ATLANTA, Ga. – Junior running back Santo Dunn of Morehouse College was named the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Preseason Offensive Player of the Year along with senior linebacker Austin Stephens of Miles College 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 head coaches and sports information directors.
PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Santo Dunn, Running back
Morehouse College
Dunn, a junior running back, was picked as last season’s SIAC Offensive Player of the Year and returns for his third year with the Maroon Tigers. The Miami, FL native led the SIAC in rushing yards (875), scoring (8.4 points per game), and touchdowns with 14. Dunn also ranked nationally in rushing yards at No. 38, tied for No. 25 in scoring and No. 17 in total touchdowns. He earned BOXTOROW National Player of the Week honors after his performance versus Tuskegee University where he ran for a game-high 125 yards and three touchdowns in the upset victory. The same week, Dunn was added to the Black College Hall of Fame Player of the Year watch list. Dunn also earned SIAC Offensive Player of the Week once this season and was named to the BOXTOROW All-American Honorable Mention Team.
PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Austin Stephens, Linebacker
Miles College
Stephens, a senior linebacker, was picked as last season’s Defensive Player of the Year and returns for his fourth year with the Golden Bears. The Munford, Ala. native led the SIAC in total tackles (120), which is currently tied for seventh in Division II. Stephens had 14.5 tackles for loss, one sack, an interception and a fumble he recovered and returned for a touchdown. He also earned one SIAC Defensive Player of the Week award. Stephens became the first-ever player from Miles to be named to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II All-American Team and was the only SIAC selection in the 2018 D2CCA All-Super Region 2 Football Team.
PRESEASON RANKINGS
In the East Division, Albany State is anticipated to capture the Eastern Division Championship title as they had three first-place picks. With two first-place votes, Benedict was voted ahead of Morehouse, who had one first-place vote. Fort Valley State was picked to finish fourth as Clark Atlanta and newest member, Savannah State, round out the eastern division.
In the West Division, defending SIAC Champions, Miles, is anticipated to top the west after receiving two first-place votes and leading the poll for the first time since 2016. Tuskegee was picked to finish second with two first-place votes leading Central State with three first-place votes. Lane and Kentucky State round out the western division.
FOOTBALL PRESEASON RANKINGS BY DIVISION
Eastern Division
Albany State (3)
Benedict (2)
Morehouse (1)
Fort Valley State
Clark Atlanta
Savannah State
Western Division
Miles (2)
Tuskegee (2)
Central State (3)
Lane
Kentucky State
2019 SIAC FOOTBALL PRESEASON TEAM
FIRST TEAM
| Martesse Patterson | Senior | Offensive Lineman | Tuskegee | Columbus, Ohio |
| Jean Cyriaque | Senior | Offensive Lineman | Morehouse | Durham, NC |
| Darrius Hicks | Junior | Offensive Lineman | Fort Valley State | Camilla, Ga. |
| Aaron Scroggins | Junior | Offensive Lineman | Miles | Bessemer, Al. |
| Rochelin Romain | Senior | Offensive Lineman | Tuskegee | Pompano Beach, Florida |
| Robert Corbin, Jr. | Junior | Tight End | Central State | Cincinnati, Oh. |
| Leonard Tyree | Redshirt Senior | Wide Receiver | Miles | Tuscaloosa, Al. |
| Kevin Greenhow | Senior | Wide Receiver | Central State | Columbus, Oh. |
| Santo Dunn | Junior | Running Back | Morehouse | Miami, Fl. |
| Terraris Saffold | Senior | Running Back | Central State | Hayneville, Al. |
| Michael Sims | Junior | Quarterback | Morehouse | Detroit, Mi. |
| Deonte Jackson | Senior | Defensive Lineman | Albany State | Fairburn, Ga. |
| Brayce McKinzie | Junior | Defensive Lineman | Lane | Geneva, FL |
| Chris Roberts | Junior | Defensive Lineman | Kentucky State | Frankfort, Ky. |
| Breante Glover | Sophomore | Defensive Lineman | Clark Atlanta | LaGrange, Ga. |
| Kailen Abrams | Junior | Linebacker | Central State | Detroit, Mi. |
| Austin Stephens | Senior | Linebacker | Miles | Munford, Al. |
| Davoris Thomas | Senior | Linebacker | Tuskegee | Mobile, Ala. |
| Camron Young | Senior | Defensive Back | Fort Valley State | Eastman, Ga. |
| Robert Cummings | Senior | Defensive Back | Benedict | Macon, Ga. |
| Rorrick Steward | Redshirt Junior | Defensive Back | Tuskegee | Decatur, Alabama |
| Traviontae Brown | Senior | Defensive Back | Benedict | Albany, Ga. |
| Gabriel Ballinas | Junior | Kicker | Albany State | Guadalupe, Mexico |
| Gabriel Ballinas | Junior | Punter | Albany State | Guadalupe, Mexico |
| Lorenzo Smothers | Junior | Punt Returner | Fort Valley State | Buena Vista, Ga. |
| Anthony Evelyn | Sophomore | Kick Returner | Lane | Atlantic Beach, FL |
SECOND TEAM
| Lee Humphrey | Senior | Offensive Lineman | Morehouse | Plano, Ill. |
| Raekwon Bethea | Senior | Offensive Lineman | Albany State | Gainesville, Fl. |
| Paul Coleman | Sophomore | Offensive Lineman | Clark Atlanta | Montgomery, Ala. |
| Christian Taylor | Junior | Offensive Lineman | Benedict | Lexington, S.C. |
| Eliezer Hernandez | Junior | Offensive Lineman | Kentucky State | Lake Worth, Fla. |
| Montavious Tinch | Senior | Tight End | Miles | Elberton, Ga. |
| Tremell Gooden | Senior | Wide Receiver | Morehouse | Atlanta, Ga. |
| Johnathan Sanders | Junior | Wide Receiver | Clark Atlanta | Atlanta, Ga. |
| Tracy Scott | Senior | Running Back | Albany State | Greenville, S.C. |
| McKinley Habersham | Senior | Running Back | Albany State | Savannah, Ga. |
| Daniel Smith | Senior | Quarterback | Miles | Peoria, Az. |
| William Callaway | Junior | Defensive Lineman | Morehouse | Scottsdale, Ga. |
| Jaylun Thomas | Senior | Defensive Lineman | Miles | Sylacauga, Al. |
| Rashaad Miller | Senior | Defensive Lineman | Benedict | Inman, S.C. |
| Shaun McGee | Senior | Defensive Lineman | Tuskegee | Snellville, Ga. |
| Julien Turner | Senior | Linebacker | Morehouse | Pickerington, OH |
| Amari Andrews | Senior | Linebacker | Benedict | Stone Mountain, Ga. |
| Edward Nelson | Senior | Linebacker | Morehouse | Chester, Pa. |
| Dedrick Vanover | Junior | Defensive Back | Morehouse | Gainesville, Fl. |
| Kendrell Walker | Redshirt Junior | Defensive Back | Miles | Tuscaloosa, Al. |
Courtesy: SIAC
