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| (photo from SWAC.org) |
Alcorn State quarterback John Gibbs Jr. and Alabama State linebacker Koutney Berry were named the SWAC's top players after both were named to both slots last season.
Last season, Gibbs led the league's top offense and threw for nearly 2,500 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also did it on the ground, rushing for 1,006 yards and another 12 TDs
Berry continued his stellar ASU career last season by the leading the SWAC with 128 tackles as a sophomore, along with recovering three fumbles.
Alcorn State, which was also picked by league coaches to win the SWAC East this season, had nine players picked on the All-SWAC' Preseason first or second team.
Don't put too much stock in those predictions, said Alcorn State head coach Jay Hopson.
"This league, I say it every year, there's a lot of parity," Hopson said Friday, according to The News Star. "People know me know I speak what I feel. Two years ago, we were ranked last. I think the preseason rankings, they dont really mean anything. You take it with a grain of salt. It's a competitive league."
Last year's surprise squad, Grambling, won't sneak up on SWAC foes this season as the Tigers were predicted by coaches to finish first in the SWAC West.
Grambling Quarterback Jonathan Williams, who came on mid-season last year to lead the SWAC with 272 yards passing a game, was named All Conference second team quarterback. He was joined by Grambling defenders Javonte Williams, Jamison Goins and Henry Taylor as All-SWAC preseason second team picks.
"We're pleased with our program. We're please with how far we've come. We're pleased with the mindset of our student athletes," Grambling head coach Broaderick Fobbs said Friday, according to The News Star. "We still live by the motto of the "WIN' philosophy -- what's important now. For us, it's about taking the first step.
"[His players} understand what's at stake," he said. "Any time you lace up and play against these teams in this league, you gotta be prepared, you gotta be ready to perform. There's a lot of great minds, and there's a lot of great players. For us, I wouldn't have it any other way. For us, it's just seeing about who's the best."
Here is the complete list of All-SWAC first and second team picks, along with the league's predicted order of finish:
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: John Gibbs Jr. (QB) – Alcorn State
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Kourtney Berry (LB) - Alabama State
2015 Preseason All SWAC Football Team
First Team All SWAC Offense
First Team All SWAC Offense
| QB – John Gibbs Jr | Alcorn State |
| RB – Lenard Tillery | Southern |
| RB – Johnta’ Hebert | Prairie View |
| OL – Marcus Cook | Jackson State |
| OL - Damian Love | Alabama State |
| OL – Glen Haisley | Prairie View |
| OL - Anthony Mosley | Southern |
| OL – Jylan Ware | Alabama State |
| WR – Daniel Williams | Jackson State |
| WR – Willie Quinn | Southern |
| TE – Jordan Payne | Alcorn State |
First Team All SWAC Defense
| DL - Anthony Lanier | Alabama A&M |
| DL – Darien Moody | Alcorn State |
| DL – Demarcus Berry | Arkansas Pine Bluff |
| DL – Devohn Reed | Prairie View |
| LB – Damon Watkins | Alcorn State |
| LB – Willie Duncan | Arkansas Pine Bluff |
| LB – Kourtney Berry | Alabama State |
| DB – Danny Johnson | Southern |
| DB – Damond Jackson | Prairie View |
| DB - Warren Gatewood | Alcorn State |
| DB- Kevin Rucker | Arkansas Pine Bluff |
SPECIAL TEAMS – FIRST TEAM
Kicker Ryan Deising –Jackson State
Punter Corey Carter – Texas Southern
Return Specialist Johnta’ Hebert -Prairie View
Kicker Ryan Deising –Jackson State
Punter Corey Carter – Texas Southern
Return Specialist Johnta’ Hebert -Prairie View
Second Team All SWAC Offense
| QB – Johnathan Williams | Grambling State |
| QB – La Montiez Ivy | Jackson State |
| RB – Brian Handley | Arkansas Pine Bluff |
| RB – Arron Baker | Alcorn State |
| OL – Sean Brown | Mississippi Valley State |
| OL- Terrell Lee | Southern |
| OL – Jordan Johnson | Prairie View |
| OL – Glenn Jackson | Texas Southern |
| OL - Courtney Brown | Alabama A&M |
| WR – DeMario Bell | Alabama State |
| WR – Willie Young | Arkansas Pine Bluff |
| TE – Natron Brooks | Mississippi Valley State |
Second Team All SWAC Defense
| DL – Javonte Williams | Grambling State |
| DL – Jamison Goins | Grambling State |
| DL – Amir Bloom | Texas Southern |
| DL – Gabe Echols | Southern |
| LB – Daerius Washington | Alabama State |
| LB – Henry Taylor | Grambling State |
| LB – Javancy Jones | Jackson State |
| DB – Anthony Williams Jr. | Alcorn State |
| DB – Robert Porter | Jackson State |
| DB – Dionte McDuffy | Southern |
| DB – Charles Moore | Mississippi Valley State |
SPECIAL TEAMS – SECOND TEAM
Kicker – Haiden McCraney – Alcorn State
Punter - Haiden McCraney – Alcorn State
Return Specialist Willie Quinn – Southern
Punter - Haiden McCraney – Alcorn State
Return Specialist Willie Quinn – Southern
2015 Predicted Order of Finish
EAST
Alcorn State 95
Jackson State 83
Alabama A&M 66
Alabama State 50
Mississippi Valley State 31
West
Grambling State 93
Southern 91
Prairie View 72
Texas Southern 40
Arkansas Pine Bluff 34
