Roanoke, VA – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) announces the 2019 All-CIAA Preseason Football Team, as voted on by the CIAA Football Coaches Association and the Sports Information Directors Association, and the predicted order of finish as voted on by the head coaches.
Fayetteville State Broncos'
Brandon Smith,
Elvin De La Rosa, and
Tyeous Sharpe were among the 18 returning players from last year's All-CIAA Team.
Smith was the CIAA's top Special Teams player after averaging a league's best 29.29 yards per kick return, which ranks 12
th in Division II. The Red Springs, NC native was tied for fourth in DII after returning two kicks for touchdowns last season as a sophomore.
De La Rosa also had a stellar sophomore campaign after earning the CIAA Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2017. Last season, the Winston-Salem, NC native ranked third on the Broncos list of defenders with 40 total tackles. The defensive back finished with 6 pass defenses including 1 interception and a fumble recovery.
Sharpe, also a native of Winston-Salem, averaged 17.25 yards per punt return with two touchdowns out of 16 returns. During the 2018 season, Tyeous returned three punts beyond 35 yards and was named to the All-CIAA Team as a punt returner.
After winning back-to-back CIAA Southern Division titles, the CIAA head coaches predicted Fayetteville State would make it three in a row and ranked the Broncos second overall behind the reigning Champions Bowie State University.
Led by Head Coach Damon Wilson, Bowie State finished last season with a 10-3 overall record (5-1 in the CIAA) and finished fourth in Super Region Two, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs after defeating West Alabama (41-35) in the first round. Fayetteville State, coached by Richard Hayes, also posted a 5-1 conference record (6-3 overall) and finished 10th in Super Region Two in 2018.
The 2019 season will kick off on September 7
th with the title game being held on November 16 with a 1:00 pm game in Salem, Va. inside the Salem Stadium.
2019 CIAA Football Predicted Order of Finish
- Bowie State
- Fayetteville State
- Virginia Union
- Chowan
- Virginia State
- Winston-Salem State
- Shaw
- Elizabeth City State
- Saint Augustine's
- Livingstone
- Johnson C. Smith
- Lincoln (PA)
Northern Division
- Bowie State
- Virginia Union
- Chowan
- Virginia State
- Elizabeth City State
- Lincoln (PA)
Southern Division
- Fayetteville State
- Winston-Salem State
- Shaw
- Saint Augustine's
- Livingstone
- Johnson C. Smith
2019 All-CIAA Preseason Football Team
Tight End
Kevonta Moses, Shaw *
Offensive Linemen
Keanu Gonzales, Shaw *
Donald Boone, Chowan *
Frank Ball, Virginia State *
Tyrese Bobbitt, Shaw
Justin Smith, Virginia Union
Wide Receivers
Montez Clay, Bowie State +
Daniel Bender, Shaw
Quarterback
Bryce Witt, Chowan +
Running Backs
Tabyus Taylor, Virginia Union *
Tyrell Freeman, Chowan *
Kick Returner
Brandon Smith, Fayetteville State * #
Place Kicker
Jefferson Souza, Virginia Union *
Defensive Linemen
Solomon Bassett, Lincoln (PA) *
Oluwaleke Ajenifuja, Bowie State *
Joshua Pryor, Bowie State *
Rafiq Abdul-Wahid, Chowan +
Linebackers
Devon Hunt, Shaw * $
Joseph Harris, Saint Augustine's *
Taj Conway, Virginia Union +
Defensive Backs
Sterling Hammond, Virginia Union *
Elvin De La Rosa, Fayetteville State *
Daryus Skinner, Winston-Salem State *
Quantaye Battle, Virginia Union +
Punt Returner
Tyeous Sharpe, Fayetteville State *
Punter
John Kight, Chowan *
* - Returning All-CIAA First Team selection
+ - Returning All-CIAA Second Team selection
# - Returning CIAA Special Teams Player of the Year
$ - Returning CIAA Defensive Player of the Year
