ORANGEBURG, SC – South Carolina State, which recently captured its second straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title, earning back-to-back trips to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, led the All-MEAC team with 13 selections, eight on the first team.

Florida A&M, the runner-up to SC State the last two seasons, had nine selections to the team, as voted on by the MEAC head coaches and sports information directors and released Wednesday (Nov. 25). Norfolk State followed with eight and Morgan State with seven

            The Bulldogs (10-1,8-0 MEAC) also picked up two of the league's major honors, with head coach Buddy Pough capturing his second consecutive Coach of the Year honor and offensive tackle Johnny Culbreath being named Offensive Lineman of the Year,  marking the fourth time in as many years that a Bulldog has earned that accolade.

            FAMU QB Curtis Pulley was named Offensive Player of the Year, Morgan State linebacker George nabbed Defensive Player of the Year honors and North Carolina A&T running back Mike Mayhew was the Rookie of the Year.

            Culbreath, a 6-6, 310 Jr. of Monroe, Ga., was joined on the first team by running back Will Ford, a 5-11, 190 Sr. of Travelers Rest; wide receiver Oliver (Tre') Young, a 6-1, 190 Sr. of Charleston; offensive linemen Juavahr Nathan, a 6-2, 295 r-So. of Charleston and Josh Harrison, a 6-4, 210 r-Jr. of Lake City; linebacker David Erby, a 5-11, 220 r-Jr. of Rock Hill; cornerback Phillip Adams, a 6-1, 190 Sr., also of Rock Hill; and place-kicker Blake Erickson, a 5-10, 165 So. of Cantonment, Fla.

            Quarterback Malcolm Long, a 6-3, 250 Jr. of Gaffney, led the SC State second team picks, which also included his former Gaffney High teammate Julius Wilkerson, a 6-4, 225 linebacker; safety Rafael Bush, a 5-11, 195 senior of Williston; Markus James, a 6-2, a 235 defensive end of Hampton, Va.; and Young, who was named to a second position on the team as a return specialist.

            The Bulldogs' 10-1 record marked the sixth time an SC State team has earned 10 victories in a season and matched the best-ever marks of the 1976 and 1980 teams. The year was also one in which a number of school records was established and one league record tumbled.

            Ford, the 2008 MEAC Offensive Player of the Year and the 2009 preseason pick, rushed for 1010 yards – his third straight season reaching the 1000-yard plateau -- to run his career total to 4,650 and become the SC State and MEAC all-time leading rusher. He is a Payton Award Candidate for a second straight year.

            Young led the MEAC in catches with 58, was second in receiving yards (903) and set Bulldog career records for receiving yards (2064) and catches (128). He needs just 31 yards to erase Monte Stokes' record for yards in a single season (933). He was also a threat as a kick returner.

            Culbreath spearheaded the blocking for a Bulldog offense that accounted for 4,160 yards -- 1,745 on the ground -- and finished first in the MEAC in pass offense (219.9 ypg), total offense (378.4 ypg) and scoring offense (32 ppg).

            Erickson connected on 12-15 field goal attempts (80 percent), erasing the single-season record of 11, set by Cedric Oglesby in 1998, and Long became the first Bulldog passer to throw for 2000 yards in a season and also set a record for completion percentage (66.3).

            On the defensive side, Erby (65), Wilkerson (55) and Bush (42) were 1-2-3 in tackles, while Adams was fifth (39) and tied safety Markee Hamlin for most interceptions with three, while James was one of the most productive performers on the defensive line.

            The No. 7 ranked Bulldogs will try to extend their season Saturday when they travel to Boone, NC to face No. 5 ranked and Southern Conference champion Appalachian State in first-round action of the FCS playoffs. The two teams are meeting   in the first round for the second consecutive year. The Mountaineers prevailed 37-21 last       season.

            Kickoff is set for 12 noon and the contest will be carried live by ESPNU and ESPNUHD. It can also be heard over the Bulldog Football Radio Network (check local listings) and Teamline (visit the SC State website: www.scsuathletics.com).

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