The Southwestern Athletic Conference announces its 2007 All-Conference Football Players of the Year awards as two running backs, a return specialist and a linebacker claiming the top honors.
The 2007 SWAC Offensive Player of the Year is senior running back Jay Peck of Alabama State. Peck led the conference in carries, rushing yards and 100-yard rushing games. He finished the season with 246 carries for 1,186 yards and six touchdowns. He had seven 100-yard rushing yard games this season ending his collegiate career with 12 games over the century mark.
The Columbus, Ohio, native finished his career with 2,346 rushing yards (third on the school’s all-time list behind Brad Baxter and Rico White). Peck was the Hornets’ most consistent runner this season, gaining 141 yards and a score at Texas Southern and 173 yards and a touchdown at Mississippi Valley State. Peck also caught 21 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown.
The 2007 SWAC Defensive Player of the Year is senior linebacker Zach East of Prairie View A&M. East came on strong during the end of last season and continued his strong play in 2007. He finished the season with 127 total tackles (67 solo). He also tallied 14.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, four forced fumbles and a blocked kick. He had double-digit stops in nine games this season including an 18-tackle performance versus Grambling State and a 19-tackle performance against Jackson State. East ends his two-year career for the Panthers with 187 total tackles.
The SWAC Freshman of the Year is running back Frank Warren of Grambling State. Warren, while splitting time with running back Cornelius Walker, became a consistent force for the Tigers this season as the team won the Western Division. He has 182 carries for 862 yards and four touchdowns; he averaged 4.7 yards per carry while tallying 78.4 yards per game. He also caught 18 passes for 88 yards and one touchdown. He had 143 yards on 30 carries against Alcorn State and 149 yards and a touchdown against Texas Southern. He had seven games with over sixty yards rushing.
The SWAC Newcomer of the Year is wide receiver/return specialist Bruce Peters of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Peters saw action in 11 games contributing as both a punt and kick returner. He has 17 kickoff returns averaging 20.5 yards per return with a long of 33 against Grambling State. He also tallied 24 punt returns averaging 11.0 yards per return including a 60-yard return against Alcorn State. Peters also caught nine passes for 115 yards on offense. He finished the season with 349 kick return yards, 264 punt return yards and 728 all-purpose yards.
