Hampton, Va. – The reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champion Hampton University was picked to capture its third consecutive conference title according to the media and coaches polls released today at the MEAC Football Press Luncheon in Virginia Beach. In addition, the Pirates swept the Preseason Player of the Year honors and landed nine players on the Preseason All-MEAC Football Team

The Pirates received 10 of 16 possible first place votes in the media poll and six of nine votes in the coaches poll. South Carolina State was predicted to finish second in both polls, while Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M were predicted to place third in the media and coaches polls respectively.

Last season Hampton rolled to a perfect 11-0 regular season mark, climbing as high as No. 2 in the I-AA polls and earning its second straight appearance in the Division I-AA playoffs. Behind a defense that ranked second in the country in points allowed at 14 per game, the Pirates not only won their second consecutive MEAC title, but they also tied Grambling State for a share of the Sheridan Broadcasting Network’s Black College National Championship.

Senior running back and Payton Award candidate Alonzo Coleman was named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive year, while teammate and Buchanan Award nominee Justin Durant was tabbed as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The Pirate duo swept the conference honors at the conclusion of last season and hopes to repeat the task. The two-time award winner Durant is attempting to become the first player in MEAC history to be named Defensive Player of the Year three times.

Joining Coleman and Durant on the first team were: Nevin McCaskill (OT); Andrew Paterini (PK); Kendall Langford (DE); and Travarous Bain (CB). Second team selections included: Onrea Jones (WR); Ernie Lomax (TE); and Marcus Dixon (DE).