Albany State linemen named all-conference

The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) released its 2016 all-conference team on Friday. The SIAC All-Conference team is voted by the league’s coaches and sports information directors.

Albany State defensive linemen Grover Stewart and Monte Taylor and offensive lineman Javoris Wilburn and Tedrick Cofield were named to the first team.

Stewart, a 6-foot-5, 295-pound senior from Camilla has been named to the all-conference team for the fourth consecutive year. He has also been a first team member all four years. This season, Stewart recorded 37 tackles (26 solos), 12 tackles for a loss of 61 yards and 7.5 sacks for a loss of 52 yards. He also had two pass break-ups.

In his only year with the Rams, Taylor had a strong season. The 6-4, 268-pound senior from Springdale, Md. tallied 46 tackles (27 solos), 11 tackles for a loss of 45 yards and four sacks for a loss of 34 yards. Taylor also recorded seven quarterback hurries, two pass break-ups and an interception.

Wilburn, a 6-5, 315-pound senior from Warrenton, Ga. and Cofield, a 6-3, 315-pound junior from Atlanta were the top linemen for the ASU offense. The tandem help produce a total of 2,918 yards of total offense in nine games, which also included 1,864 passing yards.