RALEIGH, NC - Shaw University placed seven players on the All-CIAA football teams, which were announced Friday by the CIAA conference office. The teams were voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.

Five players were either first-team or second-team selections. Kick returner Donte Lee Jr. and defensive tackle Saevion Gibbs earned first-team honors an offensive lineman Queonte Hilliard, running back Sidney Gibbs and wide receiver Ah'shaan Belcher made the second team. Lee joined defensive backs Noah Gibson and Raegzon Mackey on the All-CIAA Rookie team.

Lee ranked second in kick return yards per game (25.1) and had the longest kick return (98 yards/TD) in the CIAA this season. He also had 26 catches for 402 yards and three touchdowns, including an 85-yard score which was the second-longest reception in the conference.

Saevion Gibbs ranked third in the CIAA in tackles for loss (15) and his brother Sidney Gibbs became Shaw's all-time leading rusher. Sidney Gibbs ranked fifth in rushing yards per game (64.0) and tied for third in the conference with six touchdowns. The Gibbs brothers are the first siblings in recent memory to earn All-CIAA accolades the same year.

Belcher caught 35 passes for 420 yards and nine touchdowns with his nine scores tying a school record. Hilliard was a key part of the offensive line that helped Sidney Gibbs break the school rushing record.

Mackey was sixth in the CIAA in passes defended per game. He finished the season with six breakups and one interception in addition to 18 tackles. Gibson totaled two breakups, one interception and 20 tackles.

2023 CIAA Football All-Conference & Superlatives
 
Offensive Rookie of the Year : Isiah Teal, Bluefield State 
Defensive Rookie of the Year : KJ McNeil, Virginia State
Offensive Player of the Year : Isaiah Freeman, Lincoln (PA) 
Defensive Player of the Year : Willie Drew, Virginia State
Lineman of the Year : Justin Meade, Virginia Union
Special Teams' Player of the Year : Brady Myers, Virginia Union 
Coach of the Year : Dr. Alvin Parker, Virginia Union
 
First-Team All-CIAA
Tight End 
Kalen Carver, Virginia Union
 
Offensive Linemen 
Justin Meade, Virginia Union
Kaleb Chester, Bowie State
Michael Todd, Fayetteville State
Jamaree Moyer, Virginia Union
Darius McDuffie, Winston-Salem State
 
Wide Receivers 
Malachi Langley, Lincoln (Pa.)
R.J. Mobley, Winston-Salem State
 
Quarterback
Isaiah Freeman, Lincoln (Pa.)
 
Running Backs 
Jada Byers, Virginia Union 
Zechariah Adams-Duckson, Elizabeth City State
 
Kick Returner 
Donte Lee Jr., Shaw
 
Place Kicker 
Brady Myers, Virginia Union 
 
Defensive Linemen 
Adam Aiken, St. Augustine's
Anthony Binyard, Fayetteville State
Isaac Anderson, Virginia Union
Saevion Gibbs, Shaw
 
Linebackers
Benari Black, Johnson C. Smith
Shamar Graham, Virginia Union
Jaden Echols, Livingstone
Defensive Backs 
Willie Drew, Virginia State
Kolby Merritt, Fayetteville State
Justin Fleming, Winston-Salem State
Devin Williams, Bowie State
 
Punt Returner 
Roy Jackson III, Virginia State
 
Punter 
Josiah Boyd, Fayetteville State
 
Second-Team All-CIAA 
Tight End 
Qamar Grant, Winston-Salem State 
 
Offensive Linemen 
Bruno Onwuazor, Virginia State
Matthew Foster, Virginia State
Tyler Fleming, Fayetteville State
Mathias Nielsen, Virginia Union
Queonte Hilliard, Shaw
 
Wide Receivers 
Deandre Proctor, St. Augustine's 
Ah'shaan Belcher, Shaw
 
Quarterback
Daylin Lee, Winston-Salem State
 
Running Backs 
Kymani Clarke, Virginia State
Sidney Gibbs, Shaw
 
Kick Returner 
Barry Elliott, Fayetteville State
 
Place Kicker 
Justin Zavala, Bowie State
 
Defensive Linemen 
Shawan Lewis, Bowie State
Miqueal Pillow-Smiley, Virginia State
Kyle Camar, Winston-Salem State
Jaylyn Norris, Bluefield State
 
Linebackers
Jack Smith, Johnson C. Smith 
Jameison Alston, St. Augustine's
TJ Gunter, Bluefield State
 
Defensive Backs 
Hasaan Mosley, Bowie State
Justin Campbell, Bluefield State
Booker Peake, St. Augustine's
Jadon Carter, Bowie State
 
Punt Returner 
Dick Cureton, Johnson C. Smith
Punter 
Justin Zavala, Bowie State
 
Offensive All-CIAA Rookie Team 
Isiah Teal, Bluefield State
Donte Lee Jr., Shaw
Daylin Lee, Winston-Salem State
Julian Milligan, Fayetteville State
Bryce Council, Fayetteville State
Jordan Morse, Bowie State
Tyleek McCoy, Virginia State
Mathias Neilsen, Virginia Union
Josiah Boyd, Fayetteville State
Daniel Hutton, Bluefield State
Elijah Gordon, Winston-Salem State
 
Defensive All-CIAA Rookie Team 
KJ McNeil, Virginia State
Tynan Tucker, Johnson C. Smith
Jalen Mayo, Virginia Union
Osmani Aguilera, Livingstone
Cameron Davis, Virginia State
Davion Watkins, Livingstone
Noah Gibson, Shaw
Malcolm Sesay, Bowie State
Kamari Federick, Virginia Union
Sha'M Mitchell, St. Augustine's
Raegzon Mackey, Shaw