MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Albany State running back Jarvis Small was named the 2016 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Preseason Offensive Player of the Year while Tuskegee defensive lineman Julian Morgan was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year, announced by the league on Wednesday.
All votes are submitted by SIAC head football coaches and sports information directors.
Small, who was the 2015 SIAC Offensive Player of the Year, led the SIAC in rushing averaging 103.7 yards per game. Small recorded 1,037 yards in 2015 and scored a conference-high 11 touchdowns. He recorded six games last year where he rushed for over 100 yards, including a season-best 173 yards against Morehouse.
Morgan recorded 54 tackles in 2015 and led the Golden Tigers in sacks (9.5). He tallied nine quarterback hurries and forced three fumbles. Morgan also finished the 2015 campaign with 15.5 tackles for loss.
In addition to the individual awards, the league also announced the predicted order of finish for the 2016 season. Albany State garnered 14 first place votes and 78 points to lead the east division. Morehouse was second (52) followed by Fort Valley State (49), Clark Atlanta (29), and Benedict (22).
In the west division, Miles was picked to finish first with eight first place votes and 72 points. Tuskegee was voted second with seven first place votes and 69 points. Central State followed in third (34), ahead of Lane (27) and Kentucky State (25).
| EASTERN DIVISION | POINTS |
| 1. Albany State (14) | 78 |
| 2. Morehouse (2) | 52 |
| 3. Fort Valley State (1) | 49 |
| 4. Clark Atlanta | 29 |
| 5. Benedict | 22 |
| WESTERN DIVISION | POINTS |
| 1. Miles (8) | 72 |
| 2. Tuskegee (7) | 69 |
| 3. Central State | 34 |
| 4. Lane (1) | 27 |
| 5. Kentucky State | 25 |
Offensive Player of the Year: Jarvis Small, Albany State
Defensive Player of the Year: Julian Morgan, Tuskegee
2016 SIAC Preseason Football First Team
| QB | David Whipple | Miles | Senior | Gordon, Ga. | |
| TE | Leo Gilbert | Tuskegee | Senior | Miami, Fla. | |
| WR | Desmond Reece | Tuskegee | R-Senior | Valley, Ala. | |
| WR | Quadrey Simmons | Albany State | Junior | Cope, S.C. | |
| RB | Jamarcus Nance | Miles | Senior | Muscle Shoals, Ala. | |
| RB | Jarvis Small | Albany State | Senior | Brunswick, Ga. | |
| OL | Chris Ruffin | Miles | Junior | Bessemer, Ala. | |
| OL | Leeward Brown | Tuskegee | Junior | Miami, Fla. | |
| OL | Javoris Wilburn | Albany State | Senior | Warrenton, Ga. | |
| OL | Marcus Campbell | Kentucky St. | Sophomore | Radcliff, Ky. | |
| OL | Tedrick Cofield | Albany State | Junior | Atlanta, Ga. | |
| DL | Grover Stewart | Albany State | Senior | Camillia, Ga. | |
| DL | Julian Morgan | Tuskegee | Senior | Lithia Springs, Ga. | |
| DL | Daryl George | Tuskegee | Senior | Douglasville, Ga. | |
| DL | Bretton Ervin | Kentucky St. | Sophomore | Louisville, Ky. | |
| LB | Deonate Gary | Central State | Senior | Lakeland, Fla. | |
| LB | Javonte Kelly | Lane | Senior | Memphis, Tenn. | |
| LB | Osband Thompson | Tuskegee | Junior | Miami, Fla. | |
| DB | Clim Robbins | Central State | Senior | West Orlando, Fla. | |
| DB | Jonah McCutcheon | Tuskegee | R-Junior | Mobile, Ala. | |
| DB | Nick Scott | Albany State | Senior | Ellabell,Ga. | |
| DB | Nehemiah Coward | Central State | Senior | Clermont, Fla. | |
| K | Nick Christiansen | Miles | Junior | Clayton, N.C. | |
| P | Juan Serna | Fort Valley | Junior | Douglasville, Ga. | |
| KR | Amyr Smith | Morehouse | Sophomore | Atlanta, Ga. | |
| PR | Amyr Smith | Morehouse | Sophomore | Atlanta, Ga. | |
2016 SIAC Preseason Football Second Team
| QB | Caleb Edmonds | Albany State | Senior | Smyrna, Ga. |
| TE | Ryan Edwards | Morehouse | Senior | Atlanta, Ga. |
| WR | Charles Johnson | Kentucky St. | Junior | Erlanger, Ky. |
| WR | Brenton Martin | Clark Atlanta | Sophomore | Marietta, Ga. |
| RB | Reginal Harris | Kentucky St. | Sophomore | Miami, Fla. |
| RB | Jaha McCray | Clark Atlanta | Junior | Jacksonville, Fla. |
| OL | Trey Wilson | Morehouse | Sophomore | Lawrenceville, Ga. |
| OL | Howard Bush | Lane | Junior | Mobile, Ala. |
| OL | Michael Moaga | Kentucky St. | Senior | Lexington, Ky. |
| OL | Aliou Diouf | Central State | Junior | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| OL | Darryl Carr | Lane | Junior | Sauk Village, Ill. |
| DL | Devonta Ramseur | Tuskegee | Junior | Shelby, N.C. |
| DL | Ray Taylor | Lane | Sophomore | Memphis, Tenn. |
| DL | Voris Bryant | Morehouse | Junior | Gray, Ga. |
| DL | Darion Hall | Tuskegee | Senior | Wetumpka, Ala. |
| LB | Trevon Spencer | Kentucky St. | Senior | Louisville, Ky. |
| LB | Stephen Williams | Benedict | Senior | Williamston, S.C. |
| LB | Zavondric Shingleton | Albany State | Senior | Millen, Ga. |
| DB | Darius Holmes | Tuskegee | R-Sophomore | Warner Robins, Ga. |
| DB | Cedric Poole | Miles | Senior | Birmingham, Ala. |
| DB | Jaquatin Victrum | Clark Atlanta | Junior | Miami, Fla. |
| DB | Emmauel Parks | Morehouse | Senior | Atlanta, Ga. |
| K | Bill Rose | Kentucky St. | Senior | Lawrenceburg, Ky. |
| P | Terry Wiley | Albany State | Junior | Douglas, Ga. |
| KR | George Myers, Jr. | Benedict | Junior | Hephzibah, Ga. |
| PR | Clim Robbins | Central State | Senior | West Orlando, Fla. |
Courtesy: SIAC
