Albany, Ga. – The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) released its 2025 Preseason Predicted Order of Finish and All-Conference honorees, and the message was loud and clear — Albany State University is the team to beat.
The Golden Rams have been voted No. 1 in the SIAC Preseason Poll, signaling high expectations for the upcoming season following a strong 2024 campaign. Leading the charge is senior quarterback Isaiah Knowles, who was named the 2025 SIAC Preseason Player of the Year, further solidifying his status as one of the most dynamic and respected players in the league.
In total, 14 Golden Rams were recognized with preseason honors, with six named to the First Team and eight to the Second Team, reflecting the depth, experience, and high-level talent across all phases of the program.
"We are honored by the recognition, but we know nothing is earned in July," said Head Coach Quinn Gray Sr. "Our focus is on continuing to prepare, staying focused, and representing Albany State with pride and purpose. These preseason accolades speak to the work our student-athletes have put in, but the real goal is to finish strong in November and December."
The 2025 SIAC Preseason Honors were voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors and are based on performance, statistics, and projected impact for the upcoming season.
The Golden Rams open their season on August 30 and will look to live up to the preseason hype with their eyes firmly set on a conference championship and postseason run.
For more information on Albany State Athletics and to purchase tickets for the 2025 season, visit
www.asugoldenrams.com.
Preseason All-Conference and Predicted Finish:
| FIRST TEAM |
| POSITION |
NAME |
SCHOOL |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| Offensive Line |
Denzell Moore* |
Clark Atlanta |
Senior |
Powder Springs, Ga. |
| Offensive Line |
Elliott Howell* |
Tuskegee |
Senior |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Offensive Line |
Noah Stovall |
Albany State |
Junior |
Warner Robins, Ga. |
| Offensive Line |
Desmon Self |
Edward Waters |
Junior |
Delray Beach, Fla. |
| Offensive Line |
Lebron Merriweather |
Tuskegee |
Junior |
Montgomery, Ala. |
| Tight End |
Gentry Sparks* |
Albany State |
R-Senior |
Tallahassee, Fla. |
| Wide Receiver |
Jamill Williams* |
Albany State |
R-Sophomore |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Wide Receiver |
Javion Jackson |
Albany State |
R-Senior |
Jonesboro, Ga. |
| Running Back |
Tiant Wyche* |
Albany State |
Sophomore |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
| Running Back |
Javonta Leatherwood |
Miles |
R-Senior |
Tuscaloosa, Ala. |
| Quarterback |
Isaiah Knowles* |
Albany State |
R-Junior |
Tampa, Fla. |
| Defensive Line |
Israel Nwokocha* |
Benedict |
Senior |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Defensive Line |
Xavier Esquillen* |
Savannah State |
Junior |
Charlotte, N.C. |
| Defensive Line |
Mike White* |
Central State |
Graduate |
Springfield, Ohio |
| Defensive Line |
Kurtis Waye* |
Clark Atlanta |
Junior |
McDonough, Ga. |
| Linebacker |
Ty'Metrius Patterson* |
Benedict |
Graduate |
Detroit, Mich. |
| Linebacker |
Gary Davis Jr.* |
Savannah State |
Senior |
Cairo, Ga. |
| Linebacker |
Isaiah Stephens* |
Benedict |
Graduate |
Roanoke, Va. |
| Defensive Back |
Lawrence McConnell* |
Kentucky State |
Junior |
St. Louis, Mo. |
| Defensive Back |
Mikael King Jr.* |
Tuskegee |
Senior |
Tuskegee, Ala. |
| Defensive Back |
Cam Williams* |
Benedict |
R-Junior |
Bessemer, Ala. |
| Defensive Back |
Carlos Dunovant Jr. |
Morehouse |
Senior |
Cusseta, Ga. |
| Kicker |
Lorcan Ryans* |
Tuskegee |
Junior |
Limerick, Ireland |
| Punter |
Seve Spruill II |
Morehouse |
Junior |
Plymouth Meeting, Pa. |
| Punt Returner |
Ronnie West |
Clark Atlanta |
Senior |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Kick Returner |
Jaxon Williams* |
Benedict |
Sophomore |
Dothan, Ala. |
| – * RETURNING 2024 ALL-SIAC SELECTION |
| SECOND TEAM |
| POSITION |
NAME |
SCHOOL |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| Offensive Line |
Leon Wesley |
Albany State |
Sophomore |
Powder Springs, Ga. |
| Offensive Line |
O'Shea Stroman |
Albany State |
Sophomore |
Lithonia, Ga. |
| Offensive Line |
Keshawn Palmore |
Savannah State |
Junior |
Moultrie, Ga. |
| Offensive Line |
Khalifa Sene |
Savannah State |
Senior |
Pensacola, Fla. |
| Offensive Line |
Jason Miller |
Benedict |
Junior |
Columbus, Ohio |
| Tight End |
Xavier Herndon |
Albany State |
R-Junior |
Norcross, Ga. |
| Wide Receiver |
Nanders Lawrence |
Allen |
Junior |
Dixiana, S.C. |
| Wide Receiver |
Makai Lovett |
Edward Waters |
Senior |
Miami, Fla. |
| Running Back |
Johntarrious Thomas |
Edward Waters |
Junior |
Gadsden County, Fla. |
| Running Back |
Desmond Leverette |
Tuskegee |
Junior |
Roswell, Ga. |
| Quarterback |
Jamir Dismukes |
Allen |
Senior |
Cleveland, Ohio |
| Defensive Line |
Tyreese Williams |
Edward Waters |
Sophomore |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
| Defensive Line |
Osirus Rhodes |
Allen |
R-Senior |
Manhattan, N.Y. |
| Defensive Line |
Masiah Wells |
Tuskegee |
Senior |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
| Defensive Line |
Abraham Clinkscales |
Albany State |
R-Junior |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Linebacker |
Sean Johnson |
Morehouse |
Junior |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Linebacker |
Kaquan Kimber |
Tuskegee |
Sophomore |
Fairburn, Ga. |
| Linebacker |
Carson Pritchett |
Miles |
Sophomore |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Defensive Back |
Aydin Henningham |
Albany State |
Senior |
Delray Beach, Fla. |
| Defensive Back |
Darnell Stephens |
Fort Valley State |
R-Junior |
Conyers, Ga. |
| Defensive Back |
Tyler Davis |
Morehouse |
Senior |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Defensive Back |
Tyreshon Freeman |
Allen |
R-Sophomore |
Prattville, Ala. |
| Kicker |
Kyle Wright |
Albany State |
R-Junior |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Punter |
Trevor Bywater |
Allen |
R-Junior |
Rockledge, Fla. |
| Punt Returner |
Javion Jackson |
Albany State |
R-Senior |
Jonesboro, Ga. |
| Kick Returner |
Brady Tillman |
Edward Waters |
Sophomore |
Newnan, Ga. |
| PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR |
| NAME |
SCHOOL |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| Isaiah Knowles |
Albany State |
R-Junior |
Tampa, Fla. |
| PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR |
| NAME |
SCHOOL |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| Ty'Metrius Patterson |
Benedict |
Graduate |
Detroit, Mich. |
| PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH |
| 1. Albany State |
| 2. Clark Atlanta |
| 3. Tuskegee |
| 4. Miles |
| 5. Fort Valley State |
| 6. Savannah State |
| 7. Benedict |
| 8. Edward Waters |
| 9. Allen |
| 10. Kentucky State |
| 11. Morehouse |
| 12. Lane |
| 13. Central State |
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ABOUT ALBANY STATE ATHLETICS
Albany State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II-level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 11 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's track and field, women's soccer, baseball, and football. All teams compete in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), except women's soccer, which participates in the Peach Belt Conference.
