2018 SWAC Football All-Conference Teams Released

2018 SWAC FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS RELEASED - @aamubulldogs @bamastatesports @bravesports @GSU_Tigers @GOJSUTigers @MVSUDevilSports @PVAMUPanthers @SouthernUSports @TXSOTigers @UAPBLionsRoar #SWACFB https://t.co/KRNioqflMn

— The SWAC (@theswac) November 29, 2018

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama --  The Southwestern Athletic Conference released its 2018 All-Conference Teams on Thursday with 12 players from the SWAC East Division champions Alcorn State being tabbed for the most individual honors. 

The teams were announced two days prior to the 2018 Toyota SWAC Football Championship at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium on the campus of Alcorn State University in Lorman, Miss., after ballots were cast by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

48 players were named to this year’s All-Conference teams. Players were ranked in their position based upon the number of votes received.  Ballots required voters to rank their selections in order. 

After helping lead the Braves to a conference-best eight-win season, Alcorn State quarterback Noah Johnson was the voters’ choice for the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year award.  Following up on his Preseason All-SWAC First team nod, Johnson delivered as the redshirt junior completed a conference best 63.4 percent of his passes (168-of-265) and threw for 1,944 yards with 15 touchdowns against eight interceptions.  The Tampa, Fla. native also held the top passing efficiency with a rating of 137.7.

Additionally, Johnson thrived as a dual threat by accounting for the fifth highest total of rushing yards in the conference with 813 yards on the ground and seven touchdowns.  He was second in the SWAC in total yards of offense with 2,757.

De’Arius Christmas was tabbed as the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year for a second consecutive season after he racked up 55 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, two interceptions with one returned for a touchdown and two forced fumbles.  The senior linebacker from Vicksburg, Miss. also recorded seven quarterback hits and blocked a kick on the season. 

Alcorn State redshirt junior transfer De’Shawn Waller was named the SWAC Newcomer of the Year after the running back ranked fourth in the conference in rushing yards with 871 and was also tied for second in the SWAC in rushing touchdowns with nine and was ranked second in average rushing yards per contest with 108.9.  The Atlanta, Ga. native had transferred from Hutchinson Community College in the offseason.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff wide receiver Dejuan Miller was named the SWAC Freshman of the Year after ranking tied for first in the conference in receptions with 56, third in receiving yardage with 801, and was tied for second in receiving touchdowns with six.  The Belle Glade, Fla., native was also third in receiving yards per game with 72.8 and was second in receptions per contest with 5.1.  During one stretch, Miller eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark three consecutive weeks and recorded a season-high 10 catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns versus Grambling State on Oct. 27.

Fred McNair was dubbed the SWAC Coach of the Year after leading the Braves to a fifth straight SWAC East Division crown.  Alcorn State was first in points allowed per game (20.6), boosted the conference’s best run stopping defense (allowed 93.2 yards per game), tied for second most interceptions (12), most sacks (45) and limited opponents to the least amount of first downs per game (15.9).  On offense, Alcorn State was ranked second in the conference in points per game (33.2), first in total average yards of offense (471.3) and was first in rushing yards per game (274.3).

Prairie View A&M had the second most total amount of selections on the teams with nine (seven on Second Team), Arkansas-Pine Bluff followed with seven selections (five on First Team) while Alabama A&M and Alabama State each had five choices apiece named to the teams.  The Bulldogs had two players named to First Team and the Hornets had one player honored with a First Team slot. 

Grambling State had five student-athletes chosen to the teams including two on First Team.  Southern, Texas Southern, Mississippi Valley State and Jackson State all had two selections each with one First team player apiece.

There were two players who received multiple team selections in kicker/punter Jamie Gillan (Arkansas-Pine Bluff) and Mississippi Valley State wide receiver/return specialist Booker Chambers.  Gillan was voted on as both the First Team kicker and punter while Chambers was named to the First Team as a return specialist and was awarded Second Team honors in the wide receiver position.

Offensive Player of the Year: Noah Johnson (QB) – Alcorn State
Defensive Player of the Year: De’Arius Christmas (LB) – Grambling State
Newcomer of the Year: De’Shawn Waller (RB) – Alcorn State
Freshman of the Year: Dejuan Miller (WR) – Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Coach of the Year: Fred McNair – Alcorn State

2018 All-SWAC Football Team

FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB	Noah Johnson	Alcorn State
RB	Taeyler Porter	Arkansas-Pine Bluff
RB	De’Shawn Waller	Alcorn State
OL	Chris McCrea	Alcorn State
OL	Tytus Howard	Alabama State
OL	Mustaffa Ibrahim	Alcorn State
OL	Jodeci Harris	Southern
OL	Kevin Hall	Alcorn State
WR	Bobby Hartzog	Texas Southern
WR	DeJuan Miller	Arkansas-Pine Bluff
TE	Zarrian Holcombe	Prairie View A&M

DEFENSE
DL	Terry Whittington	Alcorn State
DL	Sterling Shippy	Alcorn State
DL	Jalen Steward	Arkansas-Pine Bluff
DL	Yurik Bethune	Alabama A&M
LB	De’Arius Christmas	Grambling State
LB	Armoni Holloway	Alabama A&M
LB	Solomon Muhammad	Alcorn State
DB	Javen Morrison	Alcorn State
DB	Qwynnterrio Cole	Alcorn State
DB	Joseph McWilliams	Grambling State
DB	Ju’Anthony Parker	Prairie View A&M

SPECIAL TEAMS
K	Jamie Gillan	Arkansas-Pine Bluff
P	Jamie Gillan	Arkansas-Pine Bluff
RS	Booker Chambers	Miss. Valley State

SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
QB	Aqeel Glass	Alabama A&M
RB	Dawonya Tucker	Prairie View A&M
RB	Trevon Walters	Alabama A&M
OL	Christian Rice	Prairie View A&M
OL	David Aduo	Arkansas-Pine Bluff
OL	Deonte Brooks	Alcorn State
OL	DeJohn Jones	Prairie View A&M
OL	Jaylon Brinson	Southern
WR	Booker Chambers	Miss. Valley State
WR	Tristan Wallace	Prairie View A&M
TE	Jaquaveon Boles	Alcorn State

DEFENSE
DL	Quinton Bell	Prairie View A&M
DL	Willie Green	Prairie View A&M
DL	Anferenee Mullins	Grambling State
DL	Malik Hamner	Jackson State
LB	Darron Johnson	Alabama State
LB	Je’Kevin Carter	Arkansas-Pine Bluff
LB	Sean Jones	Texas Southern
DB	Percy Cargo	Grambling State
DB	Will Skinner	Prairie View A&M
DB	Dylan Hamilton	Alabama A&M
DB	Kurron Ramsey	Alabama State

SPECIAL TEAMS
K	Christian Jacquemin	Jackson State
P	Anthony Craven	Alabama State
RS	Ezra Gray	Alabama State

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