NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Two Hampton University football players were named to the Preseason All-MEAC First Team during the 2009 MEAC Football Press Luncheon on Friday at the Newport News Marriott at City Center.

In addition, the Pirates were picked to finish third in the conference this season, earning one first-place vote. Defending MEAC champion South Carolina State, with 10 first-place votes was picked to win the MEAC again.

Junior defensive lineman Kendrick Ellis (West Palm Beach, Fla.) and senior punter Jahmal Blanchard (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) were named Preseason First Team All-MEAC. Ellis was a Second Team All-MEAC selection last season, finishing with 39 tackles – the seventh-highest mark on the team. Blanchard was named First Team All-MEAC last season for the second straight year, after leading the MEAC with an average of 43.1 yards per punt.

Four Pirates made Second Team All-MEAC, led by junior quarterback Herbert Bynes (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.). Bynes, a Second Team All-MEAC selection from last year, comes into his second full year as Hampton's starter, having set school records last season in completions (199), passing yards (2,713) and total offense (2,616). He threw for a school-record 403 yards last season at Southern Illinois.

Offensive linemen Nicholas Royal (Keeling, Va.) and Ryan Cave (Beaufort, S.C.) were also named Preseason Second Team; Cave was a Second Team All-MEAC selection last season.

Defensive back Jonathan Wade (Richmond, Va.), who was fourth on the team in tackles last season with 63, was also named Preseason Second Team. Wade is the Pirates' top returning defender in the secondary, having broken up and deflected three passes each last year.

Running back Will Ford of South Carolina State was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Norfolk State's Terrell Whitehead was named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

The Pirates will open the 2009 season on Saturday, Sept. 5 against North Carolina Central. Kickoff will be at 6 p.m. 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.


2009 MEAC Preseason Predicted Order of Finish (first-place votes in parentheses)
1. South Carolina State (10) – 290
2. Florida A&M (5) – 273
3. Hampton (1) – 197
4. Bethune-Cookman (1) – 185
5. Norfolk State (1) – 163
6. Morgan State – 142
7. Delaware State – 140
8. North Carolina A&T – 48
9. Howard – 38


Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Will Ford, South Carolina State
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Terrell Whitehead, Norfolk State

2009 Preseason All-MEAC First Team
Offense
QB – Curtis Pulley, Florida A&M
RB – Will ford, South Carolina State
RB – Devan James, Morgan State
TE – Sherron Childress, Norfolk State
WR – Oliver “Trey” Young, South Carolina State
WR – Kevin Elliot, Florida A&M
OL – Johnny Culbreath, South Carolina State
OL – Anthony Collins, Florida A&M
OL – Robert Okeafor, Florida A&M
OL – Robert Norris, Morgan State
C – Steve Brazzle, Florida A&M

Defense
DL – Justin Lawrence, Morgan State
DL – Dexter Jackson, Bethune-Cookman
DL – Cameron Houston, Florida A&M
DL – Kendrick Ellis, Hampton
LB – Michael McFadden, South Carolina State
LB – Bryan Parker, Florida A&M
LB – Mike Alphonse, Norfolk State
DB – Terrell Whitehead, Norfolk State
DB – Curtis Holcomb, Florida A&M
DB – Markee Hamlin, South Carolina State
DB – Darren McKahn, Morgan State
P – Jahmal Blanchard, Hampton
P/K – Justin Castellat, Norfolk State
Ret. – LeRoy Vann, Florida A&M

2009 Preseason All-MEAC Second Team
Offense
QB – Herbert Bynes, Hampton
RB – Philip Sylvester, Florida A&M
RB – DeAngelo Branch, Norfolk State
TE – Jephte Cherenfant, Morgan State
WR – Willie Carter, Howard
WR – Isaac West, Florida A&M
OL – Ryan Griffin, Bethune-Cookman
OL – Juavahr Nathan, South Carolina State
OL – Mike Maloney, Delaware State
OL – Nicholas Royal, Hampton
C – Ryan Cave, Hampton

Defense
DL – Ray Jennings, Norfolk State
DL – Markus James, South Carolina State
DL – James Carter, Howard
DL – Tyre Glasper, North Carolina A&T
LB – Josh Pope, Delaware State
LB – Troy Leftwich*, Morgan State
LB – Andre Thornton*, North Carolina A&T
LB – George Howard, Morgan State
DB – Antonio Cox, Bethune-Cookman
DB – Antwuan Cox, Bethune-Cookman
DB – Jonathan Wade, Hampton
DB – Phillip Adams, South Carolina State
P – Justin Keable, Bethune-Cookman
P/K – Trevor Scott, Florida A&M
Ret. – Dwight Fluker-Berry, Norfolk State
*indicates tie