Cohen, Hargrave top MEAC players again

Dec 1, 2015 - 1:44 AM (STATS) - North Carolina A&T State grabbed a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title for the second straight year, and again the Aggies' top playmaker headlines the conference's first team.

Running back Tarik Cohen was named the MEAC's top offensive player for the second consecutive season - this time alone after sharing it with Howard quarterback Greg McGhee in 2014.

The junior was selected to his third first team following his third 1,000-yard rushing season. He led the conference with 1,248 rushing yards while helping 22nd-ranked NCA&T to a 7-1 league record and a berth in the Celebration Bowl on Dec. 19. The Aggies will face the winner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game between No. 21 Grambling State and Alcorn State.

Cohen, who was also named the conference's best rookie in 2013, became the Aggies' all-time leading rusher this season with 3,736 yards. He ranks ninth in the country in rushing yards and is tied for 18th with 12 rushing touchdowns.

The other side of the ball also has a familiar name up top as South Carolina State senior lineman Javon Hargrave earned defensive honors for the second straight year.

Hargrave leads the MEAC and is fifth in the FCS with 13 sacks while ranking second in the conference with 20 tackles for loss. He finished with 59 total tackles.

No. 25 Bethune-Cookman shared the MEAC title with NCA&T, leading to first-year coach Terry Sims' selection as the top coach. A potent Wildcats offense led the conference in scoring (31.4 points per game), total offense (445.0 yards per game), rushing (191.8 ypg), passing (253.2 ypg) and pass efficiency (164.1).

The conference's top rookie honor went to North Carolina Central's Dorrel McClain, who ranked second in the MEAC with 87.1 rushing yards per game, while NCA&T freshman Brandon Parker was named the top offensive lineman. Parker didn't allow a sack and was not called for a penalty.

NCA&T and Bethune-Cookman each finished with five first-team selections.

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MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE AWARDS=

Offensive Player of the Year: RB Tarik Cohen, North Carolina A&T State

Defensive Player of the Year: DL Javon Hargrave, South Carolina State

Offensive Lineman of the Year: Brandon Parker, North Carolina A&T State

Rookie of the Year: RB Dorrel McClain, North Carolina Central

Coach of the Year: Terry Sims, Bethune-Cookman

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MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM=

OFFENSE=

QB Quentin Williams, Bethune-Cookman

RB Tarik Cohen, North Carolina A&T State

RB Dorrel McClain, North Carolina Central

WR Jawill Davis, Bethune-Cookman

WR Twarn Mixon, Hampton

TE Tammarrick Hemmingway, South Carolina State

C Carl Jones, North Carolina Central

OL Dariusz Bladek, Bethune-Cookman

OL Brandon Parker, North Carolina A&T State

OL Torian White, Hampton

OL Javarius Leamon, South Carolina State

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DEFENSE=

DL Javon Hargrave, South Carolina State

DL Miles Grooms, Hampton

DL Gabriel Sherrod, Delaware State

DL Marquis Ragland, North Carolina A&T State

LB Deon King, Norfolk State

LB Darius Leonard, South Carolina State

LB Robert Way, Bethune-Cookman

DB Tony McRae, North Carolina A&T State

DB C.J. Moore, North Carolina Central

DB Marquis Drayton, Bethune-Cookman

DB D'Metrius Williams, Norfolk State

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SPECIAL TEAMS=

P Christian Kinney, Hampton

PK Nigel Macauley, North Carolina Central

RS Khris Gardin, North Carolina A&T State