NORFOLK, Va., July 30, 2021 – Norfolk State quarterback Juwan Carter and
South Carolina State defensive back Decobie Durant have been named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Offensive and Defensive Preseason Players of the Year, presented by TowneBank.
All awards were voted on by the MEAC’s head football coaches and sports information directors.
Carter was second in the MEAC in passing in 2019, averaging 219.2 yards per game through the air. He was also second in pass efficiency (146.5) and total offense (238.0 yards/game). His 23 touchdowns that season were tied for the most in the league, and Carter completed a MEAC-best 60.6 percent of his passes.
The Spartans did not play this past season.
Durant led the MEAC in passes defended in 2019, totaling 15 (12 pass breakups and three interceptions). His three picks were tied for the second-most in the conference. He also had five pass breakups and four interceptions for the Bulldogs in four games this past spring.
Joining Carter on the Preseason First Team offense are Norfolk State running back Kevin Johnson, wide receiver Da’Kendall James, tight end Shawn McFarland and offensive linemen Jalen Powell and Justin Redd, North Carolina Central running back Isaiah Totten, South Carolina State wide receiver Shaquan Davis, center Jalen Page and offensive lineman Tison Gray and Delaware State offensive lineman Matthew Derks.
Durant is joined on the Preseason First Team defense by Delaware State defensive lineman Isaiah Williams, linebackers Brooks Parker and Antquan Kinsey and defensive back Jawain Granger, Norfolk State defensive linemen Tavien Blackwell, De’Shaan Dixon and Chris Myers and defensive back Devyn Coles, South Carolina State linebacker Chad Gilchrist and North Carolina Central defensive back Stephen Stokes.
On special teams, the Preseason First Team consists of Norfolk State punter Ryan Richter and placekicker Josh Nardone, as well as return specialist Brandon Codrington from North Carolina Central.
2021 MEAC Football All-Conference Preseason Teams, presented by TowneBank
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Juwan Carter, Norfolk State
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Decobie Durant, South Carolina State
First Team Offense
| Pos. |
Name |
Cl. |
School |
Hometown |
| QB |
Juwan Carter |
Sr. |
Norfolk State |
Richmond, Va. |
| RB |
Kevin Johnson |
So. |
Norfolk State |
Suffolk, Va. |
| RB |
Isaiah Totten |
r-Sr. |
North Carolina Central |
Apex, N.C. |
| WR |
Shaquan Davis |
So. |
South Carolina State |
Summerville, S.C. |
| WR |
Da’Kendall James |
r-So. |
Norfolk State |
Chesapeake, Va. |
| TE |
Shawn McFarland |
Sr. |
Norfolk State |
Selden, N.Y. |
| C |
Jalen Page |
r-Sr. |
South Carolina State |
Florence, S.C. |
| OL |
Jalen Powell |
Sr. |
Norfolk State |
Temple Hill, Md. |
| OL |
Matthew Derks |
Sr. |
Delaware State |
Brantford, Ontario |
| OL |
Tison Gray |
r-Jr. |
South Carolina State |
Columbia, S.C. |
| OL |
Justin Redd |
r-Jr. |
Norfolk State |
Hampton, Va. |
First Team Defense
| Pos. |
Name |
Cl. |
School |
Hometown |
| DL |
Isaiah Williams |
r-Jr. |
Delaware State |
Brooklyn, N.Y. |
| DL |
Tavien Blackwell |
Sr. |
Norfolk State |
Richmond, Va. |
| DL |
De’Shaan Dixon |
Sr. |
Norfolk State |
Chesapeake, Va. |
| DL |
Chris Myers |
r-Sr. |
Norfolk State |
LaVergne, Tenn. |
| LB |
Brooks Parker |
Jr. |
Delaware State |
Laurel, Del. |
| LB |
Antquan Kinsey |
r-So. |
Delaware State |
Liberty City, Fla. |
| LB |
Chad Gilchrist |
r-Sr. |
South Carolina State |
Johnston, S.C. |
| DB |
Devyn Coles |
So. |
Norfolk State |
Highland Springs, Va. |
| DB |
Jawain Granger |
Jr. |
Delaware State |
New Castle, Del. |
| DB |
Stephen Stokes |
Sr. |
North Carolina Central |
Baltimore, Md. |
| DB |
Decobie Durant |
r-Sr. |
South Carolina State |
Lamar, S.C. |
| P |
Ryan Richter |
Jr. |
Norfolk State |
Temecula, Calif. |
| PK |
Josh Nardone |
Sr. |
Norfolk State |
Virginia Beach, Va. |
| RS |
Brandon Codrington |
So. |
North Carolina Central |
Raleigh, N.C. |
Second Team Offense
| Pos. |
Name |
Cl. |
School |
Hometown |
| QB |
Corey Fields |
So. |
South Carolina State |
Hollywood, S.C. |
| RB |
Thomas Bertrand-Hudon |
r-So. |
Delaware State |
Mont Saint-Halaire, Quebec |
| RB |
Kendrall Flowers |
r-Fr. |
South Carolina State |
Columbia, S.C. |
| WR |
Trey Gross |
Sr. |
Delaware State |
Annapolis, Md. |
| WR |
Justin Smith |
r-Sr. |
Norfolk State |
Richmond, Va. |
| TE |
Myles Beverly |
Sr. |
Delaware State |
Burlington, Vt. |
| C |
Dillon Marshall |
r-Jr. |
Delaware State |
Waldorf, Md. |
| OL |
Chris Simon |
r-So. |
South Carolina State |
Dalzell, S.C. |
| OL |
Robert Mitchell |
Sr. |
North Carolina Central |
Millsboro, Del. |
| OL |
Marvin Atuatasi |
So. |
Morgan State |
Leone, American Samoa |
| OL |
Corey Bullock |
So. |
North Carolina Central |
Accokeek, Md. |
Second Team Defense
| Pos. |
Name |
Cl. |
School |
Hometown |
| DL |
Jessie Malit |
r-Jr. |
North Carolina Central |
Concord, N.C. |
| DL |
Darrian Brokenburr |
So. |
Howard |
Manassas, Va. |
| DL |
Deion Harry |
So. |
Howard |
University Park, Ill. |
| DL |
Merinio Dendoe |
Sr. |
Morgan State |
Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| LB |
Christian White |
So. |
Howard |
Richmond, Va. |
| LB |
Devan Hebron |
r-Jr. |
Morgan State |
Lanham, Md. |
| LB |
BJ Davis |
r-So. |
South Carolina State |
Blair, S.C. |
| DB |
Rodney Dennard |
Jr. |
Howard |
Braddock, Pa. |
| DB |
Manny Smith |
r-So. |
North Carolina Central |
Laurel Hill, N.C. |
| DB |
Rayshawn Williams |
So. |
Howard |
Detroit, Mich. |
| DB |
Brandon Savage |
Jr. |
Norfolk State |
Baltimore, Md. |
| P |
Dyson Roberts |
r-Fr. |
South Carolina State |
Sumter, S.C. |
| PK |
Adrian Olivo |
So. |
North Carolina Central |
Plant City, Fla. |
| RS |
Antoine Murray |
Sr. |
Howard |
Miramar, Fla. |