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2022 SWAC Football Media Day

The Southwestern Athletic Conference hosted its annual football media day session, Thursday in Birmingham. Mo Carter spoke to several coaches about the upcoming year

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2022 Preseason All-SWAC Football selections and Predicted Order of Finish on Thursday during SWAC Football Media Day at the Sheraton Hotel in Downtown Birmingham. The Preseason All-SWAC teams, Individual Winners, and Predicted Order of Finish was voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.  

Jackson State’s Shedeur Sanders was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year while Florida A&M’s Isaiah Land was tabbed Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. 

Jackson State’s Sanders had a stellar debut season for the Tigers as he was named the Stats Perform FCS Jerry Rice Award recipient. At the conclusion of regular season play, he led the SWAC with a 68.7 completion percentage while passing for 2971 yards (2nd in SWAC), 28 touchdowns (2nd in SWAC), and only five interceptions. Sanders averaged 270.1 passing yards (2nd in SWAC) per game while leading the Tigers to an undefeated 8-0 record in league play and their first SWAC Championship appearance since 2013. 

Florida A&M’s Land was one of the top players in the nation this past season as he was named the Stats Perform FCS Buck Buchanan Award recipient. At the conclusion of regular season play, he led the nation with 25.5 tackles for loss and 19 sacks. Land also added three forced fumbles, two pass breakups, and one fumble recovery. Land was named SWAC Defensive Player of the Week after setting a Rattlers' record of five sacks versus South Carolina State. He recorded a sack or tackles for loss in ten of the 11 games this season and recorded two or more sacks in five games and did the same for tackles for loss in six games.

The league’s 2022 Predicted Order of Finish was also announced as Jackson State (116) was selected to finish in first place in the SWAC Eastern Division. Florida A&M (108), Alabama A&M (87), Alabama State (60), Bethune-Cookman (56), and Mississippi Valley State (35) round out the East Division Preseason Poll rankings. 

Southern (111) was tabbed to finish in first place in the SWAC Western Division. Alcorn State (110), Prairie View A&M (82), Grambling State (77), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (42), and Texas Southern (40) round out the West Division Preseason Poll rankings.

 

A complete listing of the Preseason All-SWAC teams, Individual Winners, and Predicted Order of Finish is listed below.

 

Predicted Order of Finish

SWAC East

  1. Jackson State- 116 points (12) 
  2. Florida A&M- 108 points (7)
  3. Alabama A&M- 87 points (2) 
  4. Alabama State- 60 points (1) 
  5. Bethune-Cookman- 56 points
  6. Mississippi Valley State- 35 points

 

SWAC West 

  1. Southern- 111 points (11) 
  2. Alcorn State- 110 points (5) 
  3. Prairie View A&M- 82 points (5) 
  4. Grambling State- 77 points (1)
  5. Arkansas-Pine Bluff- 42 points
  6. Texas Southern- 40 points 

 

*First place votes listed in parenthesis ( )

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year

Shedeur Sanders, Jackson State 

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year

Isaiah Land, Florida A&M

Preseason All-SWAC First Team Offense

Quarterback: Shedeur Sanders, Jackson State 

Running Back: Gary Quarles, Alabama A&M

Running Back: Caleb Johnson, Mississippi Valley State

Offensive Lineman: Dallas Black, Southern

Offensive Lineman: Mark Evans II, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Offensive Lineman: Drake Centers, Texas Southern

Offensive Lineman: Tony Gray, Jackson State 

Offensive Lineman: Robert Alston, Alabama State

Wide Receiver: Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, Alabama A&M

Wide Receiver: Xavier Smith, Florida A&M

Tight End: Kemari Averett, Bethune-Cookman

 

Preseason All-SWAC First Team Defense

Defensive Lineman: Sundiata Anderson, Grambling State

Defensive Lineman: Ronnie Thomas, Mississippi Valley State

Defensive Lineman: Jason Dumas, Southern 

Defensive Lineman: Jordan Lewis, Southern

Linebacker: Isaiah Land, Florida A&M

Linebacker: Aubrey Miller, Jackson State 

Linebacker: Monroe Beard III, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 

Defensive Back: Omari Hill-Robinson, Bethune-Cookman

Defensive Back: Irshaad Davis, Alabama State

Defensive Back: Shilo Sanders, Jackson State 

Defensive Back: BJ Bohler, Florida A&M 

 

Preseason All-SWAC First Team Specialist

Place Kicker: Jose Romo-Martinez, Florida A&M

Punter: Josh Sanchez, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Long Snapper: Thomas Reny, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Return Specialist: Isaiah Bolden, Jackson State

 

Preseason All-SWAC Second Team Offense

Quarterback: Andrew Body, Texas Southern  

Running Back: Niko Duffey, Alcorn State  

Running Back: Jaden Stewart, Prairie View A&M  

Offensive Lineman: Jeremiah Stafford, Southern 

Offensive Lineman: Brian Williams, Southern  

Offensive Lineman: Cameron Covin, Florida A&M

Offensive Lineman: Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M

Offensive Lineman: Arrington Taylor, Prairie View A&M 

Wide Receiver: C.J. Bolar, Alcorn State

Wide Receiver: Malachi Wideman, Jackson State 

Tight End: Jyrin Johnson, Texas Southern

Preseason All-SWAC Second Team Defense

Defensive Lineman: Jalen Bell, Mississippi Valley State 

Defensive Lineman: Troy James, Prairie View A&M

Defensive Lineman: Devonta Davis, Jackson State 

Defensive Lineman: Athen Smith, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 

Linebacker: Tarik Cooper, Texas Southern  

Linebacker: Claudin Cherelus, Alcorn State 

Linebacker: Blake Thomas, Grambling State 

Defensive Back: Cam’Ron Silman-Craig, Jackson State 

Defensive Back: Quincy Mitchell, Grambling State 

Defensive Back: Caleb Brunson, Mississippi Valley State 

Defensive Back: Javan Morgan, Florida A&M

 

Preseason All-SWAC Second Team Specialist

Place Kicker: Garrett Urban, Grambling State

Punter: Garrett Urban, Grambling State

Long Snapper: Desmond Calloway, Prairie View A&M

Return Specialist: Darnell Deas, Bethune-Cookman 

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