SWAC announces 2016 Preseason All-Conference teams

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The Southwestern Athletic Conference released its 2016 SWAC Preseason Teams with Southern running back Lenard Tillery and Alabama State linebacker Kourtney Berry being tabbed for individual honors.

The teams were released during the 2016 SWAC Football Media Day after ballots were completed by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors. Fifty-one players were named to this year’s preseason teams, with several returning players that earned all-conference at the conclusion of the 2015 season. Should a player that was named to the first team during the postseason not return, the second-team player for that position was elevated to the first team. Players were ranked in their position based on the number of votes received.

After leading the league in rushing en route to a second-straight first-team All-SWAC nod, Tillery was the voters’ favorite for the SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year award. For the third-straight year, Berry was tabbed as SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Tillery rushed for 1,211 yards on 197 carries (6.1 average) in 2015, scoring a SWAC-best 14 touchdowns on the ground for the Jaguars. He was the only runner to average 100 yards or better a game, posting an average of 110.1 yards per contest.

The Baton Rouge, La. native is one of five Southern players on the preseason first-team offense, with quarterback Austin Howard, offensive linemen Anthony Mosley and Terrell Lee, tight end Dillon Beard and return specialist Willie Quinn. Rounding out the first-team offense are running back Martez Carter (Grambling State), offensive linemen Detonio Dade (Alcorn State), Justin Miller (Grambling State), Josiah Freeman (Prairie View A&M), and wide receivers Chad Williams (Grambling State) and Daniel Williams (Jackson State).

Berry, who won the 2015 SWAC Defensive Player of the Year award, has led the SWAC in stops during each of his first three seasons. The Merrillville, Ind. product accounted for a league-best 130 tackles and two fumble recoveries. He is a three-time First Team All-SWAC performer and has earned several pre-and post-season honors.

Joining Berry on the preseason first-team defense are: defensive linemen Stacey Garner (Alcorn State), Javancy Jones (Jackson State), Mike Brooks (Alcorn State), and DeVohn Reed (Prairie View A&M), linebackers Darien Anderson (Alcorn State) and Willie Duncan (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), and defensive backs Guy Stallworth (Grambling State), Marquice O’Leary (Prairie View A&M), Danny Johnson (Southern) and Marquis Green (Mississippi Valley State).

Kicker Marc Orozco (Grambling State) and punter Haiden McCraney were each tabbed as first team selections for special teams.

Two-time defending champion Alcorn State totaled 44 votes points as it was named the preseason favorite out of the East Division. Alabama State followed with 35 points, Jackson State received 28 points, followed by Alabama A&M (16) and Mississippi Valley State (12).

Out in the West Division, Prairie View A&M was chosen as the division favorite after amassing 41 points in the voting. Grambling State followed with 35 points, and Southern received 32 points. Texas Southern (16) and Arkansas Pine Bluff (11) rounded out the order of predicted finish.

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Lenard Tillery (RB) – Southern
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Kourtney Berry (LB) - Alabama State

2016 Preseason All SWAC Football Team
* indicates tie in voting at the position

FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB	Austin Howard	Southern
RB	Lenard Tillery	Southern
RB	Martez Carter	Grambling State
OL	Detonio Dade	Alcorn State
OL	Justin Miller	Grambling State
OL	Anthony Mosley	Southern
OL	Josiah Freeman	Prairie View A&M
OL	Terrell Lee	Southern
WR	Chad Williams	Grambling State
WR	Daniel Williams	Jackson State
TE	Dillon Beard	Southern

DEFENSE
DL	Stacey Garner	Alcorn State
DL	Javancy Jones	Jackson State
DL	Mike Brooks	Alcorn State
DL	DeVohn Reed	Prairie View A&M
LB	Kourtney Berry	Alabama State
LB	Darien Anderson	Alcorn State
LB	Willie Duncan	Arkansas-Pine Bluff
DB	Guy Stallworth	Grambling State
DB	Marquice O’Leary	Prairie View A&M
DB	Danny Johnson	Southern
DB	Marquis Green	Mississippi Valley State

SPECIAL TEAMS
K	Marc Orozco	Grambling State
P	Haiden McCraney	Alcorn State
RS	Willie Quinn	Southern

SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
QB	Lennoris Footman	Alcorn State
RB	Khalid Thomas	Alabama State
RB	Arron Baker	Alcorn State
OL	David Adams	Arkansas-Pine Bluff
OL	Sam Baptiste	Alabama State
OL	Frank Carter	Jackson State
OL	Markus Cook	Jackson State
OL	Kerry Williams	Alabama State
WR	Derrick Griffin	Texas Southern
WR	Marquis Warford *	Alcorn State
WR	Willie Young *	Arkansas-Pine Bluff
TE	Brandon Campbell	Alcorn State

DEFENSE
DL	Cornelius Henderson	Jackson State
DL	CeaJae Bryant	Southern
DL	Robert Brown	Alabama State
DL	Roderick Henderson	Alabama State
LB	Bryan Brower	Alabama A&M
LB	Aaron Tiller	Southern
LB	Arkez Cooper	Grambling State
DB	D'Andre Smith	Alcorn State
DB	Farrean Toney	Mississippi Valley State
DB	Dominique Weaver	Prairie View A&M
DB	Eric Foster	Alcorn State

SPECIAL TEAMS
K	Jamie Gillan	Arkansas-Pine Bluff
P	Trevor Vincent	Alabama State
RS	Booker Chambers* Octayvious Miles*		Mississippi Valley State Alabama A&M

2016 Eastern Division Predicted Order of Finish

School	Points
Alcorn State	44
Alabama State	35
Jackson State	28
Alabama A&M	16
Mississippi Valley State	12

2016 Western Division Predicted Order of Finish

School	Points
Prairie View A&M	41
Grambling State	35
Southern	32
Texas Southern	16
Arkansas-Pine Bluff	11

COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS