BIRMINGHAM – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2022 Preseason All-SWAC Football selections and Predicted Order of Finish during SWAC Football Media Day at the Sheraton Hotel in Downtown Birmingham. The Preseason All-SWAC teams, Individual Winners, and Predicted Order of Finish was voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors. 

Jackson State’s Shedeur Sanders was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year while Florida A&M’s Isaiah Land was tabbed Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Jackson State’s Sanders had a stellar debut season for the Tigers as he was named the Stats Perform FCS Jerry Rice Award recipient. At the conclusion of regular season play, he led the SWAC with a 68.7 completion percentage while passing for 2971 yards (2^nd in SWAC), 28 touchdowns (2^nd in SWAC), and only five interceptions. Sanders averaged 270.1 passing yards (2^nd in SWAC) per game while leading the Tigers to an undefeated 8-0 record in league play and their first SWAC Championship appearance since 2013.

Florida A&M’s Land was one of the top players in the nation this past season as he was named the Stats Perform FCS Buck Buchanan Award recipient. At the conclusion of regular season play, he led the nation with 25.5 tackles for loss and 19 sacks. Land also added three forced fumbles, two pass breakups, and one fumble recovery. Land was named SWAC Defensive Player of the Week after setting a Rattlers’ record of five sacks versus South Carolina State. He recorded a sack or tackles for loss in ten of the 11 games this season and recorded two or more sacks in five games and did the same for tackles for loss in six games.

The league’s 2022 Predicted Order of Finish was also announced as Jackson State (116) was selected to finish in first place in the SWAC Eastern Division. Florida A&M (108), Alabama A&M (87), Alabama State (60), Bethune-Cookman (56), and Mississippi Valley State (35) round out the East Division Preseason Poll rankings.

Southern (111) was tabbed to finish in first place in the SWAC Western Division. Alcorn State (110), Prairie View A&M (82), Grambling State (77), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (42), and Texas Southern (40) round out the West Division Preseason Poll rankings.

A complete listing of the Preseason All-SWAC teams, Individual Winners, and Predicted Order of Finish is listed below.

Predicted Order of Finish

SWAC East

1. Jackson State- 116 points (12) 
2. Florida A&M- 108 points (7)
3. Alabama A&M- 87 points (2) 
4. Alabama State- 60 points (1) 
5. Bethune-Cookman- 56 points
6. Mississippi Valley State- 35 points

SWAC West 

1. Southern- 111 points (11) 
2. Alcorn State- 110 points (5) 
3. Prairie View A&M- 82 points (5) 
4. Grambling State- 77 points (1)
5. Arkansas-Pine Bluff- 42 points
6. Texas Southern- 40 points 

*First place votes listed in parenthesis ( )

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Shedeur Sanders, Jackson State 

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Isaiah Land, Florida A&M

Preseason All-SWAC First Team Offense
Quarterback: Shedeur Sanders, Jackson State 
Running Back: Gary Quarles, Alabama A&M
Running Back: Caleb Johnson, Mississippi Valley State
Offensive Lineman: Dallas Black, Southern
Offensive Lineman: Mark Evans II, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Offensive Lineman: Drake Centers, Texas Southern
Offensive Lineman: Tony Gray, Jackson State 
Offensive Lineman: Robert Alston, Alabama State
Wide Receiver: Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, Alabama A&M
Wide Receiver: Xavier Smith, Florida A&M
Tight End: Kemari Averett, Bethune-Cookman

Preseason All-SWAC First Team Defense
Defensive Lineman: Sundiata Anderson, Grambling State
Defensive Lineman: Ronnie Thomas, Mississippi Valley State
Defensive Lineman: Jason Dumas, Southern 
Defensive Lineman: Jordan Lewis, Southern
Linebacker: Isaiah Land, Florida A&M
Linebacker: Aubrey Miller, Jackson State 
Linebacker: Monroe Beard III, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 
Defensive Back: Omari Hill-Robinson, Bethune-Cookman
Defensive Back: Irshaad Davis, Alabama State
Defensive Back: Shilo Sanders, Jackson State 
Defensive Back: BJ Bohler, Florida A&M 

Preseason All-SWAC First Team Specialist
Place Kicker: Jose Romo-Martinez, Florida A&M
Punter: Josh Sanchez, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Long Snapper: Thomas Reny, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Return Specialist: Isaiah Bolden, Jackson State

Preseason All-SWAC Second Team Offense
Quarterback: Andrew Body, Texas Southern  
Running Back: Niko Duffey, Alcorn State  
Running Back: Jaden Stewart, Prairie View A&M  
Offensive Lineman: Jeremiah Stafford, Southern 
Offensive Lineman: Brian Williams, Southern  
Offensive Lineman: Cameron Covin, Florida A&M
Offensive Lineman: Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M
Offensive Lineman: Arrington Taylor, Prairie View A&M 
Wide Receiver: C.J. Bolar, Alcorn State
Wide Receiver: Malachi Wideman, Jackson State 
Tight End: Jyrin Johnson, Texas Southern

Preseason All-SWAC Second Team Defense
Defensive Lineman: Jalen Bell, Mississippi Valley State 
Defensive Lineman: Troy James, Prairie View A&M
Defensive Lineman: Devonta Davis, Jackson State 
Defensive Lineman: Athen Smith, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 
Linebacker: Tarik Cooper, Texas Southern  
Linebacker: Claudin Cherelus, Alcorn State 
Linebacker: Blake Thomas, Grambling State 
Defensive Back: Cam’Ron Silman-Craig, Jackson State 
Defensive Back: Quincy Mitchell, Grambling State 
Defensive Back: Caleb Brunson, Mississippi Valley State 
Defensive Back: Javan Morgan, Florida A&M

Preseason All-SWAC Second Team Specialist
Place Kicker: Garrett Urban, Grambling State
Punter: Garrett Urban, Grambling State
Long Snapper: Desmond Calloway, Prairie View A&M
Return Specialist: Darnell Deas, Bethune-Cookman