Norfolk, Va. (July 23, 2024) - The North Carolina Central University football team was selected to finish first in the 2024 MEAC Preseason Predicted Order of Finish poll, and four Eagles were voted to the Preseason All-Conference First Team, as announced at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Media Day on Tuesday at the Hilton Norfolk the Main. 

The Eagles received 110 points and four first-place votes to earn projected top honors. Howard University was picked second, receiving four first-place votes with 92 points. Morgan State University was tabbed third, South Carolina State University was slotted fourth, while Norfolk State University and Delaware State University rounded out the complete predicted order of finish for the upcoming season. 

NC Central recorded a 4-1 mark in conference play and tied with Howard for the top spot a year ago. The Eagles finished the season with a 9-3 overall record and made their first-ever appearance in the FCS playoffs. NCCU also finished in the top 20 of the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and FCS Coaches Polls. 

In 2023, NC Central had a perfect 5-0 record at home and a 5-2 record in non-conference play.

Earning preseason all-conference first team honors for the Eagles on offense was redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Trevon Humphry (Greensboro, N.C.), while redshirt senior defensive lineman Jaden Taylor (Durham, N.C.), senior defensive back Kole Jones (Chesapeake, Va.) and senior punter Juan Velarde (Anderson, S.C.) were all honored on the defensive side of the ball. 

NCCU had four more players on the all-conference second team: running back J'Mari Taylor (Charlotte, N.C.), wide receiver Joaquin Davis (Durham, N.C.), offensive lineman Ja'Quan Sprinkle (Orangeburg, S.C.) and linebacker Max U'Ren (Winston-Salem, N.C.). 

The Eagles are scheduled to broadcast five games on the ESPN family of networks, starting with the season opener against Alabama State University in the Denny's Orange Blossom Classic, which will be played in Miami Gardens, Florida, at the Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 1. That game will be played on ESPN and scheduled for a 3 p.m. kickoff.  

For the complete list of the MEAC's football predicted order of finish and all-conference honors, click here.

For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.