|
 |
 |
NORFOLK, Va. – Howard University running back Anthony Philyaw was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while South Carolina State linebacker Darius Leonard was selected as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
All votes were submitted by the MEAC’s 11 head football coaches and sports information directors.
A 2016 All-MEAC First teamer, Philyaw was the MEAC’s second-leading rusher last fall with 1,230 yards and nine touchdowns on 222 attempts. Philyaw averaged 123 yards per game and 5.5 yards per carry with his longest run spanning 68 yards. He ranked second in scoring touchdowns (9) and second in all-purpose yardage (144.5 ypg) en route to earning MEAC Player of the Week honors once. Philyaw had the highest single-game rushing output in the MEAC last fall with a 281-yard performance versus Delaware State as he was named STATS FCS Player of the Week. The Los Angeles, Calif. native also had 234 yards versus Monmouth along with four additional 100-yard outings, including 112 yards versus Rutgers of the Big 10 Conference.
Leonard continues South Carolina State’s strong tradition of defensive play as last season’s MEAC Defensive Player of the Year honor marked the fourth consecutive season an SC State defender has earned the postseason award. He led the MEAC in tackles last season with 124, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions. The Lake View, S.C. native had 10-plus tackles in seven of SC State’s 11 games highlighted by a 19-tackle performance at College Football Playoff National Champion Clemson on Sept. 17. Leonard also tallied 16 tackles at UCF and 14 tackles at Howard. He was named the Sheridan Broadcast Network Sports Mel Blount Defensive Player of the Year, an AFCA All-American and the BOXTOROW Willie Davis Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Offensive Player of the Year: Anthony Philyaw, Howard
Defensive Player of the Year: Darius Leonard, South Carolina State
| FIRST TEAM OFFENSE | |||||
| QB | Lamar Raynard | Jr. | North Carolina A&T State | High Point, N.C. | |
| RB | Anthony Philyaw | Sr. | Howard | Los Angeles, Calif. | |
| RB* | Yahkee Johnson | Sr. | Hampton | Richmond, Va. | |
| RB* | Ramone Simpson | Jr. | N.C. Central | Wilmington, N.C. | |
| WR | Elijah Bell | So. | North Carolina A&T State | Wheeling, W. Va. | |
| WR* | Brandon Norwood | Sr. | Florida A&M | Atlanta, Ga. | |
| WR* | Frank Brown | Sr. | Bethune-Cookman | Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. | |
| TE | Leroy Hill | Jr. | North Carolina A&T State | Smithfield, N.C. | |
| C | Darriel Mack | Sr. | North Carolina A&T State | Clio, S.C. | |
| OL | Brandon Parker | Sr. | North Carolina A&T State | Kannapolis, N.C. | |
| OL | Nick Leverett | So. | N.C. Central | Concord, N.C. | |
| OL | Robbie Stephenson | Sr. | S.C. State | Fairburn, Ga. | |
| OL | Justin Evans | Sr. | S.C. State | Florence, S.C. | |
| PK | Uriel Hernandez | Jr. | Bethune-Cookman | Homestead, Fla. | |
| FIRST TEAM DEFENSE | |||||
| DL* | Kevin Thompson | R-Sr. | Bethune-Cookman | Baltimore, Md. | |
| DL* | Chris Lee | Sr. | Norfolk State | Woodbridge, Va. | |
| DL | Ja’Quan Smith | Gr. | N.C. Central | Miramar, Fla. | |
| DL | Antonio Brown | Sr. | N.C. Central | Jacksonville, Fla. | |
| LB | Darius Leonard | R-Sr. | S.C. State | Lake View, S.C. | |
| LB | Dayshawn Taylor | R-Sr. | S.C. State | Lincolnton, Ga. | |
| LB | Reggie Hunter | Sr. | N.C. Central | Henderson, N.C. | |
| DB | Alden McClellon | Jr. | N.C. Central | Lake Butler, Fla. | |
| DB* | Jason Baxter | Gr. | S.C. State | Manning, S.C. | |
| DB* | Diquan Richardson | Sr. | Bethune-Cookman | Alvin, S.C. | |
| DB | Zerius Lockhart | Sr. | North Carolina A&T State | Auburn, Ala. | |
| P | Nathaniel Tilque | Sr. | N.C. Central | Charlotte, N.C. | |
| RS | Khris Gardin | Sr. | North Carolina A&T State | Morganton, N.C. | |
| SECOND TEAM OFFENSE | |||||
| QB | Larry Brihm, Jr. | Sr. | Bethune-Cookman | Delray Beach, Fla. | |
| RB | Herb Walker, Jr. | Sr. | Morgan State | Cleveland, Ohio | |
| RB | Mike Waters | So. | Delaware State | Philadelphia, Pa. | |
| WR | Kyle Anthony | So. | Howard | Miami, Fla. | |
| WR | Mason Rutherford | Sr. | Delaware State | San Bernardino, Calif. | |
| TE | Demetrius Ferebee | Sr. | Norfolk State | Roanoke, Va. | |
| C | Victor Ishmael, Jr. | Sr. | S.C. State | Miami, Fla. | |
| OL | Osman Aguilera | Sr. | Florida A&M | Miami, Fla. | |
| OL | Loubens Polinice | So. | Florida A&M | Palm Coast, Fla. | |
| OL | Joshua Fala | So. | Delaware State | Manteca, Calif. | |
| OL | Cade Pedro | So. | Delaware State | Kailua, Hawai’i | |
| PK | Tyler Scandrett | Sr. | S.C. State | Barnesville, Ga. | |
| SECOND TEAM DEFENSE | |||||
| DL | Steven Smith | Sr. | Hampton | Norfolk, Va. | |
| DL* | Jai Franklin | Sr. | Morgan State | Clinton, Md. | |
| DL* | Greg Newell | Sr. | S.C. State | McDonough, Ga. | |
| DL | Julian McKnight | Jr. | North Carolina A&T State | Conyers, Ga. | |
| LB | Trenton Bridges | Jr. | Bethune-Cookman | DeLand, Fla. | |
| LB* | Malik Harris | Sr. | Delaware State | Washington, D.C. | |
| LB* | Marcus Albert | Jr. | North Carolina A&T State | College Park, Ga. | |
| DB | Brendan Cole | Sr. | Hampton | Hampton, Va. | |
| DB | Orlando McKinley | Jr. | Florida A&M | Atlanta, Ga. | |
| DB | Terry Jefferson | So. | Florida A&M | Miami, Fla. | |
| DB | Devondre Powell | Sr. | S.C. State | Miami, Fla. | |
| P | Uriel Hernandez | Jr. | Bethune-Cookman | Homestead, Fla. | |
| RS | Frank Brown | Sr. | Bethune-Cookman | Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. | |
| THIRD TEAM OFFENSE | |||||
| QB | Ryan Stanley | So. | Florida A&M | Pembroke Pines, Fla. | |
| RB | Dorrel McClain | Jr. | N.C. Central | Cary, N.C. | |
| RB | Brycen Alleyne | Jr. | Delaware State | Wilmington, Del. | |
| WR | Jalen Wilkes | Jr. | N.C. Central | Greenville, S.C. | |
| WR | Jawill Davis | Sr. | Bethune-Cookman | Miami, Fla. | |
| TE | Desmond Noird | Sr. | Florida A&M | Atlanta, Ga. | |
| C | Phillip Norman | Sr. | Bethune-Cookman | Sebastian, Fla. | |
| OL | Obinna Nwanko | So. | Florida A&M | Miramar, Fla. | |
| PK | Wizdom Nzidee | Sr. | Delaware State | Stone Mountain, Ga. | |
| THIRD TEAM DEFENSE | |||||
| DL* | Stefen Banks | Jr. | Savannah State | Columbus, Ohio | |
| DL* | Elijah Price | Sr. | Florida A&M | Jacksonville, Fla. | |
| DL* | Kenneth Melton | Sr. | North Carolina A&T State | Elizabeth City, N.C. | |
| DL | Tyberius Cravens | Sr. | S.C. State | Austell, Ga. | |
| LB | Kyle Archie | Sr. | Norfolk State | Virginia Beach, Va. | |
| LB | Mulik Simmons | Sr. | Savannah State | Savannah, Ga. | |
| LB | Brian Cavicante | So. | Delaware State | Portsmouth, Va. | |
| DB | Carl Garnes | Jr. | Morgan State | Columbus, N.J. | |
| DB | Keyjuan Selby | Jr. | Delaware State | Bear, Del. | |
| DB | Darius Johnson | Jr. | Morgan State | Baltimore, Md. | |
| DB | Davanta Reynolds | Jr. | N.C. Central | Tucker, Ga. | |
| P | Fidel Romo-Martinez | So. | Delaware State | Banning, Calif. | |
| RS | William King | Jr. | Morgan State | Baltimore, Md. | |
| * – Indicates tie | |||||
BASN Newsroom 