Alcorn State was predicted to have the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year under center prior to the season, and it did. But it is Felix Harper who claimed the SWAC’s top offensive honor.
The conference announced its all-conference honors on Wednesday and Alcorn State claimed two big honors as Fred McNair was named Coach of The Year for the second consecutive year. Jackson State’s Keonte Hampton was named Defensive Player of the Year while Texas Southern’s Donnie Corley took home Newcomer of The Year. Alabama A&M’s Abdul-Fatai Ibahim was named the league’s Freshman of The Year.
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Harper started the season as backup to SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of The Year Noah Johnson, but was thrust into the starting position prior to SWAC play. All he did was throw 29 touchdowns while leading the team to a 6-1 record and a sixth-straight SWAC East title. He’s thrown just five interceptions heading into the SWAC Championship Game against Southern on Saturday.
McNair won Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. He becomes the first back-to-back Coach of the Year winner at Alcorn since Marino Casem in 1973 & 1974. He coached the Braves to the overall top seed in the SWAC standings. Alcorn has won the SWAC East Division all four years under him, and will play for its second straight SWAC Championship title. He carries a 22-8 career SWAC record.
Check out the entire SWAC All-Conference team below.
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ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST-TEAM
OFFENSE
QB Felix Harper, Alcorn
RB Taeyler Porter, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
RB Jordan Bentley, Alabama A&M
OL Jerimiah Abby, Southern
OL Mark Evans II, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
OL Danny Garza, Prairie View A&M
OL Atondre Smith, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
OL Michael Ajumobi, Alcorn
WR Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, Alabama A&M
WR Donnie Corley, Texas Southern
TE Jordan Jones, Prairie View A&M
DEFENSE
DL Jason Dumas, Prairie View A&M
DL Jalen Steward, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
DL CJ Anderson, Jackson State
DL Marcus Cushine, Alabama A&M
LB Solomon Muhammad, Alcorn
LB Keonte Hampton, Jackson State
LB Tracy Thompkins, Mississippi Valley
DB Qwynnterrio Cole, Alcorn
DB Joe McWilliams, Grambling State
DB Drake Cheatum, Prairie View A&M
DB Jaylen Harris, Prairie View A&M
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Spencer Corey, Alabama A&M
P Anthony Craven, Alabama State
RS Tyrin Ralph, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND-TEAM
OFFENSE
QB Aqeel Glass, Alabama A&M
RB Dawonya Tucker, Prairie View A&M
RB Devon Benn, Southern
OL Trevoris Butler, Alabama A&M
OL Cedric Dunbar, Jackson State
OL Shonye Reams, Alabama A&M
OL Kevin Hall, Alcorn
OL Jodeci Harris, Southern
WR Harry Ballard, III, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
WR Zabrian Moore, Alabama A&M
TE Kendric Johnson, Alabama A&M
DEFENSE
DL Jordan Lewis, Southern
DL Jerry Garner, Mississippi Valley St
DL Christian Clark, Alabama State
DL Joe Davis, Southern
LB Armoni Holloway, Alabama A&M
LB Calvin Lunkins, Southern
LB Tre’Shaud Smith, Prairie View A&M
DB Naytron Culpepper, Alabama State
DB Tamaurice Smith, Southern
DB Shawn Steele, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
DB Jonathan Jones, Mississippi Valley
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Richard Garcia III, Texas Southern
P Corey McCullough, Alcorn
RS Ezra Gray, Alabama State