Jackson State And Grambling Picked To Win Football Divisions

Birmingham, Ala. – SWAC Football Media Day concluded Tuesday at the Birmingham Sheraton with coaches and media awarding Jackson State quarterback Casey Therriault and Prairie View defensive back Moses Ellis preseason player of the year honors. Grambling and Jackson State were also voted to be the favorites in their respective divisions.

Therriault was a Walter Payton Award finalist last year after leading the Tigers offense with 3,436 yards passing and 31 touchdowns – with just 8 interceptions. He completed 58.4 percent of his passes and finished 3rd in the NCAA in passing yards per game. He led JSU to an 8-3 record last season and was a 2010 SBN All-America selection. Therriault is on the 2011 Preseason Walter Payton Award Watch List.

Ellis was an All-America selection after a 2010 season where he intercepted Prairie View opponents 8 times, which led the NCAA Div. I-FCS. He also broke up 14 other passes and recovered 2 fumbles. Ellis accounted for 41 total tackles, and 28 of those were solo takedowns.

Preseason All-SWAC 1st-team Offense
QB    Casey Therriault * Jackson State * Sr.
RB    Marcus Wright * Texas Southern * Sr.
RB    Martin Gilbert * Texas Southern * Sr.
WR   Nick Andrews * Alabama State * Sr.
WR   Marcellos Wilder * Jackson State * Sr.
TE    Renty Rollins * Jackson State * Sr.
OL    James Dekle * Prairie View A&M * Sr.
OL    Sanford Banks * Grambling State * Jr.
OL    Terren Jones * Alabama State * Jr.
OL    Chris Browne * Southern * Jr.
OL    Roderick Gladney * Jackson State * Sr.

Preseason All-SWAC 1st-team Defense
DL    Marquis Jackson * Texas Southern * Jr.
DL    Donavan Robinson * Jackson State * Sr.
DL    Jomarcus Savage * Grambling State * Jr.
DL    Kynjee Cotton * Alabama State * Sr.
LB    Cliff Exama * Grambling State * Sr.
LB    Jer-ryan Harris * Arkansas-Pine Bluff * So.
LB    Willie Fuller * Alabama A&M * Jr.
DB    Moses Ellis * Prairie View A&M * Sr.
DB    Kejuan Riley * Alabama State * Jr.
DB    Zack Gallow * Texas Southern * Sr.
DB    Tim Dandridge * Jackson State * Sr.

Preseason All-SWAC 1st-team Specialists
PK    Zoltan Riazzo * Grambling State * Sr.
P      Arturo Tamayo * Alcorn State * Sr.
RET   B.J. Lee * Jackson State * Jr.

Preseason All-SWAC 2nd-team Offense
QB    Brandon Bridge * Alcorn State * So.
RB    B.J. Lee * Jackson State * Jr.
RB    Kaderius Lacey * Alabama A&M * Jr.
WR   T.C. McWilliams * Alabama State * Jr.
WR   Joe Anderson * Texas Southern * Jr.
TE    Kirk Fitzhugh * Texas Southern * Sr.
OL    Julian Wyndom * Grambling State * Jr.
OL    Tim Tusey * Prairie View A&M * Sr.
OL    Terron Armstead * Arkansas-Pine Bluff * Jr.
OL    Joaquenssi Eugene * Alabama A&M * Jr.
OL    Keyun Swinney * Jackson State * Sr.

Preseason All-SWAC 2nd-team Defense
DL    Johnathan Billups * Jackson State * Jr.
DL    Adrian Hamilton * Prairie View A&M * Sr.
DL    Jonathan Hollins * Texas Southern * Sr.
DL    Antoine Rogers * Grambling State * Sr.
LB    Marcus White * Prairie View A&M * So.
LB    Milton Patterson * Jackson State * Jr.
LB    Demarques Taylor * Alabama State * So.
DB    Anthony Johnson * Jackson State * Sr.
DB    Vernon Marshall * Alabama A&M * Jr.
DB    Donovan Masline * Alabama State * Sr.
DB    Carlos Hollis * Mississippi Valley State * Jr.

Preseason All-SWAC 2nd-team Specialists
PK    Chris Ewald * Arkansas-Pine Bluff * Sr.
P      Chance Wilson * Alabama A&M * Jr.
RET   Byron Williams * Southern * Jr.

SWAC Predicted Order of Finish (1st-place votes)

Western Division

1. Grambling State (12) 103 points
2. Texas Southern (8) 79 points
3. Prairie View A&M (2) 74 points
4. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1) 56 points
5. Southern 33 points

Eastern Division

1. Jackson State (13) 88 points
2. Alcorn State (6) 84 points
3. Alabama State (3) 82 points
4. Alabama A&M (1) 62 points

Mississippi Valley State 27 points