BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference released its 2013 SWAC Preseason Teams with University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff quarterback, Ben Anderson, and Jackson State University defensive back, Qua Cox, spotlighting the honors.
The announcement was made during the 2013 SWAC Football Media Day.
In a vote by the league’s football head coaches, sports information directors and select members of the media, Anderson was named SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year with Cox tabbed as the SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Both student-athletes join 49 players that total this year’s preseason squads. All 10 member institutions were represented on this year’s team.
Defending champion, UAPB, led the way with 11 selections including nine voted to the first team. Alabama State, Jackson State, and Prairie View A&M had seven picks apiece. ASU and PVAMU tallied three players on the first team with JSU posting two.
Alabama A&M and Southern each recorded five picks with SU finishing the tally with three players making the first team. Rounding out the selections include: Mississippi Valley with four players, registering two on the top team. Alcorn State, Grambling State and Texas southern posted one player apiece on the second team.
Anderson finished last season on the All-SWAC First Team before leading the Golden Lions to their first-outright SWAC Championship crown since sharing the title in 1966. He was named Offensive MVP of the 2012 Toyota SWAC Football Championship after lifting UAPB to a 24-21 overtime win over Jackson State.
He helped the Golden Lions claim a West Division title on their way to a 10-2 record, the most wins in the program’s history. With Anderson, UAPB captured the HSRN Conway Cup and the network’s National Championship title. The Golden Lions were also named Black College National Champions by the American Sports Wire.
Anderson completed the season with 2,346 passing yards and 16 touchdowns finishing second in SWAC. He rushed for 524 yards and recorded five touchdowns on the ground. He led UAPB in total offense (2,870) while finishing second in the league in the category.
Anderson is joined on the preseason first-team offense with running backs Isaiah Crowell (Alabama State) and Justin Billings (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), wide receivers Lee Doss (Southern) and LaDarius Eckwood (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), tight end Dezmond Beverly (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), along with offensive linemen Kenny Eagle (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), Damien Love (Alabama State), Tre Glover (Prairie View A&M), Dillon Bonnet (Prairie View A&M) and Edmund Davis (Alabama State).
Last year, Cox led the SWAC with five interceptions leading JSU (7-5) for a consecutive season. He helped the Tigers pick up five consecutive wins to close the regular season en route to winning the Eastern Division with an appearance in the SWAC Football Championship. Cox led the JSU defensive backs with eight pass break-ups and 13 passes defended.
He closed the year with 50 tackles (36 solo) including five for a loss and two sacks on a defensive unit that led the league in sacks with 43. He was named to the All-SWAC First Team at the end of the regular season. For the preseason, Cox was placed on the watch lists for the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) and The Sports Network (TSN). He was also named a TSN FCS preseason All-American and selected to the network’s Buck Buchanan Award watch list.
Along with Cox, the preseason first-team defense includes: defensive linemen Robert Simpson (Mississippi Valley State), Damien Lee (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), Teddrick Terrell (Jackson State), and DeMarcus Berry (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), linebackers Jer-Ryan Harris (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), Jerome Harris (Prairie View A&M), and Anthony Balancier (Southern) with defensive backs Ryan Shaw (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), Kevin Eugene (Mississippi Valley State) and Virgil Williams (Southern) closing out the ranks.
For the special teams, Williams (Southern) and Bobby Wenzig (Alabama State) spotlighted the selections. Wenzig topped the votes to garner the first-team place kicker and punter slots. Williams added to his first team defensive back selection receiving the votes for the return specialist.
For the predicted order of finish in both divisions, Arkansas-Pine Bluff totaled 105 points, including 14 first-place votes, to become the favorite out of the West Division. Southern followed with 88 points, Prairie View A&M gathered 83 points, with Grambling State (51) and Texas Southern (38) closing the divison’s preseason ranking.
In the East Division, Alabama State claimed 108 points with 15 first-place votes. Jackson State received 102 points followed by Alabama A&M (60), Mississippi Valley State (51) and Alcorn State (40).
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Ben Anderson (QB) – Arkansas – Pine Bluff
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Qua Cox (DB) – Jackson State
2013 Preseason All-SWAC Football Preseason – First Team
OFFENSE
QB Ben Anderson Arkansas – Pine Bluff
RB Isaiah Crowell Alabama State
RB Justin Billings Arkansas – Pine Bluff
WR Lee Doss Southern
WR LaDarius Eckwood Arkansas – Pine Bluff
TE Dezmond Beverly Arkansas – Pine Bluff
OL Kenny Eagle Arkansas – Pine Bluff
OL Tre Glover Prairie View A&M
OL Damien Love Alabama State
OL Dillon Bonnet Prairie View A&M
OL Edmund Davis Alabama State
PK Bobby Wenzig Alabama State
P Bobby Wenzig Alabama State
RS Virgil Williams Southern
DEFENSE
DL Robert Simpson Mississippi Valley State
DL Damien Lee Arkansas – Pine Bluff
DL Tedderick Terrell Jackson State
DL DeMarcus Berry Arkansas – Pine Bluff
LB Jer-Ryan Harris Arkansas – Pine Bluff
LB Jerome Howard Prairie View A&M
LB Anthony Balancier Southern
DB Qua Cox Jackson State
DB Ryan Shaw Arkansas – Pine Bluff
DB Kevin Eugene Mississippi Valley State
DB Virgil Williams Southern
2013 Preseason All-SWAC Football Preseason – Second Team
OFFENSE
QB Dray Joseph Southern
RB Tommy Gooden Jackson State
RB Rakeem Sims Jackson State
WR Julian Stafford Mississippi Valley State
WR Montarius Smith Alabama A&M
TE Justin Robinson Alabama State
TE Olatunde’ Idowu Prairie View A&M
OL Keathric Brown Arkansas – Pine Bluff
OL Jordan Arthur Jackson State
OL Clint Marsh Grambling State
OL Justin Goodrich Alabama A&M
OL Antonio Griggs Mississippi Valley State
PK Chris Barrick Prairie View A&M
P Travis Jatzlau Prairie View A&M
RS Johnta’ Hebert Prairie View A&M
DEFENSE
DL Carlton Jones Alabama State
DL Reginald Bailey Alabama A&M
DL Arthur Miley Southern
DL Corey Johnson Alabama A&M
LB Xavier Lofton Arkansas – Pine Bluff
LB Todd Wilcher Jackson State
LB DeMarques Taylor Alabama State
DB Cameron Loeffler Jackson State
DB Jamison Knox Alcorn State
DB Le’Tevin Wilcox Texas Southern
DB Derrick Harris Alabama A&M
2013 Predicted Order of Finish: (First-Place Votes)
WEST DIVISION
1. Arkansas – Pine Bluff 105 (14)
2. Southern 88 (6)
3. Prairie View A&M 82 (3)
4. Grambling State 51 (1)
5. Texas Southern 38
EAST DIVISION
1. Alabama State 108 (15)
2. Jackson State 102 (9)
3. Alabama A&M 60
4. Mississippi Valley State 51
5. Alcorn State 40
Courtesy: SWAC.org
