Elizabeth City State (7-4, 5-2)

The Vikings may have the most talent of any team in the CIAA.  QB Creven Powell had a solid 2009.  While his completion percentage wasn't great (47.5), he threw for nearly 2,000 yards with 10 TDs.  He has one of the best receivers in the country in Dexter Manley to throw the ball to.  Manley was injured last year, but still managed 29 catches for 614 yards and 6 TDs (21.2 yards per reception).  Also returning to the Vikings is WR Billy Wiggins he is also a deep threat.  The Vikings balance their passing attack with a run game led by Daronte McNeill (133-576-9). Boxtorow.com/BASN All-American DL Malcolm Jenkins anchors a defense that was not a typical ECSU defense, giving up 313.7 yards per game which was towards the bottom of the league.

Finish: 1st in east

Bowie State (6-5, 5-2)

The Bulldogs had an opportunity to win the Eastern Division outright last season, but a three-way tie and a coin flip decided the right for the Bulldogs to represent the East.  RB Rodney Webb is the workhorse and led the conference in rushing attempts (209) and yards (917) and was second in TDs (10) last year.  Defensively, the Bulldogs were the best in the CIAA and amongst the tops in the nation in defense giving up just 217.7 yards of total offense per game.  Preseason All-CIAA selection Safety Terrence Peete (3 int., 4 fumble recoveries) will lead the unit.

Finish: 2nd in east

Virginia State (6-4, 4-3)

The Trojans had one of their better years in recent memories, getting victories over Elizabeth City State and Bowie State in 2009.  A victory over Saint Paul's would have made the Trojans part of the three-way tie.  Heading into his ninth season, Coach Andrew Faison has amassed a 35-35 record and looks to be atop the Eastern Division in 2010.  QB Jarred Battle started the final two games and led the Trojans to victory including the victory over Bowie State.  He is expected to step forward this season.  RB Antwain Lyde also returns and was the third leading rusher in the conference (666 yards).  Left tackle Markus Copeland anchors the offensive line and was first team All-CIAAA in 2009.  VSU led the CIAA in defensive points scored and returns six starters.  In their 3-4 scheme NG Rashad Vestrey (34 tackles) anchors the line.  LB LaQuentin Milo (50 tackles) is the returning leading tackler.

Finish: 4th in east

Virginia Union (6-4, 5-2)

Prior to the beginning of the 2009 season, now second year head coach Michael Bailey stated that the road to the CIAA Championship would go through Richmond.  Well, he was almost right as the Panthers finished 6-4 after a 1-2 start. RB Tarian Donaldson returns after breaking his leg the second game of the season.   Donaldson was amongst the leading rushers in the CIAA in 2008.  All-American David Mimms (6-8, 335, Sr.) returns and anchors.  Defensively the Panthers lost seven starters from a defense that gave up 286 yards per game.  LB Hurley Hemphill is lost, but SS Andre LeBlanc (68 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, 1 INT) returns for his senior season.

Finish: 3rd in east

St. Paul's (4-5, 3-4)
Finish: 5th in east

Lincoln (PA) (6-4, 5-2)

The Lions enter their first full year of membership in the CIAA since they left the conference in 1960.  Coach O.J. Obanishe went from one win in 2008 to three wins last season.  In the backfield he returns RB D'Ante Smith who led the Lions in rushing with 446 yards, averaging 4.4 yards per carry.  Also look for WR Matthew Coston (29-380-4) to play a major role on offense if the Lions can get him the ball.  Defensively, the Lions should be much improved as some players have a couple of years under their belts.  Linebacker is the strength of the defense as Brandon McElwee led the team with 90 tackles (47 solo) last year while Brucelee Sterile recorded 88 tackles, 11 tackles for loss.  Also look for Timothy Green (40 tackles, 9 tackles for loss) and Gerald Foster (56 tackles) to make plays.  DBs Jairon Bailey (48 tackles, 9 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles) and Antwain Byrd (33 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 4 passes defended) will lead the secondary.

Finish: 6th in east

Shaw (8-2, 5-2)

The Bears were points short of going for its third-straight CIAA Championship last year losing 29-28 at Fayetteville State.  The Bears will have a strong running game again this year, led by All-CIAA RB Raymond Williams, arguably the best back in the conference.  The Bears will have a stable quarterback in Kevin Atkins who had a solid 2008 campaign for Alabama A&M but was benched in 2009 in favor of freshman QB Deaunte Mason.  The Bears led the conference in scoring averaging 42.1 points per game.  The Bears will have a solid defense, led by preseason All-CIAA selections DL Demarcus Roberson and LB Fred Sparkman.

Finish: 1st in west

Fayetteville State (8-4, 6-1)

The strength of the Broncos will be in the trenches as Dillon Kestner and Larry McDonald were named preseason All-CIAA.  RB Richard Medlin 667 yards 10 TDs will look to have a breakout season.  While offensive coordinator Connell Maynor has moved on to become head coach at Winston-Salem State, 45-year football coaching veteran Dick Portee will take over as offensive coordinator.  The Broncos lose quite a bit on defense but LB Darius Powell (36 tackles, 10 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss) returns for his senior season.

Finish: 2nd in west

St. Augustine's (4-6, 4-3)

Perennially the Falcons defense has always been stout but 2009 was an exception.  Saint Aug's gave up almost 300 yards of total offense per game.  Conversely, the offense hadn't shown much sign of life, but last year averaged over 200 yards of total offense per game.  Michael Costa has been head of the program since it reinstated football in 2002 and this year he is looking for a balance and may get it.  Offensively, the Falcons may have the best running back tandem in the conference in Walter Sanders and Arnold Mullins (1,016 yards, 8 TDs total).   The Falcons also look like the finally have some stability at quarterback as Joaquin Green returns for his sophomore season after being named CIAA Rookie of the Year completing 48.5 percent of his passes for 1,318 yards with 12 TDs and 10 INTs.  Defensively, the Falcons should be better as LBs Steven Stanback (72 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, preseason All-CIAA) and Mark Hall (78 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss) lead the unit.

Finish: 3rd in west

Chowan (2-8, 2-5)

The Hawks will be hard pressed to replace all world and CIAA Offensive Player of the Year quarterback C.J. Westler.  The Hawks do return six starters on offense led by All-CIAA performer Robert Holland who recorded 86 catches for 1,087 yards and 7 TDs.  WR Kevin Hodrick (49-612-10).  The question still remains as to who will get them the ball.  There are four quarterbacks in camp.  Defensively, the Hawks return seven starters, led by DE Brad Cash, who led the team in sacks (5.0) and tackles for loss (11.5).

Finish: 5th in west

Livingstone (0-10, 0-7)
Finish: 6th in west

Johnson C. Smith (3-7, 2-5)

QB Ryan Carter showed some flashes of being a solid quarterback last year.  He completed 53 percent of his passes for 1,024 yards with 8 TDs and 5 INTs.  Part of that is because All-CIAA selection Jeremy Franklin who has been the best wide receiver in the CIAA the last three years.  Franklin had 48 receptions for 610 yards and 5 TDs.  Carter and Franklin spent last season getting acquainted with each other so expect a more productive 2010 from the two of them.  The Golden Bulls must improve their running game which only averaged 138.3 yards rushing per game last year, which was near the bottom of the conference.  Where JCSU must improve is defensively where the Golden Bulls gave up an astounding 428.8 yards of total offense per game.

Finish: 5th in west

Winston-Salem State (3-7, 2-5)

The Rams reenter into the CIAA after a four year of playing on the FCS level.  There is a new era in Ram country as Connell Maynor was named head coach in December.  Maynor is no stranger to the CIAA having been an assistant coach at Fayetteville State for the last 10 years, in which the Broncos won three championships.  The Rams return just xix starters on offense from a year ago and their wide receivers may be their most experienced position.  Dominique Fitzgerald (15-177-4) and Omar Kizzie (29-298-3) are the two leading returning receivers.  Fitzgerald has the ability to be electric after the catch and also serves as the team's punt returner.  The Rams will need to rely on RB Cedric Hickman a former NC State transfer.  At 6-1, 220, he has tremendous size and is a bruising-type back.  The Rams will have to rebuild defensively as only three starters return.

Finish: 5th in west