FUQUAY-VARINA, N.C. – Hampton University senior defensive lineman Kenrick Ellis was named Black College Football's top defensive player for 2010 on Monday, one of four Pirates honored.

Ellis (West Palm Beach, Fla.), a 2010 Walter Camp and Associated Press All-American and First Team All-MEAC selection, was second on the team in tackles with 94 total tackles (34 solo, 60 assisted), was also second on the team with 15.0 tackles for loss totaling 37 yards and was second on the team with 2.0 sacks on the season.

Ellis recorded a career-high 16 tackles (seven solo, nine assisted) at Howard on Sept. 11 on his way to earning MEAC Defensive Player of the Week honors, and he also had 15 tackles (two solo, 13 assisted) at North Carolina Central on Oct. 9.

Both of his sacks came at Howard.

Senior linebacker Brandon Peguese (Greensboro, N.C.) was also named to the Black College Football defensive team. Peguese, a First Team All-MEAC selection, was third on the team in tackles with 85 (38 solo, 47 assisted), and he finished third in the MEAC with 8.0 sacks on the season, while also ranking second in the conference in tackles for loss with 23.5 for a total of 94 yards.

Senior defensive back Ricardo Silva (Baltimore, Md.) was also named to the Black College Football defensive team, coming off a year in which he recorded 74 tackles – the fifth-most on the team – and tied for fifth in the MEAC with four interceptions.

Senior offensive lineman Jamal Lewis (Uniontown, Ala.) was named to the offensive team, after performing on an offensive line that helped the Pirates rush for 145.6 yards per game and helped freshman running back Antwon Chisholm (Belle Glade, Fla.) earn MEAC Rookie of the Year honors.

In its fourth year, The BoxToRow.com/BASN HBCU Football All-American team is a collaboration between DW Communications, LLC, the parent company of the nationally-syndicated sports talk show “From the Press Box to Press Row” and www.boxtorow.com, and The Black Athlete Sports Network, the leader in the coverage of African-American athletes in the world of sports.

The voters are comprised of some of America's top writers and media members who cover Black College Football.

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.