NEW ORLEANS - Nine players from Jackson State University, along with the offensive and defensive players of the year, are among the student-athletes named on to the 1996 All- Southwestern Athletic Conference football team.
Senior quarterback Grailyn Pratt, a 6-0, 198-pound junior from Jackson, Miss., was honored as the league's offensive player of the year after a stellar season that saw him capture player of the week honors five times, more than any other player since the graduation of Steve McNair two years ago. Pratt led the conference in passing (236.4 ypg) and total offense (269.6 ypg) while ranking third in scoring (4.9 ppg) and 10th in rushing (33.3 ypg). He completed 202 of 362 passes for 2,600 yards. His 22 touchdown passes are a new single-season school record.
Sean Woodson, a 6-2, 202-pound senior defensive back at Jackson State, followed suit with Pratt by reaping SWAC defensive player of the year honors. The Jackson native and top draft prospect led the conference in interceptions with seven for 79 yards while adding 43 tackles, seven pass breakups and three fumble recoveries. He said winning the award is a dream come true.
"I felt like a lot of guys in the conference could have been named and some of my teammates played well enough to have won the award," stated Woodson. "It's like a dream come true for me, especially considering where I started from four years ago. I was a walk-on. I thank God for giving me the talent. He's given me and for making me capable of playing the way I have."
Both Pratt and Woodson made first team all-conference at their respective positions.
Joining Pratt on the offensive first team were offensive linemen Rayfield Adams (6-3, 330, Sr.) and Toby Myles (6-6, 335, Jr.) along with running back Carlos Knight (5-11, 221, Jr.) and wide receiver Jerome Young (5-9, 168, Sr.). Knight is the SWAC's leading rusher so far with 899 yards on 177 carries, an average of 81.7 yards a game with nine scores. Young ranks fourth in catches per game 5.4 receptions a contest, but his number of catches (50) is tied for second while his eight receiving touchdowns lead the league.
Woodson's fellow first team defensive honorees include lineman Carlos Lockhart (6-2, 240, Sr.), linebacker Otha Evans (5-11, 185, Sr.) and defensive back Quincy Coleman (5-10, 180, Jr.). During regular-season play, Lockhart ranked third on the team in tackles with 58 and led the Tigers with 11 sacks while Evans led the SWAC in tackles with 127 in addition to four sacks. Coleman, meanwhile, tied for fourth in interceptions with four for 77 yards and scored one touchdown.
The other schools with first team All-SWAC selections included Mississippi Valley State University (5), Southern University (3), Alcorn State University (2), Grambling State University (2), Texas Southern University (2) and Alabama State University (1).
The MVSU Delta Devils are represented by tight end Randy Powell (6-3, 225, So.), offensive lineman Terrance Ware (6-3, 285, So.), defensive lineman Anthony Bonner (6-2, 275, So.) and linebackers Terry Houzah (6-3, 225, So.) and Sam Dickerson (6-1, 225, So.). Houzah won SWAC player of the week honors three times and ranks third in the SWAC in tackles with 112 along with four sacks. Dickerson added 121 tackles, second-best in the SWAC, while Bonner contributed 46 tackles and Powell 29 catches for 471 yards.
The Southern Jaguars placed offensive lineman Chris Williams (6-5, 319, So.) and placekicker Carlos Leach (5-10, 180, Sr.) on the first team as well as punter Matt Bushart (6-4, 240, Fr.). Bushart currently leads the SWAC in punting with an average of 42.0 yards per boot while Leach ranks second in scoring (6.3 ppg) while kicking 27 of 27 PAT's and 12 of 18 field goals.
Representing the Alcorn State Braves on the first team are offensive lineman Kewone Robinson (6-4, 275, Sr.) and defensive lineman Sean Benton (6-2, 275, Sr.). Benton garnered 48 tackles for the Braves this season and led the team with six sacks.
The GSU Tigers' first team selections are running back Jay Johnson (5-9, 185, Sr.) and defensive back Chris Samson (6-2, 210, Sr.). Johnson ranks second in the conference in rushing with 118 carries for 77.2 yards a contest. Samson ranked 10th in the SWAC in tackles with 87 in addition to three sacks.
The TSU Tigers' honorees on the first team include wide receiver Kiley Brown (6-2, 215, Sr.) and defensive lineman Nick Lopez (6-4, 240, Sr.). Brown leads the league in receiving with 54 catches for 723 yards. He averaged 13.4 catches a game and scored five touchdowns. Lopez ranked second on his team in tackles with 70 and he led the Tigers with eight sacks.
The other first team pick is Alabama State defensive back Alphonso Pogue (5-11, 190, Sr.), who tied for third in the conference in interceptions with four for 100 yards and a touchdown. He contributed 56 tackles, 13 pass breakups and four pass deflections for the Hornets.
Besides the player of the year honors for Pratt and Woodson, the other special category honors went to Alcorn State's Gorce White (return specialist), Southern's Bushart (freshman of the year) and Steve Wofford (newcomer of the year) and MVSU"s Larry Dorsey, who landed coach of the year honors after leading the Delta Devils from a 1-4 start to a 7-4 finish, including a 5-2 mark in the SWAC, good enough for second place.
"This was a season that really made you think about whether this (coaching) is really what you want to do," said Dorsey. "But I always thought that we could make it work. We kind of persevered. We worked hard and we worked through adversity."
"Anytime you can receive any kind of honors from your peers, it makes it that much more rewarding," added Dorsey. "My staff and players worked hard. The fans and alumni kept us real spirited. I'm tickled to death. This award will be cherished."