BIRMINGHAM, Ala — The Southwestern Athletic Conference has announced its Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football team highlighted by Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Felix Harper and Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Keonte Hampton. The preseason team was voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors and was announced during day one of the Cricket Wireless SWAC Football Virtual Media Days.
After helping lead the Braves to an eight-win regular season highlighted by a 6-1 mark in conference play, Alcorn State quarterback Felix Harper was tabbed as the Preseason SWAC Offensive Player of the Year. Harper took the league by storm this past season after taking over as the Braves starter at quarterback. He tallied 29 touchdowns during the regular season to go along with 167 completions, 2,387 passing yards good for a 167.9 efficiency rating.
Jackson State’s Keonte Hampton, a sophomore linebacker from West Point, Miss. was named Preseason SWAC Defensive Player of the Year after racking up 106 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. Hampton concluded the regular season ranked in the top five in the SWAC in total tackles, tackles per game (8.8 tpg), and sacks (4.5).
Alabama A&M led all member institutions with nine total selections followed by Prairie View A&M (8), Alcorn State (7), Univ. of Arkansas-Pine Bluff (6), Southern (6), Alabama State (5), Jackson State (5), Texas Southern (3), and Mississippi Valley State (1).
A complete listing of the Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Team and individual award winners can be found below.
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year- Felix Harper, QB, Alcorn State
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year- Keonte Hampton, LB, Jackson State
Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football First Team Offense
Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football First Team Offense
Position Name Classification School Hometown
QB Felix Harper Redshirt Senior Alcorn State Fairburn, Ga.
RB Devon Benn Redshirt Senior Southern New Orleans, La.
RB Keshawn Harper Senior Jackson State Mobile, Ala.
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 Qwynnterrio Cole Senior Alcorn State Memphis, Tenn.
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, Tx.
Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football First Team Specialist
Position Name Classification School Hometown
K Spencer Corey Senior Alabama A&M New Palestine, Ind.
P Caleb Darbone Junior Prairie View A&M Lake Charles, La.
RS Tyrin Ralph Redshirt Senior Arkansas-Pine Bluff New Orleans, La.
Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football Second Team Offense
Position Name Classification School Hometown
QB Aqeel Glass Senior Alabama A&M St. Louis, Mo.
RB Ezra Gray Redshirt Senior Alabama State Lynnhaven, Fla.
RB Niko Duffey Sophomore Alcorn State Tampa, Fla.
OL Dexter Fuqua, II Junior Alabama A&M Tanner, Ala.
OL J'Atyre Carter Senior Southern White Castle, La.
OL DeJohn Jones Senior Prairie View A&M Garland, Texas
OL Joseph Milburn Senior Alcorn State Mansfield, Texas
OL Will Ready Sophomore Alcorn State Mansfield, Texas
WR Zabrian Moore Senior Alabama A&M Tuscaloosa, Ala.
WR Michael Jefferson Junior Alabama State Mobile, Ala.
TE Kyland Richey Senior Jackson State Cedar Hill, Texas
Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football Second Team Defense
Position Name Classification School Hometown
DL Jordan Lewis Junior Southern Ocala, Fla.
DL Xavier Mitchell Redshirt Junior Arkansas-Pine Bluff New Orleans, La.
DL Chris Monroe Senior Alcorn State Petal, Miss.
DL Michael Badejo Redshirt Senior Texas Southern Mansfield, Texas
LB Caleb Carter Redshirt Senior Southern Shreveport, La.
LB Quantravis Kelly Redshirt Senior Alabama A&M Montgomery, Ala.
LB Storey Jackson Senior Prairie View A&M Olathe, Kansas
DB Tamaurice Smith Redshirt Junior Southern Mobile, Ala.
DB Shawn Steele Senior Arkansas-Pine Bluff Arlington, Texas
DB C.J. Holmes Senior Jackson State New Orleans, La.
DB Juwan Taylor Senior Alcorn State Jackson, Miss.
Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football Second Team Specialist
Position Name Classification School Hometown
K Richard Garcia, III Sophomore Texas Southern Mesquite, Texas
RS Ezra Gray Senior Alabama State Lynn Haven, Fla.
