LORMAN, Miss. – Felix Harper and Qwynnterrio Cole were each named to the BOXTOROW Spring Football Preseason All-America Team on Tuesday. This is the 14th year BOXTOROW has released the Preseason All-America Team.
Alcorn went 9-4 last year and 6-1 in SWAC play, winning back-to-back SWAC titles after also going 9-4 and 6-1 in SWAC play in 2018, each year advancing to the Celebration Bowl.
Harper was recently featured in the Hero Sports Best Returning FCS Quarterbacks by Conference after taking home SWAC Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2019. This all came after Harper replaced the injured Noah Johnson, the SWAC's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, in the third game of the season at McNeese State.
For the season, Harper threw for 2,954 yards and 33 touchdowns, along with adding six rushing scores. He ranked fourth in the FCS in passing touchdowns, fifth in points responsible for (19.7 ppg), seventh in passing efficiency (160.7), eighth in yards per completion (14.5) and ninth in yards per pass attempt (8.7). Harper was one of four finalists for the HBCU Player of the Year award, along with being a finalist for the C Spire Conerly Trophy, which went to the best player in the state of Mississippi.
Harper took home three SWAC Offensive Player of the Week awards. He was named the HBCU National Player of the Week winner after the win over Prairie View A&M where he threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for a score. He also earned a helmet sticker on ESPN College Football Final after the win over Savannah State.
In the Celebration Bowl, Harper threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for two touchdowns. He helped Alcorn score 44 points on six touchdowns. Harper was named the Team MVP.
Harper had a touchdown pass in every game after taking over against McNeese State, throwing for multiple touchdowns in nine games with four or more touchdowns in a game occurring four different times. He passed for at least 250 yards in eight games, reaching a high of 396 yards against Mississippi Valley State, the same game he also reached a season-high six touchdown passes.
Cole became a two-time HBCU All-American and SWAC All-Conference First Team honoree in 2019. He led the defense with five interceptions on the year and was third in tackles with 86. Cole started in 12 games at safety, as his five interceptions ranked second in the SWAC. Cole wrapped-up 10 tackles in the SWAC Championship against Southern. He also had 10 tackles versus Alabama A&M. Cole registered two interceptions in the victory over Prairie View A&M. He also took home the team's Spring Most Improved award from the defense in 2019.
Cole registered a tackle in every game, going for at least five in a game 11 times, reaching double-digits with 10 against both Alabama A&M and Southern. Cole collected two interceptions against Prairie View A&M and down the stretch, he had interceptions in three of the final six games. He also added a blocked kick at Jackson State and a forced fumble against Southern.
