BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Alabama State University, Alcorn State University, Grambling State University and Mississippi Valley State University received the four major 2015 Southwestern Athletic Conference postseason football awards in voting conducted by league head coaches and sports information directors. The conference made the announcement on Wednesday, just three days prior to its 2015 Toyota SWAC Football Championship on Saturday, Dec. 5, at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Grambling State quarterback Johnathan Williams was named Offensive Player of the Year. Alabama State linebacker Kourtney Berry was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year while Alcorn State’s Marquise Warford landed the Newcomer of the Year award. Rounding out the postseason accolades, Mississippi Valley State receiver Booker Chambers was tagged Freshman of the Year.
Southern led the way with 11 selections and five landing on first team. Alcorn State and Grambling State finished second with six and four picks receiving first-team votes respectively.
Williams led Grambling State to a 9-2 overall record (9-0 SWAC) and its first Western Division title since 2011. He helped GSU become the first school to earn a perfect conference record since 2008. The grad student ranks first in the FCS and in the SWAC in touchdown passes (36), first in the conference in passing yards (2,910), third in the SWAC in passing yards per game (262.8) and total offensive yards per game (294.6). Helping those averages was a big win over Prairie View A&M in which Williams passed for 429 yards inlcuding six touchdowns.
Berry led the SWAC and finished fifth in NCAA in tackles with 130. He registered double digit tackles in seven games with a season-high 19 against GSU. Twice Berry has been named SWAC Defensive Player of the Week in 2015. Berry is also listed on the CFPA Defensive Player of the Year Watch List.
Chambers led the Delta Devils in scoring with seven touchdowns. The true freshman hauled in 15 receptions for 194 yards and three touchdowns. Chambers returned 35 kickoffs for 777 yards and a long of 88 yards. Used in a variety of roles, he also rushed for three scores and one passing touchdown. Chambers totaled1,098 all-purpose yards on the season.
In his first Division I collegiate season after transferring from Memphis, Warford racked up nearly 1,000 all-purpose yards. He led the Braves in receptions and was second on the team in receiving yards. He was also fourth on the team in rushing yards while finishing with five touchdowns.
| OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR |
| Johnathan Williams (Grambling State) |
| DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR | |
| Kourtney Berry (Alabama State) | |
| NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR | |
| Marquise Warford (Alcorn State) | |
| FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR | |
| Booker Chambers (Mississippi Valley State) | |
| COACH PLAYER OF THE YEAR |
| Broderick Fobbs |
| FIRST TEAM | ||
| OFFENSE | ||
QB
|
Johnathan Williams
|
Grambling State
|
RB
|
Johnta’ Hebert
|
Prairie View A&M
|
RB
|
Lenard Tillery
|
Southern
|
OL
|
Isekelli Ongosia
|
Alcorn State
|
OL
|
Detonio Dade
|
Alcorn State
|
OL
|
Justin Miller
|
Grambling State
|
OL
|
Anthony Mosley
|
Southern
|
OL
|
Damian Love
|
Alabama State
|
WR
|
Chad Williams
|
Grambling State
|
WR
|
Daniel Williams
|
Jackson State
|
TE
|
Jordan Payne
|
Alcorn State
|
| DEFENSE | ||
DL
|
Stacey Garner
|
Alcorn State
|
DL
|
Darien Moody
|
Alcorn State
|
DL
|
Javancy Jones
|
Jackson State
|
DL
|
Gabe Echols
|
Southern
|
LB
|
Kourtney Berry
|
Alabama State
|
LB
|
Damon Watkins
|
Alcorn State
|
LB
|
Willie Duncan
|
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
|
DB
|
Guy Stallworth
|
Grambling State
|
DB
|
Warren Gatewood
|
Alcorn State
|
DB
|
Danny Johnson
|
Southern
|
DB
|
Marquis Green
|
Mississippi Valley State
|
| SPECIAL TEAMS | ||
K
|
Ryan Deising
|
Jackson State
|
P
|
Cory Carter
|
Texas Southern
|
RS
|
Willie Quinn
|
Southern
|
| SECOND TEAM | ||
| OFFENSE | ||
QB
|
Austin Howard
|
Southern
|
RB
|
Darryan Ragsdale
|
Alcorn State
|
RB
|
Martez Carter
|
Grambling State
|
OL
|
Jordan Johnson
|
Prairie View
|
OL
|
Terrell Lee
|
Southern
|
OL
|
Reginald Redding
|
Southern
|
OL
|
Markus Cook
|
Jackson State
|
OL
|
Kerry Williams
|
Alabama State
|
WR
|
Derric Griffin
|
Texas Southern
|
WR
|
Chester Rogers
|
Grambling State
|
TE
|
Montrell Jones
|
Southern
|
| DEFENSE | ||
DL
|
Demarcus Berry
|
Arkansas Pine Bluff
|
DL
|
Jamison Goins
|
Grambling State
|
DL
|
DeVohn Reed
|
Prairie View
|
DL
|
Michael Jolivet
|
Grambling State
|
LB
|
Darien Anderson
|
Alcorn State
|
LB
|
Aaron Tiller
|
Southern
|
LB
|
Arkez Cooper
|
Grambling State
|
DB
|
Dionte McDuffy
|
Southern
|
DB
|
Robert Porter
|
Jackson State
|
DB
|
Marquice O’Leary
|
Prairie View
|
DB
|
Dominique Weaver
|
Prairie View
|
| SPECIAL TEAMS | ||
K
|
Marc Orozco
|
Grambling State
|
P
|
Haiden McCraney
|
Alcorn State
|
RS
|
Booker Chambers/Octayvious Miles
|
Mississippi Valley State/Alabama A&M
|
COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS
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