Roanoke, VA – The CIAA released its 2018 football preseason honors on Wednesday.
For 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
- Bowie State
- Virginia State
- Virginia Union
- Chowan
- Elizabeth City State
- Lincoln (PA)
Southern Division
- Fayetteville State
- Winston-Salem State
- Saint Augustine’s
- Shaw
- Johnson C. Smith
- 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 | #89 | Carlton Evans | ECSU | 6-3 | 240 | Sr. | Durham, NC |
| OL | #65 | Tyreek Bailey* | FSU | 6-2 | 305 | Sr. | Newport News, VA |
| OL | #70 | Frank Ball* | VSU | 6-3 | 280 | r-Jr. | Hampton, VA |
| OL | #77 | Shamdu Nalls* | VUU | 6-4 | 330 | Sr. | Baltimore, MD |
| OL | #78 | Donald Boone | CU | 6-4 | 290 | Sr. | Hertford, NC |
| OL | #57 | Deveonte Mackey | WSSU | 6-3 | 280 | So. | Lakeland, FL |
| WR | #18 | Lansana Sesay | BSU | 6-4 | 175 | Sr. | Bowie, MD |
| WR | #84 | Torry Baker | CU | 6-0 | 180 | Sr. | Charlotte, NC |
| QB | #6 | Amir Hall* | BSU | 6-4 | 180 | Sr. | Bowie, MD |
| RB | #28 | Stevie Green | FSU | 6-1 | 190 | Jr. | Washington, NC |
| RB | #26 | Kerrion Moore | WSSU | 5-9 | 190 | R-Jr. | Gastonia, NC |
| KR | #32 | Brandon Smith | FSU | 5-8 | 170 | Jr. | Raeford, NC |
| PK | #47 | Gene Carson* | BSU | 6-2 | 185 | Jr. | Accokeek, MD |
Defense
| DL | #34 | Jarell Bright* | WSSU | 6-2 | 235 | Sr. | Charlotte, NC |
| DL | #11 | Derrick Tate* | BSU | 6-3 | 210 | Sr. | Baltimore, MD |
| DL | #99 | Jalen Cousar | FSU | 6-1 | 320 | Sr. | Charlotte, NC |
| DL | #51 | Oluwaleke Ajenifuja | BSU | 6-3 | 207 | R-Jr. | Beltsville, MD |
| DL | #94 | Tyler Bembry | CU | 6-1 | 235 | R-Sr. | Suffolk, VA |
| LB | #34 | Devon Hunt* | SU | 6-1 | 220 | Jr. | Rockingham, NC |
| LB | #14 | Vincent Thomas | ECSU | 6-1 | 235 | Sr. | New Symra Beach, FL |
| LB | #46 | Anthony Harris | FSU | 6-2 | 220 | R-Jr. | Greenville, NC |
| DB | #8 | Jaleel Scroggins | SU | 6-1 | 180 | So. | Raleigh, NC |
| DB | #7 | Quantaye Battle | VUU | 6-2 | 210 | R-Jr. | Baltimore, MD |
| DB | #26 | Sterling Hammond* | VUU | 6-1 | 195 | Jr. | Caret, VA |
| DB | #19 | Elvin De La Rosa | FSU | 6-1 | 190 | So. | Winston-Salem, NC |
| PR | #23 | William Flowers* | BSU | 5-10 | 180 | Jr. | Baltimore, MD |
| P | #19 | Brandon Howard | JCSU | 5-8 | 200 | Jr. | 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
