NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State football team was picked to finish seventh in the preseason MEAC football poll, and six Spartans were named to the preseason all-conference football team as the league released its preseason predictions Friday.
Norfolk State linebacker
Nigel Chavis, defensive backs
Bobby Price and
Nhyre' Quinerly, and offensive lineman
Kenneth Kirby were voted to the preseason All-MEAC second team. Tight end
Anthony Williams and running back
Aaron Savage were voted to the third team.
Chavis, a redshirt senior, was a first-team All-MEAC and VaSID all-state selection following the 2018 season. He led NSU with 5.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss, both of which ranked among the top five in the MEAC. Chavis logged 71 total tackles, forced two fumbles and recovered two others.
Price, a senior, was a third-team All-MEAC selection last year after posting 59 tackles and two interceptions. He also made 2.5 tackles for loss, recovered a pair of fumbles and broke up another eight passes. He tied for fourth in the MEAC in passes defended.
Quinerly, who is also entering his senior campaign, paired with Price to form a safety tandem that led the Spartans to the No. 6 mark in the nation in pass defense. Quinerly notched 60 tackles, led NSU with three interceptions and also forced three fumbles.
Kirby is entering his redshirt junior season. A third-team All-MEAC pick in 2017, Kirby redshirted 2018. He started all 22 games at left tackle over his first two seasons at NSU. Kirby was also a second-team all-state selection as a sophomore in 2017.
Williams, a junior, has made 12 starts at tight end over his first two years in green and gold. He started all seven games in which the Spartans opened the game with a tight end last year, catching nine passes for 112 yards on the year.
Savage has led NSU in rushing each of the last two seasons. He rushed 101 times for 400 yards and two touchdowns last season. Savage was also a capable receiver out of the backfield, catching 10 passes for 106 yards and one score.
Two-time defending MEAC champion North Carolina A&T was picked to repeat as conference champion in the preseason poll of head coaches and sports information directors. The Aggies received 12 of 18 first-place votes. Bethune-Cookman was picked to finish second, Florida A&M third, Howard fourth, and North Carolina Central fifth.
South Carolina State finished sixth in the poll ahead of NSU. Morgan State was predicted to finish eighth, and Delaware State ninth. B-CU (one), FAMU (two), NSU (one), N.C. Central (one) and Morgan State (one) all received first-place votes.
Howard quarterback Caylin Newton was voted the Preseason MEAC Offensive Player of the Year, and Delaware State linebacker Brian Cavicante was tabbed the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
