The MEAC unveiled its all-conference teams on Wednesday, and league champion South Carolina State led the way in honors.
The Bulldogs garnered an impressive 12 recipients, followed by North Carolina Central with five, Howard with three, and Morgan State and Norfolk State each earning two honorees.
All awards and honors were voted on by the MEAC’s head football coaches and sports information directors.
The conference’s Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year recipients will be announced during the National Football Foundation (NFF) Annual Awards Press Conference Presented by SideQuests on Dec. 10.
South Carolina State’s Nick Taiste was named the Offensive Lineman of the Year, while Morgan State’s Jason Collins Jr. earned Rookie of the Year honors. South Carolina State head coach Chennis Berry was named MEAC Coach of the Year.
Taiste is South Carolina State’s first offensive lineman to earn the conference’s top spot since 2013. He anchored the Bulldog’s offensive line that amassed a conference-best total offense average of 426.5 ypg, ranking 18th nationally, passing offense (272.8 ypg), 11th nationally, scoring offense (35.5 avg/g), 12th nationally, passing touchdowns (25), and total touchdowns (49). Additionally, the Bulldogs rank fourth nationally in passing efficiency (165.50). Taiste has received three MEAC Weekly Offensive Lineman honors this year.
Collins Jr. rushed for 634 yards on 114 carries, with eight touchdowns. His season highlight came against Delaware State, where he broke free for a 75-yard touchdown en route to a 152-yard performance on 24 carries. Collins also contributed to the Bears passing game, hauling in 17 receptions for 143 yards.
He finished fifth in the MEAC in rushing yards, seventh in all-purpose yards (69.9), 10th in scoring (4.0 ppg), and 11th in total offense (52.8 ypg). Collins Jr. is a finalist for the 2024 Jerry Rice Award.
Chennis Berry made an immediate impact in his first year at the helm of the South Carolina State Bulldog program. Transitioning from the Division II level, where he built a strong reputation at Benedict College, Coach Berry led the Bulldogs to an impressive 9-2 overall record, including an undefeated 5-0 mark in conference play.
The Bulldogs secured key conference victories against No. 19/21 North Carolina Central and last year’s MEAC Champion Howard, clinching the MEAC Championship Title and earning the conference’s berth in the 2024 Cricket Celebration Bowl. In addition to South Carolina State’s dominant season, Coach Berry was recognized as the AFCA Region 2 FCS Coach of the Year and is a finalist for the 2024 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award.
See below for the entire list of All-MEAC team selectees.
2024 All-MEAC Football Postseason Awards
Offensive Lineman of the Year – Nick Taiste, S.C. State
Rookie of the Year – Jason Collins Jr., Morgan State
Coach of the Year – Chennis Berry, S.C. State
| First Team Offense | ||||
| Name | School | Pos. | Yr. | Hometown |
| Eric Phoenix | S.C. State | QB | Gr. | Savannah, GA |
| Jaden Sutton | Delaware State | RB | Gr. | Winston-Salem, NC |
| J’Mari Taylor | N.C. Central | RB | R- Jr. | Charlotte, NC |
| Caden High | S.C. State | WR | So. | Grayson, GA |
| Justin Smith-Brown | S.C. State | WR | Sr. | Cocoa, FL |
| Keshawn Toney | S.C. State | TE | Gr. | Williston, SC |
| Eric Brown, Jr. | S.C. State | C | Sr. | Hartsville, SC |
| Darius Fox | Howard | OL | Sr. | Washington, DC |
| Trevon Humphrey | N.C. Central | OL | R- So. | Greensboro, NC |
| Cam Johnson | S.C. State | OL | Sr. | Irmo, SC |
| Nick Taiste | S.C. State | OL | Sr. | West Columbia, SC |
| First Team Defense | ||||
| Name | School | Pos. | Yr. | Hometown |
| Noah Miles | Howard | DL | Jr. | Tampa, FL |
| Elijah Williams | Morgan State | DL | Sr. | Jersey City, NJ |
| Jayden Broughton | S.C. State | DL | Sr. | Monks Corner, SC |
| Ashaad Hall | S.C. State | DL | Jr. | St Petersburg, FL |
| AJ Richardson | Norfolk State | LB | So. | Kings Mountain, NC |
| Jaki Brevard | N.C. Central | LB | Sr. | Durham, NC |
| Aaron Smith | S.C. State | LB | Gr. | Manning, SC |
| Kenny Gallop Jr. | Howard | DB | Gr. | Portsmouth, VA |
| Kole Jones | N.C. Central | DB | Sr. | Chesapeake, VA |
| Jarod Washington | S.C. State | DB | Sr. | Fredericksburg, VA |
| Juan Velarde | N.C. Central | P | Sr. | Anderson, SC |
| Kyle Gallegos | S.C. State | PK | R-Fr. | Fort Worth, TX |
| Jaylen White * | Norfolk State | RS | R-Jr. | Hampton, VA |
| Malique Leatherbury * | Morgan State | RS | So. | Salisbury, MD |
| Second Team Offense | ||||
| Name | School | Pos. | Yr. | Hometown |
| Walker Harris | N.C. Central | QB | R-Jr. | Wake Forest, NC |
| Kevon King | Norfolk State | RB | Jr. | Chesapeake, VA |
| Jarett Hunter | Howard | RB | Gr. | Mineral, VA |
| Jacquez Jones * | Norfolk State | WR | Gr. | Orlando, FL |
| Joaquin Davis * | N.C. Central | WR | Sr. | Durham, NC |
| Markell Quick | N.C. Central | WR | So. | Cornelius, NC |
| Luke Bracey | N.C. Central | TE | Jr. | Rock Hill, SC |
| Noah McKinney | N.C. Central | C | Jr. | Duncan, SC |
| Tim Artis Jr. | Howard | OL | R-So. | Charlotte, NC |
| Vincent Byrd Jr. | Norfolk State | OL | Jr. | Stafford, VA |
| AC McMoore | N.C. Central | OL | So. | Rock Hill, SC |
| Tray Franklin | S.C. State | OL | So. | Columbia, SC |
| Second Team Defense | ||||
| Name | School | Pos. | Yr. | Hometown |
| Jamel Stewart | Howard | DL | Sr. | Richmond, VA |
| Quantez Mansfield | N.C. Central | DL | R-Sr. | Greensboro, NC |
| Jaden Taylor | N.C. Central | DL | Sr. | Durham, NC |
| John Hannibal | S.C. State | DL | Sr. | Hopkins, SC |
| Terrance Hollon | Howard | LB | Sr. | Cleveland, OH |
| Max U’Ren | N.C. Central | LB | R-Jr. | Winston Salem, NC |
| Jadin Jones | S.C. State | LB | Jr. | Jacksonville, FL |
| Carlvainsky Decius | Morgan State | DB | Sr. | New Carrollton, MD |
| Ja’son Prevard | Morgan State | DB | So. | Atlantic City, NJ |
| Malcolm Reed | N.C. Central | DB | Jr. | Raleigh, NC |
| Dyson Roberts | S.C. State | P | SR | Sumter, SC |
| Grandin Willcox | Norfolk State | PK | JR | Ocala, Fla |
| Anthony Reagan Jr. | Howard | RS | FR | Camden, NJ |
Courtesy: MEAC
