Gem City Sports Network

FORT VALLEY, Georgia – Central State University linebacker Kailen Abrams was named to the All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Second Team. The releasing of the 2017 All-SIAC team was made at the league’s football championship press conference in Fort Valley, Georgia over the weekend.

“Earning All-SIAC recognition as a freshman feels great,” Abrams says. “This award serves as more motivation for me to work harder during the off-season so that I can obtain more prestigious accolades next season. Leading up to next season, my focus is to improve on my lateral quickness and continue to get stronger.”

Coming to Central State after a tremendous high school career at Loyola High School in Detroit, Michigan, Abrams quickly solidified himself at the linebacker position, starting in all 10 games as a freshman. In his first collegiate game against Elizabeth City State, Abrams led CSU with 11 tackles. The 6-2, 235 pound linebacker maintained a high-level of consistency throughout the year, capping off the season with a season-high 21 tackles against Lane College.

“Kailen has been an outstanding student of the game. We expected big things from Kailen and he did not disappoint,” CSU head coach Cedric Pearl says. “As a freshman, he emerged as a leader on the field and in the classroom. We really look forward to having Kailen on our team for the next three years. He possesses the size, physicality and athleticism to eventually become an All-American.”

Abrams finished the season ranked fourth in the SIAC with 86 total tackles and sixth in the conference with 8.6 tackles per game.

“Being a young player, my focus was to simply be the best player I could and make plays for my team. Coach Pearl recruited me to play at Central State and it is my job to deliver for this team every week,” Abrams says. “I credit my coaches and the upperclassman who helped me gain a mental edge on the field and find confidence to perform on the collegiate level. I’m excited for what the future holds for me and the Marauder football program.”

Abrams is the second freshman from Central State to ever be named to the All-SIAC Team. Offensive lineman Darius Thomas earned the honor as a freshman last season.