Corey Holmes and Lernard Mack head preseason All-SWAC picks

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Running back Corey Holmes of Mississippi Valley State University and linebacker Lernard Mack of Texas Southern University pace the 2000 All- Southwestern Athletic Conference football team, which was announced here during the league's annual Media Day on Friday, July 28.

Corey Holmes - SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year

Holmes, a 5-8, 195 pound senior from Metcalf, Miss., has been tabbed the conference's offensive player of the year. This honor follows a year that saw him capture first team All-SWAC honors and the offensive player of the year award after leading the conference in rushing with 1,692 yards and 11 touchdowns in 1999, an average of 153.8 yards per game. Latraia Jones, Mississippi Valley State's head coach, says Holmes earns every honor he gets because he's a special player.

"Corey's the heart and soul of this team," stated Jones. "He's one of those guys who leads by example and not by talk. He's constantly in the weight room, off running or studying, trying to make himself better. We expect a big season from him."

Mack, meanwhile, has been voted the SWAC's preseason defensive player of the year. A 6-2, 225 pound junior from Houston, Tex., Mack ranked fourth in the SWAC in tackles in 1999, garnering 99 tackles with two interceptions and five sacks, the latter figure tied for third in the league. He also ranked third in tackles for loss with 21. He earned first team All-SWAC honors at his linebacker slot last season.

The preseason All-SWAC offensive unit consists of four players from Southern, two each from Alcorn State and Jackson State, and one each from Alabama A&M, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Grambling State and Mississippi Valley State.

Southern's offensive selectees include lineman Quentin Brisco (6-4, 274, Sr.), quarterback Troy Williams (6-4, 200, Jr.), wide receiver Michael Hayes (6-5, 225, Jr.) and placekicker Justin Mattingly (5-10, 185, Jr.). Last year, Williams ranked fourth in the SWAC in passing with 159.4 yards a game. He completed 157 of 306 passes with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His favorite target was Hayes, who ranked third in the SWAC in receiving with 56 catches for 928 yards and six scores. Mattingly, meanwhile, was the conference's No.8 leading scorer with 6.2 points a game. He connected on 29 of 32 extra point kicks and 15 of 20 field goals.

Alcorn State's duo on the offensive unit includes tight end Marcus Holbert (6-4, 240, Jr.) and lineman Michael McGee (6-5, 190, Sr.). In 1999, Holbert caught 14 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns.

Representing Jackson State on the preseason All-SWAC offensive team are a pair of linemen, Kevin Thomas (6-1, 285, Sr.) and Lareko Elliott (6-3, 295, Jr.). The pair helped JSU to a No.1 ranking in total offensive offense in 1999 with 489.3 yards per game.

Rounding out the offensive honorees are Alabama A&M lineman Kendrick Rogers (6-6, 280, Sr.), Arkansas-Pine Bluff running back Ron Johnson (6-0, 211, Jr.), Grambling State wide receiver Scotty Anderson (6-3, 180, Sr.) and MVSU's Holmes.

In 1999, Johnson ranked fourth in the SWAC in rushing with 92.3 yards per contest, rushing for 905 yards on 154 carries with four touchdowns. Anderson, meanwhile, was the SWAC's top receiver, catching 65 passes for 1,162 yards and 15 touchdowns. He averaged 5.9 catches per game and 17.9 yards per reception.

The 2000 preseason All-SWAC defensive unit consists of three players from Grambling State, two from Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Southern and one each from Alabama State, Jackson State, Mississippi Valley State, Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern.

GSU's trio on defensive includes lineman Dante Newell (6-1, 255, Sr.), linebacker George Guidry (6-2, 230, Sr.) and defensive back Calvin Spears (6-0, 190, Jr.). Newell ranked fourth on the team in tackles with 61 and had seven sacks. Guidry garnered 70 tackles and led the SWAC in sacks with eight. Spears tied for the SWAC lead in interceptions with 0.5 per game, grabbing five interceptions for 81 yards.

UAPB's duo on the unit include lineman Jason Jones (6-2, 327, Sr.) and defensive back Dante Wesley (6-3, 205, Jr.). A year ago, Wesley tied for fifth in interceptions four for 68 yards.

Lineman Maurice Johnson (6-4, 325, Sr.) and defensive back Edreece Brown (5-9, 190, Sr.) represent Southern on the defensive unit. Johnson collected 30 tackles and 2.5 sacks while Brown tied for the lead in interceptions in 1999 with 0.5 per game, making six interceptions for 22 yards.

The remainder of the defensive unit consists of Alabama State punter David Beckford (6-0, 185, So.), Jackson State linebacker Edward Reese (6-0, 240, Sr.), Mississippi Valley State lineman Lawrence Pendelton (6-4, 285, Sr.), Prairie View A&M defensive back Anthony Carr (5-9, 175, Sr.) and Texas Southern's Mack.

Beckford won first team All-SWAC honors last season after leading the conference in punting with a 41.8 average. Reese garnered 73 tackles and three sacks, ranking 12 among SWAC tackles. Pendelton had 46 tackles and six sacks last season and Carr tied for third in the league in interceptions with 0.4 per game, grabbing four interceptions for 88 yards in 10 contests.

SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
2000 PRESEASON ALL-SWAC FOOTBALL TEAM
(As voted on by the league's head coaches)

O F F E N S E

TE: Marcus Holbert, Alcorn State (6-4, 240, Jr., Morton, Miss.)

OL: Quentin Brisco, Southern Univ. (6-4, 274, Sr., Carenco, La.)

OL: Kevin Thomas, Jackson State (6-1, 285, Sr., Franklin, La.)

OL: Kendrick Rogers, Alabama A&M (6-6, 280, Sr., Mobile, Ala.)

OL: Lareko Elliott, Jackson State (6-3, 295, Jr., Memphis, Tenn.)

OL: Michael McGee, Alcorn State (6-5, 290, Sr., Rolling Fork, Miss.)

QB: Troy Williams, Southern Univ. (6-4, 200, Jr., Baton Rouge, La.)

RB: Corey Holmes, Mississippi Valley State (5-8, 195, Sr., Metcalf, Miss.)

RB: Ron Johnson, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (6-0, 211, Jr., Pine Bluff, Ark.)

WR: Scotty Anderson, Grambling State (6-3, 180, Sr., Jonesboro, La.)

WR: Michael Hayes, Southern Univ. (6-5, 225, Jr., Opelousas, La.)

PK: Justin Mattingly, Southern Univ. (5-10, 185, Jr., Port Neeches, Tex.)

D E F E N S E

DL: Jason Jones, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (6-2, 327, Sr., Dallas, Tex.)

DL: Dante Newell, Grambling State (6-1, 255, Sr., Farrell, Penn.)

DL: Maurice Johnson, Southern Univ. (6-4, 325, Sr., New Orleans, La.)

DL: Lawrence Pendelton, Mississippi Valley State (6-4, 285, Sr., Mobile, Ala.)

LB: Edward Reese, Jackson State (6-0, 240, Sr., Chanchula, Ala.)

LB: Lernard Mack, Texas Southern (6-2, 225, Jr., Houston, Tex.)

LB: George Guidry, Grambling State (6-2, 230, Sr., Lake Charles, La.)

DB: Edreece Brown, Southern Univ. (5-9, 190, Sr., Clinton, La.)

DB: Calvin Spears, Grambling State (6-0, 190, Jr., Baton Rouge, La.)

DB: Anthony Carr, Prairie View A&M (5-9, 175, Sr., Houston, Tex.)

DB: Dante Wesley, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (6-3, 205, Jr., Pine Bluff, Ark.)

P: David Beckford, Alabama State (6-0, 185, So., Hollywood, Fla.)

M I S C E L L A N E O U S

Kick Return Specialist:

Kenyon Hambrick, Alabama A&M (6-2, 190, Jr., Huntsville, Ala.)

Offensive Player of the Year:

Corey Holmes, Mississippi Valley State (5-8, 195, Sr., RB, Metcalf, Miss.)

Defensive Player of the Year:

Lernard Mack, Texas Southern (6-2, 225, Jr., Houston, Tex.)

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