Durham, NC – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and its Football Coaches Association announces the 2016 CIAA Football Predicted Order of Finish and the Preseason All-CIAA Team.
For the second consecutive season, the Rams of Winston-Salem State University have been selected as the predicted championship contender. The defending CIAA Champion Rams finished 6-5 last season with a 5-2 conference record. Bowie State University has been selected to finish second after falling to WSSU in the 2015 CIAA Championship and then to Assumption College in the first round of NCAA DII playoffs.
2016 Predicted Order of Finish
- Winston-Salem State University
- Bowie State University
- Virginia Union University
- Virginia State University
- Fayetteville State University
- Chowan University
- Livingstone College
- Elizabeth City State University
- Johnson C. Smith University
- Shaw University
- Lincoln (Pa.) University
- Saint Augustine’s University
Predicted Divisional Order of Finish
Northern Division
- Bowie State University
- Virginia Union University
- Virginia State University
- Chowan University
- Elizabeth City State University
- Lincoln (Pa.) University
Southern Division
- Winston-Salem State University
- Fayetteville State University
- Livingstone College
- Johnson C. Smith University
- Shaw University
- Saint Augustine’s University
The 2016 Preseason All-CIAA Football Team is led by a standout group of senior student-athletes. Stephen Scott, Lincoln (Pa.) running back, led the Conference in yards per game (125.8) and tied for first in rushing touchdowns (10) in 2015. BSU Bulldogs’ wide receiver Nyme Manns highlights the preseason team after completing his junior season ranked second in the CIAA with 92 receiving yards per game and tied for the first place rank with 13 receiving touchdowns. Last season’s defensive game was marked by a season-high 10 sacks, achieved by defensive linemen Paulin Miano and Miles Pace of Virginia Union.
2016 Preseason All-CIAA Football Team
Offense
| TE | #17 | Victor Tabbs* | ECSU | 6-4 | 230 | Sr. | Suitland, MD |
| OL | #62 | Jac’que Polite* | WSSU | 6-5 | 300 | Sr. | Ridgeland, SC |
| OL | #70 | Tim Samuels | WSSU | 6-3 | 240 | Jr. | Charlotte, NC |
| OL | #75 | Justin Nester* | BSU | 6-3 | 276 | Sr. | Dayton, MD |
| OL | #78 | Abraham Garcia | VUU | 6-6 | 340 | Sr. | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
| OL | #78 | Victor Tamba | BSU | 6-5 | 335 | Jr. | District Heights, MD |
| WR | #8 | Nyme Manns* | BSU | 6-4 | 212 | Sr. | Baltimore, MD |
| WR | #16 | Jordan Garrison | BSU | 6-2 | 229 | Sr. | Baltimore, MD |
| QB | #12 | Shawheem Dowdy | VUU | 6-4 | 218 | Sr. | Baltimore, MD |
| RB | #5 | Stephen Scott* | LUPA | 5-8 | 205 | Sr. | Baltimore, MD |
| RB | #9 | Hakeem Holland* | VUU | 5-10 | 180 | So. | Baltimore, MD |
| PK | #47 | William Johnson | WSSU | 5-11 | 175 | Sr. | High Point, NC |
| KR | #9 | Hakeem Holland | VUU | 5-10 | 180 | So. | Baltimore, MD |
Defense
| DL | #7 | Miles Pace | VUU | 6-2 | 250 | Sr. | Miami, FL |
| DL | #46 | Armond Cox | LC | 6-3 | 240 | So. | Teaneck, NJ |
| DL | #53 | Paulin Miano* | VUU | 6-6 | 265 | Sr. | Washington, DC |
| DL | #99 | Sean Copeland | BSU | 6-0 | 325 | Sr. | Baltimore, MD |
| LB | #20 | Demetrius Newberry | CU | 5-11 | 225 | Sr. | Brunswick, GA |
| LB | #34 | Geo Feggins | VSU | 6-1 | 210 | Sr. | South Hill, VA |
| LB | #44 | Kevaugn Townsend* | BSU | 5-8 | 203 | Sr. | Ft. Washington, MD |
| DB | #8 | Carlo Thomas* | JCSU | 6-2 | 185 | Jr. | East Orange, NJ |
| DB | #21 | Rodeshawn Joseph | VUU | 6-1 | 185 | Sr. | Pompano Beach, FL |
| DB | #26 | Travis Scales | FSU | 6-0 | 200 | Sr. | North Carolina |
| DB | #37 | Eric Henderson* | FSU | 5-8 | 170 | Sr. | Charlotte, NC |
| P | #57 | Christopher Palmer | BSU | 6-2 | 274 | Sr. | St. Mary’s, MD |
| PR | #12 | Robert Chesson | BSU | 5-10 | 179 | So. | Annapolis, MD |
*2015 All-CIAA First Team Members
The 2016 CIAA football season opens on Saturday, September 3 with the CIAA Football Championship scheduled for November 12, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. The nationally televised championship game will be played at Durham County Memorial Stadium and feature the CIAA Northern and Southern Division champions.
Courtesy: CIAA
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