Four University of Charleston football players were named first team All-Mountain East Conference when the league announced its postseason football awards.
Running back Marvin Elam, offensive lineman Justin Jackson, linebacker Rhakeem Stallings and punter Brett Benes were recognized with first team honors. Elam led the MEC with 14 rushing touchdowns and gained 753 yards on 182 carries, while Jackson helped anchor the offensive line that paved the way for the UC rushing attack that averaged more than 165 yards per game on the ground.
Stallings led the conference with 117 tackles this season and was rewarded with his second consecutive first team all-MEC selection. Benes, who also was named second team all-conference as a kicker after making 9 of 12 field goal attempts for the Golden Eagles, was the top punter in the league as he averaged 44.7 yards per punt.
West Virginia State linebacker Dennis Gardeck and defensive back Kevin Coffie were second team selections. Gardeck finished second in the MEC with 111 tackles for the Yellow Jackets in 2016 while Coffie led the MEC with 14 pass breakups and added a pair of interceptions.
UC has second-team selections in fullback Nick Passodelis and defensive lineman John Cominsky.
Wide receiver Joey Augustin and defensive back Zaire Lewis were honorable mention picks for Charleston, as were West Virginia State wide receiver Quinton Gray, offensive lineman Dalton Shannon and defensive lineman Jay Terry.
West Virginia Wesleyan running back Michael Anderson and Fairmont State defensive end Quincy Redmon took home the top two individual awards, claiming MEC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year honors. Anderson was sixth nationally with 1,417 yards and scored 12 times for the Bobcats while Redmon led the MEC with 12 sacks and had 15 tackles for loss.
Monte Cater led Shepherd to its sixth undefeated regular season and a third MEC title in four years en route to being named the MEC Coach of the Year.
Fairmont State's Laurence King was the league's Offensive Freshman of the Year while Logan Deri of West Liberty took home Defensive Freshman of the Year honors.
King set Fairmont State's single-season record with 81 receptions and averaged 138.2 all-purpose yards per game. He was a first team all-conference pick as a return specialist and was a second team wide receiver. Deri recorded five interceptions out of his spot as a safety for the Hilltoppers, the second-highest total in the country among freshmen. He was also third on the team with 68 tackles.
Shepherd led the all-conference team with nine first team selections, while Fairmont State and Notre Dame had six apiece.
The all-conference teams and award winners are selected by a vote from the league's coaches.