JCSU Football Tabbed Fifth In CIAA Southern Division Preseason Rankings

JCSU Football Tabbed Fifth in CIAA Southern Division

Durham, N.C. (July 23, 2015) – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) has announced the 2015 football predicted order of finish as well as the preseason All-CIAA teams as part of the CIAA Football Media Day being held at the Research Triangle Park Marriott on Thursday afternoon in Durham, N.C.

The Golden Bulls, coming off a 3-7, 2-5 CIAA in 2014, were picked to finish fifth in the six-team CIAA Southern Division,  Under first-year head Coach Kermit Blount, JCSU returns five offensive starters, while seven starters return for the JCSU defense.  Collectively, JCSU returns 28 lettermen for the 2015 season.

Head coach Kermit Blount says that coming back to the CIAA is a great opportunity.  “It’s a great opportunity for us.  The juices are flowing, I’m happy to be back and it feels like I’m home and I’m looking forward to it.”  He also said preparing the Golden Bulls for the fall despite the fifth-place prediction will be a great opportunity.  “I really don’t look too much into the preseason rankings.  I know we will have a team that will go out there and go to war with us this fall and that’s what I’m looking forward to,” said Blount.

Senior Linebacker Austin Jacques (Springdale, Md.) was named to the preseason All-CIAA team after his stellar performance in 2014.  Jacques finished last season’s campaign as the leading tackler in the CIAA 133 total stops (72 solo, 61 assists).  In addition to his All-CIAA honors, Jacques was named to the BSN All-Super Region Third Team in 2014.

JCSU opens the 2015 campaign on Sept. 5 when local rival Wingate visits the Irwin Belk Complex for a 6:00 p.m. contest.

Fans can follow the CIAA Media Day live stream by clicking here at 1:00 p.m.

2015 CIAA Predicted Order of Finish

Northern Division
1^st        Virginia State
2^nd        Virginia Union
3^rd        Bowie State
4^th        Elizabeth City State
5^th        Chowan Hawks
6^th        The Lincoln

Southern Division
1^st        Winston-Salem State
2^nd        Fayetteville State
3^rd        Livingstone
4^th        Shaw
5^th        Johnson C. Smith
6^th        St. Augustine’s

Preseason All-CIAA Offensive Team
TE        A.J. Mundle                                Elizabeth City St.
OL        Addison Hayes                         Virginia Union
OL        Jhamil Haley                             Virginia St.
OL        Jac’que Polite                           Winston-Salem St.
OL        Justin Nester                            Bowie St.
OL        Kristian Brown                        Fayetteville St.
WR      Jalen Hendrick                        Livingstone
WR      Jaivon Smallwood                   Virginia St.
QB       Drew Powell                            Livingstone
RB        Roderick Davenport, II            St. Augustine’s
RB        Kavon Bellamy                        Virginia St.
PK        William Johnson                      Winston-Salem St.
KR        Antonio Huff                            Elizabeth City St.

Preseason All-CIAA Defensive Team
DL        Anthony McDaniel                  Bowie St.
DL        Michael Bloomfield                Winston-Salem St.
DL        Ray Prosise                           Virginia St.
DL        Kemaree Alcorn                     Chowan
LB        Austin Jacques                    Johnson C. Smith
LB        Joseph Blanks                        Virginia Union
LB        Brandon Lynce                        Virginia St.
DB       Curtis Pumphrey                      Bowie St.
DB       Darlon Thomas                        Virginia St.
DB       Brian Robinson                        The Lincoln
DB       Rodeshawn Joseph                  Virginia Union
P          Christopher Palmer                  Bowie St.
PR        Antonio Huff                            Elizabeth City St.