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2009 SWAC predictions unveiled
The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2009 Football Preseason Honors Tuesday, headlined by Southern QB Bryant Lee voted the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and Grambling State defensive lineman Christian Anthony voted Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Grambling State, the 2008 SWAC Champion, was picked to repeat.
All preseason honors and predicted order of finish were voted on by the league's coaches, sports information departments and selected members of the media.
Lee, the 2008 SWAC Offensive Player of the Year and first team-all-SWAC selection, led the SWAC in completions (217), attempts (352), passing yards (2,682) and touchdown passes (20) while throwing just seven
interceptions. Lee was seventh in the conference and second in rushing yards among quarterbacks with 534 yards (on 139 attempts) with six touchdowns. Lee had four games of at least 300 yards passing (including
one 400-yard game), and posted back-to-back games where he accounted for at least five touchdowns.
Anthony was a first-team all-SWAC selection in 2008 and the Defensive Most Valuable Player of the SWAC Football Championship game. Last season he posted 55 tackles (17 for loss) and eight sacks for the SWAC and HBCU National Champions. Anthony was tied for fourth in the league in sacks last season and was sixth in the Conference in tackles for loss.
In the SWAC Championship game, Anthony posted seven tackles (three for loss), two sacks and two QB hurries in the win over Jackson State.
Grambling State was picked to repeat as SWAC Champions. GSU, the two-time reigning Western Division champs, has played in back-to-back title games, and last year avenged a 2007 SWAC Championship Game loss to Jackson State.
Jackson State, winners of the Eastern Division crown in each of the past two seasons, was picked to defend its division title.
There were 21 players named to this year's preseason all-conference team that earned 2008 postseason honors: WR Thomas Harris, DE Jeremy Maddox, OL Xavier Manual, and PK Jeremy Licea (Alabama A&M), Anthony, CB Kenneth Anio, QB Greg Dillon, OL Revay Smith, and RB Cornelius Walker (Grambling State), OL Mikeal Harshaw, DB Malcolm Palmer and K Eric Perri (Jackson State), RB Donald Babers, DB Anthony Beck, OL James Delke, and DL Quinton Spears (Prairie View A&M), Lee and WR Juamorris Stewart (Southern), WR William Osbourne and DB DE'Markus Washington (Texas Southern), and DB Kevin Thornton (Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff).
The 2009 SWAC Championship Game will be played Saturday, December 12 in Birmingham, AL at Legion Field.
2009 SWAC Preseason All-Conference Selections
First-Team Offense
| OL Mikeal Harshaw, Grambling State | 6-4 | 310 | Sr. | Memphis, TN |
| OL Xavier Manual, Alabama A&M | 6-1 | 307 | Sr. | Vinegar Bend, AL |
| OL James Dekle, Prairie View A&M | 6-2 | 285 | Jr. | Miami, FL |
| OL Revay Smith, Grambling State | 6-1 | 305 | Sr. | Port Allen, LA |
| OL Ramon Chinyoung, Southern | 6-1 | 295 | Sr. | Houston, TX |
| TE Andrew Thomas, Texas Southern | 6-2 | 210 | Sr. | Germantown, MD |
| WR Juamorris Stewart, Southern | 6-3 | 195 | Sr. | Baton Rouge, LA |
| WR Thomas Harris, Alabama A&M | 6-0 | 210 | Sr. | Alexander City, AL |
| RB Donald Babers, Prairie View A&M | 5-9 | 170 | Jr. | Houston, TX |
| RB Mickey Dean, Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 5-10 | 215 | Sr. | Little Rock, AR |
| QB Bryant Lee, Southern | 6-2 | 195 | Sr. | Boutte, LA |
| K Jeremy Licea, Alabama A&M | 5-7 | 147 | Sr. | Ventura, CA |
First-Team Defense
| DL Christian Anthony, Grambling | 6-4 | 246 | Sr. | Birmingham, AL |
| DL Jeremy Maddox, Alabama A&M | 6-0 | 244 | Sr. | Grand Bay, AL |
| DL Sam Washington, Jackson State | 6-4 | 265 | Sr. | Lexington, MS |
| DL Quinton Spears, Prairie View A&M | 6-4 | 220 | Sr. | Montgomery, TX |
| LB Dejuan Fulgham, Texas Southern | 6-1 | 220 | Jr. | Killeen, TX |
| LB Rory Malone, Mississippi Valley State | 5-10 | 225 | Jr. | Mesquite, TX |
| LB Adrian Hardy, Alabama State | 6-2 | 197 | Sr. | Selma, TX |
| DB Anthony Beck, Prairie View A&M | 6-2 | 205 | Sr. | Channelview, TX |
| DB Kenneth Anio, Grambling State | 6-0 | 180 | Jr. | Jackson, LA |
| DB Rechard Johnson, Alabama State | 5-11 | 190 | Sr. | Montgomery, AL |
| DB DeMarkus Washington, Texas Southern | 5-9 | 160 | So. | Dallas, TX |
| P Pedro Ventura, Prairie View A&M | 5-9 | 170 | Jr | Houston, TX |
| RS William Osbourne, Texas Southern | 5-8 | 162 | Sr. | Marshall, TX |
Second-Team Offense
| OL Charles Smith, Texas Southern | 6-5 | 325 | Jr. | Largo, MD |
| OL James Blanton, Prairie View A&M | 6-7 | 335 | Jr. | Clute, TX |
| OL Colton Jones, Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 6-2 | 280 | So. | Arlington, TX |
| OL Robert Ogletree, Mississippi Valley State | 6-2 | 290 | Sr | Birmingham, AL |
| OL Lee Almanza, Southern | 6-4 | 300 | So. | Houston, TX |
| TE Marlon Allen, Prairie View A&M | 6-2 | 245 | Sr. | Stafford, TX |
| WR William Osbourne, Texas Southern | 5-8 | 162 | Sr. | Marshall, TX |
| WR Brandon Stargell, Miss. Valley State | 6-2 | 195 | Jr. | Pine Bluff, AR |
| RB Ulysses Banks, Alabama A&M | 5-8 | 172 | Sr. | Birmingham, AL |
| RB Cornelius Walker, Grambling State | 5-10 | 170 | Jr. | Atlanta, GA |
| QB Greg Dillon, Grambling State | 6-0 | 200 | Jr. | Bogalusa, LA |
| K Eric Perri, Jackson State | 5-8 | 155 | Sr. | Miami, FL |
Second-Team Defense
| DL Jared Dorn, Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 6-3 | 255 | Sr. | Pine Bluff, AR |
| DL Malcolm Taylor, Alcorn State | 6-3 | 242 | Sr. | Brooksville, MS |
| DL Dexter James, Southern | 6-4 | 275 | Sr. | Brusly, LA |
| DL Chris Ivy, Mississippi Valley State | 6-2 | 220 | Sr. | Louisville, MS |
| LB Allan Baugh, Southern | 6-0 | 235 | Sr. | Houston, TX |
| LB Michael Weatherspoon, Ark.-Pine Bluff | 6-3 | 225 | Sr. | Little Rock, AR |
| LB Marcus Jamison, Jackson State | 6-1 | 225 | Sr. | Brooksville, MS |
| DB Kevin Thornton, Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 6-1 | 210 | Sr. | Little Rock, AR |
| DB Malcolm Palmer, Jackson State | 5-11 | 180 | Sr. | Autaugville, AL |
| DB Michael Higgins, Miss. Valley State | 6-3 | 195 | Sr. | Greenwood, MS |
| DB Marcel Young, Jackson State | 6-2 | 200 | Sr. | Jackson, MS |
| P Josh Duran, Southern | 5-9 | 180 | Jr. | Eunice, LA |
| RS Mareo Howard, Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 5-9 | 180 | Jr. | Fort Valley, GA |
| Preseason Offensive Player of the Year | ||||
| QB Bryant Lee Southern | 6-2 | 195 | Sr. | Boutte, LA |
| Preseason Defensive Player of the Year | ||||
| DL Christian Anthony Grambling State | 6-4 | 246 | Sr. | Birmingham, AL |
Coaches Predicted Order of Finish
(first place votes in parentheses)
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
| Jackson State (13) 103 pts | Grambling State (14) 104 pts |
| Alabama A&M (8) 95 | Southern (5) 86 |
| Alabama State 56 | Prairie View A&M (3) 76 |
| Mississippi Valley State 46 | Texas Southern 43 |
| Alcorn State (2) 45 | Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1) 36 |
© 2009 Azeez Communications, Inc.