MACON, Ga. – The Benedict College Tigers are picked to finish second in the SIAC in the 2026 football race in a vote by the league's head coaches, and had five players make the SIAC Preseason All-Conference Team, the league announced on Wednesday at their annual Football Media Day.
Edward Waters, which had the SIAC preseason Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, is picked on top of the preseason poll, followed by Benedict, Tuskegee and 2025 SIAC champion Albany State.
The Tigers had four players on the First Team, including three members of their veteran offensive line –
Isaiah Turner,
Isaih Richardson and
Jason Miller. They will be blocking the way for first-team running back
David Smith.
Kicker
Logan Karwacki was named to the Second Team.
Turner, Richardson and Miller anchored a Benedict offensive line in 2025 that rushed for 142.8 yards per game and gave up just 30 sacks. Smith averaged five yards per carry, finishing with 530 yards on 105 carries and scored three touchdowns. Karwacki kicked five field goals and was successful on 18-of-20 extra point tries.
Benedict will open the 2026 season on Aug. 29 at home against Johnson C. Smith in the Battle of the Border Classic. Tickets are on sale at
benedicttickets.com.
|
| FIRST TEAM |
| POSITION |
NAME |
SCHOOL |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| Offensive Line |
Chance Bush* |
Allen |
Junior |
Augusta, Ga. |
| Offensive Line |
Isaiah Turner* |
Benedict |
R-Senior |
Abbeville, Ga. |
| Offensive Line |
Zyrus Craft* |
Allen |
Graduate |
Magee, Miss. |
| Offensive Line |
Isaih Richardson* |
Benedict |
R-Sophomore |
Charleston, S.C. |
| Offensive Line |
Jason Miller* |
Benedict |
Senior |
Columbus, Ohio |
| Tight End |
Michael Bowman* |
Allen |
R-Junior |
Orangeburg, S.C. |
| Wide Receiver |
Darius Cyprian* |
Kentucky State |
Senior |
Baton Rouge, La. |
| Wide Receiver |
EJ Hall* |
Tuskegee |
R-Sophomore |
Tuskegee, Ala. |
| Running Back |
Johntarrious Thomas* |
Edward Waters |
Senior |
Gadsden County, Fla. |
| Running Back |
David Smith |
Benedict |
R-Junior |
Houston, Texas |
| Quarterback |
Xzavier Jackson |
Clark Atlanta |
Sophomore |
Tampa, Fla. |
| Defensive Line |
Derrick Drayton* |
Albany State |
R-Senior |
College Park, Ga. |
| Defensive Line |
Jaiden Cleveland |
Clark Atlanta |
Junior |
Montgomery, Ala. |
| Defensive Line |
Zach Underwood |
Morehouse |
R-Sophomore |
Montgomery, Ala. |
| Defensive Line |
Masiah Wells |
Tuskegee |
Graduate |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
| Linebacker |
Trevon French* |
Edward Waters |
Junior |
Powder Springs, Ga. |
| Linebacker |
Bishop Blakely |
Central State |
Senior |
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. |
| Linebacker |
Sean Johnson |
Morehouse |
Senior |
Newnan, Ga. |
| Defensive Back |
Travion Searcy* |
Central State |
Senior |
Macon, Ga. |
| Defensive Back |
Aeron Gresham* |
Allen |
R-Junior |
Covington, Ga. |
| Defensive Back |
Lawrence McConnell |
Kentucky State |
Senior |
St. Louis, Mo. |
| Defensive Back |
Aykenon Rodgers |
Edward Waters |
Junior |
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. |
| Kicker |
Lorcan Ryans* |
Tuskegee |
Senior |
Limerick, Ireland |
| Punter |
Elan Hall |
Fort Valley State |
Senior |
Kennesaw, Ga. |
| Punt Returner |
Donte Curry Jr.* |
Fort Valley State |
Junior |
McDonough, Ga. |
| Kick Returner |
Cameron Watts* |
Albany State |
Senior |
Tyrone, Ga. |
| – * RETURNING 2025 ALL-SIAC SELECTION |
|
| SECOND TEAM |
| POSITION |
NAME |
SCHOOL |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| Offensive Line |
Censere Wright* |
Fort Valley State |
Sophomore |
Covington, Ga. |
| Offensive Line |
Adam Badwan |
Kentucky State |
Senior |
St. Louis, Mo. |
| Offensive Line |
Christopher Allen |
Morehouse |
Sophomore |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Offensive Line |
Ashton Morris |
Allen |
Senior |
Tampa, Fla. |
| Offensive Line |
Theodis Collins |
Morehouse |
Sophomore |
St. Louis, Mo. |
| Tight End |
Fatoma Paulk |
Edward Waters |
Junior |
Miami, Fla. |
| Wide Receiver |
Eric Stephens |
Morehouse |
R-Sophomore |
Mililani, Hawaii |
| Wide Receiver |
J.T. Pendleton |
Fort Valley State |
Senior |
Mobile, Ala. |
| Running Back |
Johnny Morris |
Tuskegee |
Graduate |
Spanish Fort, Ala. |
| Running Back |
Micheal Cabellero |
Fort Valley State |
Senior |
Savannah, Ga. |
| Quarterback |
Miles Scott |
Morehouse |
Senior |
Laurel, Md. |
| Defensive Line |
Javontae Cooper |
Miles |
R-Senior |
Lanett, Ala. |
| Defensive Line |
Jordan Diggins |
Kentucky State |
Senior |
Indianapolis, Ind. |
| Defensive Line |
Luca Chuecos |
Morehouse |
R-Junior |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Defensive Line |
Jaevin Jenkins |
Edward Waters |
Sophomore |
Mobile, Ala. |
| Linebacker |
Kendrick Curry |
Kentucky State |
Junior |
Athens, Ga. |
| Linebacker |
Stephen Rowser |
Morehouse |
Junior |
Cartersville, Ga. |
| Linebacker |
Elijah Henderson |
Kentucky State |
Senior |
Jackson, Tenn. |
| Defensive Back |
Jeremiah Malbroue |
Lane |
Junior |
Houston, Texas |
| Defensive Back |
Trei'Shaun Sanders |
Central State |
Sophomore |
Xenia, Ohio |
| Defensive Back |
Joshua Maye |
Morehouse |
Senior |
Montgomery, Ala. |
| Defensive Back |
Tray Blackmon Jr. |
Kentucky State |
Senior |
LaGrange, Ga. |
| Kicker |
Logan Karwacki |
Benedict |
Sophomore |
Aurora, Colo. |
| Punter |
Seve Spruill |
Morehouse |
Senior |
Conshohocken, Pa. |
| Punt Returner |
Cameron Watts* |
Albany State |
Senior |
Tyrone, Ga. |
| Kick Returner |
Chry'shawn Sellers |
Clark Atlanta |
Sophomore |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| – * RETURNING 2025 ALL-SIAC SELECTION |
|
| PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR |
| NAME |
SCHOOL |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| Johntarrious Thomas |
Edward Waters |
Senior |
Gadsden County, Fla. |
|
| PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR |
| NAME |
SCHOOL |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| Trevon French |
Edward Waters |
Junior |
Powder Springs, Ga. |
|
| PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH |
| 1. Edward Waters |
| 2. Benedict |
| 3. Tuskegee |
| 4. Albany State |
| 5. Kentucky State |
| 6. Allen |
| 7. Miles |
| 8. Fort Valley State |
| 9. Savannah State |
| 10. Clark Atlanta |
| 11. Central State |
| 12. Morehouse |
| 13. Lane |
