FUQUAY-VARINA, N.C. – Benedict College senior defensive lineman Loobert Denelus has been named to the 2023 HBCU college football Preseason All-America team presented by BOXTOROW.
 
Denelus reaped numerous post-season honors last year, anchoring a defensive unit that was ranked as one of the best in Division II. He was named the SIAC Defensive Player of the Year and to numerous All-American teams, including becoming the first player in Benedict College history to be named a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association. He was recently named the 2023 SIAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Denelus is one of seven Division II players named to the HBCU preseason All-America team, and one of five from the SIAC.

North Carolina Central led with five selections to the 2023 HBCU college football Preseason All-America team presented by BOXTOROW.
 
Florida A&M finished with four selections, the second most. North Carolina A&T and South Carolina State have two selections each.
 
BOXTOROW has named All-America teams since 2007 based on voting by national media who cover HBCU football.
 
The 2023 HBCU college football Preseason All-America team
 
OFFENSE
QB: Davius Richard, North Carolina Central, Sr., Belle Grade, Fla.
RB: Jada Byers, Virginia Union, Jr., Hammonton, N.J.
RB: Jarveon Howard, Alcorn State, r-Sr., Columbia, Miss.
OL: Jalen Goss, Florida A&M, Gr., Valdosta, Ga.
OL: Cameron Covin, Florida A&M, Gr., Albany, Ga.
OL: Torricelli Simpkins III, North Carolina Central, Jr., Charlotte, N.C.
OL: Tairiq Stewart, North Carolina A&T, Gr., Cleveland, Ohio
OL: Jonathan Williams, Alabama A&M, r-Soph., Mobile, Ala.
TE: D.J. Stevens, Jackson State, Sr., Ridgeland, Texas
WR: Devin Smith, North Carolina Central, Jr., Durham, N.C.
WR: Jacquez Jones, Lane, r-Jr., Orlando, Fla.
 
DEFENSE
DL: Loobert Denelus, Benedict, Sr., Naples, Fla.
DL: Sundiata Anderson, Grambling State, Sr., College Park, Ga.
DL: Patrick Godbolt, South Carolina State, Sr., Blythewood, S.C.
DL: Elijah Williams, Morgan State, Jr., Jersey City, N.J.
LB: Colton Adams, Alabama State, r-Jr., Wetumpka, Ala.
LB: Isaiah Major, Florida A&M, Sr., Oklahoma City, Ok.
LB: Jalil Lenore, Central State, r-Soph., Chicago, Ill.
DB: Khalil Baker, North Carolina Central, Sr., Winston-Salem, N.C.
DB: Kenny Gallop, Howard, Sr., Portsmouth, Va.
DB: Karon Prunty, North Carolina A&T, r-Jr., Portsmouth, Va.
DB: Kendall Bohler, Florida A&M, r-Jr., Orlando, Fla.*
DB: Omari Hill-Robinson, Bethune-Cookman, Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.*
 
SPECIALISTS
P: Ryan Duff, Tuskegee, Sr., Mobile, Ala.*
P: Dyson Roberts, South Carolina State, Jr., Sumter, S.C.*
PK: Adrian Olivo, North Carolina Central, Sr., Plant City, Fla.
PR: Hakeem Ellington, Fort Valley State, Sr., Summerville, S.C.
KR: Keith Jenkins, Jr., Morgan State, Soph., Gainesville, Va.
RS: Hakeem Ellington, Fort Valley State, Sr., Summerville, S.C.
 
*Tie