| N.C. A&T State University freshman running back Tarik Cohen (5-8, 170, Bunn, N.C.) made such an indelible impression on the MEAC the conference’s sports information directors and head coaches awarded him 2013 MEAC Rookie of the Year.
The conference announced its 2013 awards and all-conference teams on Friday, Nov. 29.
Howard quarterback Greg McGhee was selected as the MEAC Offensive Player of the Year. S.C. State took away two awards with center Tristan Bellamy winning offensive lineman of the year and linebacker Joe Thomas being named defensive player of the year. Coach of the year honors went to Bethune-Cookman’s Brian Jenkins.
Cohen was the only Aggie to make first-team all-conference. Four Aggies – offensive linemen William Ray Robinson III and Nathan Isles, linebacker D’Vonte Grant and cornerback/return specialist D’Vonte Graham – earned second-team honors. Three other Aggies – strong safety Travis Crosby, defensive end Tyree Hearn and placekicker Cody Jones – made the MEAC’s third team.
“It’s wonderful to see eight of our guys recognized by the conference,” said A&T head coach Rod Broadway. “It truly shows how far our program has come in three years and how hard these young men have worked to see this program have better days. They deserve a tremendous amount of credit.”
Cohen did not become the Aggies starter until Game 5 on Oct. 12 at Hampton. He made sure he would never leave the starting lineup again by rushing for 180 yards and compiling 119 yards receiving while scoring a pair of touchdowns. In his seven weeks in the spotlight, Cohen went on to earn MEAC Offensive Player of the Week honors three times and MEAC Rookie of the Week honors twice. He led the conference in rushing with 1,148 yards and eight touchdowns. He also made 11 catches for 152 yards and a touchdown. He is the only Aggie freshman in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
Cohen is also a candidate for the Jerry Rice Award, an honor that recognizes the best FCS freshman in the nation. He is the second Aggie in four years to win rookie of the year after all-time leading rusher Mike Mayhew won it 2009.
“I’m so proud of him,” said Broadway about Cohen. “If he keeps his head on right, this kid is going to be unbelievable. He’s already unbelievable. A couple of years from now, this guy is going to be amazing.” |
