ATLANTA, Ga. –Benedict College is picked to finish second in the SIAC East Division football race, while five Tigers were named to the SIAC preseason All-Conference team, the league announced Tuesday during the SIAC media day at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Ga.

Albany State, the defending East Division champions, received three first-place votes. Benedict received two first-place votes. Morehouse received one first-place vote and was picked to finish third. Fort Valley State, Clark Atlanta and Savannah State round out the East Division predictions.

Defending SIAC champion Miles was picked to win the West Division with two first-place votes. Tuskegee, picked second, also received two first-place votes. Central State was picked to finish third, and received three first-place votes. Lane and Kentucky State round out the West Division predictions.

All votes are submitted by head coaches and sports information directors.

Benedict defensive back Traviontae Brown, a 2018 SIAC All-Conference first-team selection and AFCA All-American, returns as a preseason All-Conference selection and is joined on the first team by secondary teammate Robert Cummings.

Three Tigers were named to the second team, led by linebacker Amari Andrews, who led Benedict in 2018 with 51 total tackles. He also added six tackles for loss with one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Joining Andrews from the defensive side is lineman Rashaad Miller, who had 24 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks and a blocked kick. Benedict's only representative from the offensive side is offensive lineman Christian Taylor. Taylor played left tackle for the Tigers and was a key factor in Benedict averaging 133 yards rushing per game.

Morehouse College running back Santo Dunn was named the league's preseason offensive Player of the Year, while Miles linebacker Austin Stephens was picked to repeat as the league's defensive Player of the Year.

Football Preseason Rankings by Division
Eastern Division

1. Albany State (3)
2. Benedict (2)
3. Morehouse (1)
4. Fort Valley State
5. Clark Atlanta
6. Savannah State

 
Western Division

1. Miles (2)
2. Tuskegee (2)
3. Central State (3)
4. Lane
5. Kentucky State

 
*first-place votes in parenthesis
 
 
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.
Zach Anderson	Junior	Defensive Back	Fort Valley State	Cairo, Ga.
Tyler Scott	Junior	Defensive Back	Albany State	Tampa, Fl.
Jackson Spradlin	Sophomore	Kicker	Miles	Dora, Al.
Ty Woods	Junior	Punter	Clark Atlanta	Montgomery, Ala.
Brett Sylve	Senior	Punt Returner	Kentucky State	Hammond, La.
Ricci Nuckles	Senior	Kick Returner	Morehouse	Suwanee, Ga.