It has been more than 20 months since Miles last played a football game. But a lot of people feel that the Golden Bears are still the best of the bunch when it comes to play in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Eight Golden Bears  have been named to the 2021 Preseason All-Conference football team, released today by the SIAC and named by votes of the league's media relations professionals and head coached. Linebackers Mitchell Smiley and N'Ktavious Floyd, tight end Montavious Tinch, and defensive lineman Jaylun Thomas were named to the First Team while offensive lineman Tyler Lowery, running back Donte Edwards, defensive lineman Kadarius Roberts, and defensive back Rodney Coleman, Jr. were all picked for the Second Team. Miles had the second-largest representation on the team, trailing only Savannah State.

Additionally, Smiley was named the league's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and the Golden Bears were picked to finish first in the West Division as they make a run at a third straight SIAC championship.

Smiley, from Huntsville, Ala., was a Second Team All-SIAC performer in 2019 and one of Miles' most versatile defenders. He led the team in tackles (83) and tackles for loss (13) and was second in sacks (5). He was one of only two players in the SIAC to finish in the top-10 in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks. Smiley had a tackle for loss in each of Miles' 12 games and had three games with at least 10 tackles, including 14 (10 solo) in the NCAA Division II playoff game at Lenoir-Rhyne.

Thomas, from Sylacauga, Ala., was a First Team All-SIAC pick in 2019. He had 44 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, five quarterback hurries, 5.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He was among the top-10 in the SIAC in tackles for loss and sacks. He also earned a SIAC Defensive Player of the Week award for his performance against Kentucky State, where he had 14 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.

Tinch, from Elberton, Ga.,   and was a Second Team All-SIAC pick in 2019started all 12 games for Miles in 2019. He finished with 14 catches for 128 yards and a touchdown while also serving as a solid blocker for the Golden Bears' rushing attack that is averaged nearly 190 yards per game.

Floyd, from Phenix City, Ala.,  was a Second Team All-SIAC pick in 2019. Floyd finished 60 tackles, which was second on the team, 11 tackles for loss and four sacks. Floyd also had three quarterback hurries, a pass breakup and three interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, which led the conference. His 97-yard Pick Six turned the tide in Miles' win over Tuskegee to clinch the Western Division title and earn him BOXTOROW National Player of the Week honors. He was also named SIAC Player of the Week when he registered 10 tackles (eight solo), three tackles for loss totaling 18 yards, and a sack while coming off the bench in Miles' 24-21 win over Benedict.

Edwards, from Mobile, Ala., ran for 758 yards and led the SIAC in touchdowns (11, all rushing) and scoring (66 points). He had three games where he rushed for more than 100 yards, including 113 yards in his very first contest at Fort Valley State and a 26-carry, 105-yard, 3-touchdown effort in the SIAC Championship Game at Albany State.

Lowery, from Evergreen, Ala., entered the lineup in the fifth game of the season and became the starting center the rest of the way for the Golden Bears as a true freshman. Miles led the league in total points scored and total offense and was second in the SIAC in rushing yards. Miles allowed just 11 sacks over the final seven games where he was the starter after giving up 10 over the first five games of the season.

Roberts, from Bessemer, Ala., became a starter early in his first season and was among the best defensive linemen in the SIAC. His 8.5 tackles for loss were in the top 20 in the league. He added four sacks, a forced fumble and an interception to his ledger. His best game came in Miles' win over Clark Atlanta. He had seven tackles (five solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a blocked kick in the come-from-behind victory.

Coleman, from New Orleans, is the top returning defensive back for Miles. He finished with 30 tackles (22 solo) and seven pass breakups playing cornerback for the Golden Bears in 2019.

The Golden Bears open the 2021 season on Sept. 4 when they play at Alabama State. Tickets for home games at Albert J. Sloan-Alumni Stadium can be purchased here.


2021 SIAC Football Preseason Team
First Team

Position	Name	School
Offensive Lineman	Emmanuel Boone	Fort Valley State
Offensive Lineman	Anthony Geter	Kentucky State
Offensive Lineman	Miquail Harvey	Albany State
Offensive Lineman	Harvey King	Savannah State
Offensive Lineman	Kelvin Dennis	Morehouse
Tight End	Montavious Tinch	Miles
Wide Receiver	Dalane Brown II	Central State
Wide Receiver	Anthony Evelyn	Lane
Running Back	Brett Sylve	Kentucky State
Running Back	Santo Dunn	Morehouse
Quarterback	Mike Sims	Morehouse
Defensive Lineman	Jahseari Patterson	Fort Valley State
Defensive Lineman	Jaylun Thomas	Miles
Defensive Lineman	Cam Brown	Savannah State
Defensive Lineman	Derik Davis	Albany State
Linebacker	Kailen Abrams	Central State
Linebacker	Mitchell Smiley	Miles
Linebacker	N'Ktavious Floyd	Miles
Defensive Back	Zach Anderson	Fort Valley State
Defensive Back	Ny'em Bozeman	Savannah State
Defensive Back	Coemba Jones	Albany State
Defensive Back	D'Armani Ridley	Savannah State
Kicker	Gabriel Ballinas	Albany State
Punter	Fernando Sdelamora	Morehouse
Punt Returner	Einaj Carter	Savannah State
Kick Returner	Anthony Evelyn	Lane

 
Second Team

Position	Name	School
Offensive Lineman	Tyler Lowery	Miles
Offensive Lineman	Connor Vasher	Savannah State
Offensive Lineman	KaTray Pringle	Albany State
Offensive Lineman	Waylin Bell	Fort Valley State
Offensive Lineman	Dylan McCloud	Savannah State
Tight End	Kendell Wimberly	Clark Atlanta
Wide Receiver	Einaj Carter	Savannah State
Wide Receiver	Shemar Bridges	Fort Valley State
Running Back	D'Angelo Durham	Savannah State
Running Back	Donte Edwards	Miles
Quarterback	Tarik McKinzie	Lane
Defensive Lineman	Donta Marshall	Central State
Defensive Lineman	Kadarius Roberts	Miles
Defensive Lineman	Salik McRay	Savannah State
Defensive Lineman	Breante Glover	Clark Atlanta
Linebacker	Walter Yates	Savannah State
Linebacker	Brayce McKinzie	Lane
Linebacker	Jeffrey Johnson	Lane
Defensive Back	Rodney Coleman, Jr.	Miles
Defensive Back	Daniel Norman	Morehouse
Defensive Back	Michael Hicks, Jr.	Fort Valley State
Defensive Back	Dontavis Hunt	Benedict
Kicker	Fernando Sdelamora	Morehouse
Punter	Jared Eubanks	Benedict
Punt Returner	Brett Sylve	Kentucky State

 
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Mitchell Smiley, Miles
 
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
D'Angelo Durham, Savannah State

Football Preseason Rankings by Division

Eastern Division

1.     Savannah State

2.     Albany State

3.     Fort Valley State

4.     Morehouse

5.     Benedict

6.     Clark Atlanta

7.     Edward Waters*

8.     Allen*

Western Division

1.     Miles

2.     Tuskegee

3.     Kentucky State

4.     Central State

5.     Lane

*Allen University and Edward Waters University are first-year provisional members of NCAA Division II and are not eligible for SIAC nor NCAA football postseason competition.