Andrew Body and Jacobian Morgan are set to face off in what is probably the biggest game of the HBCU football season.
The spotlight falls squarely on the two dynamic quarterbacks, each looking to make a statement for their respective teams, Alabama State and Jackson State, in a matchup that will decide which team wins the SWAC East.
Morgan, of course, has already won a SWAC and HBCU national championship. He was also voted preseason SWAC Offensive Player of the Year. A win on Saturday would give the Tigers an inside track on another SWAC East championship.
Body, on the other hand, is trying to make up for a 2024 season lost to injury and several before while at Texas Southern, which failed to live up to expectations.
As we anticipate their Saturday showdown, we will break down which signal-caller — Body or Morgan — has the edge going into the matchup at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson.
Both quarterbacks have also had similar seasons, playing at an extremely high level, both in the air and on the ground, to lead their teams to the top of the SWAC standings, combining to go 8-2. Body and Morgan led the most prolific offenses in the conference.
With Body at the helm, the Hornets average a conference-best 40.6 points per outing. Jackson State is not too far behind second place, tallying 34.6 points under Morgan.
What can these numbers tell us in addition to the eye test? What lies beneath the surface in the matchup of these high-profile HBCU quarterbacks? Let’s proceed.
Accuracy
Earlier in his career, Body was much more of a hit-or-miss passer, tending to flee the pocket as a runner when his options downfield were covered. He has almost consistently improved his accuracy each year in college. His current 69.5% completion rate this season is a personal best, and his 203.3 efficiency rating is second in the SWAC.
Morgan isn’t far behind, and he’s also been fairly accurate since transferring to Jackson State from Syracuse, as evidenced by a back-to-back outings against Southern and Alabama A&M with a completion percentage over 70. Though Morgan’s overall completion percentage is a little over 60 percent on the season, he’s still a respectable sixth in the SWAC. He is also third in the SWAC with 232 yards passing per game.
Edge: Body
Ball control
In a five-game sample size, Body has thrown 18 touchdowns and zero interceptions on 131 passing attempts. And speaking of lack of turnovers, the redshirt junior has yet to lose a fumble despite carrying the ball 59 times on the season. But Morgan has been just as stingy with the football this season, only throwing one interception in 118 pass attempts.
Edge: Even
Big-play magic
At the dawn of his college career, Body has long been tabbed as the ideal dual-threat quarterback. But until his early seasons at Texas Southern, Body — at least this season — is more prone to executing the big play more often than not. His 60-yard rush this season is the seventh-longest gain for any player in the SWAC.
And Body’s 69-yard completion against UAB in the regular season opener is the fifth-longest pass conversion of all qualified quarterbacks.
Morgan, however, holds his own in this category as well. The Jackson State quarterback has 82 and 60-yard completions, respectively, to his tally, as well as two rushes of 25 or more yards.
Edge: Body
Rushing impact
This is one area where Body is supremely talented, especially on this type of stage. We all know he can shake loose and extend plays like the best of them.
He leads the SWAC in rushing with 520 yards on 8.8 yards per carry. It was Body’s 16-carry, 116-yard performance versus UAB that led Blazers coach Trent Dilfer to tell him personally, “You’re one heck of a quarterback.”
Despite Morgan not rushing the ball at the same frequency as Body, he’s still effective on the ground. He has 181 rushing yards on 5.7 yards per carry. Morgan also uses his legs to extend plays in the pocket and get the ball to playmakers on the perimeter when needed.
Edge: Body
Big-game experience
Playing in an important game with stakes on the line is nothing new for Morgan since pratically every matchup for the Tigers is the opponent’s Super Bowl. He was great in the Celebration Bowl last season, throwing for 233 yards and two TDs in the Tigers’ 28-7 win over South Carolina State.
Body, however, has limited experience competing in matchups that matter to the extent that Saturday’s will. The closest was his first game as the Hornets quarterback.
Against an elite North Carolina Central team in the Orange Blossom Classic, Body was clearly the best player on the field, rushing for 134 yards, including TD runs of 38 and 39 yards to keep Alabama State in it before being lost to a shoulder injury.
Edge: Morgan
The final verdict
It’s a close one, as it should be for a game that will likely decide the SWAC East. Body supporters could argue that he deserves the nod in the accuracy department, considering his heavier workload. However, the truth is that almost every category, except perhaps big-game experience, was a coin flip.
Jackson State fans are thrilled Morgan has stepped up in the regular season and in championship situations. But it’s also always hard to bet against the quarterback on HBCU’s football best team. Regardless, we expect their Saturday head-to-head to be ultra-competitive, culminating in a must-see finish.
