LUT WILLIAMS BCSP Editor
Benedict is the new king of Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football.
The Tigers are coming off an 8-0 2022 campaign against league opponents and its first conference title in history and an 11-0 regular season mark that earned them a top seed in Super Region II of the NCAA Div. II playoffs.
A year after winning the East Division and defeating West Division champion Tuskegee 58- 21 in the league title game, the Tigers, entering their third year under head coach Chennis Berry, were picked by SIAC head coaches and sports information directors to again dominate the league and repeat as conference champions.
The results of preseason voting were released at last week’s SIAC Football Media Day held at the College Football Hall of Fame in downtown Atlanta.
Benedict boasted the nation’s longest winning streak at 13 games, dating back to the previous season, and showcased a solid defense that ranked seventh nationally in total defense and third in passing yards allowed. Berry and the Tigers will have to accomplish the repeat without all-SIAC quarterback, senior Eric Phoenix, who transferred to Murray State.
The next two picks – Albany State, and Tuskegee will enter the 2023 season with new head coaches.
Albany State will have new head coach Quinn Gray at the helm. The Golden Rams were picked second. A year ago under now departed head coach Gabe Gardinia, ASU finished 5-2 in SIAC play, 7-3 overall. At ASU’s homecoming a year ago, the Golden Rams fell to Benedict, 24-20.
Tuskegee, the third choice of coaches and SIDs, will have former Golden Lions quarterback Aaron James now leading its squad. Under Head Coach/ Athletics Director Reginald Ruffin a year ago, Tuskegee won the West crown with a 7-0 mark while finishing 8-2 overall.
Fort Valley State, who finished tied for second in the East (8-2, 5-2 SIAC E) under first-year head coach Shawn Gibbs, was picked fourth in the voting. FVSU lost at home 45-13 to Benedict last season. The Wildcats will be without Emmanuel Wilson, the 2022 conference rushing leader (137.1 ypg.), offensive player of the year and overall player of the year. Wilson is now in the Green Bay Packers NFL camp.
Fort Valley State sophomore quarterback Kelvin Durham was voted the preseason offensive player of the year while Benedict defensive lineman Loobert Denelus was voted the top defender.
Durham was the 2022 Newcomer of the Year, Freshman of the Year and was the first team All-SIAC signal caller. He tied for the league lead in passing touchdowns (16) was second in total yards per game (225.2 yards) as well as in total offense touchdowns (19), passing yards (1,994 yards), and pass completions (147). He completed 147 of 242 passes with only four interceptions.
In the 2022 season, Denelus was recognized as the SIAC Defensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the AFCAAll-American team, solidifying his status as one of the top defensive players in the country. He led the SIAC and ranked fifth in Division II in sacks per game (1.17) and ranked second in the SIAC and ninth in Division II in tackles for loss per game (1.8). Under his guidance, the Tigers’ defense held opponents to an average of just 12.9 points per game, tops in the SIAC and fourth in Div. II.
Fort Valley State led the way with ten players on the preseason all-SIAC team, eight first teamers. Benedict had eight players named to the squad, two first teamers. Albany State totaled seven on the two teams, two first teamers.
This year’s season is highlighted with a modified eight-game conference schedule, announced in December. This new model will allow each of the 13 SIAC football teams to face the remaining eight member institutions twice during a four-year period.
