ATLANTA — The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced its 2026 Football All-SIAC teams and individual honorees on Friday, as voted by the conference's head coaches.
Benedict College led the way with eight first-team All-SIAC selections, and had 11 in total. Benedict running back
Christopher Johnson was also named the Freshman of the Year after an outstanding first-year campaign that saw him rush for 475 yards, which ranked ninth best in the SIAC, and seven touchdowns.
Running back
David Smith, who led the SIAC with 836 rushing yards, was named first team.
Isaiah Turner and
Jaylin Walton, two key members of an offensive line that paved the way for the SIAC's top rushing team, joined Smith on the first team.
On the defensive side, defensive lineman
Ty'Metrius Patterson, who accounted for 11 tackles for loss and six sacks, is joined on the first team by linebacker
Kahmari Cook, who finished with 55 tackles, and defensive back
Ethan Nation, who finished with six pass breakups and four interceptions.
On special teams, both of Benedict's kicking specialists were named first team. Placekicker
Zane Spires, who led the SIAC with 11 field goals, including two of more than 50 yards, and punter
Garrett Hyder, who led the SIAC with a 44.9 yard punting average.
On the second team, defensive lineman
Ryan Perry, who finished with nine tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, is joined by defensive back
Joshua Lee, who finished with 27 tackles and three interceptions, and kick returner
Chris Butler, who finished third in the SIAC with a 29.8 average.
| FIRST TEAM |
| POSITION |
NAME |
SCHOOL |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| Offensive Line |
Isaiah Turner |
Benedict |
5th |
Abbeville, Ga. |
| Offensive Line |
Carmelo Turner |
Miles |
Sr. |
Atmore, Ala. |
| Offensive Line |
Jaylin Walton |
Benedict |
Sr. |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Offensive Line |
Clifford Moore Jr. |
Kentucky State |
So. |
Hammond, La. |
| Offensive Line |
Chance Bush |
Allen |
Jr. |
Augusta, Ga. |
| Tight End |
Omarion Dupree |
Albany State |
Sr. |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Wide Receiver |
Darius Cyprian |
Kentucky State |
Sr. |
Baton Rouge, La. |
| Wide Receiver |
Izaiah Jean-Baptiste |
Edward Waters |
Sr. |
Davenport, Fla. |
| Running Back |
David Smith |
Benedict |
Sr. |
Houston, Texas |
| Running Back |
Ja'khael Rowser |
Tuskegee |
Jr. |
Hueytown, Ala. |
| Quarterback |
Jackson Wasik |
Central State |
Jr. |
Lexington, Ky. |
| Defensive Line |
Ty'Metrius Patterson |
Benedict |
5th |
Detroit, Mich. |
| Defensive Line |
Derrick Drayton |
Albany State |
Sr. |
College Park, Ga. |
| Defensive Line |
Adonis Brazil |
Savannah State |
So. |
Thomaston, Ga. |
| Defensive Line |
Carlos Bazert |
Kentucky State |
Jr. |
Mansura, La. |
| Linebacker |
Trevon French |
Edward Waters |
Jr. |
Powder Springs, Ga. |
| Linebacker |
Kahmari Cook |
Benedict |
Jr. |
Buffalo, N.Y. |
| Linebacker |
Eric Searcy |
Clark Atlanta |
Jr. |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Defensive Back |
Frederick Lewis Jr. |
Lane |
So. |
New Orleans, La. |
| Defensive Back |
Cameron Watts |
Albany State |
Sr. |
Tyrone, Ga. |
| Defensive Back |
Ethan Nation |
Benedict |
Sr. |
Roswell, Ga. |
| Defensive Back |
D'Juan Grant |
Edward Waters |
Jr. |
Houston, Texas |
| Kicker |
Zane Spires |
Benedict |
So. |
Gainesville, Fla. |
| Punter |
Garrett Hyder |
Benedict |
So. |
Hoschton, Ga. |
| Punt Returner |
Cameron Watts |
Albany State |
Sr. |
Tyrone, Ga. |
| Kick Returner |
Cameron Watts |
Albany State |
Sr. |
Tyrone, Ga. |
| SECOND TEAM |
| POSITION |
NAME |
SCHOOL |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| Offensive Line |
Cameo Jones |
Albany State |
So. |
Cocoa, Fla. |
| Offensive Line |
Adam Badwan |
Kentucky State |
Sr. |
St. Louis, Mo. |
| Offensive Line |
Antonio Walthour |
Tuskegee |
Jr. |
Hainesville, Ga. |
| Offensive Line |
Ty'Orice Brown |
Albany State |
Sr. |
Miami, Fla. |
| Offensive Line |
Jalen Cooper |
Clark Atlanta |
Sr. |
Houston, Texas |
| Tight End |
Michael Bowman |
Allen |
Sr. |
Orangeburg, S.C. |
| Wide Receiver |
Jaden Hale |
Kentucky State |
5th |
East St. Louis, Ill. |
| Wide Receiver |
Avantae Burt |
Central State |
Jr. |
Canton, Ohio |
| Running Back |
Javis Floyd Jr. |
Allen |
So. |
Shorter, Ala. |
| Running Back |
Johntarrious Thomas |
Edward Waters |
Sr. |
Midway, Fla. |
| Quarterback |
Tavion Faulk |
Edward Waters |
Sr. |
Carencro, La. |
| Defensive Line |
Ryan Perry |
Benedict |
Jr. |
McDonough, Ga. |
| Defensive Line |
Kingston Lowe |
Miles |
So. |
Gulf Shores, Ala. |
| Defensive Line |
Jordan Allen |
Edward Waters |
Sr. |
Clarksdale, Miss. |
| Defensive Line |
Jordan Diggins |
Kentucky State |
Jr. |
Indianapolis, Ind. |
| Linebacker |
Kendrick Curry |
Kentucky State |
Jr. |
Athens, Ga. |
| Linebacker |
JayShawn Smalls |
Allen |
Jr. |
Springfield, S.C. |
| Linebacker |
Elijah Henderson |
Kentucky State |
Jr. |
Jackson, La. |
| Defensive Back |
Rontavion Scott |
Albany State |
Jr. |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
| Defensive Back |
Roman Hernandez |
Kentucky State |
5th |
Gary, Ind. |
| Defensive Back |
Joshua Lee |
Benedict |
So. |
Duncan, S.C. |
| Defensive Back |
Kion Threalkill |
Fort Valley State |
Sr. |
Memphis, Tenn. |
| Kicker |
Forest Gantz |
Kentucky State |
So. |
Dayton, Ohio |
| Punter |
Forest Gantz |
Kentucky State |
So. |
Dayton, Ohio |
| Punt Returner |
Jaecyn Myles |
Miles |
Fr. |
Daphne, Ala. |
| Kick Returner |
Chris Butler |
Benedict |
So. |
Baltimore, Md. |
Overall Player of the Year (MVP): Jackson Wasik, Central State
Offensive Player of the Year: Jackson Wasik, Central State
Defensive Player of the Year: Trevon French, Edward Waters
Freshman of the Year: Christopher Johnson, Benedict
Newcomer of the Year: Tavion Faulk, Edward Waters
Coach of the Year: Tony Carter, Central State
