An  Albany State University Golden Ram has been named to a national preseason football team.

ASU wide receiver Octavius Staton is one of 25 top HBCU football players in the country to be named to the national Boxtorow Preseason HBCU Football All-American team, which was released today. ASU’s second-leading receiver last season, Staton caught 32 passes for 518 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 16.2 yards per reception during his 2010 campaign. He was also named to the All-SIAC Preseason First Team Offense.

“I am extremely proud of Staton. He worked hard in the offseason and will work just as hard this season,” said Golden Rams head coach Mike White. “He is well deserving of this honor and we look forward to him having an All-America-type season.”

Joining Staton on the preseason team from the SIAC were Fort Valley State University tight end Tony Davis and Stillman College punter Ronnie Partridge. Named a Boxtorow All-American last year, Davis recorded 50 receptions for 611 yards and two touchdowns. Partridge, also a Boxtorow All-American last season, led the nation in punting average (45.5) and recorded 17 punts of 50 yards or more.

This is the fifth year of the Boxtorow Preseason HBCU Football All-American team.  The voters are comprised of some of America’s top writers and media members who cover HBCU football.

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2011 Boxtorow Preseason HBCU All-American Team

Offense

QB: Casey Therriault, Jackson State, 6-3, 205, Sr., Wyoming Park, Mich.
RB: Mike Mayhew, North Carolina A&T 5-10, 205, Sr., Charlotte, N.C.
RB: Marcus Wright, Texas Southern, 5-10, 210, Sr., Dayton, Ohio
OL: Sanford Banks , Grambling State, 6-4, 319, r-soph., Columbus, Ga.
OL: Natiel Curry, Bethune-Cookman, 6-2, 280, Sr., Miami, Fla.
OL: James Dekle, Prairie View A&M, 6-2, 275, Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
OL: Juavahr Nathan, South Carolina St., 6-2, 260, r-Sr., Ladson, S.C.
OL: Kendall Noble, Norfolk State, 6-4, 290, r-Sr., Rocky Mount, N.C.
TE: Tony Davis, Fort Valley State , 6-4, 220, Sr., Fort Valley, Ga.
WR: Octavius Staton, Albany State, 6-2, 195, Sr., Greenville, N.C. 
WR: Marcellos Wilder, Jackson State, 6-3, 195, Sr., Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Defense
DL: Ryan Davis, Bethune-Cookman, 6-4, 240, Sr., Tampa. Fla.
DL: Charles Deas, Shaw, 6-6, 305, Sr., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
DL: Marquis Jackson, Texas Southern, 6-5, 275, Jr., Inglewood, Calif.
DL: Pat Washington, South Carolina St., 6-2, 240, Sr., Hollywood, S.C.
LB: Cliff Exama, Grambling State, 6-0, 230, Sr., North Miami Beach, Fla.
LB: Ryan Lewis, Bethune-Cookman, 6-1, 220, Sr., Pompano Beach, Fla.
LB: Keith Pough, Howard, 6-3, 225, r-Jr., Orangeburg, S.C.
DB: Dominique Ellis, South Carolina St., 5-11, 195, r-Sr., Wendell, S.C.
DB: Moses Ellis, Prairie View A&M, 5-9, 175, r-Sr., Fort Worth, Texas
DB: Kejuan Riley, Alabama State, 6-0, 182, Jr., Wetumpka, Ala.
DB: Michael Williams, Bethune-Cookman, 6-3, 190, r-Sr., Miami, Fla.

Specialists

PK: Blake Erickson, S.C. State, 5-10, 165, Sr., Pensacola, Fla.
P: Ronnie Partridge, Stillman, 5-10, 183, Sr., Red Springs, S.C.
RS: Justin Ferrell, North Carolina A&T 5-9, 185, Sr., Danville, Va.