Rookie of the year: Brantley wins award; CIAA honors 7 Rams

Seven Rams athletes have been honored with post season accolades for their performance on the playing field since Nov. 3.

Wide receiver Tehvyn Brantley was named CIAA Offensive Rookie of the Year, Nov. 9.

Defensive lineman Juan Corders, offensive lineman Travis Taylor and running back Nicholas Cooper all earned All-CIAA first team honors for their superb play this season.  Defensive back Alton Keaton earned second team honors for his performance. They received these honors Nov. 10.

Cooper followed the blocking of Taylor for 1,134 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns on the ground. With help from Taylor, Cooper became the first running back since Martin Hicks and Jed Bines to amass 1,000 yards in a season.

Keaton led the team with 67 tackles and contributed three sacks and forcing and recovering one fumble. Corders was second on the team in tackles with 55 and led the team in sacks with five.

Brantley made a difference as soon as he hit the field. As a true freshman he dominated the conference placing fourth in receiving yards per game with 67.6 and fifth in receptions per game with 4.2.

 Brantley led the Rams air attack with 38 catches for 608 yards and five touchdowns. His best game of the season was a performance against N.C. Central Sept. 11 where he had six receptions for 166 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a season high eight catches against Johnson C. Smith Oct. 2.

Lady Rams volleyball players Ashley Harris and Erica Cole both earned All-CIAA honors for their play this season. Harris ended her final season leading the conference in kills with 299, while Cole finished with 112 kills and a team-high 187 digs.  With their play this season they led the Lady Rams to the second seed in the Southern Division in the CIAA tournament.