HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | Alabama A&M University junior offensive lineman Carson Vinson was selected to the Phil Steele All-American Preseason Fourth Team and a First Team Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) selection, which was released over the weekend.
 
Vinson's honor is among many preseason accolades the Morrisville, N.C. native has received, including being selected to the 100^th Annual East-West Shrine Bowl 1,000 and Reese's Bowl watchlists.
 
A SWAC Preseason Second Team selection, helped the Bulldogs offense last season average 374.6 yards per game, including 221.1 yards per game in the air. His play helped Alabama A&M to tops in the conference in red zone offense.
 
Vinson received Phil Steele SWAC First Team honors, along with wide receiver Jacolby Hewitt, running back Donovan Eaglin and defensive back Emari Pait. Wide receiver Keenan Hambrick and defensive back Marvin Smith earned second team recognition, while tight end Dion Nelson Jr., offensive lineman Cameron Williams, defensive lineman Jamarion Ellis and linebacker Tony Overstreet were tabbed to the third team.
 
Hewitt, an All-SWAC Preseason First Team selection, finished with 516 yards on 32 receptions, where he averaged 57.3 yards per game and 16.1 yards per reception. In addition, the Memphis, Tenn. native caught four touchdown passes.
 
Eaglin, who earned Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) First Team Preseason and BOXTOROW Preseason All-America honors, finished with 845 total yards and seven touchdowns. On the ground, Eaglin, who was second on the team in scoring with 42 points, carried the ball 142 times for 765 yards, averaging 5.4 yards per touch and 76.5 yards per game.
 
The Houston, Texas native registered a career-high 207 yards on 27 carries, with touchdown runs of 67 and 17 yards in a 30-21 win over Mississippi Valley State. His performance earned him multiple weekly honors, including SWAC Offensive Player of the Week, BOXTOROW HBCU National Player of the Week and FedEx Ground FCS Offensive National Player of the Week Honorable Mention.
 
Pait, an All-SWAC Preseason First Team honoree, tallied 49 tackles, including 31 solo stops. He finished with 1.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions, three fumble recoveries and two pass breakups.
 
The Culver City, Calif. native, who was an Aeneas Williams Award Semifinalist, ranked third in nation and tops in the conference in fumbles recovered and 13th in the FCS, while second in the SWAC in interceptions per game.
 
Hambrick saw action in 10 games last season, amassing 386 yards on 25 catches. He averaged 15.4 yards per catch and 38.6 yards per game. In addition, the Athens, Ala. native added two touchdowns, logging 147 yards in a blowout win over Tuskegee.
 
Smith played in all 11 games for the Bulldogs in 2023 and was third on the team in total tackles (62). He registered 33 solo stops, with three pass breakups, one fumble recovery and one interception. The Loganville, Ga. native recorded a season-high 10 tackles in the Louis Crews Classic against Lane.
 
Dion Nelson Jr. transferred to AAMU from UT-Martin, where he registered 12 catches for 135 yards, along with four touchdowns last season.
 
Williams, who played in and started in all 11 games last season and was a preseason All-SWAC Second Team selection, was also on one of the best offensive lines in the conference. He helped the Bulldogs offense average 374.6 yards per game, including 221.1 yards per game in the air. His play helped Alabama A&M to tops in the conference in red zone offense.
 
Ellis played all 11 games last season, registering 33 total tackles, including 16 solo stops. He added 2.5 sacks and six tackles for loss. The Eastman, Ga. native tallied three fumble recoveries and three quarterback hurries. He posted a season-high five tackles against Southern.
 
Overstreet played in eight games for the Bulldogs in 2023, where he tallied 11 total tackles, with three solo stops. He recorded one tackle for loss, one quarterback hurry and one fumble recovery. The Mobile, Ala. native registered a season-best four tackles in the Gulf Coast Challenge against Jackson State.
 
Alabama A&M opens the season on Saturday, Aug. 31 at Auburn. Kickoff against the Tigers is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and streamed on SEC Network+.
 
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