Five Bulldogs named to Preseason All-SWAC team, Bulldogs picked to finish third

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Montaurius Smith, Corey Johnson, Reginald Bailey, Justin Goodrich and Derrick Harris were each named to the Preseason All-SWAC second-team announced today at the Southwestern Athletic Conference football media days.

Bailey, Johnson, Smith and Harris each received their first preseason nod while Goodrich earns his second straight as he was named to the 2012 squad.

Also for the second straight year the Bulldogs were picked to fininsh third in the Eastern Division.  At the beginning of 2012 A&M was in a similar situation after coming off their fifth championship game in the last ten years.  They finished the season third with a 6-3 record.
Defending champion, UAPB, led the way with 11 selections including nine voted to the first team. Alabama State, Jackson State, and Prairie View A&M had seven picks apiece. ASU and PVAMU tallied three players on the first team with JSU posting two.

Alabama A&M and Southern each recorded five picks with SU finishing the tally with three players making the first team.



Rounding out the selections include: Mississippi Valley with four players, registering two on the top team. Alcorn State, Grambling State and Texas southern posted one player apiece on the second team.

For the predicted order of finish in both divisions, Arkansas-Pine Bluff totaled 105 points, including 14 first-place votes, to become the favorite out of the West Division. Southern followed with 88 points, Prairie View A&M gathered 83 points, with Grambling State (51) and Texas Southern (38) closing the division's preseason ranking.

In the East Division, Alabama State claimed 108 points with 15 first-place votes. Jackson State received 102 points followed by Alabama A&M (60), Mississippi Valley State (51) and Alcorn State (40).

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION