ATLANTA, Ga. – The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) announced its annual football awards to finish the 2021 season. The team, which features 26 student-athletes covering eleven positions, was voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
 
Benedict sophomore quarterback Eric Phoenix and senior kicker Rigoberto Tinoco were both named to the second team.
 
Phoenix saw action in seven of Benedict's 10 games, with the Tigers going 4-3 in those contests. He completed 137-of-200 passes, a completion percentage of 68.5 percent, for 1,891 yards. He threw for 12 touchdowns and had 10 interceptions. His 1,891 passing yards ranked second in the SIAC despite playing in just seven games. He also rushed for 127 yards and four touchdowns.
 
Tinoco was one of the SIAC's most reliable kickers. He ranked second in the SIAC in kicking points with eight field goals and 28 extra points. He connected on 8-of-11 field goals, hitting a pair of 40-yarders. He made 28 out of 29 extra point tries.
 
Linebacker Stephan Pierre of Albany State earned both the SIAC Overall Player of the Year (MVP) and Defensive Player of the Year awards. Kentucky State's Running back Brett Sylve was named Offensive Player of the Year, alongside Lane's running back Ike Brown, who earned Freshman of the Year. Central State defensive lineman Jamal Holloway was tabbed Newcomer of the Year. Gabe Giardina of Albany State was named the 2021 SIAC Coach of the Year.
 
In its inaugural season, the Elite 14 award recognized the student-athlete who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the SIAC championship level in his or her sport while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. Zaquan Baldwin of Fort Valley State was the first recipient of this award in his respective sport.
 
2021 SIAC Football All-Conference Team
 
First Team
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Position	Name	School	Classification	Hometown
Offensive Lineman	Connor Vasher	Savannah State	Sophomore	Effingham, Ga.
Offensive Lineman	Emmanuel Boone	Fort Valley State	Sophomore	Macon, Ga.
Offensive Lineman	Tyler Lowry	Miles	Sophomore	Evergreen, Ala.
Offensive Lineman	Miquail Harvey	Albany State	Senior	Columbus, Ga.
Offensive Lineman	KaTray Pringle	Albany State	Sophomore	St. George, S.C.
Tight End	Montavious Tinch	Miles	Graduate Student	Elberton, Ga.
Wide Receiver	Anthony Evelyn	Lane	Senior	Atlantic Beach, Fla.
Wide Receiver	Dalane Brown II	Central State	Senior	Youngstown, OH
Running Back	Ike Brown	Lane	Freshman	Shreveport, La.
Running Back	Brett Sylve	Kentucky State	Senior	Hammond, La.
Quarterback	Michael Huntley	Lane	Senior	Montgomery, Ala.
Defensive Lineman	Malik Barnes	Albany State	Freshman	Newton, Ga.
Defensive Lineman	Jamal Holloway	Central State	Senior	Camden, NJ
Defensive Lineman	Antonio Golden	Fort Valley State	Senior	Midway, Ga.
Defensive Lineman	Zaquan Baldwin	Fort Valley State	Junior	Macon, Ga.
Linebacker	Stephan Pierre	Albany State	R-Sophomore	Tallahassee, Fl.
Linebacker	Daniel Norman	Morehouse	Junior	Oakland, CA
Linebacker	Daylon Land	Morehouse	Freshman	Benton, AR
Defensive Back	Mitchell Smiley	Miles	Junior	Huntsville, Ala.
Defensive Back	Armani Maddox	Morehouse	Freshman	Atlanta, Ga.
Defensive Back	Charles Crawford	Clark Atlanta	Graduate Student	Prichard, Ala.
Defensive Back	Zach Anderson	Fort Valley State	Senior	Cairo, Ga.
Kicker	Gabriel Ballinas	Albany State	Junior	Guadalupe, Mexico
Punter	Jonatan Ward	Kentucky State	Senior	Aventura, Fla.
Punt Returner	Einaj Carter	Savannah State	Sophomore	Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Kick Returner	Anthony Evelyn	Lane	Senior	Atlantic Beach, Fla.

 
Second Team
 

Position	Name	School	Classification	Hometown
Offensive Lineman	Terrence Jordan	Lane	Freshman	New Orleans, LA
Offensive Lineman	Waylin Bell	Fort Valley State	Junior	Harlem, GA.
Offensive Lineman	Josh Simon	Albany State	Sophomore	Atlanta, Ga.
Offensive Lineman	Kyle Frazier	Savannah State	Redshirt Freshman	Augusta, Ga.
Offensive Lineman	Nathan Harrison	Tuskegee	Senior	Tuskegee, Ala.
Tight End	Tyree Taylor	Albany State	Freshman	Suwanne, Fla.
Wide Receiver	Drakar Jerry	Clark Atlanta	Graduate Student	Miami, Fla.
Wide Receiver	Joe'Vontae Shorter	Albany State	Junior	Vicksburg, MS
Running Back	Emanuel Wilson	Fort Valley State	R-Sophomore	Charlotte, N.C.
Running Back	Donte Edwards	Miles	R-Junior	Mobile, Ala.
Quarterback	Eric Phoenix	Benedict	Sophomore	Savannah, Ga.
Defensive Lineman	Andrew Farmer	Lane	Senior	Jacksonville, Fla.
Defensive Lineman	Jaylun Thomas	Miles	Graduate Student	Sylacauga, Ala.
Defensive Lineman	Makenly Newbill	Savannah State	Junior	Savannah, Ga.
Defensive Lineman	Marqu Deweert	Morehouse	Senior	Bellevue, WA
Linebacker	N'Ktavious Floyd	Miles	Senior	Phenix City, Ala.
Linebacker	Rodney Lewis	Clark Atlanta	Sophomore	Atlanta, Ga.
Linebacker	Darrell Dorris Jr.	Kentucky State	Freshman	Lancaster, CA
Defensive Back	Marvin Grunshie	Savannah State	Senior	Reston, VA
Defensive Back	Ny'em Bozeman	Savannah State	Sophomore	Jacksonville, Fla.
Defensive Back	Coemba Jones	Albany State	Junior	Miami, Fla.
Defensive Back	Tyler Moore	Fort Valley State	Junior	Ashburn, Ga.
Kicker	Rigoberto Tinoco	Benedict	Senior	Lyons, Ga.
Punter	Kenneth Lockhart	Savannah State	Freshman	Hinesville, Ga.
Punt Returner	Marqueiz Pride	Morehouse	Sophomore	Seabring, Fla.
Kick Returner	Frank Bailey Jr.	Morehouse	Senior	Atlanta, Ga.

 
Overall Player of the Year (MVP): Stephan Pierre, Albany State
Offensive Player of the Year: Brett Sylve, Kentucky State
Defensive Player of the Year: Stephan Pierre, Albany State
Freshman of the Year: Ike Brown, Lane
Newcomer of the Year: Jamal Holloway, Central State
Coach of the Year: Gabe Giardina, Albany State
Elite 14: Zaquan Baldwin, Fort Valley State