BIRMINGHAM, AL - The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced the 2012 Preseason All-Conference football teams on Monday, July 16th at the annual Media Day event at the Birmingham Marriott.
The student-athletes that joined Coach Hopson in Birmingham for SWAC Media Day were Robert Gainwell (LB, Sr) and Terrance Lewis (WR, Sr.).
The preseason All-SWAC teams were selected by the league coaches, sports information directors and selected members of the media. Alcorn State had three players named to the 2012 Southwestern Athletic Conference Preseason All-SWAC teams. Terrance Lewis (RET, Sr.) received Preseason All-SWAC First Team Specialists honors; while teammates Arnold Walker (RB, Jr.) and Casey Freeman (DB, So.) received Preseason All-SWAC Second Team honors for Offense and Defense respectively.
Last season, Lewis was named an All-American as well as All-SWAC performer. Emerging as a star return specialist for the Braves, Lewis finished last season with 12 punt returns for 157 yards, 13.1 yards per return, a touchdown, and a long return of 84 yards. In addition, he had 21 kickoff returns for 492 yards, 2 touchdowns, averaging 23.4 yards per return and a long return of 92 yards. Walker rushed for 713 yards, 142 attempts, 3 touchdowns, 6 receptions for 53 yards and he averaged 71.3 yards per game. Freeman had a total of 66 tackles (38 solo), 28 assists, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 3 interceptions.
Alcorn State was predicted to finish fourth in the SWAC Eastern Division in the preseason predicted order of finish. Leading the Eastern Division were Alabama State receiving eleven votes, tied for second were Jackson State and Alabama A&M both with seven votes, and rounding out the East was Mississippi Valley in fifth place.
The defending SWAC champions, Grambling State finished at the top of the Western Division with twenty votes followed by Arkansas Pine-Bluff and Southern with two votes, Prairie View A&M with one vote and completing the West was Texas Southern in fifth place.
“We are extremely proud of our guys; their hard-work and dedication to excel were evident in today's honors, Coach Hopson said. Not only are they great football players but they have evolved into outstanding leaders amongst their peers and that is to be commended.”
Hopson added, “We are looking forward to a competitive season and I am honored that Alcorn State chose me as the leader of their football program.”
In other news
SWAC announced the new partnership with Toyota for the football and basketball championships.
