DOVER, DE - Online voting is underway for the 2010 MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney Walter Payton Achievement Award. The award is presented to one player from each of the schools participating in the annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge. Delaware State will face Southern University in this year's challenge on Sep. 5 at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN HD and ESPN3.com.

Delaware State's Walter Payton Achievement Award nominees are: senior defensive tackle Andre Caroll, senior linebacker Kevin Green and senior wide receiver/kick returner Larrone Moore.

Fans will determine via online voting from July 20 to August 21 which player from each school will receive the Payton award. To vote, log onto www.meacswacchallenge.com via this link: http://es.pn/ajdumm. Winners from each school will be announced and honored at the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff Banquet on Friday, Sep. 3 at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

This will be Delaware State's first appearance in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, which features a team from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference against a Southwestern Athletic Conference squad. Southern will be making its second appearance in the challenge. The Jaguars defeated the MEAC's Florida A&M 33-27 in 2007 in Birmingham, Ala. Delaware State is 2-0 all-time vs. Southern. The Hornets, led by first-year head coach Bill Collick and All-American John Taylor, defeated the Jaguars 46-8 in 1985 in Baton Rouge, La. The teams met again the following year in Shreveport, La., with the Hornets coming out of top, 21-14.

Delaware State University is working with Anthony Travel on MEAC/SWAC Challenge packages for students, alumni and other Hornet fans. Information on the DSU packages can be obtained by logging onto http://www.desu.edu/meacswac-challenge or www.DSUHornets.com. The DSU student travel packages include admission to Disney attractions.

The MEAC/SWAC Challenge weekend will include step shows, a career fair, parade and battle of the bands. Delaware State University will also host a tailgate and "fan center" in Orlando.

Delaware State University Walter Payton Achievement Award nominees

Andre Caroll
Hometown: Neptune, N.J.
Major: Sport Sciences
Class: Senior
The 2009 All-MEAC second-team selection led Delaware State in total tackles (56) and tackles for loss (7) and was third on the team with 2.5 sacks. The New Jersey native was also a proud member of the MEAC All-Academic team in his sophomore and junior years. "Andre has worked himself into one of the top defensive linemen in the MEAC," said coach Al Lavan. "He leads by example -- in the weight room, film room and classroom. He's an outstanding representative of Delaware State University and our football program."

Kevin Green
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Major: Psychology
Class: Senior
Green joined the Hornets in the summer of 2009 after two seasons at Purdue. He had a solid campaign, recording 27 tackles (19 solo) in 10 games, and he is credited with a forced fumble and fumble recovery. The former North Chicago high school star has made quick work in a short amount of time. Said Lavan: "Kevin is a big-time athlete who performed well last year despite joining us right before the start of the 2009 season. I have no doubt Kevin will be a force on our defense this season. He's a fine example of the type of young man we desire for our team."

Larrone Moore
Hometown: Hyattsville, Md.
Major: Sports Management
Class: Senior
Moore was second on the Hornets in receptions (33) and receiving yards (315) in 2009, but his impact is bigger than just numbers. The former Northwestern High School multi-sport star was also an integral part of DSU's special teams. He was third in the MEAC and 16th in FCS in kickoff returns in '09. A three-year member of DSU's indoor and outdoor track and field teams, the speedster is a five-time IC4A champion (in the 100- and 200-yard dashes) and a member of the school's 12th-ranked 4x400-meter relay team in 2009. "Larrone is a superior athlete with game-breaking speed," said Lavan. "He has shown the ability and discipline to compete at a high level in three sports. His future is as bright as anyone in our league."

About the Walter Payton Achievement Award
The Walter Payton Achievement Award was first presented in 2008. The honor is given annually to a player from each school participating in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney. Like Payton, who starred at Jackson State from 1971 to 1974 and earned his bachelor's degree in communications, the recipients must be high achievers in the classroom and on the football field. Nominees are selected by a committee consisting of academic advisers and coaches and the winners are determined by online fan voting. The inaugural award recipients, in 2008, were Jackson State University linebacker Marcus Smith and Hampton University wide receiver Kevin Teel.