SWAC Communications
Andrew Roberts, Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference has announced its Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football team highlighted by Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Felix Harper and Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Keonte Hampton. The preseason team was voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors and was announced during day one of the Cricket Wireless SWAC Football Virtual Media Days.
After helping lead the Braves to an eight-win regular season highlighted by a 6-1 mark in conference play, Alcorn State quarterback Felix Harper was tabbed as the Preseason SWAC Offensive Player of the Year. Harper took the league by storm this past season after taking over as the Braves starter at quarterback. He tallied 29 touchdowns during the regular season to go along with 167 completions, 2,387 passing yards good for a 167.9 efficiency rating.
Jackson State’s Keonte Hampton, a sophomore linebacker from West Point, Miss. was named Preseason SWAC Defensive Player of the Year after racking up 106 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. Hampton concluded the regular season ranked in the top five in the SWAC in total tackles, tackles per game (8.8 tpg), and sacks (4.5).
Alabama A&M led all member institutions with nine total selections followed by Prairie View A&M (8), Alcorn State (7), Univ. of Arkansas-Pine Bluff (6), Southern (6), Alabama State (5), Jackson State (5), Texas Southern (3), and Mississippi Valley State (1).
A complete listing of the Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Team and individual award winners can be found below.
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year- Felix Harper, QB, Alcorn State
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year- Keonte Hampton, LB, Jackson State
Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football First Team Offense
| Position | Name | Classification | School | Hometown |
| QB | Felix Harper | Redshirt Senior | Alcorn State | Fairburn, Ga. |
| RB | Devon Benn | Redshirt Senior | Southern | New Orleans, La. |
| RB | Keshawn Harper | Senior | Jackson State | Mobile, Ala. |
| OL | Mark Evans, II | Junior | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | Houston, Texas |
| OL | Danny Garza | Senior | Prairie View A&M | San Antonio, Texas |
| OL | Atondre Smith | Senior | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | Desoto, Texas |
| OL | Cedric Dunbar | Junior | Jackson State | Natchez, Miss. |
| OL | Johnathan Bishop | Senior | Southern | Birmingham, Ala. |
| WR | Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim | Sophomore | Alabama A&M | Miramar, Fla. |
| WR | Harry Ballard, III | Senior | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | St. Louis, Mo. |
| TE | Kendric Johnson | Redshirt Junior | Alabama A&M | New Market, Ala. |
Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football First Team Defense
| Position | Name | Classification | School | Hometown |
| DL | Jason Dumas | Junior | Prairie View A&M | Vacherie, La. |
| DL | Jerry Garner | Senior | Mississippi Valley State | Chunchula, Ala. |
| DL | Christian Clark | Redshirt Senior | Alabama State | Euclid, Ohio |
| DL | Marcus Cushine | Junior | Alabama A&M | Broward Ct., Fla. |
| LB | Armoni Holloway | Senior | Alabama A&M | Pinson, Ala. |
| LB | Keonte Hampton | Junior | Jackson State | West Point, Miss. |
| LB | Tre’Shaud Smith | Senior | Prairie View A&M | Centreville, Miss. |
| DB | Qwynnterrio Cole | Senior | Alcorn State | Memphis, Tenn. |
| DB | Naytron Culpepper | Junior | Alabama State | Miami, Fla. |
| DB | Drake Cheatum | Junior | Prairie View A&M | Mesquite, Texas |
| DB | Jaylen Harris | Redshirt Senior | Prairie View A&M | Round Rock, Texas |
Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football First Team Specialist
| Position | Name | Classification | School | Hometown |
| K | Spencer Corey | Senior | Alabama A&M | New Palestine, Ind. |
| P | Caleb Darbone | Junior | Prairie View A&M | Lake Charles, La. |
| RS | Tyrin Ralph | Redshirt Senior | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | New Orleans, La. |
Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football Second Team Offense
| Position | Name | Classification | School | Hometown |
| QB | Aqeel Glass | Senior | Alabama A&M | St. Louis, Mo. |
| RB | Ezra Gray | Redshirt Senior | Alabama State | Lynnhaven, Fla. |
| RB | Niko Duffey | Sophomore | Alcorn State | Tampa, Fla. |
| OL | Dexter Fuqua, II | Junior | Alabama A&M | Tanner, Ala. |
| OL | J’Atyre Carter | Senior | Southern | White Castle, La. |
| OL | DeJohn Jones | Senior | Prairie View A&M | Garland, Texas |
| OL | Joseph Milburn | Senior | Alcorn State | Mansfield, Texas |
| OL | Will Ready | Sophomore | Alcorn State | Mansfield, Texas |
| WR | Zabrian Moore | Senior | Alabama A&M | Tuscaloosa, Ala. |
| WR | Michael Jefferson | Junior | Alabama State | Mobile, Ala. |
| TE | Kyland Richey | Senior | Jackson State | Cedar Hill, Texas |
Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football Second Team Defense
| Position | Name | Classification | School | Hometown |
| DL | Jordan Lewis | Junior | Southern | Ocala, Fla. |
| DL | Xavier Mitchell | Redshirt Junior | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | New Orleans, La. |
| DL | Chris Monroe | Senior | Alcorn State | Petal, Miss. |
| DL | Michael Badejo | Redshirt Senior | Texas Southern | Mansfield, Texas |
| LB | Caleb Carter | Redshirt Senior | Southern | Shreveport, La. |
| LB | Quantravis Kelly | Redshirt Senior | Alabama A&M | Montgomery, Ala. |
| LB | Storey Jackson | Senior | Prairie View A&M | Olathe, Kansas |
| DB | Tamaurice Smith | Redshirt Junior | Southern | Mobile, Ala. |
| DB | Shawn Steele | Senior | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | Arlington, Texas |
| DB | C.J. Holmes | Senior | Jackson State | New Orleans, La. |
| DB | Juwan Taylor | Senior | Alcorn State | Jackson, Miss. |
Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football Second Team Specialist
| Position | Name | Classification | School | Hometown |
| K | Richard Garcia, III | Sophomore | Texas Southern | Mesquite, Texas |
| RS | Ezra Gray | Senior | Alabama State | Lynn Haven, Fla. |