2021 SIAC Football All-Conference Honorees Announced

from the SIAC:

2021 SIAC Football All-Conference Honors Announced

ATLANTA, Ga. (November 15, 2021) – Linebacker Stephan Pierre of Albany State headlines the 2021 All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Football All-Conference team earning this year’s Overall Player of the Year (MVP) and Defensive Player of the Year award. The team, which features 26 student-athletes covering eleven positions, was voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

KSU’s Brett Slyve (left), Lane’s Ike Brown (right)

Kentucky State’s Running back Brett Sylve was named Offensive Player of the Year alongside Lane’s Running back, Ike Brown, who earned Freshman of the Year.

Defensive Lineman, Jamal Holloway of Central State was tabbed Newcomer of the Year.

Gabe Giardina of Albany State was named the 2021 SIAC Coach of the Year.

Albany State’s Pierre was named this year’s Overall Player of the Year (MVP) and Defensive Player of the Year award. The sophomore linebacker controlled the field from sideline to sideline by leading the league in individual tackles (56 solo tackles). He also was credited with one sack for the season. The Florida native had two fumble recoveries as well as solid defense when dropping back in coverage. He led the Albany State defense to an undefeated conference record and a conference championship this season. The Golden Rams topped the conference in total defense, allowing just 197.6 yards per game, and led the league in rush defense and pass defense. ASU was also No. 1 in pass defense efficiency, allowing just 107.2 yards passing per game. The key to ASU’s defensive success was a result of their defensive line and linebacker’s ability to stop the run, who allowed just 89.8 yards per game.

Brett Sylve (Kentucky State) served as a leader for the Kentucky State Thorobreds and was named this year’s Offensive Player of the Year after averaging 141.18 all-purpose yards per game, good for 17th in Division II. He also led the league in scoring averaging 7.2 points per game on 17 rushing touchdowns this season, tied for 5th in Division II. The senior running back rushed for 933 yards this season averaging 93.3 yards per game.

In his first season with the Dragons, Ike Brown was an offensive threat in one of the best seasons in Lane College history. The Louisiana native ranked eighth in the league for total rushing yards with 623 yards on 176 rushes. He is ranked 3^rd in scoring for the league collecting 66 points from 11 touchdowns.

Central State’s defensive end Jamal Holloway ranks among the top tacklers in the league finishing with 84 tackles (47 solo – 37 assisted) this season. Holloway has recorded 22 tackles of a loss, 8.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, five pass break ups, and one fumble recovery.

Gabe Giardina, Head Football Coach at Albany State University, was tabbed this year’s SIAC Coach of the Year after leading the Golden Rams to an undefeated conference slate and a championship title. In his fifth season leading the Golden Rams, Giardina guided them to a No. 3 ranking in the NCAA Super Region poll, winning the SIAC’s Eastern Division and the conference title. The Golden Rams scoring defense leads the conference and ranks 1st in the country.

Albany State paced the all-conference teams with nine selections. Fort Valley State and Savannah State followed up with seven selections respectively ahead of Morehouse, Miles, and Lane who had six all-conference selections. Clark Atlanta and Kentucky State placed three on this year’s all-conference teams preceding Benedict and Central State who had two selections respectively. Tuskegee rounded out the 2021 SIAC Football All-Conference team with one selection each.

In its inaugural season, the Elite 14 award recognized the student-athlete who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the SIAC championship level in his or her sport while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. Zaquan Baldwin of Fort Valley State was the first recipient of this award in his respective sport.

(complete team listed below)

2021 SIAC Football All-Conference Team

First Team

Position	Name	School	Classification	Hometown
Offensive Lineman	Connor Vasher	Savannah State	Sophomore	Effingham, Ga.
Offensive Lineman	Emmanuel Boone	Fort Valley State	Sophomore	Macon, Ga.
Offensive Lineman	Tyler Lowry	Miles	Sophomore	Evergreen, Ala.
Offensive Lineman	Miquail Harvey	Albany State	Senior	Columbus, Ga.
Offensive Lineman	KaTray Pringle	Albany State	Sophomore	St. George, S.C.
Tight End	Montavious Tinch	Miles	Graduate Student	Elberton, Ga.
Wide Receiver	Anthony Evelyn	Lane	Senior	Atlantic Beach, Fla.
Wide Receiver	Dalane Brown II	Central State	Senior	Youngstown, OH
Running Back	Ike Brown	Lane	Freshman	Shreveport, La.
Running Back	Brett Sylve	Kentucky State	Senior	Hammond, La.
Quarterback	Michael Huntley	Lane	Senior	Montgomery, Ala.
Defensive Lineman	Malik Barnes	Albany State	Freshman	Newton, Ga.
Defensive Lineman	Jamal Holloway	Central State	Senior	Camden, NJ
Defensive Lineman	Antonio Golden	Fort Valley State	Senior	Midway, Ga.
Defensive Lineman	Zaquan Baldwin	Fort Valley State	Junior	Macon, Ga.
Linebacker	Stephan Pierre	Albany State	R-Sophomore	Tallahassee, Fl.
Linebacker	Daniel Norman	Morehouse	Junior	Oakland, CA
Linebacker	Daylon Land	Morehouse	Freshman	Benton, AR
Defensive Back	Mitchell Smiley	Miles	Junior	Huntsville, Ala.
Defensive Back	Armani Maddox	Morehouse	Freshman	Atlanta, Ga.
Defensive Back	Charles Crawford	Clark Atlanta	Graduate Student	Prichard, Ala.
Defensive Back	Zach Anderson	Fort Valley State	Senior	Cairo, Ga.
Kicker	Gabriel Ballinas	Albany State	Junior	Guadalupe, Mexico
Punter	Jonatan Ward	Kentucky State	Senior	Aventura, Fla.
Punt Returner	Einaj Carter	Savannah State	Sophomore	Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Kick Returner	Anthony Evelyn	Lane	Senior	Atlantic Beach, Fla.

Second Team

Position	Name	School	Classification	Hometown
Offensive Lineman	Terrence Jordan	Lane	Freshman	New Orleans, LA
Offensive Lineman	Waylin Bell	Fort Valley State	Junior	Harlem, GA.
Offensive Lineman	Josh Simon	Albany State	Sophomore	Atlanta, Ga.
Offensive Lineman	Kyle Frazier	Savannah State	Redshirt Freshman	Augusta, Ga.
Offensive Lineman	Nathan Harrison	Tuskegee	Senior	Tuskegee, Ala.
Tight End	Tyree Taylor	Albany State	Freshman	Suwanne, Fla.
Wide Receiver	Drakar Jerry	Clark Atlanta	Graduate Student	Miami, Fla.
Wide Receiver	Joe’Vontae Shorter	Albany State	Junior	Vicksburg, MS
Running Back	Emanuel Wilson	Fort Valley State	R-Sophomore	Charlotte, N.C.
Running Back	Donte Edwards	Miles	R-Junior	Mobile, Ala.
Quarterback	Eric Phoenix	Benedict	Junior	Savannah, Ga.
Defensive Lineman	Andrew Farmer	Lane	Senior	Jacksonville, Fla.
Defensive Lineman	Jaylun Thomas	Miles	Graduate Student	Sylacauga, Ala.
Defensive Lineman	Makenly Newbill	Savannah State	Junior	Savannah, Ga.
Defensive Lineman	Marqu Deweert	Morehouse	Senior	Bellevue, WA
Linebacker	N’Ktavious Floyd	Miles	Senior	Phenix City, Ala.
Linebacker	Rodney Lewis	Clark Atlanta	Sophomore	Atlanta, Ga.
Linebacker	Darrell Dorris Jr.	Kentucky State	Freshman	Lancaster, CA
Defensive Back	Marvin Grunshie	Savannah State	Senior	Reston, VA
Defensive Back	Ny’em Bozeman	Savannah State	Sophomore	Jacksonville, Fla.
Defensive Back	Coemba Jones	Albany State	Junior	Miami, Fla.
Defensive Back	Tyler Moore	Fort Valley State	Junior	Ashburn, Ga.
Kicker	Rigoberto Tinoco	Benedict	Senior	Lyons, Ga.
Punter	Kenneth Lockhart	Savannah State	Freshman	Hinesville, Ga.
Punt Returner	Marqueiz Pride	Morehouse	Sophomore	Seabring, Fla.
Kick Returner	Frank Bailey Jr.	Morehouse	Senior	Atlanta, Ga.