Complete 2012 All-MEAC Teams
NORFOLK, Va. – Five Norfolk State football players earned All-MEAC honors for their performances during the 2012 season, the conference announced on Saturday.
Sophomore defensive end/outside linebacker Lynden Trail, junior tight end Joseph Hawkins and junior punter Dylan Shaddix were named to the All-MEAC first team. Senior receiver Xavier Boyce and senior kicker Everett Goldberg were voted to the All-MEAC second team.
Despite starting just three games in his debut season at NSU after transferring from the University of Florida, Trail emerged as a force for the Spartan defense. Trail led NSU with 70 total tackles, including 17 for lost yardage. He also tied for the team-lead with six sacks and added four pass breakups, eight quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. Trail was second in the MEAC and tied for ninth nationally in tackles for loss, and is tied for third in the conference with teammate Terrence Pugh with his six sacks. He helped lead an NSU defense which finished the regular season ranked second in the MEAC and third nationally in total defense.
Hawkins proved that he was worthy of his preseason All-MEAC first-team honor by following through with another productive season. Hawkins, who was an All-MEAC second-team pick last season, led all conference tight ends with 27 catches for 322 yards, both of which were third on the team. Hawkins caught at least one pass in every game and had two or more grabs in eight contests. His best game was a five-catch, 78-yard effort which included his lone TD reception of the year in the overtime loss to Howard.
Shaddix led the MEAC in punting average in his first year at NSU after transferring from Georgia Military College. He punted 53 times for a 40.5 average, including seven punts of 50+ yards. Nine of his punts were fair caught. His 40.5 season average is the second-best in school history, behind only Brian Evans' 41.5 in 1982.
Boyce earned his second straight All-MEAC honor after garnering first-team accolades last year. He led the Spartans with 58 catches for 623 yards and four touchdown catches. Boyce ranked fifth in the conference in receptions and sixth in yards. He caught at least three passes in every game and had at least six catches in six games. He had a season-high 101 receiving yards against Savannah State. Boyce finished his NSU career with 126 catches – fourth all-time in program history – after transferring from Virginia Tech prior to his junior season.
Goldberg connected on 11 of 18 field goal tries this season and led NSU with 51 total points. He connected on a season-long 51-yard field goal at North Carolina A&T, matching his career long and falling just two yards shy of the longest field goal in school history. That was one of four field goals of at least 50 yards Goldberg made in his two seasons with NSU after transferring from the College of the Canyons. He also led the MEAC with 17 touchbacks in 2012.
Delaware State quarterback Nick Elko was voted MEAC Offensive Player of the Year and Howard linebacker Keith Pough was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year. Howard's Damian Gresham Chisholm took Rookie of the Year honors. Terrance Hackney of league champion Bethune-Cookman was chosen Offensive Lineman of the Year and B-CU coach Brian Jenkins was voted Coach of the Year.
