Benedict Football Picked To Finish 3rd

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (BC SID) — Benedict College was predicted to finish third in the SIAC East Division, in a vote of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference head football coaches, it was announced Monday at the SIAC Football Media Day. The Tigers picked up 12 points, finishing behind Albany State and Fort Valley State. Albany State led the way in the East with 20 points and four first-place votes, while Fort Valley State had 17 points and one first-place vote. Following Benedict was Morehouse with 11 points, Clark Atlanta with 8 points and first-year program Paine with 7 points. Albany State was the favorite as the overall champion with 11 points and three first-place votes. Tuskegee, which was predicted to win the West Division, finished second in the overall poll with 103 points and five first-place votes. Benedict was picked to finish seventh overall. The Tigers placed one on the preseason All-SIAC football team. Rodney Hall made the first team defense as a punt returner. Hall, a junior defensive back, returned kicks last year and averaged 24.1 yards per return with one touchdown. He was fourth on the team in tackles with 40 and had three interceptions.