Hampton and North Carolina A&T Land Four on CAA Preseason All-Conference Team Despite Low Projections

The Coastal Athletic Association released its 2026 preseason all-conference team this week, and while the projections for Hampton and North Carolina A&T aren’t great, the individual talent on those rosters got some deserved shine.

Hampton led the way among HBCU programs with three selections, and North Carolina A&T added one more. That’s four players total from schools that are expected to finish near the bottom of the standings. The Pirates placed someone on all three units — offense, defense and special teams.

Hampton’s Offensive Anchor

Omari Allen, the offensive lineman, landed on the first-team offensive unit. Allen started all 12 games at right guard in 2025 and was essentially the steady hand on a line that needed one. He didn’t miss a snap and graded out as one of the more dependable blockers in the conference. Coaches around the league noticed.

Defensive Production and a Punter With a Leg

Linebacker Korede Sogbesan made the defensive team after another productive year. He finished with 61 total tackles, 33 of them solo, along with 8.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. But the numbers that jump out: three quarterback hurries, three pass breakups and a fumble recovery. The guy was everywhere.

On special teams, punter Brett Starling got the nod. He averaged 42.3 yards per punt in 2025, with 12 punts of 50-plus yards and 10 pinned inside the 20-yard line. He also forced 12 fair catches. Not flashy, but the field position game matters in a league like the CAA.

North Carolina A&T’s Explosive Returner

Elijah Kennedy was the Aggies’ lone representative, and he earned it as a return specialist. In 2025, Kennedy racked up 979 combined return yards and averaged 16.1 yards per punt return. He also took two punts back for touchdowns. Numbers like that got attention even as the team struggled through coach Shawn Gibbs’ first season.

The Aggies are hoping to bounce back in 2026, and Kennedy is a big reason to think they might. He’s expected to remain one of the top return threats in the FCS. If North Carolina A&T can clean up the overall game, he’ll have more opportunities to flip the field.

The full preseason all-conference roster breaks down across offense, defense and special teams. But for HBCU fans, these four names are the ones to watch when the season kicks off.