As the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s annual Football Media Day takes place, let’s look at some of the conference’s top quarterbacks, who will look to lead sharp offenses to a SWAC championship and a Celebration Bowl appearance.
1. Jacobian Morgan, Jackson State
The Syracuse transfer put together some solid statistics in half a season’s work for the Tigers in 2023, passing for 842 yards and 10 touchdowns against just one interception.
The 6’4, 227-pound junior also showed his durability and versatility, rushing for six touchdowns last year. With an entire season under his belt in T.C. Taylor’s offense, Morgan is a SWAC offensive player of the year candidate as JSU looks to return to the top of the conference mountain.
2. Andrew Body, Alabama State
Eddie Robinson Jr.’s Hornets now have the experienced, talented quarterback they’ve needed to possibly put them over the top in the SWAC East in Body, who transferred to Montgomery after compiling over 3000 yards of total offense and 21 touchdowns in parts of three seasons at Texas Southern. Body’s ability to run and throw gives ASU a certified offensive weapon to complement their already stout defense. If Body can stay healthy, the Hornets are certainly on the shortlist of contenders for a trip to Atlanta.
3. Myles Crawley, Grambling State
The Alabama State transfer took hold of the quarterback position for the Tigers last season, throwing for over 2,300 yards and 16 touchdowns on a 60% completion rate.
If Grambling State can protect Crawley, as well as give him some help in the backfield, the Tigers will be in the hunt for the SWAC West championship again this season
4. Noah Bodden, Southern
Grambling State transfer Bodden finally got a chance to start for the Jaguars in the biggest game of their season in 2023, a 27-22 win over his former teammates in the 50th edition of the Bayou Classic. Bodden will look to take that momentum into 2024 as the favorite for the Jaguars’ starting job.
5. Xavier Lankford, Alabama A&M
Lankford is the most experienced signal-caller on the Bulldogs’ roster, throwing for 777 yards and seven touchdowns and rushing for 101 yards and four scores on the ground in 2023.
In another highly competitive year ahead for the SWAC’s Eastern Division, Lankford will be the key to AAMU’s success this season.
6. Walter Simmons III, Bethune-Cookman
Simmons saw the most action for the returning Wildcat QBs in 2023, completing 50.4 percent of his passes for 496 yards and two passing touchdowns while leading BCU in rushing touchdowns (five). He’ll face stiff competition from grad student Tylik Bethea and sophomore transfer from Virginia-Lynchburg C.J. Brooks, but Simmons’ experience might be the Wildcats’ best bet as they try to break through in the SWAC East.
7. Ty’Jarian Williams, Mississippi Valley State
The 6’3, 240-lb. Williams stepped in as a true freshman last season and completed 61.8 percent of his passes for nearly 1200 yards and six touchdowns for the Delta Devils last season.
With experience already under his belt, Williams can only get better, and that is an encouraging sign for a Mississippi Valley State program that has been looking for any signs of life in recent years.
8. Mekhi Hagens, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Hagens played most of the games for the Golden Lions in 2023, throwing for 580 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 163 yards and a team-high four scores on the ground. With Jalen Macon now at Northern Illinois, the 6’3 junior will be UAPB’s leader going into their season opener at Arkansas on Aug. 29.
9. Junior Muratovic, Florida A&M
The 6’3, 215-lb. redshirt junior has seen action in 9 games over two seasons with the Rattlers, completing 54 percent of his passes for 311 yards and a touchdown.
Muratovic faces competition from transfers Daniel Richardson, Alston Hooker, Bryson Martin, and Trey Fisher, son of former Florida State and Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher, but Muratovic’s experience with the program places him ahead of those candidates at the moment.
10. Tyler Macon, Alcorn State
Replacing Aaron Allen will be no easy task, but Macon saw most of the reserve snaps in 2023, which weren’t all that many as Allen, second team all SWAC last season, played just about every down.
A transfer from the University of Missouri a couple of years back, Macon will likely battle with junior Tre Lawrence for the starting spot as the Braves begin a new era under head coach Cedric Thomas.
