State |
Lincolnton, Ga. |
| LB |
Jeremy Taylor |
Jr. |
North Carolina A&T
State |
Kinston, N.C. |
| DB |
Jacques Bryant |
So. |
Florida A&M |
Tallahassee, Fla. |
| DB |
Diquan
Richardson |
Jr. |
Bethune-Cookman |
Alvin, S.C. |
| DB |
Phillip Henry |
R-Sr. |
South Carolina State |
Manning, S.C. |
| DB |
Mike Jones |
R-Jr. |
North Carolina Central |
Baltimore, Md. |
| P |
John Barron |
Sr. |
Savannah State |
Marietta, Ga. |
| PK |
Cameron Marouf |
Sr. |
Norfolk State |
Woodbridge, Va. |
| RS |
Mike Jones |
R-Jr. |
North Carolina Central |
Baltimore, Md. |
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
| Pos. |
Name |
Cl. |
School |
Hometown |
| QB |
Lamar Raynard |
R-So. |
North Carolina Central |
High Point, N.C. |
| RB |
Ramone Simpson |
R-So. |
North Carolina Central |
Wilmington, N.C. |
| RB |
Yahkee Johnson |
Jr. |
Hampton |
Richmond, Va. |
| WR |
Denzel Keyes |
Sr. |
North Carolina A&T St. |
Kinston, N.C. |
| WR |
Elijah Bell |
Fr. |
North Carolina A&T St. |
Wheeling Park, WVa. |
| TE |
Jack Willenbrock |
Gr. |
Hampton |
West Chester, Pa. |
| C |
Darriel Mack |
R-Jr. |
Noth Carolina A&T St. |
Clio, S.C. |
| OL |
Javarius Leamon |
R-Sr. |
South Carolina State |
Woodruff, S.C. |
| OL |
Jamaal Symmonett |
R-Sr. |
North Carolina Central |
Nassau, Bahamas |
| OL |
Johnny Cruz |
Sr. |
Hampton |
Yorktown, Va. |
| OL |
Keonte Cash |
Sr. |
Florida A&M |
Miami, Fla. |
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
| Pos. |
Name |
Cl. |
School |
Hometown |
| DL |
Antonio Brown |
R-Jr. |
North Carolina Central |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
| DL |
Stefen Banks |
So. |
Savannah State |
Columbus, Ohio |
| DL |
Elijah Price |
Jr. |
Florida A&M |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
| DL |
Jai Franklin |
Jr. |
Morgan State |
Clinton, Md. |
| LB |
Reggie Hunter |
R-Jr. |
North Carolina Central |
Henderson, N.C. |
| LB |
LeGrande Harley |
R-Sr. |
North Carolina Central |
Durham, N.C. |
| LB |
Greg Gibson |
Sr. |
Morgan State |
Houston, Texas |
| DB |
Sandy Chapman |
Sr. |
Norfolk State |
Raleigh, N.C. |
| DB |
Jason Baxter |
R-Jr. |
South Carolina State |
Manning, S.C. |
| DB |
Alden McClellon |
So. |
North Carolina Central |
Lake Butler, Fla. |
| DB |
Craig Johnson |
Sr. |
Howard |
Brooklyn, N.Y. |
| P |
Christian Faber-
Kinney |
Gr. |
Hampton |
Williamsburg, Va. |
| PK |
Branden McLaren |
R-Sr. |
North Carolina Central |
Miami, Fla. |
| RS* |
Kris Gardin |
Jr. |
North Carolina A&T St. |
Morganton, N.C. |
| RS* |
Frank Brown |
R-Jr. |
Bethune-Cookman |
Palm Beach Gardens,
Fla. |
THIRD TEAM OFFENSE
| Pos. |
Name |
Cl. |
School |
Hometown |
| QB |
Jaylian Williamson |
Gr. |
Hampton |
Chesapeake, Va. |
| RB* |
Jamaruz Thompkins |
Sr. |
Bethune-Cookman |
Tampa, Fla. |
| WR |
Brandon Norwood |
Jr. |
Florida A&M |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| WR* |
Kyle Anthony |
Fr. |
Howard |
Miramar, Fla. |
| WR* |
Mason Rutherford |
Jr. |
Delaware State |
San Bernadino, Calif. |
| TE* |
Willie Gillus III |
Sr. |
Morgan State |
Suffolk, Va. |
| TE* |
Maleek Henderson |
Fr. |
North Carolina Central |
Danville, Va. |
| C |
Victor Ishmael Jr. |
R-Jr. |
South Carolina State |
Miami, Fla. |
| OL |
Nick Leverett |
So. |
North Carolina Central |
Concord, N.C. |
| OL |
Daquan Blake |
Jr. |
North Carolina A&T St. |
Leavenworth, Kan. |
| OL |
Robbie Stephenson |
Jr. |
South Carolina State |
Fairburn, Ga. |
| OL |
Nick Leverett |
So. |
North Carolina Central |
Concord, N.C. |
| RB |
Arshon Spaulding |
Sr. |
Savannah State |
Brunswick, Ga. |
THIRD TEAM DEFENSE
| Pos. |
Name |
Cl. |
School |
Hometown |
| DL |
Ja'Quan Smith |
R-Jr. |
North Carolina Central |
Miramar, Fla. |
| DL |
Chris Lee |
Jr. |
Norfolk State |
Woodbridge, Va. |
| DL |
Curtis Alexander |
So. |
Florida A*M |
Quincy, Fla. |
| DL |
Kevin Thompson |
R-Jr. |
Bethune-Cookman |
Baltimore, Md. |
| LB |
Devin Vandyke |
Gr. |
Hampton |
Lorton, Va. |
| LB |
Mulik Simmons |
Jr. |
Savannah State |
Savannah, Ga. |
| LB |
T.C. Livingston* |
R-Jr. |
Norfolk State |
Suffolk, Va. |
| LB |
Kyle Archis* |
Jr. |
Norfolk State |
Virginia, Beach, Va. |
| DB |
Brandon Walker |
Sr. |
Norfolk State |
Chester, Va. |
| DB |
Carl Garnes* |
So. |
Morgan State |
Columbus, N.J. |
| DB |
Terry Jefferson* |
R-Fr. |
Florida A&M |
Miami, Fla. |
| DB |
Brendan Cole* |
R-Jr. |
Hampton |
Hampton, Va. |
| DB |
Orlando McKinley* |
So. |
Florida A&M |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| P |
Colby Blanton |
R-So. |
Florida A&M |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
| PK |
Cody Jones |
Sr. |
North Carolina A&T St. |
Gastonia, N.C. |
| RS |
Kareem Smith |
Jr. |
Florida A&M |
Haines City, Fla. |
*denotes tie
