Once again, Albany State is top pick in SIAC Preseason Football Rankings; Lane's Ellis leads Preseason Team

July 20, 2007

Tucker, GA – All by themselves, the SIAC Football Coaches Association has determined the 2007 Preseason All Conference Football Team and Predicted Order of Finish.  Highlighting the list are 29 returning players including all but two first team honorees from last season.  Albany State was selected as the favorite to win it's fifth consecutive conference title.

Media and sports information directors are excluded from the process.

"Remember that coaches made these predictions," said Greg Thompson of Stillman. "Last year they picked us to finish seventh and we finished fourth." Thompson has gone from the youngest coach in the conference when he led Morris Brown, to the oldest representative on the dias.

The SIAC welcomed new coaches, Stan Conner (Benedict) and Rich Freeman (Morehouse), to the conference. Both coaches are already familiar with the conference.

Conner came to Columbia, SC from Alabama A&M and reflected on his time as a player when the Bulldogs were members of the SIAC.

Freeman left Lane, where he was assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the Dragons last year, to take over the Maroon Tiger program

Sherard Ellis, a junior QB for Lane leads a list of nine Dragons named to the Preseason All-SIAC list including five who were named to the 1st team.  Tuskegee University finished a close second with eight players picked. 

The preseason team 1st team offense is comprised all of returning players including Sherard Ellis (JR/QB, Lane), Elijah Clark (SR/RB, Benedict), Virgil Union (SR/WR, Lane), Jerome Bryant (SR/WR, Kentucky State), Earnest Everett (JR/TE, Morehouse) and Anthony Driver (SR/OL, Tuskegee).

For the defense, Curtis Johnson (SR/DL, Clark Atlanta) and Michael Porter (SR/LB, Clark Atlanta) who helped lead the efforts for the #1 defense in the NCAA, anchors the all conference team.  The SIAC tackle leader from 2006 Ivan Diggs (SR/DB, Fort Valley State) leads the all conference defensive back core with Carl Spellman (SR, Benedict), Denatay Heard (SR, Stillman) and Harvey Scott (SR, Lane)

The second team offense is comprised of impact players including Charles McCullum (SR/QB, Stillman), Richard Fitzhugh (SR/RB, Tuskegee) and Ed Williams (SR/WR, Lane).  For the defense, impact players include Jonathan Hall (SO/LB, Tuskegee), Anthony Richardson (SR/DL, Kentucky State), Terrance Stringer (SR/DB, Tuskegee) and Deaveon McCord (SR/DB, Stillman).
Albany State was chosen as the favorite for the SIAC title followed by Tuskegee University, Fort Valley State University, Clark Atlanta University and Lane College. 

2007 SIAC FOOTBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH RESULTS

 1. Albany State University 
 2. Tuskegee University 
 3. Fort Valley State University 
 4. Clark Atlanta University
 5. Lane College 
 6. Kentucky State University 
 7. Stillman College 
 8. Miles College 
 9. Benedict College 
10. Morehouse College

2007 PRESEASON ALL SIAC FOOTBALL TEAM
1st TEAM
Offense

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