Courtesy of Norfolk State Sports Information
NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State running back Kevin Johnson was selected as the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) State Offensive Rookie of the Year and three of his teammates were voted to the All-State Team, the organization announced on Friday.
Junior offensive lineman Kenneth Kirby and sophomore offensive lineman Justin Redd along with senior safety Nhyre' Quinerly were all second-team selections as voted on by the sports information directors from the commonwealth.
Johnson earned Third Team All-MEAC and Honorable Mention FCS Freshman All-America recognition as a true freshman. He led the Spartans with 468 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on just 86 carries, a 5.4-yard average. Johnson also caught 13 passes for 200 yards and three more scores. A three-time MEAC Rookie of the Week, Johnson ranked fourth in the MEAC in scoring and eighth in all-purpose yards (959).
Johnson is the second Spartan to earn the state's top offensive rookie honor in the last three seasons. Quarterback Juwan Carter did likewise in 2017.
Kirby, a First Team All-MEAC selection, started all 12 games at left tackle, helping anchoring a resurgent Norfolk State offensive front that landed a school-record four linemen on this year's all-conference team. Kirby helped block for the highest-scoring offense in the Spartans' Div. I era as Norfolk State averaged 28.9 points per game overall and 31.8 in MEAC play.
Redd, a redshirt sophomore, started all 11 contests at right guard and earned both Second Team All-MEAC and Honorable Mention FCS sophomore All-America honors. Redd and his line mates helped Norfolk State finish third in the MEAC in rushing, at 144.7 yards per game – the most by a Spartan team since 2011. Redd was named MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week following the Spartans' 649-yard day in the win at Howard, one of two games in which they topped 40 points in MEAC play.
Quinerly, a First Team All-MEAC pick, ranked fifth in the MEAC with 103 tackles, which included three for lost yardage. Quinerly intercepted three passes and broke up five others, and he also forced one fumble. He ranked fifth in the MEAC in tackles, tied for seventh in interceptions and tied for 12th in passes defended. Quinerly, who started all 34 games in his Norfolk State career, was also MEAC Defensive Player of the Week after the Morgan State win.
Virginia's Bryce Perkins was voted VaSID Offensive Player of the Year, and James Madison's Ron'Dell Carter received Defensive Player of the Year accolades. Both JMU's Curt Cignetti and Virginia's Bronco Mendenhall shared Coach of the Year honors, while Richmond linebacker Tristan Wheeler took home Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.