ATLANTA, Ga. – Running back Emanuel Wilson of Fort Valley State headlines the 2022 All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Football All-Conference team earning this year's Overall Player of the Year (MVP) and Offensive Player of the Year awards. The team, which features 52 total student-athletes covering twelve positions, was voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
Benedict's defensive lineman
Loobert Denelus was named Defensive Player of the Year alongside Fort Valley State's quarterback, Kelvin Durham, who earned the Freshman of the Year and Newcomer of the Year awards.
Chennis Berry of Benedict was selected as the 2022 SIAC Coach of the Year.
Benedict, the SIAC champions, had 10 total All-Conference selections. Along with Denelus, Benedict placed three offensive lineman on the first team –
Maurice Campbell,
Henry Mitchell III and
Tyler Pritchett.
Named to the second team were quarterback
Eric Phoenix, running back
Noah Zaire Scotland, defensive lineman
Jayden Broughton, defensive back
Olajuwone Smith, punter
Jared Eubanks, and kick returner
Kendall Norman.
Denelus is a leader for the Benedict Tigers and has been named this year's Defensive Player of the Year. The junior defensive lineman led Benedict to an undefeated season with 49 total tackles, 20 tackles for loss (-89 yds) and 13 sacks (-80 yds). The junior defensive lineman ranks first in the SIAC and fourth in the NCAA in sacks per game (1.18 sacks per game). The Florida native also ranks third in the SIAC and 6th in the NCAA in tackles for loss (1.9 per game). He also ranks first in the SIAC and tied second in the NCAA with four fumble recoveries. Benedict's defense ranks first in the SIAC and fifth in the NCAA in total defense (236.9 yards per game), and fifth in the NCAA in scoring defense (12 points per game).
Head Coach of Benedict College,
Chennis Berry, has led the Tigers to the school's first-ever national ranking and first-ever appearance in the SIAC Championship game. Coach Berry guided Benedict to the school's best-ever record (7-0 SIAC) and garnished a No. 1 ranking in the NCAA Super Region 2 poll, winning the SIAC's Eastern Division and claiming the conference championship title. The Tigers, now 11-0 on the season, won their first-ever SIAC football championship by overwhelming Tuskegee 58-21 on Saturday and are making their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II football playoffs. The Tigers will have a bye during the first round on Nov. 19 and will face the winner between No. 4 seed Virginia Union (9-1) from the CIAA and the No. 5 seed Wingate (9-2) from the South Atlantic Conference on Nov. 26.
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.
Ja'ron Kilpatrick of Benedict was this year's recipient of this award in his respective sport.
Fort Valley State paced the all-conference teams with 12 selections. Benedict followed up with 10 selections ahead of Tuskegee who had seven all-conference selections. Albany State placed six on this year's all-conference team, while Lane had five selections. Savannah State trailed with four selections, while Allen rounded out the 2022 SIAC Football All-Conference team with one selection.
(complete team listed below)
2022 SIAC Football All-Conference Team
First Team
| Position |
Name |
School |
Classification |
Hometown |
| Offensive Lineman |
Emmanuel Boone |
Fort Valley State |
Senior |
Macon, Ga. |
| Offensive Lineman |
Maurice Campbell |
Benedict |
Graduate Student |
Atlanta, GA |
| Offensive Lineman |
Josh Simon |
Albany State |
Junior |
Atlanta, GA |
| Offensive Lineman |
Tyler Pritchett |
Benedict |
Graduate Student |
Auburn, AL |
| Offensive Lineman |
Henry Mitchell III |
Benedict |
Graduate Student |
Austin, TX |
| Tight End |
Gentry Sparks |
Fort Valley State |
Sophomore |
Tallahassee, FL |
| Wide Receiver |
Twon Hines |
Central State |
Junior |
Dayton, OH |
| Wide Receiver |
Jacquez Jones |
Lane |
R-Sophomore |
Orlando, FL |
| Running Back |
Emanuel Wilson |
Fort Valley State |
R-Junior |
Charlotte, N.C. |
| Running Back |
Taurean Taylor |
Tuskegee |
Senior |
Scotdale, GA |
| Quarterback |
Kelvin Durham |
Fort Valley State |
R-Freshman |
Homestead, FL |
| Defensive Lineman |
Tim Alderman |
Fort Valley State |
Sophomore |
Fort Valley, GA |
| Defensive Lineman |
Loobert Denelus |
Benedict |
Junior |
Naples, FL |
| Defensive Lineman |
Andrew Farmer |
Lane |
R-Senior |
Jacksonville, FL |
| Defensive Lineman |
Malik Barnes |
Albany State |
Junior |
Newton, GA |
| Linebacker |
Vincent Hill |
Tuskegee |
Freshman |
Fairburn, GA |
| Linebacker |
Stephan Pierre |
Albany State |
Senior |
Tallahasee, FL |
| Linebacker |
Jalil Lenore |
Central State |
R-Freshman |
Chicago, IL |
| Defensive Back |
Zelly Aldridge |
Tuskegee |
Sophomore |
Gallon, AL |
| Defensive Back |
Tyler Moore |
Fort Valley State |
Senior |
Ashburn, GA |
| Defensive Back |
Nijul Canada |
Lane |
R-Senior |
Mansfield, LA |
| Defensive Back |
James Hawkins |
Albany State |
Senior |
Fayetteville, GA |
| Kicker |
Rodney Williams Jr. |
Fort Valley State |
Freshman |
Covington, GA |
| Punter |
Hamady Diallo |
Central State |
Senior |
Bradenton, FL |
| Punt Returner |
Chaii Bland |
Savannah State |
Junior |
Miami, FL |
| Kick Returner |
Twon Hines |
Central State |
Junior |
Dayton, OH |
Second Team
| Position |
Name |
School |
Classification |
Hometown |
| Offensive Lineman |
Kyle Frazier |
Savannah State |
Sophomore |
Augusta, GA |
| Offensive Lineman |
Nathan Harrison |
Tuskegee |
Graduate Student |
Tuskegee, AL |
| Offensive Lineman |
Jacob Wooden |
Central State |
Sophomore |
Nashville, TN |
| Offensive Lineman |
Jay'Shaun Booker |
Fort Valley State |
R-Junior |
Macon, GA |
| Offensive Lineman |
Taviauhn Turner |
Lane |
R-Senior |
Fellowship, LA |
| Tight End |
Tyree Taylor |
Albany State |
Sophomore |
Live Oak, FL |
| Wide Receiver |
Corintheus Edmonds |
Fort Valley State |
Senior |
Atlanta, GA |
| Wide Receiver |
Brandon Brock |
Central State |
Junior |
Norfolk, VA |
| Running Back |
Noah Zaire Scotland |
Benedict |
R-Freshman |
Walhalla, S.C. |
| Running Back |
Shamarcus Poole |
Savannah State |
Sophomore |
Sandersville, GA |
| Quarterback |
Eric Phoenix |
Benedict |
Junior |
Savannah, GA |
| Defensive Lineman |
Jeremy Dees |
Tuskegee |
R-Junior |
Evergreen, AL |
| Defensive Lineman |
Mike White |
Central State |
Sophomore |
Springfield, OH |
| Defensive Lineman |
Makenly Newbill |
Savannah State |
Senior |
Savannah, Ga. |
| Defensive Lineman |
Jayden Broughton |
Benedict |
Sophomore |
Monks Corner, S.C. |
| Linebacker |
Kentrell Lawson |
Fort Valley State |
Sophomore |
Marianna, FL |
| Linebacker |
Dialo Mosley |
Fort Valley State |
Freshman |
Atlanta, GA |
| Linebacker |
Gary Bourrage |
Allen |
Junior |
Kemper, MS |
| Defensive Back |
Olajuwone Smith |
Benedict |
R-Senior |
Waycross, GA |
| Defensive Back |
Jaree Turner |
Albany State |
Sophomore |
Ocala, FL |
| Defensive Back |
Walter Tatum |
Lane |
Sophomore |
Notasulga, AL |
| Defensive Back |
Davir Hamilton-Jackson |
Tuskegee |
R-Senior |
Compton, CA |
| Kicker |
Arnes Huskic |
Tuskegee |
Senior |
Jacksonville, FL |
| Punter |
Jared Eubanks |
Benedict |
Graduate Student |
Newark, N.J. |
| Punt Returner |
Hakeem Ellington |
Fort Valley State |
R-Junior |
Summerville, S.C. |
| Kick Returner |
Kendall Norman |
Benedict |
Freshman |
Spartanburg, S.C. |
Overall Player of the Year (MVP): Emanuel Wilson, Fort Valley State
Offensive Player of the Year: Emanuel Wilson, Fort Valley State
Defensive Player of the Year: Loobert Denelus, Benedict
Freshman of the Year: Kelvin Durham, Fort Valley State
Newcomer of the Year: Kelvin Durham, Fort Valley State
Coach of the Year: Chennis Berry, Benedict
Elite 14: Ja'ron Kilpatrick, Benedict
