Birmingham, Ala. - SWAC Football Media Day concluded Tuesday, July 19, at the Birmingham Sheraton with coaches and media awarding Jackson State quarterback Casey Therriault and Prairie View defensive back Moses Ellis preseason player of the year honors. Grambling and Jackson State were also voted to be the favorites in their respective divisions.
Alabama A&M University was picked to finish fourth in the Eastern Division which is the lowest they have been chosen since the 2002 season. The Bulldogs did however earn five spots on the 2011 Preseason All-Southwestern Athletic Conference Team.
Senior Willie Fuller was named to the first-team while Kaderius Lacey, Joaquenssi Eugene, Vernon Marshall and Chance Wilson all were chosen for the second-team.
A complete list of the team is listed below:
Preseason All-SWAC 1st-team Offense
QB Casey Therriault * Jackson State * Sr.
RB Marcus Wright * Texas Southern * Sr.
RB Martin Gilbert * Texas Southern * Sr.
WR Nick Andrews * Alabama State * Sr.
WR Marcellos Wilder * Jackson State * Sr.
TE Renty Rollins * Jackson State * Sr.
OL James Dekle * Prairie View A&M * Sr.
OL Sanford Banks * Grambling State * Jr.
OL Terren Jones * Alabama State * Jr.
OL Chris Browne * Southern * Jr.
OL Roderick Gladney * Jackson State * Sr.
Preseason All-SWAC 1st-team Defense
DL Marquis Jackson * Texas Southern * Jr.
DL Donavan Robinson * Jackson State * Sr.
DL Jomarcus Savage * Grambling State * Jr.
DL Kynjee Cotton * Alabama State * Sr.
LB Cliff Exama * Grambling State * Sr.
LB Jer-ryan Harris * Arkansas-Pine Bluff * So.
LB Willie Fuller * Alabama A&M * Sr.
DB Moses Ellis * Prairie View A&M * Sr.
DB Kejuan Riley * Alabama State * Jr.
DB Zack Gallow * Texas Southern * Sr.
DB Tim Dandridge * Jackson State * Sr.
Preseason All-SWAC 1st-team Specialists
PK Zoltan Riazzo * Grambling State * Sr.
P Arturo Tamayo * Alcorn State * Sr.
RET B.J. Lee * Jackson State * Jr.
Preseason All-SWAC 2nd-team Offense
QB Brandon Bridge * Alcorn State * So.
RB B.J. Lee * Jackson State * Jr.
RB Kaderius Lacey * Alabama A&M * Jr.
WR T.C. McWilliams * Alabama State * Jr.
WR Joe Anderson * Texas Southern * Jr.
TE Kirk Fitzhugh * Texas Southern * Sr.
OL Julian Wyndom * Grambling State * Jr.
OL Tim Tusey * Prairie View A&M * Sr.
OL Terron Armstead * Arkansas-Pine Bluff * Jr.
OL Joaquenssi Eugene * Alabama A&M * Jr.
OL Keyun Swinney * Jackson State * Sr.
Preseason All-SWAC 2nd-team Defense
DL Johnathan Billups * Jackson State * Jr.
DL Adrian Hamilton * Prairie View A&M * Sr.
DL Jonathan Hollins * Texas Southern * Sr.
DL Antoine Rogers * Grambling State * Sr.
LB Marcus White * Prairie View A&M * So.
LB Milton Patterson * Jackson State * Jr.
LB Demarques Taylor * Alabama State * So.
DB Anthony Johnson * Jackson State * Sr.
DB Vernon Marshall * Alabama A&M * Jr.
DB Donovan Masline * Alabama State * Sr.
DB Carlos Hollis * Mississippi Valley State * Jr.
Preseason All-SWAC 2nd-team Specialists
PK Chris Ewald * Arkansas-Pine Bluff * Sr.
P Chance Wilson * Alabama A&M * Jr.
RET Byron Williams * Southern * Jr.
SWAC Predicted Order of Finish (1st-place votes)
Western Division
1.Grambling State (12) 103 points
2.Texas Southern (8) 79 points
3.Prairie View A&M (2) 74 points
4.Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1) 56 points
5.Southern 33 points
Eastern Division
1.Jackson State (13) 88 points
2.Alcorn State (6) 84 points
3.Alabama State (3) 82 points
4.Alabama A&M (1) 62 points
5.Mississippi Valley State 27 points
