NORFOLK, Va. (July 23, 2024) – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) unveiled its 2024 Football Preseason awards where Howard University saw 12 Bison receive recognition. The announcement came during the league's annual media day, live on ESPN+.
 
Graduates defensive back Kenny Gallop Jr. (Portsmouth, Va.) and running back Jarett Hunter (Mineral, Va.) headlined the show, each earning individual accolades. Gallop was named MEAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year while Hunter took home Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
 
Gallop enters the 2024 campaign as reigning MEAC Defensive Player of the Year while the dual-threat running back racked up nearly 900 yards of total offense with 11 total TDs a year ago.
 
Seven Bison earned a spot on the Preseason All-MEAC First Team: Gallop; Hunter; senior offensive lineman Darius Fox (Washington); fifth-year wideout Kasey Hawthorne (Sebring, Fla.); junior running back Eden James (Port St. Lucie, Fla.); senior defensive lineman Jamel Stewart (Richmond, Va.) and senior placekicker Dylan West (Akron, Ohio).
 
Redshirt sophomore Tim Artis Jr. (Charlotte, N.C.), fifth-year senior Carson Hinton (Detroit), senior linebacker Terrance Hollon (Cleveland), senior Richie Ilarraza (Clearwater, Fla.) and junior defensive lineman Noah Miles (Tampa) were selected to the Preseason All-MEAC Second Team.
 
Additionally, the league unveiled its Preseason Predicted Order of Finish and Howard was projected to second behind North Carolina Central (NCCU). HU tallied 92 points, including four first-place votes, while the Eagles registered 110 points with four first-place votes.
 
Howard opens the 2024 campaign at Rutgers Thursday (Aug. 29), live on the Big Ten Network. Kickoff at 6 p.m., inside SHI Stadium.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com or the MEAC website at www.MEACSports.com.