NORFOLK, Va., July 29, 2011 - Delaware State wide receiver Justin Wilson and linebacker Ryan Lewis of Bethune-Cookman received top honors as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced its 2011 preseason football team at the annual Football Press Luncheon Banquet on Friday afternoon at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel in Virginia. Wilson was selected as the preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Lewis was named the preseason Defensive Player of the Year by the MEAC head football coaches and sports information directors.
For the fourth straight year South Carolina State was picked to win the conference title in 2011. Co-champions
Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M were picked to finish second and third in the preseason poll respectively.
2011 Predicted Order of Finish
(First Place Votes in Parenthesis)
1. South Carolina State (6) 468
2. Bethune-Cookman (8) 454
3. Florida A&M (5) 420
4. Hampton (1) 321
5. Norfolk State (1) 274
6. Morgan State 250
7. North Carolina Central 162
8. Delaware State 158
9. North Carolina A&T 128
10. Howard 96
11. Savannah State (1) 63
Wilson, a junior native of Windsor, Connecticut, caught 59 passes for 937 receiving yards with 11 touchdowns. He averaged 85.2 yards per game with 15.9 yards per catch. As a sophomore, Wilson was named to the All-MEAC First Team and led the MEAC in receptions per game and reception yards per game. He also tied at fourth in scoring and finished fifth in all-purpose yards (90.8 avg./g).
Lewis led the Wildcats to a share of the 2010 conference title and assisted Bethune-Cookman to a 10-1 overall record including the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs. He led the Wildcats with 81 total tackles including 44 unassisted and 37 assisted. He recorded 14 tackles for a loss of 76 yards and five sacks for a 37 yard loss. The senior from Pompano Beach, Florida also notched four interceptions for 136 return yards, broke up three passes, and forced four fumbles while recovering two for 45 yards. He also added four quarterback hurries.
Bethune-Cookman led all teams with nine players receiving preseason honors including six getting a nod on the first team. South Carolina State followed with eight total preseason honorees including five first team selections.
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) - 2011 Football All-Conference Preseason Teams
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) - 2011 Football All-Conference Preseason Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Justin Wilson, Delaware State Defensive Player of the Year: Ryan Lewis, Bethune Cookman
Photo courtesy of: MEAC Media Relations
