ATLANTA – Running back Justin Hardy of Miles College was named the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Preseason Offensive Player of the Year along with linebacker Davoris Thomas of Tuskegee University who was selected as Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, announced Tuesday during media day at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Ga.
All votes are submitted by SIAC head coaches and sports information directors.
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Justin Hardy, Running back
Miles College
Hardy, a senior from Homewood, Ala., led the SIAC last season in total rushing yards (1,197), yards per game (119.7), rushing touchdowns (12), total touchdowns (13), and scoring (78 points). He was ninth in Division II in rushing yards and had six 100-yard games and four games with more than 165 yards, including a 210-yard, three-touchdown effort against Central State.
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Davoris Thomas, Linebacker
Tuskegee University
Thomas, a junior from Mobile, Ala., finished the season with 80 tackles (44 solo, 36 assist), which included five and a half tackles for loss, a pass breakup, and four quarterback hurries. In conference, Thomas managed 7.2 tackles per game, which placed him at No. 13 in the conference for tackles. The junior linebacker recorded three sacks on the season for the Golden Tigers to claim the conference championship title.
Preseason Rankings
In the East Division, Albany State is anticipated to capture the Eastern Division Championship title as they had seven first-place picks. With two first-place votes, Benedict was voted ahead of defending Eastern Division Champs, Fort Valley State, who had one first-place vote. Morehouse and Clark Atlanta round out the eastern division.
In the West Division, defending SIAC Champions, Tuskegee, is anticipated to top the West as they received six first-place votes. Miles is picked to finish second with three first-place votes. With one first-place vote, Kentucky State is predicted to finish third above Central State and Lane who rounds out the western division.
Football Preseason Rankings by Division
East Division
1. Albany State (7)
2. Benedict (2)
3. Fort Valley State (1)
4. Morehouse
5. Clark Atlanta
West Division
1. Tuskegee (6)
2. Miles (3)
3. Kentucky State (1)
4. Central State
5. Lane
*First place votes in parenthesis.
2018 SIAC Football – Preseason Team
First Team
| Jamarcus Ezell | Quarterback | Tuskegee | Demopolis, Al |
| Joseph Castellanos | Tight End | Kentucky State | North Brunswick, N.J. |
| Javarrius Cheatham | Wide Receiver | Tuskegee | Greenville, Al |
| Mike Green | Wide Receiver | Albany State | Albany, GA |
| Justin Hardy | Running Back | Miles | Homewood, AL |
| Brett Sylve | Running Back | Kentucky State | Hammond, LA. |
| Jamie Glenn | Offensive Lineman | Albany State | Snellville, GA |
| Jean Cyriaque | Offensive Lineman | Morehouse | Durham, N.C. |
| Justin Brown | Offensive Lineman | Benedict | Marietta, Ga |
| Darrius Hicks | Offensive Lineman | Fort Valley State | Camilla, Ga |
| Lowell Richardson | Offensive Lineman | Tuskegee | Miami, Fl. |
| Antonio Johnson | Defensive Lineman | Morehouse | Birmingham, Al |
| Marquel Shelton | Defensive Lineman | Miles | Bessemer, Al. |
| Terrance Leatherwood | Defensive Lineman | Tuskegee | Northport, Al |
| Charles Williams | Defensive Lineman | Benedict | Barnwell, S.C |
| David Brown | Linebacker | Fort Valley State | Ellenwood, GA. |
| Davoris Thomas | Linebacker | Tuskegee | Mobile, Ala. |
| Xavier George | Linebacker | Benedict | Jacksonville, Fla. |
| Aaron Dore | Defensive Back | Fort Valley State | McDonough, GA. |
| Darnell Hill | Defensive Back | Tuskegee | Miami, Fl. |
| Cameron Young | Defensive Back | Fort Valley State | Eastman, Ga |
| Travionte Brown | Defensive Back | Benedict | Albany, GA |
| Dalton Hall | Kicker | Tuskegee | Hartsville, South Carolina. |
| Gabriel Ballinas | Punter | Albany State | Guadeloupe, Mexico |
| Brett Sylve | Kick Returner | Kentucky State | Hammond, La. |
| Lorenzo Smothers | Punt Returner | Fort Valley State | Buena Vista, Ga |
Second Team
| Slade Jarmon | Quarterback | Fort Valley State | Pensacola, Fl |
| Ryan Edwards | Tight End | Morehouse | Atlanta, Ga |
| Johnathon Sanders | Wide Receiver | Clark Atlanta | East Point, Ga |
| Amyr Smith | Wide Receiver | Morehouse | Atlanta, Ga |
| Terraris Saffold | Running Back | Central State | Hayneville, AL. |
| McKinley Habersham | Running Back | Albany State | Savannah, Ga |
| Marcus Campbell | Offensive Lineman | Kentucky State | Radcliff, Ky. |
| Roger Womack | Offensive Lineman | Miles | Birmingham, Ala. |
| Craig Hinson | Offensive Lineman | Benedict | Hephzibah, Ga |
| Rochelin Romain | Offensive Lineman | Tuskegee | Pompano Beach, Fl. |
| Jah-Mai Davidson | Offensive Lineman | Clark Atlanta | Snellville, GA. |
| Demetrius Harris | Defensive Lineman | Fort Valley State | Decatur, Ga |
| Kamari Jones-Hunter | Defensive Lineman | Morehouse | New York, NY |
| Bundrea Conway | Defensive Lineman | Morehouse | Lansing, MI |
| Kali James | Defensive Lineman | Tuskegee | Stockbridge, GA. |
| Austin Stephens | Linebacker | Miles | Mumford, Ala. |
| Kailen Abrams | Linebacker | Central State | Detroit, Mi. |
| Kevin Dawson | Linebacker | Tuskegee | Tallahassee, Fl |
| Quantavious Singletary | Defensive Back | Clark Atlanta | Moultrie, Ga. |
| Nicco Whigham | Defensive Back | Fort Valley State | North Lauderdale, Fl. |
| Jaylin Boyd | Defensive Back | Albany State | Fairburn, Ga |
| Macaiah Page | Defensive Back | Morehouse | Upper Marlboro, MD |
| Carlos Saldana | Kicker | Clark Atlanta | Austell, Ga. |
| Vincente Luis Juan-Pena | Punter | Lane | Temple City, Ga |
| Lorenzo Smothers | Kick Returner | Fort Valley State | Buena Vista, GA |
| Brett Sylve | Punt Returner | Kentucky State | Hammond, La. |
