BALTIMORE, Md. - The Norfolk State football team landed nine players on the Preseason All-MEAC Teams announced ahead of MEAC Media Day on Monday, July 20.
Two Spartans landed on the All-MEAC Preseason First Team in offensive lineman Ryan Nolan and defensive lineman Jaylen Williams. Seven Norfolk State student-athletes followed on the Preseason All-MEAC Second Team including center Jack Smoot, offensive lineman Tyler Leinberger, defensive lineman Miguel Rijo, linebacker Kaleb Broadbent, defensive backs Nasir Bashir and Stephon Hall, and kicker Jake Walker.
Additionally, voters picked Norfolk State to finish fifth in the conference, while South Carolina State was picked to repeat as MEAC champions.
Nolan, a redshirt senior from Portsmouth, Va., appeared in 10 games on Norfolk State's offensive line, helping the Spartans generate 4,344 total yards of offense and 235 first downs. The offense averaged 362.0 yards and 20.9 points per game, including 143.8 rushing yards and 218.2 passing yards per contest, with Nolan providing protection in the passing game and support for the rushing attack throughout the season.
Williams, a redshirt senior from Ocala, Fla., appeared in 11 games and totaled 23 tackles, including 10 solo stops, along Norfolk State's defensive front. He added 5.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, while recording a fumble recovery, a quarterback hurry and two pass breakups. Williams registered sacks against Towson, Delaware State, and North Carolina Central, including a two-sack performance against the Eagles, and posted a season-high three tackles in multiple games.
Smoot, a sophomore from Gainesville, Va., appeared in eight games on Norfolk State's offensive line as part of a unit that helped the Spartans generate 4,344 total yards of offense and 235 first downs, an attack that averaged 362.0 yards and 20.9 points per game.
Leinberger, a redshirt senior from Chester, Va., appeared in 10 games on Norfolk State's offensive line, rounding out a group that helped the Spartans average 362.0 yards and 20.9 points per game, including 143.8 rushing yards and 218.2 passing yards per contest.
Rijo, a redshirt junior from Virginia Beach, Va., appeared in six games and contributed along Norfolk State's defensive front. He recorded eight tackles, including three solo stops, along with 0.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks against Virginia State, and posted a season-high four tackles at Rutgers.
Bashir, a graduate student from Atlanta, Ga., appeared in eight games and recorded 21 tackles, including nine solo stops, while contributing in Norfolk State's defensive backfield. He added 0.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions, both coming against Howard, and posted a season-high five tackles against Wofford while recording at least three tackles in four contests.
Broadbent, a redshirt senior from Chesapeake, Va., appeared in 11 games and totaled 43 tackles (19 solo) while contributing across Norfolk State's defense and special teams units. He added 3.0 tackles for loss, one interception, one quarterback hurry and one pass breakup. Broadbent recorded a season-high eight tackles against both North Carolina Central and Howard, added seven tackles versus Hampton, and collected his lone interception against Wagner, finishing the season with tackles in nine contests.
Hall, a graduate student from Pittsburgh, Pa., appeared in four games before suffering a season-ending injury against Sacred Heart. He totaled 12 tackles, including three solo stops, while contributing in Norfolk State's defensive backfield, posting a season-high six tackles against Towson and adding four tackles versus Virginia State.
Walker, a freshman from Cedar Hill, Tenn., enters the season after an outstanding senior campaign at Jo Byrns High School, where he established himself as one of the state's top kickers. He connected on 5-of-11 field goal attempts, including a career-long 59-yard field goal, while converting 43-of-46 extra-point attempts. Walker also handled kickoff duties, recording 42 kickoffs with 27 touchbacks over 12 games, consistently flipping field position with his leg strength.
Norfolk State will open its highly anticipated 2026 season on Saturday, Aug. 29 against Winston-Salem State at William "Dick" Price Stadium in Norfolk. Get your tickets now to catch the Spartans in action as Coach Vick leads Norfolk State into the season.
For complete coverage of Norfolk State Athletics, follow the Spartans on X (@nsuspartans), Facebook (Norfolk State Athletics), Instagram (@NSUAthletics) and YouTube (@nsuathletics), or visit nsuspartans.com.
2026 MEAC All-Preseason Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year – Chance Peterson – WR, North Carolina Central
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Jordan Franklin – LB, South Carolina State
First Team Offense
|
Position
|
Name
|
School
|
|
QB
|
Josh Jones
|
North Carolina Central
|
|
RB
|
Eden James
|
Howard
|
|
RB
|
Tyler Smith
|
South Carolina State
|
|
WR
|
Chance Peterson
|
North Carolina Central
|
|
WR
|
Darius Thompson
|
South Carolina State
|
|
TE
|
Alex Simmons
|
Morgan State
|
|
C
|
James Reddick II
|
South Carolina State
|
|
OL
|
Moses Umoren
|
South Carolina State
|
|
OL
|
AC McMoore
|
North Carolina Central
|
|
OL
|
Ryan Nolan
|
Norfolk State
|
|
OL
|
Diu Dau
|
Delaware State
|
First Team Defense
|
Position
|
Name
|
School
|
|
DL
|
Joshua Barker
|
South Carolina State
|
|
DL
|
Ka'Von Chisolm
|
South Carolina State
|
|
DL
|
Jordan Dollard
|
South Carolina State
|
|
DL
|
Jaylen Williams
|
Norfolk State
|
|
LB
|
Jordan Franklin
|
South Carolina State
|
|
LB
|
Isaiah Lawson
|
North Carolina Central
|
|
LB
|
Arturo Mattocks
|
Morgan State
|
|
DB
|
Kedrick Green
|
Howard
|
|
DB
|
Wayne Favors
|
Delaware State
|
|
DB
|
Sharmari Reed
|
South Carolina State
|
|
DB
|
Aki Harvey
|
Morgan State
|
|
P
|
Liam Allen IV
|
Howard
|
|
PK
|
Matt Conord
|
Howard
|
|
RS
|
Mehki Wall
|
North Carolina Central
|
Second Team Offense
|
Position
|
Name
|
School
|
|
QB
|
Ja'Shawn Scroggins
|
Howard
|
|
RB
|
Josh Shaw
|
South Carolina State
|
|
RB
|
Keith Jenkins Jr.
|
Morgan State
|
|
WR
|
Justin Perry
|
Morgan State
|
|
WR
|
Nate Stewart
|
Delaware State
|
|
TE
|
Rodney Lesane
|
North Carolina Central
|
|
C
|
Holly Saint-Melus**
|
North Carolina Central
|
|
C
|
Jack Smoot**
|
Norfolk State
|
|
OL
|
Kiande Marsh
|
South Carolina State
|
|
OL
|
Tyler Leinberger
|
Norfolk State
|
|
OL
|
Taron Williams
|
North Carolina Central
|
|
OL
|
Victor Goree
|
North Carolina Central
|
Second Team Defense
|
Position
|
Name
|
School
|
|
DL
|
Quoy Rainey
|
Delaware State
|
|
DL
|
Miguel Rijo
|
Norfolk State
|
|
DL
|
Justin Dutton
|
Morgan State
|
|
DL
|
Kristopher Boyd
|
Morgan State
|
|
LB
|
Kaleb Broadbent
|
Norfolk State
|
|
LB
|
Roderick Kelly
|
South Carolina State
|
|
LB
|
Quentin Johnson
|
Delaware State
|
|
DB
|
Kwantre Harry
|
South Carolina State
|
|
DB
|
Nasir Bashir
|
Norfolk State
|
|
DB
|
Jakarri Martin
|
North Carolina Central
|
|
DB
|
Stephon Hall
|
Norfolk State
|
|
P
|
Shane Messenger
|
Morgan State
|
|
PK
|
Jake Walker
|
Norfolk State
|
|
RS
|
Malique Leatherbury
|
Morgan State
|
** Indicates tie
Predicted Order of Finish
|
School (first-place votes)
|
Points
|
|
1. South Carolina State (5)
|
49
|
|
2. North Carolina Central (1)
|
42
|
|
3. Delaware State (2)
|
40
|
|
4. Morgan State
|
25
|
|
5. Norfolk State (1)
|
18
|
|
6. Howard
|
15
|
