Five Bears Named To Preseason All-MEAC Team

NORFOLK, Va. -- Five Morgan State football players were named today to the 2017 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's preseason team, which was voted on by the conference head coaches and sports information directors. The announcement was made at the MEAC Football Luncheon at Norfolk Waterside Marriott in Norfolk.

Senior defensive lineman Jai Franklin and redshirt senior running back Herb Walker Jr. and were second-team selections.

Junior defensive backs Carl Garnes and Darius Johnson were third-team picks, along with junior return specialist William King.

The five preseason All-MEAC performers are part of a group of 63 lettermen and 19 starters returning for the 2017 Morgan State football season.

The Bears, under the direction of head coach Fred T. Farrier are predicted to finish eighth in the MEAC standings, according to the poll of the conference head coaches and sports information directors.

Howard running back Anthony Philyaw was selected preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while South Carolina State linebacker Darius Leonard was picked preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

North Carolina Central received the first place ranking in the conference's preseason poll for the 2017 MEAC Football season.

Listed below are the 2017 MEAC Preseason Predicted Order of Finish and Preseason All-MEAC teams:

2017 PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. N.C. Central
2. North Carolina A&T
3. S.C. State
4. Bethune-Cookman
5. Hampton
6. Florida A&M
7. Norfolk State
8. Morgan State
9. Howard
10. Savannah State
11. Delaware State

Listed below are the 2017 All-MEAC Preseason Teams:
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Anthony Philyaw, Howard
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Darius Leonard, South Carolina State

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

QB	Lamar Raynard	Jr.	North Carolina A&T	High Point, N.C.
RB	Anthony Philyaw	Sr.	Howard	Los Angeles, Calif.
RB*	Yahkee Johnson	Sr.	Hampton	Richmond, Va.
RB*	Ramone Simpson	Jr.	N.C. Central	Wilmington, N.C.
WR	Elijah Bell	So.	North Carolina A&T	Wheeling, W. Va.
WR*	Brandon Norwood	Sr.	Florida A&M	Atlanta, Ga.
WR*	Frank Brown	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
TE	Leroy Hill	Jr.	North Carolina A&T	Smithfield, N.C.
C	Darriel Mack	Sr.	North Carolina A&T	Clio, S.C.
OL	Brandon Parker	Sr.	North Carolina A&T	Kannapolis, N.C.
OL	Nick Leverett	So.	N.C. Central	Concord, N.C.
OL	Robbie Stephenson	Sr.	South Carolina State	Fairburn, Ga.
OL	Justin Evans	Sr.	South Carolina State	Florence, S.C.
PK	Uriel Hernandez	Jr.	Bethune-Cookman	Homestead, Fla.

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

DL*	Kevin Thompson	R-Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Baltimore, Md.
DL*	Chris Lee	Sr.	Norfolk State	Woodbridge, Va.
DL	Ja'Quan Smith	Gr.	N.C. Central	Miramar, Fla.
DL	Antonio Brown	Sr.	N.C. Central	Jacksonville, Fla.
LB	Darius Leonard	R-Sr.	South Carolina State	Lake View, S.C.
LB	Dayshawn Taylor	R-Sr.	South Carolina State	Lincolnton, Ga.
LB	Reggie Hunter	Sr.	N.C. Central	Henderson, N.C.
DB	Alden McClellon	Jr.	N.C. Central	Lake Butler, Fla.
DB*	Jason Baxter	Gr.	South Carolina State	Manning, S.C.
DB*	Diquan Richardson	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Alvin, S.C.
DB	Zerius Lockhart	Sr.	North Carolina A&T	Auburn, Ala.
P	Nathaniel Tilque	Sr.	N.C. Central	Charlotte, N.C.
RS	Kris Gardin	Sr.	North Carolina A&T	Morganton, N.C.

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

QB	Larry Brihm, Jr.	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Delray Beach, Fla.
RB	Herb Walker Jr.	R- Sr.	Morgan State	Cleveland, Ohio
RB	Mike Waters	So.	Delaware State	Philadelphia, Pa.
WR	Kyle Anthony	So.	Howard	Miami, Fla.
WR	Mason Rutherford	Sr.	Delaware State	San Bernardino, Calif.
TE	Demetrius Ferebee	Sr.	Norfolk State	Roanoke, Va.
C	Victor Ishmael, Jr.	Sr.	South Carolina State	Miami, Fla.
OL	Osman Aguilera	Sr.	Florida A&M	Miami, Fla.
OL	Loubens Polinice	So.	Florida A&M	Palm Coast, Fla.
OL	Joshua Fala	So.	Delaware State	Manteca, Calif.
OL	Cade Pedro	So.	Delaware State	Kailua, Hawaii
PK	Tyler Scandrett	Sr.	South Carolina State	Barnesville, Ga.

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

DL	Steven Smith	Sr.	Hampton	Norfolk, Va.
DL*	Jai Franklin	Sr.	Morgan State	Clinton, Md.
DL*	Greg Newell	Sr.	South Carolina State	McDonough, Ga.
DL	Julian McKnight	Jr.	North Carolina A&T	Conyers, Ga.
LB	Trenton Bridges	Jr.	Bethune-Cookman	DeLand, Fla.
LB*	Malik Harris	Sr.	Delaware State	Washington, D.C.
LB*	Marcus Albert	Jr.	North Carolina A&T	College Park, Ga.
DB	Brendan Cole	Sr.	Hampton	Hampton, Va.
DB	Orlando McKinley	Jr.	Florida A&M	Atlanta, Ga.
DB	Terry Jefferson	So.	Florida A&M	Miami, Fla.
DB	Devondre Powell	Sr.	South Carolina State	Miami, Fla.
P	Uriel Hernandez	Jr.	Bethune-Cookman	Homestead, Fla.
RS	Frank Brown	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

THIRD TEAM OFFENSE

QB	Ryan Stanley	So.	Florida A&M	Pembroke Pines, Fla.
RB	Dorrel McClain	Jr.	N.C. Central	Cary, N.C.
RB	Brycen Alleyne	Jr.	Delaware State	Wilmington, Del.
WR	Jalen Wilkes	Jr.	N.C. Central	Greenville, S.C.
WR	Jawill Davis	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Miami, Fla.
TE	Desmond Noird	Sr.	Florida A&M	Atlanta, Ga.
C	Phillip Norman	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Sebastian, Fla.
OL	Obinna Nwanko	So.	Florida A&M	Miramar, Fla.
PK	Wizdom Nzidee	So.	Delaware State	Stone Mountain, Ga.

THIRD TEAM DEFENSE

DL*	Stefen Banks	Jr.	Savannah State	Columbus, Ohio
DL*	Elijah Price	Sr.	Florida A&M	Jacksonville, Fla.
DL*	Kenneth Melton	Sr.	North Carolina A&T	Elizabeth City, N.C.
DL	Tyberius Cravens	Sr.	S.C. State	Austell, Ga.
LB	Kyle Archie	Sr.	Norfolk State	Virginia Beach, Va.
LB	Mulik Simmons	Sr.	Savannah State	Savannah, Ga.
LB	Brian Cavicante	So.	Delaware State	Portsmouth, Va.
DB	Carl Garnes	Jr.	Morgan State	Columbus, N.J.
DB	Keyjuan Selby	Jr.	Delaware State	Bear, Del.
DB	Darius Johnson	Jr.	Morgan State	Baltimore, Md.
DB	Davanta Reynolds	Jr.	N.C. Central	Tucker, Ga.
P	Fidel Romo-Martinez	So.	Delaware State	Banning, Calif.
RS	William King	Jr.	Morgan State	Baltimore, Md.

* - Indicates tie

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Players Mentioned

#55 Jai Franklin: DL; 6' 3"; Senior

#2 Carl Garnes: DB; 6' 1"; Junior

#25 Darius Johnson: DB; 6' 0"; Junior

#22 William King: WR; 5' 9"; Junior

#3 Herb Walker Jr.: RB; 5' 6"; Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

#55 Jai Franklin
: 6' 3"; Senior
: DL

#2 Carl Garnes
: 6' 1"; Junior
: DB

#25 Darius Johnson
: 6' 0"; Junior
: DB

#22 William King
: 5' 9"; Junior
: WR

#3 Herb Walker Jr.
: 5' 6"; Redshirt Senior
: RB