ATLANTA — The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced its 2023 All-SIAC Football teams and individual honors on Tuesday, as selected by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.
OVERALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MVP) AND OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Allen University’s quarterback David Wright led the SIAC in passing yards this season, throwing for 3,171 yards and 19 touchdowns, averaging 335 yards per game and completing 58 percent of his passes. He also rushed for four more scores and 235 yards on the ground, helping Allen to their best season in history with a 7-3 record.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Benedict’s Loobert Denelus, a three-year starter, anchors the nation’s top defense in scoring and yards per game. He ranks No. 4 nationally in sacks and No. 2 in tackles for loss. Denelus is 7th in the country in sacks and leads the SIAC, while ranking 16th nationally and 6th in the SIAC in tackles for loss.
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Freshman running back Frederick Gaines has made an immediate impact for the Albany State Golden Rams, propelling the team to the 2023 SIAC Football Championship. In just three games, Gaines has rushed for over 500 yards on fewer than 100 attempts, averaging 5.1 yards per carry and scoring six touchdowns.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Fort Valley State's Brandon Marshall, the SIAC’s top rusher, has emerged as a standout newcomer. The two-time SIAC Newcomer of the Weekl racked up 893 yards on 193 carries, averaging 89.3 yards per game with eight touchdowns. He posted four 100-yard games, caught at least one pass in eight of 10 games, and totaled 1,064 yards and nine touchdowns on 214 touches.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Chennis Berry, head coach of the Benedict College Tigers, has been named SIAC Coach of the Year after leading the team to a 10-0 overall record and an 8-0 mark in the conference, securing their second consecutive undefeated season.
ELITE 14
Tuskegee sophomore running back Jude Servius is this year's recipient of the Elite 14 Award. Servius achieved a 4.0 GPA, the highest grade point average among same-sport conference nominees.
| 2023 ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM |
| POSITION |
NAME |
SCHOOL |
CLASSIFICATION |
HOMETOWN |
| Offensive Line |
Roger Smith |
Benedict College |
Sophomore |
Cleveland, Ohio |
| Offensive Line |
Jemeil Jackson |
Fort Valley State University |
Junior |
Hampton, Georgia |
| Offensive Line |
Mitchell Romig |
Benedict College |
Graduate |
Jacksonville, Florida |
| Offensive Line |
Dylan Lampkin |
Edward Waters University |
Senior |
Jacksonville, Florida |
| Offensive Line |
Joshua Simon |
Albany State University |
Graduate |
Atlanta, Georgia |
| Offensive Line |
Ty Lowery |
Miles College |
Junior |
Evergreen, Alabama |
| Tight End |
Xavier Herndon |
Albany State University |
R-Freshman |
Norcross, Georgia |
| Tight End |
Travaunta Abner |
Miles College |
Junior |
Lanett, Alabama |
| Wide Receiver |
Johnny Jones |
Edward Waters University |
Sophomore |
Pahokee, Florida |
| Wide Receiver |
Nathan Rembert |
Edward Waters University |
Freshman |
Eustis, Florida |
| Running Back |
Brandon Marshall |
Fort Valley State University |
Graduate |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Running Back |
Kylan Duhe |
Lane College |
R-Junior |
Edgard, Louisiana |
| Quarterback |
David Wright |
Allen University |
R-Sophomore |
Tampa, Florida |
| All-Purpose Offense |
Jaih Andrews |
Miles College |
Junior |
Birmingham, Alabama |
| Defensive Line |
Loobert Denelus |
Benedict College |
Senior |
Naples, Florida |
| Defensive Line |
Jayden Broughton |
Benedict College |
Junior |
Monks Corner, South Carolina |
| Defensive Line |
Jeremiah Owens |
Kentucky State University |
Senior |
Greenville, Alabama |
| Defensive Line |
Jaren Wilson |
Edward Waters University |
Graduate |
Jacksonville, Florida |
| Linebacker |
Asmar Hasan |
Lane College |
Junior |
Atlanta, Georgia |
| Linebacker |
Malik Moore |
Tuskegee University |
Sophomore |
Tallahassee, Florida |
| Linebacker |
Widmyer Garçon |
Edward Waters University |
Junior |
North Lauderdale, Florida |
| Defensive Back |
Ja'Voni Melidor |
Benedict College |
Junior |
Columbia, South Carolina |
| Defensive Back |
Mikael King |
Tuskegee University |
Sophomore |
Tuskegee, Alabama |
| Defensive Back |
Jalen Mitchell |
Albany State University |
R-Junior |
Jacksonville, Florida |
| Defensive Back |
Deandre Creary |
Savannah State University |
Sophomore |
Marietta, Georgia |
| Kicker |
Tom Piccirillo |
Benedict College |
Graduate |
Findley, Ohio |
| Punter |
Gilbert Brown |
Albany State University |
Sophomore |
Richmond Hill, Georgia |
| Punt Returner |
DeJuan Bell |
Fort Valley State University |
Graduate |
North Augusta, South Carolina |
| Kick Returner |
DeJuan Bell |
Fort Valley State University |
Graduate |
North Augusta, South Carolina |
| All-Purpose Defense |
Ja’ron Kilpatrick |
Benedict College |
R-Senior |
Auburndale, Florida |
| 2023 ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM |
| POSITION |
NAME |
SCHOOL |
CLASSIFICATION |
HOMETOWN |
| Offensive Line |
KaTray Pringle |
Albany State University |
R-Senior |
St. George, South Carolina |
| Offensive Line |
Jamari Pierre |
Edward Waters University |
Sophomore |
Deerfield Beach, Florida |
| Offensive Line |
Eli Shareef |
Allen University |
Freshman |
Hampton, Georgia |
| Offensive Line |
Ahmed Brimah |
Albany State University |
Junior |
Jonesboro, Georgia |
| Offensive Line |
Damion Clark |
Tuskegee University |
Sophomore |
Snellville, Georgia |
| Tight End |
Colby Bell |
Morehouse |
Sophomore |
Santa Monica, California |
| Wide Receiver |
Jacquez Jones |
Lane College |
Junior |
Orlando, Florida |
| Wide Receiver |
Antonio Meeks |
Tuskegee University |
Sophomore |
Lilburn, Georgia |
| Running Back |
Beau Herrington |
Allen University |
Junior |
Davenport, Florida |
| Running Back |
Deondra Duehart |
Benedict College |
Sophomore |
Macon, Georgia |
| Quarterback |
Jyron Russell |
Edward Waters University |
Graduate |
Grand Prairie, Texas |
| All-Purpose Offense |
Jaylin Peterson |
Miles College |
Junior |
Birmingham, Alabama |
| Defensive Line |
Jalen Pugh |
Albany State University |
R-Junior |
Jonesboro, Georgia |
| Defensive Line |
Ka'Darrion Jones |
Lane College |
Senior |
Donaldsville, Louisiana |
| Defensive Line |
Marques Sherman |
Allen University |
Senior |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Defensive Line |
James Gary |
Edward Waters University |
Senior |
Aliceville, Alabama |
| Defensive Line |
Jamichael Rogers |
Miles College |
Sophomore |
Bessemer, Alabama |
| Linebacker |
Malik Harp |
Fort Valley State University |
Junior |
Orlando, Florida |
| Linebacker |
Daylon Land |
Morehouse |
Senior |
Benton, Arkansas |
| Linebacker |
Dedrick Starkes |
Benedict College |
Junior |
Columbia, South Carolina |
| Defensive Back |
Christian Ramsey |
Tuskegee University |
Junior |
Carrolton, Georgia |
| Defensive Back |
Kamari Blankumsee |
Fort Valley State University |
Freshman |
Quitman, Georgia |
| Defensive Back |
Dahlil Wilkins |
Allen University |
Senior |
Bamberg, South Carolina |
| Defensive Back |
Camron Ivey |
Clark Atlanta University |
Junior |
Atlanta, Georgia |
| Kicker |
Daniel Gibbs |
Fort Valley State University |
Junior |
Bonaire, Georgia |
| Punter |
Ryan Duff |
Tuskegee University |
Senior |
Mobile, Alabama |
| Punt Returner |
Rashad Jordan |
Albany State University |
R-Senior |
Atlanta, Georgia |
| Kick Returner |
Terrence Holland |
Lane College |
Freshman |
Jacksonville, Florida |
| All-Purpose Defense |
Aaron Miller |
Benedict College |
R-Senior |
Decatur, Georgia |
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ABOUT THE SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SIAC)
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of historically black colleges and universities with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors seven men's and six women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit www.thesiac.com.