BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – With one of the best seasons, albeit an abbreviated one, in the history of the program, Alabama A&M football has earned 11 total All-Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) selections, headlined by Player of the Year honors for senior quarterback
Aqeel Glass (St. Louis, Mo.) and four First-Team selections.
Joining Glass on the First-Team were junior offensive linemen
Dexter Fuqua II (Tanner, Ala.), sophomore wide receiver
Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim (Miramar, Fla.) and junior linebacker Marcus Cushnie (Broward County, Fla.), with seven Bulldogs landing on the Second-Team.
That group consists of junior running back
Gary Quarles (Cottondale, Ala.), sophomore offensive lineman
Jonathan Williams (Mobile, Ala.), redshirt-sophomore offensive lineman
Antearius Harrington (Jamestown, N.C.), senior wide receiver
Zabrian Moore (Tuscaloosa, Ala.), redshirt-senior cornerback
Amari Holloway (Pinson, Ala.), senior linebacker
Armoni Holloway (Pinson, Ala.) and senior kicker
Spencer Corey (New Palestine, Ind.).
The 11 overall All-SWAC selections is a program record that surpasses the 10 earned by the 2019 and 2006 squads while Glass joins AAMU Hall of Famer Robert Mathis as the only other Player of the Year in team history, that coming on the defensive side of the ball in 2002. The 6-5 signal caller is the first overall Player of the Year in program history.
With those selections, the Bulldogs have now earned at least one in 21 consecutive seasons dating back to 2000 and secured more than a fifth (11-of-50) of this year's All-SWAC honorees.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR – AQEEL GLASS
Glass has continued to rewrite the record books this season as he has gone 67-of-113 for 1,084 yards passing and 13 touchdowns against three interceptions in just three games. The latter came in his first quarter of play in 468 days with none since.
One of 16 finalists for the prestigious Walter Payton Award as the national's top FCS player, Glass has also twice been named SWAC Player of the Week. He made it a trifecta on April 12 when he added National Player of the Week honors from Stats Perform FCS and BOXTOROW.
That followed a 52-43 victory at Jackson State (4/10), following a 35-day layoff, that saw him put up NCAA Division I Era program records of 440 yards passing and six passing touchdowns while adding a seventh score on the ground. The 52 points represented just the ninth time the program had hit the 50-point mark since moving to DI in 1998 and was the most against a DI opponent since 2008.
In addition to that lights out performance he has also gone 25-of-40 for 372 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in a 38-14 rout of rival Alabama State (4/17) in the Magic City Classic and was 15-of-33 for 272 yards and four TDs and the three picks in the season opener at South Carolina State (3/6).
In large part due to his performance, the Bulldogs have delivered the first undefeated regular season for the program since 1966, have won the SWAC East Division for the first time since 2011 and earned a spot in the league championship game.
FIRST-TEAM HONOREES
In addition to Glass, three other Bulldogs landed on the First-Team. Leading that group is Ibrahim who has been a player opposing defenses have had to be aware of all season long as he has compiled 277 yards on 18 catches (15.4 ypc) and three touchdowns. On the year he is averaging 92.3 yards per game.
After six grabs for 81 yards and a score in a 31-7 season-opening road victory at South Carolina State, Ibrahim has only gotten better. He followed that up with five catches for 94 yards and a pair of scores in a 52-43 win at Jackson State (4/10) that aired live on ESPN before snagging seven balls for 102 yards against rival Alabama State under the bright lights of the Magic City Classic.
Defensively, Cushnie has been a force to be reckoned with, as he has registered five sacks, eight total tackles (seven solo) and a quarterback hurry in helping Alabama A&M to one of the best seasons in program history.
He opened with a pair of sacks and a QB hurry at S.C. State (3/6) before recording a sack and three tackles, one for loss at Jackson State. He would follow that with two more sacks, two TFLs and a pair of tackles in a 38-14 victory over rival Alabama State in Birmingham.
OFFENSIVE LINE (FIRST- AND SECOND-TEAM)
Fuqua II would round out the First-Team honorees and would be joined by two of his line mates on the Second-Team in Harrington and Williams. As a unit, they are part of an offensive line that has cleared the way for one of the top offenses in the country, as is indicated by 10 of their 11 Top-10 entries coming on that side of the ball in the NCAA National Stats.
They include leading the nation in red zone offense (1.000) and fumbles lost (0), second in passing efficiency and (171.01) and yards per completion (16.18), fourth in sacks allowed (0.33), fifth in passing offense (361.3) and tackles for loss allowed (4.0), sixth in turnovers lost (3), seventh in scoring offense (40.3 ppg.) and ninth in total offense (479.3). For good measure they are also eighth in red zone defense (.667).
SECOND-TEAM HONOREES
Along with Williams and Harrington helping to form one of the best lines in the SWAC, A&M landed five additional players on the Second-Team with two on offense, two on defense and a specialist.
Headlining that group is one of the best wideouts in the nation in Moore, who has been instant offense for the Bulldogs, recording eight catches for 252 yards for a whopping 31.5 yards per catch in his two games this season.
A major deep threat, he recorded a season-long grab of 61-yards, in stride for a score, in that 52-43 victory at JSU on his way to 114 yards on four catches.
He would be even better in A&M's rivalry showdown with Alabama State as he snagged four balls, two for touchdowns, and racked up 138 yards. Two of those catches went for 44- and 38-yards, respectively.
In the backfield, Quarles has been a threat in both the run and pass attack for one of the most dangerous offenses in the country.
In three games he has averaged 83.0 yards per game while carrying the ball 53 times for 249 yards (4.7) and a pair of scores. In the receiving game he has five grabs for 88 yards (17.6) with a long of 43 that went for a score at Jackson State. That game would also see him rush 16 times for 86 yards.
Quarles opened the season at South Carolina State with 21 carries and 92 yards on the ground to go with a 38-yard reception. Most recently he found the endzone on a pair of occasions against rival ASU as he rushed 16 times for 71 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball it's a family affair as Amari (Cornerback) and Armoni (Linebacker) Holloway were each named to the team.
Amari has recorded 11 tackles (seven solo) in three games with a sack and a tackle for loss as a key part of the Bulldogs' secondary. Also among his efforts was a punt block late in the first half of the Magic City Classic that took a 14-14 game and ignited 24 straight points that turned it into a 38-14 victory over Alabama State. That game would also see him register five tackles with three solo.
Holloway had four tackles (three solo) with a sack and one for loss in the 52-43 victory at Jackson State in a nationally televised ESPN game.
Armoni has been a thumper in the middle of the Bulldogs defense, leading the team with 20 tackles, 15 of which have been of the solo variety. On top of that, four of those were for loss and go with his two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry.
He opened the season with 10 tackles, eight solo, and a pair for loss in a 31-7 dismantling of South Carolina State before posting four tackles, one for loss, with a QB hurry at Jackson State.
In the biggest game of the year, the Magic City Classic – which also served as a de facto SWAC East Division Championship Game, Holloway notched six tackles, three of them solo and one for loss with a pair of pass breakups.
Rounding out the Bulldogs' All-SWAC Selections was redshirt-junior kicker
Spencer Corey (New Palestine, Ind.). He has been perfect in the three games that he has taken the field this season, going 3-of-3 on field goals and 16-of-16 on extra points.
Among those field goals was a 46-yarder on a sudden change at the end of the first half against Alabama State. Given the opportunity with four seconds left following a punt block, Corey drilled home one of the longest kicks in program history, coming in just two yards shy of the all-time mark. That kick gave the Bulldogs a 17-14 lead at the break and helped spearhead 24 straight points to close out the rivalry game and a SWAC East Division Championship.
THEY'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE
They say to act like you've been there before and Alabama A&M should have no problem doing that as nearly half of this group has.
Armoni Holloway has earned three straight All-SWAC honors, picking up First-Team this year and in 2018 with a Second-Team recognition sandwiched in between in 2019. He is joined by Glass with three such honors – First-Team this season and Second-Team in 2018 and 2019.
Ibrahim and Cushnie each repeat as First-Team selections from 2019 while Corey adds Second-Team honors this year to his First-Team recognition in 2019.
UP NEXT
No. 22 Alabama A&M returns to action as they look to close out Spring 2021 with another title as they face No. 25 Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the SWAC Championship Game on Saturday, May 1. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Jackson, Mississippi with live coverage on ESPN2.
SPRING 2021 ALL-SWAC HONORS
Player of the Year – Aqeel Glass, QB, Alabama A&M
Defensive Player of the Year – Jordan Lewis, Southern
Newcomer of the Year – Daylen B IIaldwin, Jackson State
Freshman of the Year – Ryan Nettles, Alabama State
Coach of the Year – Doc Gamble, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Spring 2021 All-SWAC Football First-Team Offense
| Position |
Name |
School |
| QB |
Aqeel Glass |
Alabama A&M |
| RB |
Ezra Gray |
Alabama State |
| RB |
Jarod Sims |
Southern |
| OL |
Mark Evans II |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
| OL |
Brian Williams |
Southern |
| OL |
Dallas Black |
Southern |
| OL |
Dexter Fuqua II |
Alabama A&M |
| OL |
Ja'Tyre Carter |
Southern |
| WR |
Daylen Baldwin |
Jackson State |
| WR |
Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim |
Alabama A&M |
| TE |
Ethan Howard |
Southern |
Spring 2021 All-SWAC Football First-Team Defense
| Position |
Name |
School |
| DL |
Jordan Lewis |
Southern |
| DL |
Marcus Cushnie |
Alabama A&M |
| DL |
Christian Clark |
Alabama State |
| DL |
Jalen Ivy |
Southern |
| LB |
Keonte Hampton |
Jackson State |
| LB |
Aubrey Miller Jr. |
Jackson State |
| LB |
Storey Jackson |
Prairie View A&M |
| DB |
Jalon Thigpen |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
| DB |
Irshaad Davis |
Alabama State |
| DB |
Chase Foster |
Southern |
| DB |
Caleb Brunson |
Mississippi Valley State |
Spring 2021 All-SWAC Football First-Team Specialist
| Position |
Name |
School |
| K |
Cesar Barajas |
Southern |
| P |
Cesar Barajas |
Southern |
| RS |
Tyrin Ralph |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
Spring 2021 All-SWAC Football Second-Team Offense
| Position |
Name |
School |
| QB |
Skyler Perry |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
| RB |
Gary Quarles |
Alabama A&M |
| RB |
Caleb Johnson |
Mississippi Valley State |
| OL |
Johnathan Bishop |
Southern |
| OL |
Antearius Harrington |
Alabama A&M |
| OL |
Jonathan Williams |
Alabama A&M |
| OL |
Jeremiah Stafford |
Southern |
| OL |
Noah Hayes |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
| WR |
Josh Wilkes |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
| WR |
Zabrian Moore |
Alabama A&M |
| TE |
Jeremy Brown |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
Spring 2021 All-SWAC Football Second-Team Defense
| Position |
Name |
School |
| DL |
Andrew Ogletree |
Alabama State |
| DL |
Michael Badejo |
Texas Southern |
| DL |
Jason Dumas |
Prairie View A&M |
| DL |
Jerry Gardner |
Mississippi Valley State |
| LB |
Kolby Watts |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
| LB |
Isaac Peppers |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
| LB |
Armoni Holloway |
Alabama A&M |
| DB |
Amari Holloway |
Alabama A&M |
| DB |
Naytron Culpepper |
Alabama State |
| DB |
Kenan Fontenot |
Grambling State |
| DB |
Jaylen Harris |
Prairie View A&M |
Spring 2021 All-SWAC Football Second-Team Specialist
| Position |
Name |
School |
| K |
Spencer Corey |
Alabama A&M |
| P |
Aubrey Grace |
Alabama State |
| RS |
Ezra Gray |
Alabama State |
ALABAMA A&M ALL-TIME All-SWAC SELECTIONS (SINCE 2000)
Spring 2021 (11 – 4/7)
Aqeel Glass, QB, First-Team&
Dexter Fuqua II, OL, First-Team
Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, WR, First-Team
Marcus Cushnie, DL, First-Team
Gary Quarles, RB, Second-Team
Antearius Harrington, OL, Second-Team
Jonathan Williams, OL, Second-Team
Zabrian Moore, WR, Second-Team
Armoni Holloway, LB, Second-Team
Amari Holloway, DB, Second-Team
Spencer Corey, K, Second-Team
&Indicates Player of the Year
2019 (10 – 4/6)
Jordan Bentley, RB, First-Team
Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, First-Team#
Marcus Cushnie, DL, First-Team
Spencer Corey, K, First-Team
Aqeel Glass, QB, Second-Team
Trevoris Butler, OL, Second-Team
Shonye Reams, OL, Second-Team
Zabrian Moore, WR, Second-Team
Kendric Johnson, TE, Second-Team
Armoni HollowAy, LB, Second-Team
#Indicates Freshman of the Year
2018 (5 – 2/3)
Yurik Bethune, DL, First-Team
Armoni Holloway, LB, First-Team
Aqeel Glass, QB, Second-Team
Trevon Walters, RB, Second-Team
Dylan Hamilton, DB, Second-Team
2017 (3 – 3/0)
Kenneth Davis, LB, First-Team
Vernon Moland, DL, First-Team
Dylan Hamilton, DB, First-Team
2016 (2 – 0/2)
Jordan Bentley, RB, Second-Team#
Jonathan Dorsey, TE, Second-Team
#Indicates Freshman of the Year
2015 (1 – 0/1)
Octayvious Miles, RS, Second-Team
2014 (1 – 0/1)
Anthony Lanier, DL, Second-Team
2013 (6 – 2/4)
Jonathan Dorsey, TE, First-Team
Robert Nelson, LB, First-Team
Barrington Scott, RB, Second-Team
Montarius Smith, WR, Second-Team
Lawrence Barnett, DB, Second-Team
Derrick Harris, DB, Second-Team
2012 (5 – 3/2 )
Kaderius Lacey, RB, First-Team
Jamal Johnson, OL, First-Team
Vernon Marshall, DB, First-Team
Bobby Goldsby, TE, Second-Team
Preston Nelson, DL, Second-Team
2011 (8 – 3/5)
Kaderius Lacey, RB, First-Team
Jamal Johnson, OL, First-Team
Chance Wilson, K, First-Team
Corey Hart, DL, Second-Team
Willie Fuller, LB, Second-Team
Rico Porch, DB, Second-Team
Deaunte Mason, QB, Second-Team
Justin Goodrich, OL, Second-Team
2010 (3 – 0/2)
Russell Jackson, OL, Second-Team
Tony Green, RB, Second-Team
Frank Kearse, DL, Second-Team
2009 (9 – 4/5)
Xavier Manuel, OL, First-Team
Thomas Harris, WR, First-Team
Ulysses Banks, RB, First-Team
Jeremy Maddox, DL, First-Team
Anquez Jackson, OL, Second-Team
Jeremy Licea, K, Second-Team
Frank Kearse, DL, Second-Team
Afu Okosun, LB, Second-Team
Korey Morrison, DB, Second-Team
2008 (4 – 2/2)
Xavier Manuel, OL, First-Team
Jeremy Licea, K, First-Team
Thomas Harris, WR, Second-Team
Jeremy Maddox, DE, Second-Team
2007 (9 – 6/3)
James Sanders, OL, First-Team
Charles Moody, TE, First-Team
Ulysses Banks, RB, First-Team
Kelcy Luke, QB, First-Team
Jeremy Maddox, DE, First-Team
Al Donaldson, DB, First-Team
Darius Turner, OL, Second-Team
Xavier Manuel, OL, Second-Team
Jeremy Licea, K, Second-Team
2006 (10 – 6/4)
Kristian Smith, OL, First-Team
Jeffery Johnson, OL, First-Team
Ulysses Banks, KR, First-Team#
Kevin Lockhart, DL, First-Team
Johnny Baldwin, LB, First-Team
Rashan Clyar, K, First-Team
Marcus Black, DB, Second-Team
Ta'mar Scott, RB, Second-Team
Christopher Franklin, OL, Second-Team
Charles Moody, TE, Second-Team
#Indicates Freshman of the Year
2005 (7 – 3/4)
Malasta Hill, DL, First-Team
Johnny Baldwin, LB, First-Team
Corey Harden, DB, First-Team
Jeffrey Johnson, OL, Second-Team
Antonio Regist, OL, Second-Team
Jose Osorio, K, Second-Team
Kevin Lockhart, DL, Second-Team
2004 (7 – 2/5)
Robert Louis, OL, First-Team
Levernonte Turner, DB, First-Team
Charles Moody, TE , Second-Team
Ali Hassan, DL, Second-Team
Chris Traylor, DL, Second-Team
Johnny Baldwin, LB, Second-Team
Jose Osorio, K, Second-Team
2003 (7 – 4/3)
Robert Louis, OL, First-Team
Jacob Wilson, TE, First-Team
Jeremiah Bonds, RB, First-Team
Lieutenant Dukes, DL, First-Team
Lionel Macklin, LB, Second-Team
Martel Holt, DB, Second-Team
Rashad Cylar, K, Second-Team
2002 (7 – 3/4)
Robert Louis, OL, First-Team
Robert Mathis, DL, First-Team$
Jamaal Ware, LB, First-Team
Jacob Wilson, TE, Second-Team
Melvin Gideon, RB, Second-Team
Travorris Nunn, LB, Second-Team
Rashad Cylar, K, Second-Team
$Indicates Defensive Player of the Year
2001 (3 – 1/2)
Ardante Dawson, DL, First-Team
Robert Louis, OL, Second-Team
Robert Mathis, DL, Second-Team
2000 (7 – 4/3)
Kendrick Rogers, OL, First-Team
Robert Mathis, DL, First-Team
Ardante Dawson, DL, First-Team
Brandon Reed, DB, First-Team
Curtis Donnell, RB, Second-Team
Kenyon Hambrick, WR, Second-Team
Jamaal Ware, LB, Second-Team
