Freshman linebacker Kailen Abrams earns All-SIAC honors
FORT VALLEY, Georgia - Central State University linebacker Kailen Abrams was named to the All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Second Team. The releasing of the 2017 All-SIAC team was made at the league's football championship press conference in Fort Valley, Georgia over the weekend.
"Earning All-SIAC recognition as a freshman feels great," Abrams says. "This award serves as more motivation for me to work harder during the offseason so that I can obtain more prestigious accolades next season. Leading up to next season, my focus is to improve on my lateral quickness and continue to get stronger."
Coming to Central State after a tremendous high school career at Loyola High School in Detroit, Michigan, Abrams quickly solidified himself at the linebacker position, starting in all 10 games as a freshman. In his first collegiate game against Elizabeth City State, Abrams led CSU with 11 tackles. The 6-2, 235 pound linebacker maintained a high-level of consistency throughout the year, capping off the season with a season-high 21 tackles against Lane College.
"Kailen has been an outstanding student of the game. We expected big things from Kailen and he did not disappoint," CSU head coach
Cedric Pearl says. "As a freshman, he emerged as a leader on the field and in the classroom. We really look forward to having Kailen on our team for the next three years. He possesses the size, physicality and athleticism to eventually become an All-American."
Abrams finished the season ranked fourth in the SIAC with 86 total tackles and sixth in the conference with 8.6 tackles per game.
"Being a young player, my focus was to simply be the best player I could and make plays for my team. Coach Pearl recruited me to play at Central State and it is my job to deliver for this team every week," Abrams says. "I credit my coaches and the upperclassman who helped me gain a mental edge on the field and find confidence to perform on the collegiate level. I'm excited for what the future holds for me and the Marauder football program."
Abrams is the second freshman from Central State to ever be named to the All-SIAC Team. Offensive lineman
Darius Thomas earned the honor as a freshman last season.
For additional information on the All-SIAC Team, visit -
http://thesiac.com/news/2017/11/9/siac-announces-football-all-conference-teams.aspx?path=gen
First Team
| Johnathon McCrary |
Quarterback |
Clark Atlanta |
Ellenwood, Ga. |
| Rodney Morris |
Tight End |
Clark Atlanta |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Deandre Jackson |
Wide Receiver |
Clark Atlanta |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Okechi Ntiasagwe |
Wide Receiver |
Benedict |
Columbia, S.C. |
| Justin Hardy |
Running Back |
Miles |
Homewood, Ala. |
| Brett Sylve |
Running Back |
Kentucky State |
Hammond, La. |
| Jamie Glenn |
Offensive Lineman |
Albany State |
Snellville, Ga. |
| Derrick Tucker |
Offensive Lineman |
Miles |
Sweet Water, Ala. |
| Justin Brown |
Offensive Lineman |
Benedict |
Marietta, Ga. |
| Darrius Hicks |
Offensive Lineman |
Fort Valley State |
Camilla, Ga. |
| Leward Brown |
Offensive Lineman |
Tuskegee |
Miami, Fl. |
| Kaelan Bonds |
Defensive Lineman |
Miles |
Florence, Ala. |
| Marquel Shelton |
Defensive Lineman |
Miles |
Bessemer, Ala. |
| Rodriquez Jones |
Defensive Lineman |
Kentucky State |
Hampton, Va. |
| Zavondric Shingleton |
Defensive Lineman |
Albany State |
Millen, Ga. |
| David Smith |
Linebacker |
Morehouse |
Newport News, Va. |
| Osband Thompson |
Linebacker |
Tuskegee |
Miami, Fl. |
| Anthony Hardy |
Linebacker |
Miles |
Demopolis, Ala. |
| Jawaski Randle |
Defensive Back |
Miles |
Albany, Ga. |
| Jonah McCutcheaon |
Defensive Back |
Tuskegee |
Mobile, Ala. |
| Cameron Young |
Defensive Back |
Fort Valley State |
Eastman, Ga. |
| Charles Dudley |
Defensive Back |
Lane |
Douglassville, Ga. |
| Nick Christiansen |
Kicker |
Miles |
Clayton, N.C. |
| Nick Christiansen |
Punter |
Miles |
Clayton, N.C. |
| Brett Sylve |
Kick Returner |
Kentucky State |
Hammond, La. |
| Lorenzo Smothers |
Punt Returner |
Fort Valley State |
Buena Vista, Ga. |
Second Team
| Slade Jarmon |
Quarterback |
Fort Valley State |
Pensacola, Fl. |
| Ryan Edwards |
Tight End |
Morehouse |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Johnathon Sanders |
Wide Receiver |
Clark Atlanta |
East Point, Ga. |
| Amyr Smith |
Wide Receiver |
Morehouse |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Hoderick Lowe |
Running Back |
Tuskegee |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| McKinley Habersham |
Running Back |
Albany State |
Savannah, Ga. |
| Marcus Campbell |
Offensive Lineman |
Kentucky State |
Radcliff, Ky. |
| Roger Womack |
Offensive Lineman |
Miles |
Birmingham, Ala. |
| Craig Hinson |
Offensive Lineman |
Benedict |
Hephzibah, Ga. |
| Max Williams |
Offensive Lineman |
Clark Atlanta |
Marianna, Fl. |
| Tedric Cofield |
Offensive Lineman |
Albany State |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Demetrius Harris |
Defensive Lineman |
Fort Valley State |
Decatur, Ga. |
| Antonio Johnson |
Defensive Lineman |
Morehouse |
Birmingham, Ala. |
| Bundrea Conway |
Defensive Lineman |
Morehouse |
Lansing, Mi. |
| Walter Tucker |
Defensive Lineman |
Fort Valley State |
Melrose, Fl. |
| Austin Stephens |
Linebacker |
Miles |
Mumford, Ala. |
| Kailen Abrams |
Linebacker |
Central State |
Detroit, Mi. |
| Marquez Thomas |
Linebacker |
Albany State |
Perry, Ga. |
| Quantavious Singletary |
Defensive Back |
Clark Atlanta |
Moultrie, Ga. |
| Nicco Whigham |
Defensive Back |
Fort Valley State |
North Lauderdale, Fl. |
| Jaylin Boyd |
Defensive Back |
Albany State |
Fairburn, Ga |
| Edward Kirkland |
Defensive Back |
Benedict |
Columbia, S.C. |
| Juan Serna |
Kicker |
Fort Valley State |
Douglassville, Ga. |
| Tory Mimbs |
Punter |
Benedict |
Sandersville, Ga. |
| Deandre Jackson |
Kick Returner |
Clark Atlanta |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Brett Sylve |
Punt Returner |
Kentucky State |
Hammond, La. |
Overall Player of the Year (MVP):
Justin Hardy, RB, Miles
Offensive Player of the Year:
Justin Hardy, RB, Miles
Defensive Player of the Year:
Osband Thompson, LB, Tuskegee
Freshman of the Year:
MarQuel Shelton, DL, Miles
Newcomer of the Year:
Slade Jarmon, QB, Fort Valley State
Coach of the Year:
Kevin Porter, Fort Valley State
