Football

MEAC Announces 2021 Preseason All-Conference Honors, presented by TowneBank

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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.