LUT WILLIAMS BCSP Editor
Choosing the best from amongst a group of outstanding run stuffers, tackling machines and pass pilferers to pick the 2022 Black college Sports page defensive player of the year was tough.
Benedict junior defensive end Loobert Denelus prevailed when all the stats and intangibles were tallied.
The 6-foot, 255-pounder was the lynchpin to the Tigers’ defense in their 11-0 run to the SIAC regular season and championship game titles and the top seed in Super Region II of the NCAA Div. II playoffs.
He had 13.0 sacks to lead the SIAC and all black college players in that category. That total was fifth best in NCAA Div. II football. His 22 tackles for loss (1.80) per game was tops in the SIAC, second in the black college ranks and tenth in Div. II. His four fumble recoveries were tied for second at the D2 level.
He earned the SIAC’s defensive player of the year award and was named a first team all-American by the NCAA Div. II American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). He was the only player from the SIAC or CIAA named to the first team defense. Denelus was also named a first team Academic All- American by College Sports Communicators.
Joining Denelus on the first team defensive line are Bowie State senior Joseph Pryor, Lane redshirt senior Andrew Farmer and Morgan State sophomore Elijah Williams.
Pryor has been one of the most dominant lineman in the CIAA for all four of his seasons at BSU and has been drawing double-team attention for most of his career. The 6-4, 280-pound specimen earned this season’s conference defensive player of the year award after posting 47 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for losses, 3.5 sacks, and eight quarterback hurries.
At 6-4, 260 pounds, Farmer was one of the best edge rushers in Div. II football. His was credited officially with 25.0 tackles for loss, tops in Div. II and black college football, in just eight games played.
As a 6-1, 260-pound sophomore, Williams led the MEAC in sacks (9.0) and tackles for loss(19.0)while amassing 81 total tackles.
The first team linebacking corps includes Jackson State senior Aubrey Miller Jr., South Carolina State red- shirt junior B. J. Davis and Alabama State redshirt sophomore Colton Adams.
Miller was the ringleader of the stingy JSU defense that was No. 1 in the FCS in total defense. The hard-hitting 6-2, 225-pounder led JSU with 94 tackles (8.4 tpg.).
Davis (6-2, 190) is latest in a long line of stellar Bulldog defenders. This season he matched Miller’s 94 tackles and added eight tackles for loss and five interceptions. His 64 solo tackles were fourth best in the FCS.
Adams was the top tackler in all of black college football and the FCS finishing with a nation’s best 128 stops.
Senior defensive back Kai Gray of Lincoln (Pa.) heads the first team defensive backfield. Gray led all of Div. II in forced fumbles with four in eight games while stacking up 82 tack- les (10.3 tpg.). Black college and Div. II leader in interceptions (8, 1.0 pg.), Livingstone freshman Kevin Larkins Jr., joins Gray in the backfield along with N. C. Central’s Khalil Baker and Howard’s Kenny Gallop Jr.
Baker was the anchor of the BCSP national champion Eagles secondary finishing with 61 tackles, four picks and nine passes defended. Gallop, a tough 6-1, 210-pounder, was among the MEAC and black college leaders in tackles (2nd, 89 – 8.9 tpg.).
Chris Faddoul of Florida A&M is the first team punter and Benedict freshman Kendall Norman the first team punt returner.
