July 22, 2004 – Four Morehouse football players were named to the SIAC Pre-Season All-Conference team announced today by conference officials.
Offensive lineman Claiborne Green, wide receiver Raymond Johnson and running back John David Washington were named to the first team. Defensive lineman Adrian Johnson was named to the second team. The All-Conference honors are the first for Green, Johnson and Johnson. Washington was named to pre-season team last year and to the post-season All-SIAC teams in 2003 and 2004.
Green, a 6’- 4” 330-pound junior from Watkinsville, GA, missed nine games in 2003 because of a shoulder injury. He is fully recovered and is expected to make a big impact on an offensive line that was decimated by injuries last season.
Adrian Johnson, a 5’-10” 220-pound senior from Savannah, GA, has moved from linebacker to the defensive line and will add speed and experience to a defensive front that finished at the bottom of the conference in yardage surrendered last season.
Raymond Johnson, a 6’-1” 200-pound junior from Lithia Springs, GA, was the Maroon Tigers’ leading receiver, with 43 catches for 654 yards. Last season, Johnson was second in the conference in total receptions, receptions per game and yardage per game.
Washington, a 5’-10” 200 junior from Toluca Lakes, CA, was the team’s leading rusher in 2003, scoring a school record 13 touchdowns. His 1,124 rushing yards broke the College’s single-season record of 1,119 set by Eddie Burt in 1988 and his 242 rushing yards against Johnson C. Smith University on September 27 broke the Morehouse single-game record, set by Greg Kelly in 1978. Averaging 102.5 yards per game, Washington was the conference’s second leading rusher.
In a vote by SIAC coaches and sports information directors, Morehouse was picked to finish sixth in the conference. Last year, the Maroon Tigers finished in seventh place with a record of 4-7 (3-5 SIAC).
Albany State, the 2003 SIAC champion and winner of the Pioneer Bowl, led the voting with 15 players named to the pre-season team. The Golden Rams were also predicted to repeat as champions.
For a complete listing of the All-Conference teams and predicted order of finish, visit the web site www.thesiac.com.
