NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State sophomore running back J.J. Davis was named the 2022 MEAC Football Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and the Spartans were picked to finish third in the conference this season as the league announced its preseason predictions on Friday.

Davis leads a list of seven Spartans who were named to the preseason All-MEAC first or second teams. Senior center Colby Byrd, senior linebacker Marquis Hall and senior cornerback Brandon Savage joined Davis in collecting first-team accolades. Sophomore receiver Da'Quan Felton, junior linebacker Tyler Long and junior defensive back Justin Toler were named to the second team.

Davis, the 2021 MEAC Rookie of the Year and first-team All-MEAC running back, led the MEAC in rushing with 887 yards last year, most by a Spartan back since 2013. Davis was a five-time MEAC Rookie of the Week winner who was second in the conference with 11 total touchdowns, 10 rushing and one receiving. Davis' 1,288 all-purpose yards also led the conference and his 7.2 yards per carry average led the country (FCS). He topped the 100-yard rushing mark four times, with a high of 217 at N.C. Central.

Byrd, who entered the starting lineup at center in game two and never left, was a three-time MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week winner as a junior in 2021. He helped anchor a line which blocked for the MEAC's top offense. The Spartans led the MEAC with 33.2 points per game, 440.5 total yards per game and 212.2 rushing yards per game, all of which set new single-season school Division I era records.

Hall, NSU's starter at middle linebacker last year, was a second-team All-MEAC pick last season. He finished the season with 49 tackles, 4.0 for loss, 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. He also forced two fumbles, tied for the most among conference players.

Savage earned first-team All-MEAC honors in 2021. He tied for second among conference players with three interceptions and also broke up seven other passes, helping him rank second in the league with 10 passes defended. Savage made 35 total tackles.

Felton started seven times last year as a redshirt freshman. He finished second on the team with 28 receptions for 492 yards and two touchdowns. Felton ranked in the conference's top 10 in both receptions and receiving yards per game.

Long, another second-team All-MEAC selection last year, led the Spartans and finished fourth in the MEAC with 78 tackles. He also logged 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a pass breakup and was MEAC Defensive Player of the Week after the Morgan State win.

Toler also picked up second-team All-MEAC honors last year. He tied for second in the MEAC with his three interceptions and also made 27 tackles with one sack and one fumble recovery in 10 games.

Defending MEAC and Celebration Bowl champion South Carolina State was voted to finish first in the MEAC this year and received eight of the 12 available first-place votes among league head coaches and sports information directors. North Carolina Central was voted second followed by NSU, Delaware State, Howard and Morgan State.

Preseason Predicted Order of Finish