PITTSBURGH, Penn. -- The Power News Radio Network (PNRN) announced its 2018 PNRN Black College All-American Team, which includes Benedict College senior defensive lineman
Rickym Holmes.
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) placed nine and six players on the team, respectively. The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) had five players selected, while three were selected from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). The Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) was represented by two players.
Holmes was sixth on the team in total tackles with 27. He led the team in tackles for loss (12.5 for 65 yards) and sacks (seven for 46 yards). His seven sacks in nine games led the SIAC. Holmes recently participated in the Tropical Bowl, a college football all-star game in Daytona Beach, Fla., featuring primarily Division I FBS and FCS players.
The North Carolina A&T State Aggies had five players on the team and picked up three honors. They were recognized as 2018 Black College Football National Champions, head coach, Sam Washington was named 2018 Coach of the Year and defensive lineman Darryl Johnson Jr. was chosen as the 2018 Defensive Player of the Year. Bowie State University quarterback Amir Hall captured the 2018 Offensive Player of the Year honor for a second consecutive year.
Power News Radio Network supports Black College Football and is proud to continue a 92-year tradition. HBCU Poll/All-American Teams History In 1927, William G. Nunn Sr. was managing editor of the Pittsburgh Courier and began coverage of HBCU football teams with poll rankings and annual All-American teams. When he retired, his son, Bill Nunn Jr. replaced him and covered the teams and players until he was hired by the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers in 1967. The Pittsburgh Courier continued their HBCU efforts until they passed the mantle to Sheridan Broadcasting Network (SBN) in 1974. In 1990, Ty Miller joined SBN and since that time, the poll and All-American teams started by Nunn Sr. have been under his direction and management. Miller extended coverage nationwide and is producer and host of Black College Football Weekly, a national HBCU radio show that has been on the air for 28 years and counting. He's also a member of the Black College Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee and Executive Director of the Power News Radio Network.
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Class |
Hometown |
| QB |
Amir Hall |
Bowie State |
6-4 |
195 |
Sr. |
Bowie, Md. |
| RB |
Marquell Cartwright |
North Carolina A&T |
5-8 |
203 |
R-Sr. |
High Point, N.C. |
| RB |
Tabyus Taylor |
Virginia Union |
6-0 |
250 |
So. |
Hopewell, Va. |
| WR |
Jequez Ezzard |
Howard |
5-9 |
190 |
Jr. |
College Park, Ga. |
| WR |
Lasana Sesay |
Bowie State |
6-4 |
175 |
Sr. |
Bowie, Md. |
| TE |
Zarrian Holcombe |
Prarie View A&M |
6-6 |
235 |
Jr. |
Houston, Texas |
| OL |
James Holmon |
Howard |
6-6 |
350 |
Grad. |
Augusta, Ga. |
| OL |
Donald Boone |
Chowan |
6-5 |
310 |
Jr. |
Hertford, N.C. |
| OL |
Tytus Howard |
Alabama State |
6-6 |
311 |
R-Sr. |
Monroeville, Ala. |
| OL |
Chidi Okeke |
Tennessee State |
6-6 |
315 |
R-Sr. |
Anambra, Nigeria |
| OL |
Micah Shaw |
Tennessee State |
6-1 |
264 |
Sr. |
Fayetteville, N.C. |
| PK |
Gabriel Ballinas |
Albany State |
5-9 |
190 |
So. |
Guadalupe, Mexico |
| DL |
Sterline Shippy |
Alcorn State |
6-1 |
300 |
Sr. |
Miami, Fla. |
| DL |
Darryl Johnson Jr. |
North Carolina A&T |
6-5 |
232 |
R-Jr. |
Kingland, Ga. |
| DL |
Rickym Holmes |
Benedict |
6-5 |
330 |
Sr. |
Baltimore, Md. |
| DL |
Stefen Banks |
Savannah State |
6-1 |
230 |
Sr. |
Columbus, Ohio |
| LB |
De'Arius Christmas |
Grambling State |
5-10 |
220 |
Sr. |
Vicksburg, Miss. |
| LB |
Austin Stephens |
Miles College |
5-11 |
210 |
Jr. |
Munford, Ala. |
| LB |
Armoni Holloway |
Alabama A&M |
6-2 |
205 |
Jr. |
Pinson, Ala. |
| DB |
Sterling Hammond |
Virginia Union |
6-1 |
210 |
Jr. |
Caret, Va. |
| DB |
Dajour Nesbeth |
Tennessee State |
6-1 |
187 |
Jr. |
Winter Garden, Fla. |
| DB |
Franklin McCain III |
North Carolina A&T |
5-11 |
173 |
R-So. |
Greensboro, N.C. |
| DB |
Ju'Anthony Parker |
Prairie View A&M |
5-11 |
165 |
Jr. |
Dallas, Texas |
| P |
Chris Faddoul |
Florida A&M |
6-1 |
182 |
So. |
Wesley Chapel, Fla. |
| RS |
Malik Wilson |
North Carolina A&T |
5-11 |
166 |
R-Sr. |
Burlington, N.C. |
COACH OF THE YEAR – Sam Washington, North Carolina A&T State University
OFFENSIVE PLAY OF THE YEAR – Amir Hall, Bowie State University
DEFENSIVE PLAY OF THE YEAR – Darryl Johnson Jr., North Carolina A&T State University
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS – North Carolina A&T State University Aggies
