Football | 7/13/2018 11:50:00 AM

Simmons Named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Braves Picked to Repeat as SWAC East Division Champs

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The four-time defending SWAC East Division champions were picked to win it again in the 2018 SWAC Preseason Poll, and senior running back P.J. Simmons was tabbed the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year from the Alcorn State University football program.
 
Furthermore, the Braves landed 11 Preseason All-Conference selections in total including four on the First-Team. Joining Simmons on the First-Team were senior quarterback Noah Johnson, junior offensive lineman Mustaffa Ibrahim and senior linebacker Trae Ferrell.
 
On the Second-Team, Alcorn was represented by offensive linemen Deonte Brooks and Kevin Hall, senior defensive lineman Sterling Shippy, junior linebacker Solomon Muhammad, senior defensive back Brady Smith and junior Corey McCullough as both the kicker and punter.
 
The announcements were made Friday at 2018 SWAC Football Media Day at the Birmingham Marriott.
 
The Braves were the favorite in the SWAC East Division with 95 points, ahead of Alabama State with 72 points. Grambling State was projected to win the SWAC West Division with 96 points.

"It's big to get the respect from all the coaches in the league, but being picked first preseason doesn't win us anything. We have to stay focused on our mission to get back to the SWAC Championship game and come out on the winning side," said Alcorn head coach Fred McNair. "We have a lot of work ahead of us and we don't have any easy games on the schedule. We're going to have to execute our game plans every week and take advantage of the opportunities we have when they present themselves."
 
Simmons, from Tallahassee, Florida, rushed for 687 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He averaged 8.6 yards per carry with a long of 64 yards. Simmons was part of an Alcorn offensive that led the SWAC in both total offense and rushing offense last year. He aided the Braves in racking up 461.3 yards per game and 237.4 rushing yards per outing – both marks were top-10 in the country.

"It's an honor to be picked the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, but my main focus is still on the task at hand. The goal remains the same, and that's to win the SWAC Championship and to play in Atlanta two times; once at Georgia Tech and another for the Celebration Bowl," Simmons said. "The preseason recognition is great, but we have to perform on the field and take care of business."
 
The Braves open the season Saturday, Sept. 1 at Georgia Tech. They will play their home-opener the following week on Saturday, Sept. 8 at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium. Click here for the full schedule.
 
Preseason SWAC East Division Poll
1. Alcorn, 95
2. Alabama State, 72
3. Jackson State, 55
4. Alabama A&M, 51
5. Mississippi Valley State, 27
 
Preseason SWAC West Division Poll
1. Grambling State, 96
2. Southern, 78
3. Prairie View A&M, 65
4. Texas Southern, 31
5. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 30
 
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
P.J. Simmons, Alcorn
 
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
De'Arius Christmas, Grambling State
 
Preseason SWAC First-Team

OFFENSE
QB	Noah Johnson	Alcorn
RB	P.J. Simmons	Alcorn
RB	KeShawn Williams	Arkansas-Pine Bluff
OL	Mustaffa Ibrahim	Alcorn
OL	Jeremiah Abby	Southern
OL	William Waddell	Grambling State
OL	Kyle Davis	Grambling State
OL	Corbin Finlayson	Prairie View A&M
WR	Quinn McElfresh	Mississippi Valley State
WR	Darrell Clark	Grambling State
TE	Jordan Jones	Grambling State

 

DEFENSE
DL	Linwood Banks	Grambling State
DL	La'Allan Clark	Grambling State
DL	Brandon Varner	Grambling State
DL	Vernon Moland	Alabama A&M
LB	Patrick Harbin	Mississippi Valley State
LB	Trae Ferrell	Alcorn
LB	De'Arius Christmas	Grambling State
DB	Dylan Hamilton	Alabama A&M
DB	Andre Augustine	Southern
DB	Ju'Anthony Parker	Prairie View A&M
DB	Percy Cargo	Grambling State

 

SPECIAL TEAMS
K	Marc Orozco	Grambling State
P	Jamie Gillan	Arkansas-Pine Bluff
RS	KeShawn Williams	Arkansas-Pine Bluff

 

Preseason SWAC Second-Team
OFFENSE
QB	Darryl Pearson Jr.	Alabama State
RB	Jordan Bentley	Alabama A&M
RB	Dawonya Tucker	Prairie View A&M
OL	Deonte Brooks	Alcorn
OL	Kevin Hall	Alcorn
OL	Roderick Smith	Prairie View A&M
OL	Jimmy White	Texas Southern
OL	Tytus Howard	Alabama State
WR	Quintin Guice	Grambling State
WR	Markcus Hardy	Prairie View A&M
TE	Zarrian Holcombe	Prairie View A&M

 

DEFENSE
DL	Anfernee Mullins	Grambling State
DL	Sterling Shippy	Alcorn
DL	Kevin Agee	Arkansas-Pine Bluff
DL	Christian Clark	Alabama State
LB	De'Andre Hogues	Grambling State
LB	Malcolm Williams	Grambling State
LB	Solomon Muhammad (tie) Darron Johnson	Alcorn Alabama State
DB	Reggie Stubblefield	Prairie View A&M
DB	Jeffrey Hill	Alabama State
DB	Brady Smith	Alcorn
DB	Dedrick Shy	Grambling State

 

SPECIAL TEAMS
K	Corey McCullough	Alcorn
P	Corey McCullough	Alcorn
RS	George Golden	Alabama State

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