BIRMINGHAM -- Alabama State is picked to finish second in the SWAC East behind two-time defending league champion, Alcorn State, as the results were announced Friday at SWAC media day.
The predicted order of finish was a result of votes of the 10 head coaches and sports information directors.
"I don't even pay attention to things like that," Alabama State coach Brian Jenkins said. "I learned from a coach a long time ago if you start pay attention to that and those things really matter, then why play the season? Just go ahead and give who you've got picked first, give them the trophy and go from there."
The Hornets received 35 points while Alcorn State tallied 44. Jackson State (28) was picked to finish third followed by Alabama A&M (16) and Mississippi Valley State (12).
"It's fuel, motivation," ASU senior center Kerry Williams said. "We use anything we can as motivation. I don't think nobody wants to finish second. Nobody ever wants to finish second. Everybody wants to finish first. That's our goal. To finish first and win a SWAC championship."
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2016 Preseason All SWAC Football Team
* indicates tie in voting at the position
2016 Eastern Division Predicted Order of Finish
2016 Western Division Predicted Order of Finish
* 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 |