HARRISONBURG, Va. – Four members of the Hampton University football team were named to the Division I Virginia All-State Team by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association (VaSID), as announced on Monday.

Former defensive end Chris Baker (Windson, Conn.) earned First Team honors, thanks to a season in which he was third on the team with 69 tackles. Baker also led the Pirates and the MEAC with 8.5 sacks on the season, to go along with 13 quarterback hurries. A First Team All-MEAC selection and SBN Black College All-American, Baker signed with the Denver Broncos in April.

Punter Jahmal Blanchard (Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.) was also named to the First Team as a punter. Blanchard was named First Team All-MEAC for the second straight year, on top of being named to the SBN Black College All-America Team, after leading the MEAC with an average of 43.1 yards per punt. He had 12 punts of over 50 yards on the season, including a career-high 79-yarder.

Linebacker Wakeem Goode (Cleveland, Ohio) was named to the Second Team after leading the Pirates with 111 tackles. A Second Team All-MEAC selection, Goode also had three sacks on the season. Former wide receiver Justin Brown (Dover, N.J.) was named to the VaSID Second Team, coming off a season in which he led the Pirates with 56 catches for 887 yards and nine touchdowns. The First Team All-MEAC selection averaged 15.8 yards per catch, and led the MEAC with 80.6 receiving yards per game.

Brown signed with the Arizona Cardinals back in April.

Mike London of Division I-AA national champion Richmond was named VaSID Coach of the Year, with Lawrence Sidbury earning Defensive Player of the Year honors. James Madison quarterback Rodney Landers was named VaSID Offensive Player of the Year, while Virginia Tech running back Darren Evans was named Rookie 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.