Football | 8/30/2019 2:05:00 PM

Braves Begin 2019 Season at Southern Miss

Alcorn Game Notes | USM Game Notes | Watch ESPN+ | Listen WPRL | Live Stats

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The 99th season of football at Alcorn State University will kick-off Saturday when the Braves head to Southern Miss for a 6 p.m. game at M.M. Roberts Stadium.
 
Alcorn was picked to win the SWAC East Division in the 2019 Preseason Poll. The Braves are the five-time defending SWAC East Division champions and the reigning SWAC Champions. Alcorn returns eight starters on offense and seven on defense.
 
The Braves landed 14 student-athletes on the SWAC Preseason All-Conference Teams. The list included senior quarterback Noah Johnson who was named the SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and senior linebacker Solomon Muhammad who was tabbed the SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Four Braves earned FCS Preseason All-America Honors. Senior offensive lineman Kevin Hall was named to the HERO Sports First-Team, while Johnson and senior running back De'Shawn Waller were on the HERO Sports-Third Team. Waller was also tabbed to the STATS FCS Second-Team, and Muhammad was on the Third-Team.
 
Alcorn placed six student-athletes on the HBCU Preseason All-America Team. The list included Johnson, Waller, Hall, Muhammad, senior offensive lineman Mustaffa Ibrahim and junior defensive back Qwynnterrio Cole.
 
Last year, the Alcorn defense ranked first in the FCS in both sacks per game (4.0) and tackles for a loss per game (9.5). The defense was also third in the country in rushing (91.2 ypg), eighth in total defense (291.4 ypg), 10th in red zone defense (.714), 18th in scoring defense (21.5 ppg), 22nd in third down percentage defense (.324) and 24th in interceptions (14).
 
Alcorn led the SWAC in total offense (473.3 ypg), total defense (291.4 ypg), scoring defense (21.5 ppg), rushing (285.8 ypg), rushing defense (91.2 ypg), interceptions (14), sacks (4.0 s/pg), tackles for a loss (9.5 tfl/g) , first downs (23.2 pg), fewest first downs allowed (16.2 pg) and time of possession (32:42).
 
Head coach Fred McNair enters his fourth season at the helm. He was the 2018 SWAC Coach of the Year winner and brought the Braves to the SWAC Championship game in all three seasons.
 
Alcorn promoted three coaches during the offseason. Cedric Thornton was elevated to associate head coach and remains the defensive coordinator. Elliott Wratten was promoted to offensive coordinator after serving on the coaching staff since 2016. Ryan Busz is now full-time as the running backs coach after previously working as a graduate assistant.
 
Southern Miss is coming off a 6-5 (5-3 CUSA) season and was picked second in the CUSA West Division.
 
Former Alcorn head coach Jay Hopson enters his fourth year with the Golden Eagles after coaching the team to three consecutive winning seasons. Also on staff is offensive line coach Ryan Stanchek who served as Alcorn's offensive coordinator last season.
 
USM is expected to start Jack Abraham at quarterback after he started nine games last year. He threw for 2,347 yards with 15 touchdowns. The Golden Eagles return five starters on offense and nine on defense.
 
The game will be nationally televised on ESPN+. It can also be heard live on 91.7 FM or wprl.org with Charles Edmond on the call.
 
PRESEASON NOTES
- The Braves are going for their fourth win over an FBS program in school history, which includes victories over Central Michigan (24-16) in 1978, Middle Tennessee (28-7) in 1988 and Troy (47-44) with Steve McNair in 1994.
 
- The Braves enter 2019 ranked No. 2 in the national HBCU Poll. They also received 85 votes in the FCS Top-25.
 
- Heading into 2019, Johnson ranks eighth all-time in school history in touchdown passes (30), ninth in passing yards (4,018) and 10th in rushing yards (1,867). Last year, he threw for 2,207 yards and 15 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,080 yards and 11 touchdowns. Johnson ranked third in the nation in rushing yards per carry (7.5) and 16th in completion percentage (.621).
 
- Waller was named the Top Running Back in the SWAC by HBCU Gameday preseason. He began 2018 as the No. 3 running back on the depth chart and worked his way into the starting roll. Waller rushed for at least 100 yards in seven of the last eight games including the SWAC Championship where he tallied a game-high 177 yards and three touchdowns. He broke loose for an 83-yard touchdown run which was the second-longest in the history of the SWAC Championship game. Waller followed it up by running for a game-high 167 yards in the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl. He ended with 1,215 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Waller finished eighth in the nation in rushing yards per game (121.5 ypg), 15th in total rushing yards, 19th in all-purpose yards per game (133.0), 19th in rushing yards per carry (6.5), 20th in rushing TD's, 23rd in scoring (7.8 pg) and 25th in total touchdowns (13).
 
- Both Johnson and senior running back Waller were inked to the Walter Payton Award Watch List, which goes to the best offensive player in FCS. Johnson was the 2018 SWAC Offensive Player of the Year and SWAC Championship Offensive MVP, while Waller was the 2018 SWAC Newcomer of the Year. Johnson and Waller were the only student-athletes from the SWAC on the list.
 
- Additionally, Waller and Johnson were ranked No. 1 and 2, respectively, in the Top-5 Players to Watch in HBCU by BOXTOROW
 
- Muhammad grabbed a spot on the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List, which goes to the best defensive player in FCS. He was the only student-athlete from the SWAC on the list.
 
- Senior Corey McCullough was named to the FCS Punter of the Year Watch List. He handles both the kicking and punting duties, and is tied for the school's all-time record in field goals made with 34. He needs one more to pull ahead of Wilfredo Rosales who made 34 field goals from 1977-80. McCullough holds the school's single-season record for field goals made with 17.
 
- Junior defensive back Qwynnterrio Cole was named to the 2018 HERO Sports Sophomore All-America Team. He catapulted to the top of the Alcorn tackles list with a team-high 77. Cole also recorded 4.5 tackles for a loss, three interceptions a forced fumble and recovered a fumble. Like Waller, Cole started low on the depth chart and had to work his way into the top spot. He only started in seven games at various defensive back positions including both cornerback and safety.
 
- Known as a lockdown defender, senior defensive back Javen Morrison has led Alcorn in interceptions for three consecutive years. He has 10 on his career including one in the 2018 SWAC Championship.
 
- Johnson, Waller, Muhammad, Morrison and Cole were all named to the Black College Hall of Fame Player of the Year Watch List. They were five of the 48 players included overall.
 
- Senior linebacker Brelion Hollis was tabbed the 2018 SWAC Championship Defensive MVP. He led the Braves with seven tackles including 0.5 sacks. Alcorn sacked SU quarterback Ladarius Skelton six times. Hollis also wrapped-up a game-high 10 tackles in the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl.
 
- Alcorn is 13-0 when leading at halftime since 2017.
 
- The Braves outscored the opposition 102-42 in the fourth quarter in 2018.
 
Quoting Alcorn head coach Fred McNair (Preseason Interview)
Opening Statement
"Right now, we're very excited about beginning this year. We're looking forward to hopefully a great season barring no serious injuries. We're expecting a good football game down in Hattiesburg on Saturday - that's a good football club down there, they do a good job with their program and we just got to be ready to play. That's what we do here at Alcorn, we play an Alcorn brand of football and be mindful of staying away from penalties. We have to make sure that our guys know that we have to play an almost perfect game. Overall, I'm excited about coming into this season with what we have."
 
On Bringing Back SWAC Preseason Players of the Year Noah Johnson and Solomon Muhammad
"That's one thing we always talk about is leadership in this program. Guys like Solomon and Noah, you have great leadership there, what they're doing is making sure they hold these guys accountable. I think it takes a lot of respect for what those guys bring to the team. The biggest thing is that Noah knows he won't be perfect every play, if he makes a mistake he wants to redo it so that's all about leadership, doing it right. Solomon is pretty much the same way. He has a good attitude, he plays fast and just has to slow himself down sometimes. But just having those guys back this year coming off of a championship season last year means a lot to this program and what we're trying to do and where we are trying to take this program."
 
On The Progress That De'Shawn Waller Made Last Season
"I think all the guys know the expectations are very high around here at Alcorn. De'Shawn is a very humble player, he's very intelligent football-wise and he knows what he's doing. It was a steal for us to get this kid really, just coming in being third on the depth chart last year, we had no idea of how he was going to play, but when P.J. [Simmons] went down, we didn't miss a beat. I tell you this kid came in here ready to play and he's excited about being here. When you find those kids who are excited about being in a place then you are going to get the most out of them. He's been great, the Celebration Bowl, the SWAC Championship, he did phenomenal and he's still learning - that's the thing about it, he's always willing to learn new things, we should be good with him, I'm excited about him."
 
On His Relationship with Coach Hobson:
"The biggest thing was that he came in and gave me an opportunity to be a quarterback coach here in 2012. We coached football and we communicated well, so the relationship we had I thought was great. Just being here as an assistant coach I really respect him and the things that he did. Overall, I have a great relationship with him."
 
On Kevin Hall Being an NFL Prospect:
"I recruited Kevin when I was here in 2012, he played a lot of defense and we switched him over to offense, but I tell you what he's a phenomenal athlete. This guy runs about as fast as some of my running backs, converting from a defensive lineman to an offensive lineman, the other linemen speak highly of what he can do. He's been a starter since his freshman year, he's been playing well and is expected to play well again this year. Big expectations for him, there's a lot for him to carry on this offensive line so we expect a lot out of Kevin this year."
 
On How His Offensive Line Going Into The Opener:
"We've been doing some good things so far. I always tell them 'the offensive line is like synchronized swimmers, they always have to be on the same page'. They've been doing a phenomenal job in practice - the tempo in practice has been very fast I'm excited about what I see. With Kevin Hall back, Mustaffa Ibrahim back as a center, Darius Smith at right guard, and at left guard we are trying to bring Deonte Brooks back into the lineup. We should be pretty good up front, we just got to keep these guys upright."
 
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