The SWAC Offensive Player of the Year race could be decided Saturday when Alcorn State quarterback Jaylon Tolbert and Southern running back Trey Holly meet in Baton Rouge.
Their contrasting styles make this a compelling award showdown. Tolbert has built his résumé through the air, while Holly has emerged as the SWAC’s most prolific running back.
Tolbert enters the game with 2,995 passing yards and 31 touchdown passes on 203 completions in 311 attempts. He has completed 65.3% of his passes and thrown nine interceptions. He is averaging 299.5 passing yards per game.
The Braves quarterback has also made an impact as a runner, adding 329 yards and three touchdowns. That gives him 3,324 yards of total offense and 34 touchdowns responsible for, or 332.4 yards per game.
His production has helped Alcorn build one of the most dangerous offenses in the FCS. The Braves are averaging 42.5 points and 487.4 yards per game, including 304.9 passing yards. Tolbert is the engine behind that attack, and another high-volume performance against Southern would make his award case difficult to ignore.
Holly’s argument is just as clear. The Southern running back has rushed for 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns on 215 carries. He is averaging 5.8 yards per attempt and 123.9 yards per game, leading the SWAC in rushing.
Holly has shown he can produce in bunches. He has recorded three 200-yard games this season, including a 204-yard outing against Florida A&M and a 206-yard performance against Bethune-Cookman last week. Against Bethune-Cookman, he needed only 16 carries to reach 206 yards and scored twice on 44-yard runs.
That performance underscored his value to a Southern offense that averages 208.9 rushing yards per game. The Jaguars have leaned on the ground game more than Alcorn, averaging 362.3 total yards and 27 points per contest.
The contrast should shape Saturday’s game. Alcorn’s passing attack will test a Southern defense that has allowed 375.5 yards per game. Meanwhile, Holly will face an Alcorn defense that has surrendered 175.4 rushing yards per game.
If Southern can establish Holly early, it could control the pace and keep Tolbert on the sideline. If Alcorn forces the Jaguars into obvious passing situations, the advantage shifts toward the Braves.
The stakes extend beyond the award. Alcorn enters 6-4 overall and 4-2 in SWAC play, while Southern is 5-5 and 3-3. The Jaguars need a win to keep their division hopes alive; a loss would eliminate them from the SWAC West race.
Tolbert has the edge entering the weekend. His passing production, total offense, and role in the conference’s highest-scoring attack give him the stronger overall résumé. But Holly has a chance to change the conversation with another signature performance, especially if it comes in a Southern victory.
Saturday offers both players a stage — and perhaps the voters’ clearest head-to-head comparison. The quarterback has the numbers.
The running back has the momentum. One of them could leave Baton Rouge with the inside track to the SWAC’s top offensive honor.
