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Albany State University Athletics

Preseason SIAC

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Albany State football picked to win SIAC; Rivers named preseason POY

Montgomery, Alabama- Albany State University and its quarterback, Frank Rivers, headline the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference 2014 Preseason Teams. The conference made the announcement during the 2014 SIAC Football Media Day and Luncheon. In a vote by the league football head coaches, the Golden Rams were chosen to win the 2014 SIAC Championship. Rivers collected SIAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honors.
 
For the predicted order of finish, in addition to receiving the most votes from the East Division, ASU, the defending league champion, was selected to repeat. The Golden Rams received 23 points and all available first-place votes from the East Division poll, including 111 points in the overall ranking. Fort Valley State garnered 21 points with two first-place votes, followed by Benedict (12), Morehouse (11), Clark Atlanta (8), and Paine (7).
 
In the West Division, Tuskegee landed 23 points with three-first-place votes to claim the favorite spot. Miles recorded 21 points, including two for first place. Stillman (17), Kentucky State (14), Lane (8) and Central State (7) closed out the preseason ranking.
 
Rivers, a 6-6, 230-lb senior from Birmingham, Alabama, led the Golden Rams to the SIAC Centennial football championship and its second title in four years.  He passed for 2,004 yards with 19 touchdowns. In 2013, Rivers was named the SIAC Newcomer of the Year and named to the SIAC second team.
 
Albany State registered the most selections on this year's preseason squads with 10, including five who were voted to the first team.
Offensive lineman Victor Moli, wide receiver Jessie Atkins, kicker Zachary Gayden-Holley, and defensive lineman Grover Stewart were join Rivers on the first teams.  Moli, Gayden-Holley and Stewart were named to the 2013 SIAC First Team, while Atkins was voted to the second team.
Moli (6-4, 360-lb senior from Augusta, Georgia) led the ASU offensive line that helped produce 3,445 yards and 29 touchdowns.  ASU averaged 25.5 points per game.  
 
Atkins, a 5-10, 180-lb senior from Camilla, Georgia, had 51 receptions for 661 yards.  He also scored eight touchdowns on the season.
 
Gayden-Holley, a 5-8, 173-lb junior from Snellville, Georgia, led the SIAC kickers in scoring with 52 points and a 5.8 average.  He made 25 of 27 PATs and 9 of 11 field goals.
 
Stewart, a 6-5, 295-lb sophomore from Camilla, Georgia, recorded 36 tackles, 8.5 tackles for losses, five sacks, two pass break ups, and two quarterback hurries.  He also had a fumble recovery.
 
Running back Phillip Moore, defensive lineman Damien Goosby, linebacker Larry Whitfield, punter Ryan Latner and punt returner Adrian Alexander were voted to the second teams.
 
Moore, a 5-5, 180-lb junior from Valdosta, Georgia, rushed for 576 yards on 106 attempts. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry and scored a touchdown during the season.
 
Goosby, a 6-3, 370-lb senior from Rome, Georgia, totaled 17 tackles (nine solo) and two sacks in 2013.  He also recovered a fumble.
 
Whitfield, a 6-0, 200-lb senior from Albany, Georgia, led the Golden Rams in tackles with 81 (59 solo). 13.5 of his tackles were for a loss of 37 yards. He also recorded four pass break ups, an interception and a sack.
 
Latner, a 6-0, 160-lb junior from Melrose, Florida, had a total of 50 punts for 1777 total yards. He averaged 35.5 yards with a long of 47.
 
Alexander, a 5-6, 185-lb senior from Macon, Georgia, returned 12 kickoffs for 254 yards.  He averaged 21.2 yards per return.
 
East Division Predicted Order of Finish

Team        Total Points (First Place Votes)
Albany State            20 (4)
Fort Valley State      17
Benedict                   12
Morehouse               11
Clark Atlanta             8
Paine                         7

West Division Predicted Order of Finish
Team        Total Points (First Place Votes)
Tuskegee                23 (3)
Miles                      21 (2)
Stillman                 17
Kentucky State      14
Lane                         8
Central State            7

Predicted Overall Champion
Albany State            111 (3)
Tuskegee                  103 (5)
Miles                        102 (4)
Fort Valley State        87
Stillman                      64
Kentucky State          63
Benedict                     62
Morehouse                 56
Clark Atlanta             43
Lane                           42
Central State              31
Paine                          28

First Team Offense
QB Frank Rivers - Albany State
RB Jacquise Lockett - Kentucky State
RB Hoderick Lowe - Tuskegee
OL Victor Moli - Albany State
OL Terrence Owens - Miles
OL Matthew Reece - Tuskegee
OL Michael D. Thornton - Tuskegee
OL Aderus Hood - Miles
TE Delarius Webb - Miles
WR Jamion Dunning - Lane
WR Jessie Atkins - Albany State
KR Dondre Purnell - Stillman
K  Zachary Gayden-Holley - Albany State

First Team Defense
DL Grover Stewart - Albany State
DL Bryshon Jones - Miles
DL Gabriel Mass - Lane
DL Clarence Christian - Morehouse
LB Julante English - Miles
LB Bre'Nard Williams - Clark Atlanta
LB LeRon Furr - Fort Valley State
DB Joe Beckham - Miles
DB Cameron Stallings - Stillman
DB Robert Crosby- Stillman
P Austin Casillas - Clark Atlanta
PR Rodney Hall- Benedict

Second Team Offense
QB Demetrice Price - Miles
RB Montavious Taylor - Clark Atlanta
RB Phillip Moore - Albany State
OL Montell Collins - MIles
OL Shea Martin - Morehouse
OL Daniel Ford - Kentucky State
OL Brandon Baker - Fort Valley State
TE Zach Thomas - Central State
WR Dondre Purnell - Stillman
WR Antonio Pitts - Miles
KR Darius Mitchell - Lane
K  Trevor Wylie - Tuskegee

Second Team Defense
DL Peter Dele - Stillman
DL Damien Goosby - Albany State
DL Benard Little - Fort Valley State
DL Justin Woods-West - Central State
LB Terry Horton - Kentucky State
LB El'Malik Chinn - Tuskegee
LB Larry Whitfield - Albany State
DB Dewayne Brown - Lane
DB Bryan Walker - Fort Valley State
DB Breon Issac- Fort Valley State
P  Ryan Latner - Albany State
PR Adrian Alexander
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