VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Four Hampton University football players – one on offense, three on defense and special teams – were named to the 2009 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) First Team on Wednesday, as announced the conference office.

Senior LaMarcus Coker (Nashville, Tenn.) earned First Team honors after becoming the first Pirate to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since Alonzo Coleman in 2006. Coker ran for 1,027 yards and six touchdowns on the season to lead the MEAC, recording six 100-yard rushing games in the process. Coker ran for a career-high 135 yards against Delaware State, amidst a streak in which Coker ran for 100 yards or more in four straight games.

Coker, who averaged 5.2 yards per carry, also scored two touchdowns in a 37-0 shutout over Howard. He was also second in the MEAC in all-purpose yards, gaining 1,537 total yards on the season – an average of 139.7 per game – thanks to 202 receiving yards and 308 kick-return yards.

Linebacker Julio Sanchez (Miami, Fla.) was named First Team All-MEAC on defense after leading the Pirates, and sitting second in the MEAC, with 98 tackles on the season. Sanchez recorded 51 solo tackles on the year, and his career-high of 16 tackles came at Winston-Salem State. Sanchez also had 13 tackles against South Carolina State and 12 at Norfolk State. Sanchez also recorded 8.0 tackles for loss.

Junior defensive lineman Kenrick Ellis (West Palm Beach, Fla.), fifth on the team with 51 tackles, also earned First Team honors – recording a season-high nine tackles against Delaware State. Ellis was also second on the team with 15.0 tackles for loss on the season, recording 4.0 for a loss of 11 yards against Howard and another 3.5 for a loss of 10 yards against Delaware State.

Senior punter Jahmal Blanchard (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) earned First Team All-MEAC honors for the third consecutive year, after once again leading the conference in punting with an average of 43.9 yards per kick. Blanchard racked up 2,590 total punting yards on the season in 59 punts, recording 10 touchbacks and placing 19 kicks inside the opponents' 20-yard line. Twelve of Blanchard's punts went 50 yards or more, and he matches his career-long punt of 79 yards against Howard.

The Pirates (5-6, 3-5 MEAC) also had a pair of defensive players named Second Team All-MEAC. Redshirt-junior defensive lineman Brandon Peguese (Greensboro, N.C.) earned the honor after ranking fourth on the team in tackles with 53 – including 20 solo efforts. His season-high of eight (one solo, seven assisted) came in the Pirates' season opener against North Carolina Central. Peguese also led the Pirates and the MEAC in sacks, recording 7.5 throughout the year, and tackles for loss, recording 16.0.

Senior linebacker Brandon Roundtree (Compton, Calif.) also picked up Second Team All-MEAC honors after recording 72 tackles on the season, second-most on the team and sixth-most in the MEAC. Roundtree had 39 solo stops on the year, including a season-high 13 at Norfolk State. His 2.5 sacks tied for third-most on the team, and he tied for fourth on the team in tackles for loss with 8.0.

Florida A&M's Chris Pulley was named MEAC Offensive Player of the Year, while Morgan State's George Howard was named Defensive Player of the Year. Mike Mayhew of North Carolina A&T was named MEAC Rookie of the Year, and Johnny Culbreath of South Carolina State earned Offensive Lineman of the Year honors.

Buddy Pough of South Carolina State was named MEAC Coach of the Year.

For more information on Hampton University football, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.