North Carolina Central wide receiver Chance Peterson was named the MEAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year on Monday as the Eagles landed 10 players on the conference’s preseason all-conference teams and were picked to finish second in the league standings.
Defending MEAC champion South Carolina State was selected as the preseason favorite with five first-place votes, while the Eagles received one first-place vote and finished second in the annual poll voted on by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.
A Tradition of Offensive Stars
Peterson, a former Heritage High standout in nearby Wake Forest, earned second-team all-conference a year ago. He caught 48 passes for 720 yards and one touchdown.
The redshirt junior enjoyed back-to-back 100-yard receiving games in games against Florida A&M and Delaware State, and has 1,003 career receiving yards across 24 games.
Peterson’s preseason MVP selection continues an impressive recent run for the Eagles. An NCCU player has won the MEAC’s postseason Offensive Player of the Year honor in three of the past four seasons.
Quarterback Davius Richard captured the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year award in both 2022 and 2023, leading the Eagles to a Celebration Bowl championship in ’22. Last season, quarterback Walker Harris earned the honor after throwing for 3,214 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Peterson now becomes the latest Eagle expected to carry the torch as one of the MEAC’s premier offensive playmakers entering 2026.
NCCU Preseason All-Conference
First Team
- QB Josh Jones
- WR Chance Peterson
- OL AC McMoore
- LB Isaiah Lawson
- RS Mehki Wall
Second Team
- TE Rodney Lesane
- C Holly Saint-Melus
- OL Taron Williams
- OL Victor Goree
- DB Jakarri Martin
What It Means
The preseason honors offered an early clue about NCCU’s quarterback situation. Josh Jones earned first-team preseason All-MEAC recognition despite the Eagles leaving spring practice back in April without publicly naming a starter. Jones, who is from Fayetteville and played at Westover High, appeared in nine games last season.
Over three years at NCCU, Jones has completed 23-of-30 passes for 330 yards and three touchdowns. He has also rushed for 239 yards and three more scores.
MEAC Predicted Order of Finish
- South Carolina State 49 (5)
- North Carolina Central 42 (1)
- Delaware State 40 (2)
- Morgan State 25
- Norfolk State 18 (1)
- Howard 15
South Carolina State has won the MEAC the past two seasons. North Carolina Central’s last MEAC championship came in 2022.
Complete Preseason All-MEAC Honors
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year – Chance Peterson, North Carolina Central
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Jordan Franklin, South Carolina State
First Team (Offense)
QB – Josh Jones (North Carolina Central)
RB – Eden James (Howard)
RB – Tyler Smith (South Carolina State)
WR – Chance Peterson (North Carolina Central)
WR – Darius Thompson (South Carolina State)
TE – Alex Simmons (Morgan State)
C – James Reddick II (South Carolina State)
OL – Moses Umoren (South Carolina State)
OL – AC McMoore (North Carolina Central)
OL – Ryan Nolan (Norfolk State)
OL – Diu Dau (Delaware State)
First Team (Defense)
DL – Joshua Barker (South Carolina State)
DL – Ka’Von Chisolm (South Carolina State)
DL – Jordan Dollard (South Carolina State)
DL – Jaylen Williams (Norfolk State)
LB – Jordan Franklin (South Carolina State)
LB – Isaiah Lawson (North Carolina Central)
LB – Arturo Mattocks (Morgan State)
DB – Kedrick Green (Howard)
DB – Wayne Favors (Delaware State)
DB – Sharmari Reed (South Carolina State)
DB – Aki Harvey (Morgan State)
P – Liam Allen IV (Howard)
K – Matt Conord (Howard)
RS – Mehki Wall (North Carolina Central)
Second Team (Offense)
QB – Ja’Shawn Scroggins (Howard)
RB – Josh Shaw (South Carolina State)
RB – Keith Jenkins Jr. (Morgan State)
WR – Justin Perry (Morgan State)
WR – Nate Stewart (Delaware State)
TE – Rodney Lesane (North Carolina Central)
C – Holly Saint-Melus (North Carolina Central)**
C – Jack Smoot (Norfolk State)**
OL – Kiande Marsh (South Carolina State)
OL – Tyler Leinberger (Norfolk State)
OL – Taron Williams (North Carolina Central)
OL – Victor Goree (North Carolina Central)
Second Team (Defense)
DL – Quoy Rainey (Delaware State)
DL – Miguel Rijo (Norfolk State)
DL – Justin Dutton (Morgan State)
DL – Kristopher Boyd (Morgan State)
LB – Kaleb Broadbent (Norfolk State)
LB – Roderick Kelly (South Carolina State)
LB – Quentin Johnson (Delaware State)
DB – Kwantre Harry (South Carolina State)
DB – Nasir Bashir (Norfolk State)
DB – Jakarri Martin (North Carolina Central)
DB – Stephon Hall (Norfolk State)
P – Shane Messenger (Morgan State)
K – Jake Walker (Norfolk State)
RS – Malique Leatherbury (Morgan State)
**Indicates Tie
👉 View North Carolina Central’s 2026 football schedule
