BALTIMORE, Md. (Aug. 1, 2023) – The Morgan State football team has placed 19 student-athletes on the 2023 Phil Steele Preseason All-MEAC Team.
The Blue & Orange selections included four first-team picks, five second-team pick, seven third-team picks and three fourth team selections.
The first-team picks included Morgan senior linebacker Lawrence Richardson, senior defensive back Jae'Veyon Morton, junior defensive lineman Elijah Williams, and sophomore kick returner Keith Jenkins Jr.
Senior offensive lineman Marvin Atuatasi, junior linebacker Erick Hunter, junior defensive back Carlvainsky Decius, and junior wideout and punt returner Andre Crawley, were a second-team selections.
The third-team picks were senior offensive lineman Dexter Carr, Jr., junior offensive lineman Treyvon Branch, sophomore offensive lineman Daniel Casillas, junior defensive lineman Nana Asante, junior linebacker Xavier Shell, senior defensive back Jordan Toles, and senior defensive back Jordan Johnson.
Junior wide receiver Daymond Hamler, senior defensive lineman Sean Morris, and junior kicker Beckett Leary were named to the fourth team.
Richardson had a stellar 2022 campaign as one of the conference's premier linebackers. He led the team and ranks fifth in the MEAC with 77 tackles (48 solo, 29 assisted) on the season, including three tackles for loss, a sack and an interception. He had a season-high 13 total stops with two tackles for loss and a forced fumble in a tough loss versus Towson on Sept. 10. Richardson helped lead the Bears defense to a win over Sacred Heart (Sept. 17), the first win of head coach Damon Wilson's tenure, recording 10 tackles (six solo) and a pass breakup and was named the MEAC Co-Defensive Player of the Week for that performance.
Morton continued to be a big playmaker for the Morgan defense as one of the best corners in the league. The 2022 All-MEAC selection started in every game (11) and his season totals include 34 tackles (25 solo, 9 assisted), 1.0 sack, 10 pass breakups (T-No. 24 in FCS), and one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. Morton led the Bears with his three picks on the year and returned one interception for a touchdown and was named the MEAC Defensive Player of the Week for that performance.
Williams emerged as a force on the defensive line for the Bears this season. The New Jersey product registered 60 total tackles (33 solo, 27 assisted) last season, including a league-high 19.0 tackles for loss (ranks No. 5 in FCS) and nine sacks (T-No. 13 in FCS). His list of accolades includes being named to the All-MEAC First Team, HERO Sports 2022 FCS Sophomore All-American selection, Phil Steele All-MEAC First Team, Blue Bloods All-MEAC First Team, and BOXTOROW All-America Honorable Mention.
Jenkins had a sensational 2022 campaign in his first year at Morgan. The freshman is one of the top return specialists in the nation. The speedster finished the season with two kickoff returns for touchdowns (T-No. 2 in the FCS). He picked his way through the Hornets for a 90-yard kickoff return touchdown against Delaware State (Nov. 12) and was named the MEAC Specialist of the Week for that performance. He recorded a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at North Carolina Central (Oct. 13) and was named both the MEAC Rookie of the Week and Specialist of the Week for his efforts. Jenkins finished the season ranked No. 5 in the nation in kickoff returns (29.4 avg) and was selected as a 2022 Stats Perform FCS Freshman All-American.
The Bears will begin going through the paces of preseason training camp as they prepare for the 2023 season opener on the road against the Richmond Spiders on Sept. 2. This year's homecoming will be on October 7 against non-conference opponent Stony Brook.
To purchase season, single game, or group tickets, click here, call 443-885-4487 or email a.bailey@morgan.edu.
FOLLOW MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS IN CYBERSPACE
There are many ways to keep up with MSU athletics online and on the go:
• Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official web site of Bears athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios and more.
• Follow us on social media:
Facebook: /MorganStateBears
Twitter: @MorganStBears
Instagram: /MorganStateBears
ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
