Savannah State’s D’Angelo Durham Named SIAC Preseason Offensive Player Of The Year.
Via Savannah State Athletics
ATLANTA Ga. – Savannah State senior running back D’Angelo Durham was named the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Preseason Offensive Player Of The Year.
In the preseason rankings, Savannah State football was voted to finish the 2021 season as the No.1 team in the SIAC East Division. In 2019, the program’s first season back in the SIAC, the Tigers were voted to finish last. Savannah State capped the 2019 season off with a 5-0 SIAC record.
Five Savannah State student-athletes were named to the 2021 All-SIAC First Team. Along with Durham, five more Tigers were named to the 2021 All-SIAC Second Team.
Durham, an Augusta, Ga. native, was chosen as this years’ Preseason Offensive Player of the Year after he helped the Tigers in 2019 to a 7-3 overall record, the program’s first winning season since 1998. Durham helped fortify the Tiger’s old-school option offense, netting 1,029 rushing yards (No. 2 in the SIAC) on 192 attempts. He led the SIAC and the Tigers in touchdowns with 12.
Durham was a key element in an offense that set a new school record for most rushing yards (2,603) in a single season. Within the SIAC in 2019, Savannah State’s offense finished with the No. 2 scoring offense and the No. 2 rushing offense. The Tigers finished 2019 with the No. 12 best rushing offense in the nation (NCAA Division II).
Savannah State offensive lineman Harvey King, defensive lineman Cameron M. Brown, defensive back Ny’em Bozeman, defensive back D’Armani Ridley were named to the All-SIAC First Team.
Offensive lineman Connor Vasher and Dyland McCloud, defensive lineman Salik McCrae and linebacker Walter Yates were named to the All-SIAC Second Team.
The 2019 SIAC Freshman of the Year Einaj Carter was named to both teams. As a punt returner, Carter made the 2021 All-SIAC First Team and as a wide receiver he was named to the 2021 All-SIAC Second Team.
Miles linebacker Mitchell Smily was named the SIAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Smiley, a Huntsville, Ala. native, was a second team All-SIAC performer last year and one of Miles’ most versatile defenders. He led the Golden Bears in tackles, tackles for loss, and was second in sacks.
Following Savannah State in the SIAC East Division preseason rankings, Albany State was voted to finish No. 2 followed by Fort Valley State, Morehouse, Benedict College, Clark Atlanta, Edward Waters and Allen.
Two-time reigning SIAC champions Miles College were voted to win the SIAC West Division, followed by Tuskegee, Kentucky State, Central State and Lane in the preseason rankings.
The preseason conference awards and rankings are voted on by the head coaches and sports information directors within the SIAC.
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
1 D’Angelo Durham | RB | 6-1 | 200 | Senior | August, Ga./Grovetown HS
SIAC Football Preseason First Team
70 Harvey King | Offensive Lineman | 6-4 | 275 | Senior | Hilton Head, S.C./Hilton Head HS
90 Cameron M. Brown | Defensive Lineman | 6-3 | 275 | Junior | Monroe, Ga./Walnut Grove HS
21 Ny’em Bozeman | Defensive Back | 5-11 | 170 | Sophomore | Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian Academy
24 D’Armani Ridley | Defensive Back | 6-1 | 180 | Sophomore | Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnet HS
6 Einaj Carter | Punt Returner | 5-8 | 160 | Sophomore | Poughkeepsie, N.Y./New Smyrna Beach HS
SIAC Football Preseason Second Team
65 Connor Vasher | Offensive Lineman | 6-3 | 285 | Sophomore | Guyton, Ga./South Effingham HS
50 Dylan McCloud | Offensive Lineman | 6-3 | 280 | Junior | McDonough, Ga./Ola HS
6 Einaj Carter | Wide Receiver | 5-8 | 160 | Sophomore | Poughkeepsie, N.Y./New Smyrna Beach HS
1 D’Angelo Durham | Running Back | 6-1 | 200 | Senior | August, Ga./Grovetown HS
3 Walter Yates | Linebacker | 6-1 | 220 | Junior | Gulf Breeze, Fla./Gulf Breeze HS
54 Salik McCrae | Defensive Lineman | 6-3 | 290 | Junior | Jacksonville, Fla./Ribault HS