CIAA releases 2018 preseason football team and honors

or the 2018 season, the Bulldogs of Bowie State have been selected as the predicted championship contender. Meanwhile, the defending CIAA Champion Trojans of Virginia State University have been selected to finish second. The Bulldogs finished 9-2 last season with a 6-1 conference record and 4-1 division record. The Trojans finished 10-1 last season with a 7-0 conference record and 5-0 division record. Both BSU and VSU were featured in the first round of the NCAA Division II Region 2 football playoffs.

2018 Predicted Order of Finish

1. Bowie State University

2. Virginia State University

3. Fayetteville State University

4. Winston-Salem State University

5. Virginia Union University

6. Saint Augustine’s University

7. Chowan University

8. Shaw University

9. Elizabeth City State University

10. Johnson C. Smith University

11. Livingstone College

12. Lincoln (PA) University

Predicted Divisional Order of Finish

Northern Division

1. Bowie State

2. Virginia State

3. Virginia Union

4. Chowan

5. Elizabeth City State

6. Lincoln (PA)

Southern Division

1. Fayetteville State

2. Winston-Salem State

3. Saint Augustine’s

4. Shaw

5. Johnson C. Smith

6. Livingstone

The 2018 Preseason All-CIAA Football Team is led by a standout group of student-athletes. Amir Hall, Bowie State senior quarterback, led the conference in passing yards per game (319.9 yds) and touchdowns (41). 2017 Defensive Player of the Year, defensive back Sterling Hammond of Virginia Union, highlights the preseason’s defense after completing his sophomore season with 5 interceptions. He also tallied 70 total tackles, including 46 solo tackles. 2017 Special Teams Player of the Year, kicker Gene Carson of Bowie State, scored 102 points for the Bulldogs last season, completing 10-13 (77%) field goals and 72-77 (94%) extra point attempts.

2018 Preseason All-CIAA Football Team

Offense

TE#89Carlton EvansECSU6-3240Sr.Durham, NC

OL#65Tyreek Bailey*FSU6-2305Sr.Newport News, VA

OL#70Frank Ball*VSU6-3280r-Jr.Hampton, VA

OL#77Shamdu Nalls*VUU6-4330Sr.Baltimore, MD

OL#78Donald BooneCU6-4290Sr.Hertford, NC

OL#57Deveonte MackeyWSSU6-3280So.Lakeland, FL

WR#18Lansana SesayBSU6-4175Sr.Bowie, MD

WR#84Torry BakerCU6-0180Sr.Charlotte, NC

QB#6Amir Hall*BSU6-4180Sr.Bowie, MD

RB#28Stevie GreenFSU6-1190Jr.Washington, NC

RB#26Kerrion MooreWSSU5-9190R-Jr.Gastonia, NC

KR#32Brandon SmithFSU5-8170Jr.Raeford, NC

PK#47Gene Carson*BSU6-2185Jr.Accokeek, MD

Defense

DL#34Jarell Bright*WSSU6-2235Sr.Charlotte, NC

DL#11Derrick Tate*BSU6-3210Sr.Baltimore, MD

DL#99Jalen CousarFSU6-1320Sr.Charlotte, NC

DL#51Oluwaleke AjenifujaBSU6-3207R-Jr.Beltsville, MD

DL#94Tyler BembryCU6-1235R-Sr.Suffolk, VA

LB#34Devon Hunt*SU6-1220Jr.Rockingham, NC

LB#14Vincent ThomasECSU6-1235Sr.New Symra Beach, FL

LB#46Anthony HarrisFSU6-2220R-Jr.Greenville, NC

DB#8Jaleel ScrogginsSU6-1180So.Raleigh, NC

DB#7Quantaye BattleVUU6-2210R-Jr.Baltimore, MD

DB#26Sterling Hammond*VUU6-1195Jr.Caret, VA

DB#19Elvin De La RosaFSU6-1190So.Winston-Salem, NC

PR#23William Flowers*BSU5-10180Jr.Baltimore, MD

P#19Brandon Howard JCSU 5-8200Jr.Columbia, SC

*2017 All-CIAA First Team Members

For the 2018 football season, three institutions will be taking the field with new leadership on the sideline. Virginia Union and Head Coach Alvin Parker will open their season at home versus Seton Hill on September 1, 2018 at 1 PM. Elizabeth City State and Head Coach Anthony Jones will start off their season at home, playing Central St. (Ohio) on September 1, 2018 at 1 PM. Finally, Head Coach Josh Dean of Lincoln (Pa.) will lead the Lions on their home turf versus Fayetteville State on September 1, 2018 at 7 PM.

The 2018 CIAA football season opens on Thursday, August 30, 2018, with the CIAA Football Championship scheduled for Saturday, November 10, 2018, in Salem, Virginia. The nationally televised championship game will be played at Salem Football Stadium and feature the CIAA Northern and Southern Division champions.

Courtesy: CIAA