2009 All-MEAC Football Team

NORFOLK, Va. — Nine Norfolk State football players were named Wednesday to the All-MEAC teams, second-most in program history.

The nine All-MEAC selections this year trail only the 2007 team's 10 picks for the highest mark in program history. NSU tied with Morgan State for the second-most all-conference performers this season, behind only MEAC champion South Carolina State, which had 13.

First-team selections include: junior receiver Chris Bell (Norfolk, Va.), junior center William Falakiseni (Tonga), sophomore defensive lineman Josh Turner (Chesterfield, Va.) and senior safety Terrell Whitehead (Virginia Beach, Va.). Second-team choices were junior running back DeAngelo Branche (Norfolk, Va.), junior tight end Sherron Childress (Hampton, Va.), junior offensive lineman Calton Ford (Chesapeake, Va.), sophomore offensive lineman Kendall Noble (Rocky Mount, N.C.) and junior linebacker Anthony Taylor (Virginia Beach, Va.).

Bell (6-3, 210) paced the MEAC in total receiving yards (958), receiving yards per game (87.1) and total touchdowns (13). He also led the league with five 100-yard receiving games, and his 213-yard performance against Bethune-Cookman ranks as the ninth-best game in all of Division I FCS this season. He ranks 13th in the nation in receiving yards. Bell caught a TD pass in the final six games of the season and had four games with two touchdowns.

Falakiseni (6-2, 300), a junior-college player in his first season at NSU, was a stabilizing presence along the NSU line. He helped pave the way for NSU to rank third in the MEAC in scoring offense (26.6 ppg) and total offense (348.4 yards per game).

Turner (6-0, 300) was a disruptive force in NSU's 3-4 defensive alignment at the nose guard position. He led all Spartan linemen with 46 tackles, eight for loss. He added two sacks and three quarterback hurries. Turner finished fifth on the team in tackles despite facing constant double teams, helping NSU to become the No. 2 total defense in the MEAC and No. 6 defense nationally (265.5 ypg).

Whitehead (6-2, 200) became NSU's first-ever three-time All-MEAC pick, all being first-team designations. He was second on the team with 70 total tackles and tied for the MEAC lead with five interceptions. He returned those picks for 130 yards, including one touchdown. Whitehead, who spearheaded the MEAC's top pass defense, added four pass deflections, three tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He was named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week twice, both coming in the final two weeks.

Branche (5-11, 200) had 922 rushing yards on 175 carries (5.3 per rush). His 11 total touchdowns (10 rushing, one receiving) were second-most in the MEAC behind teammate Chris Bell. Branche also had a stellar year receiving, notching career highs with 18 catches for 250 yards. His 1,172 all-purpose yards (106.5 ypg) were fifth-best in the MEAC. This is Branche's second consecutive All-MEAC second-team honor.

Childress (6-2, 240) ranked fifth on the team with 14 receptions for 136 yards and was a key blocker in NSU's spread offense.

Noble (6-4, 292) and Ford (6-4, 305) both started all 11 games along the NSU line, Noble at left tackle and Ford at right tackle, combining for a formidable set of bookends. Noble was named MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week once, while Ford was a steady contributor all season. Combined with Falakiseni, Ford and Noble give NSU a total of three All-MEAC offensive linemen this year, the most the Spartans have ever had in a single season.

Taylor (6-0, 225) led the team and ranked fourth in the conference with 81 total tackles. Taylor also ranked fourth in the MEAC with 5.5 sacks and fifth with 12.5 tackles for loss, both of which also led the NSU squad.

Florida A&M quarterback Curtis Pulley was named MEAC Offensive Player of the Year, while Morgan State linebacker George Howard was named Defensive Player of the Year. North Carolina A&T running back Mike Mayhew was named Rookie of the Year, South Carolina State's Johnny Culbreath earned Offensive Lineman of the Year accolades, and Bulldogs' coach Buddy Pough was named Coach of the Year.

“We're pleased to have nine All-MEAC players this year,” NSU head coach Pete Adrian said. “It's a good reward for the year our team had, both as individuals and as a team. What's even more exciting is that eight of these players have eligibility remaining.”