BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — The Southwestern Athletic Conference has released its revised Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football team with Alabama A&M’s Aqeel Glass being named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. The preseason team and preseason poll was updated to include only student-athletes and teams scheduled to participate during the spring season.
The preseason team and predicted order of finish was voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors. Student-athletes were selected to the team based upon total number of votes received.
Alabama A&M’s Glass (St. Louis, Mo.) was an All-SWAC second team choice a year ago, playing in all 12 games for the Bulldogs under center while anchoring the top passing attack in the SWAC. He threw for 3,600 yards to lead the league and his 32 touchdowns was second for the conference lead in that category. Glass also now enters the season as an All-SWAC Preseason first team honoree at quarterback.
A total of nine student-athletes were elevated on the team including Alabama State’s Ezra Gray who moved up to the Preseason All-SWAC first team at running back. Southern’s Ladarius Skelton (QB/2nd team), Texas Southern’s Dominic Franklin (RB/2nd team), Alabama A&M’s Gary Quarles (RB/2nd team), Grambling State’s Kyree Wade-McLeod (OL/2nd team), and Alabama A&M’s Jonathan Williams (OL/2nd team) were all tabbed Preseason All-SWAC second team selections.
Defensively, Alabama State’s Andrew Ogletree (DL/2nd team) and Grambling State’s Kenan Fontenot (DB/2nd team) were elevated to the Preseason All-SWAC second team defense.
Each team in the league was represented on the preseason team with Alabama A&M tallying the most preseason selections with 11 total picks. Prairie View A&M amassed the second most selections (8), followed by Alabama State (7), Southern (7), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (6), Jackson State (4), Texas Southern (3), Grambling State (2), and Mississippi Valley State (1).
In the revised predicted order of finish, Alabama A&M was picked to finish first in the East division followed by Jackson State, Alabama State, and Mississippi Valley State. AAMU claimed 13 first place votes while also tallying a league leading 83 total points.
In the SWAC West division Southern was picked to finish first as they will seek their third consecutive divisional title. Grambling State was tabbed to finish second followed by Prairie View A&M, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and Texas Southern. Southern garnered eight place votes while amassing 77 total points.
Spring football conference games are scheduled to start on Friday, Feb 26 as Southern travels to face Alabama State in a game that will be carried live on ESPN3. The season will culminate with the Cricket Wireless SWAC Championship Game. The title game is scheduled to be played on Saturday, May 1 live on ESPNU.
Predicted Order of Finish
SWAC East
- Alabama A&M 83 (13)
- Jackson State 63 (3)
- Alabama State 61 (2)
- Mississippi Valley State 40
SWAC West
- Southern 77 (8)
- Grambling State 70 (4)
- Prairie View A&M 65 (4)
- Arkansas-Pine Bluff 34 (1)
- Texas Southern 28 (1)
*First place votes listed in (parentheses)
Alcorn State has elected to opt-out of competing during the spring season
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year- Aqeel Glass, Alabama A&M
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year- Keonte Hampton, LB, Jackson State
Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football First Team Offense
position Name Classification School Hometown
DL Jason Dumas Junior Prairie View A&M Vacherie, La.
DL Jerry Garner Senior Mississippi Valley State Chunchula, Ala.
DL Christian Clark Redshirt Senior Alabama State Euclid, Ohio
DL Marcus Cushine Junior Alabama A&M Broward Ct., Fla.
LB Armoni Holloway Senior Alabama A&M Pinson, Ala.
LB Keonte Hampton Junior Jackson State West Point, Miss.
LB Tre'Shaud Smith Senior Prairie View A&M Centreville, Miss.
DB Naytron Culpepper Junior Alabama State Miami, Fla.
DB Drake Cheatum Junior Prairie View A&M Mesquite, Texas
DB Jaylen Harris Redshirt Senior Prairie View A&M Round Rock, Texas
DB Tamaurice Smith Redshirt Junior Southern Mobile, Ala
Position Name Classification School Hometown
QB Aqeel Glass Senior Alabama A&M St. Louis, Mo.
RB Devon Benn Redshirt Senior Southern New Orleans, La.
RB Ezra Gray Redshirt Senior Alabama State Lynnhaven, Fla.
OL Mark Evans, II Junior Arkansas-Pine Bluff Houston, Texas
OL Danny Garza Senior Prairie View A&M San Antonio, Texas
OL Atondre Smith Senior Arkansas-Pine Bluff Desoto, Texas
OL Cedric Dunbar Junior Jackson State Natchez, Miss.
OL Johnathan Bishop Senior Southern Birmingham, Ala.
WR Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim Sophomore Alabama A&M Miramar, Fla.
WR Harry Ballard, III Senior Arkansas-Pine Bluff St. Louis, Mo.
TE Kendric Johnson Redshirt Junior Alabama A&M New Market, Ala.
Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football First Team Defense
Position Name Classification School Hometown
DL Jason Dumas Junior Prairie View A&M Vacherie, La.
DL Jerry Garner Senior Mississippi Valley State Chunchula, Ala.
DL Christian Clark Redshirt Senior Alabama State Euclid, Ohio
DL Marcus Cushine Junior Alabama A&M Broward Ct., Fla.
LB Armoni Holloway Senior Alabama A&M Pinson, Ala.
LB Keonte Hampton Junior Jackson State West Point, Miss.
LB Tre'Shaud Smith Senior Prairie View A&M Centreville, Miss.
DB Naytron Culpepper Junior Alabama State Miami, Fla.
DB Drake Cheatum Junior Prairie View A&M Mesquite, Texas
DB Jaylen Harris Redshirt Senior Prairie View A&M Round Rock, Texas
DB Tamaurice Smith Redshirt Junior Southern Mobile, Ala
