NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State senior linebacker Lynden Trail was selected as the 2014 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Preseason Football Defensive Player of the Year, the organization announced Friday at its annual media day.

The 6-7, 260-pound Trail was one of nine Spartans named to either the preseason first, second or third team All-MEAC units. Trail was joined on the first team by senior cornerback Darrin Marrow. Junior tight end James Lynch, senior offensive lineman Justin Myler and senior safety Keenan Lambert were voted to the second team. Junior offensive lineman Mike Phillips, senior defensive lineman George Riddick, junior defensive end/linebacker Deon King and senior linebacker Marcell Coke were all named to the third team.

Trail was second on NSU with 94 tackles last season, including 12.5 for loss and 8.5 sacks. His five forced fumbles tied for the most in the nation among Division I FCS players. He also had two interceptions, eight pass breakups and two fumble recoveries. Trail tied for the team-lead with four touchdowns last year, three as a receiver on offense and one coming on a fumble recovery.

Already this preseason, Trail has been named to the Preseason Division I FCS All-America first team by The Sports Network in addition to the Lindy's and Sporting News college football preview magazines. Trail is also on the initial watch list of 16 players for the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the top defensive player in nation at an FCS institution. Trail was eighth in the voting for the award last year, when he also earned first-team All-MEAC and first-team All-American accolades following the season.

Trail is the third NSU player to ever be named the Preseason MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, following linebacker Kevin Talley in 2004 and safety Terrell Whitehead in 2009. NSU has never had a player win the MEAC's top postseason defensive honor.

Marrow was also a first-team All-MEAC pick following the 2013 season. He tied for the MEAC-lead with five interceptions last season and finished with 16 total passes defended, second-most in the MEAC and top-20 in the nation. He was earlier this summer named to The Sports Network's Preseason FCS All-America second team.

Lynch and Myler were key blockers for the Spartans last season. Lynch also made four receptions from his tight end position. Myler started all 12 games at left tackle and helped Rolandan Finch rank second in the MEAC in rushing, with 1,113 yards.

Lambert started all 12 games at strong safety last season, tallying 62 total tackles, including four for a loss. He forced three fumbles, deflected six passes, made one interception and recovered one fumble.

Phillips started all 12 games at center last season for NSU. He also played a key role in blocking for the Spartans' offense, led by 1,000-yard runner Finch.

Riddick (third team) and King (second team) both earned postseason All-MEAC accolades after the 2013 season. Riddick made 46 tackles, 2.5 for loss and half a sack as a key interior lineman along NSU's defensive front. King had a tremendous sophomore season, his first as a starter, in 2013. King made 84 tackles and led the Spartans with 18.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. He tied for second in the conference and ranked in the FCS' national top 20 in both TFL and sacks.

Not to be outdone, Coke led NSU and was ninth in the MEAC with 108 total tackles, 11 for loss and two sacks. He forced three fumbles, intercepted a pass and broke up four others.

Trail, King and Coke were all named to the College Football Performance Awards preseason FCS Linebacker Watch List. NSU was the only school with three linebackers on the preseason CFPA Linebacker Watch List, which consisted of 36 players.

Also Friday, the Spartans were picked to finish sixth in the MEAC preseason poll. Defending MEAC co-champions and FCS playoff participants Bethune-Cookman (first) and South Carolina State (second) were picked to finish at the top of the standings. North Carolina A&T, Howard and Delaware State were picked third through fifth, respectively. Following NSU, Hampton was picked seventh, North Carolina Central eighth and Morgan State ninth. Florida A&M and Savannah State are ineligible for the MEAC title in 2014.