JCSU Football Picked Tenth, Brandon Howard Earns Preseason All-CIAA Honors

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By K.C. CULLER


JCSU SID

Roanoke, Va. (July 18, 2018) – The Johnson C. Smith University football team has been tabbed to finish tenth overall and fifth in the Southern Division as the CIAA released it’s 2018 preseason predicted order of finish on Wednesday.

The Golden Bulls are coming off a 2-8 outing in 2017, including a 2-5 mark in Southern Division play. JCSU earned victories in two of the final three games last season, including a homecoming win over Shaw (13-10) and a historic Commemorative Classic victory over rival Livingstone (27-14) to conclude the season; The preseason predictions are a poll from the league’s 12 head football coaches.

JCSU junior punter Brandon Howard (Columbia, S.C.) was also honored by the league, earning Preseason All-CIAA plaudits. Howard averaged 34.3 yards per punt in 2017. Over the course of the season, he managed three kicks over 50 yards, tallying a season-best 58-yard boot in JCSU’s win over Shaw. He also forced 14 fair catches and placed 19 kicks inside the opponent 20-yard-line.

The CIAA hosted its annual football media day on Thursday, July 18 in Roanoke, Va.

The Golden Bulls will kick-off the 2018 season with a Thursday night road matchup at local rival Wingate on Aug. 30. Start time against the Bulldogs is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

2018 CIAA Overall Predicted Order of Finish

1. Bowie State (1N)
2. Virginia State (2N)
3. Fayetteville State (1S)
4. Winston-Salem State (2S)
5. Virginia Union (3N)
6. St. Augustine’s (3S)
7. Chowan (4N)
8. Shaw (4S)
9. Elizabeth City State (5N)
10. Johnson C. Smith (5S)
11. Livingstone (6S)
12. Lincoln (6N)

CIAA Southern Division Predicted Order of Finish

1. Fayetteville State
2. Winston-Salem State
3. St. Augustine’s
4. Shaw
5. Johnson C. Smith
6. Livingstone

CIAA Northern Division Predicted Order of Finish

1. Bowie State
2. Virginia State
3. Virginia Union
4. Chowan
5. Elizabeth City State
6. Lincoln