BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –
Cameran Rogers was named to the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Preseason First Team for offense, while
Eric Thomas Jr. was named to the Preseason First Team Defense, announced Wednesday, July 8, from the league headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama. Also, on the Preseason First Team for the Braves in the department of Special Teams was punter
Demetrion Duvall.
For Alcorn, a total of six players were named to the preseason team, with
Abe Diallo (OL) tabbed to the Second Team Offense, joined by
Kenneth Andrews (DL) and
Tayvion Haney (DB) on Second Team Defense.
"I think with six of our guys being named to the SWAC Preseason Team, it just shows the amount of hard work and talent we have put in and assembled at Alcorn," stated Head Coach
Cedric Thomas, set to begin year three in Lorman. "We are going to continue coaching them up so they can be even better this season. I am just so happy for these guys that they can see the hard work they put in is being noticed around the league."
Cameran Rogers, a 6-foot-4, 330-pouns junior offensive lineman from Theodore, Alabama, is making his first appearance to the All-SWAC Preseason First Team Offense after playing in 11 games as a sophomore. He helped block for an offense that accumulated 24.25 points per game in 2025. The Braves rushed for 178.3 yards per game, while Rogers was also a key contributor blocking for quarterback
Jaylon Tolbert, who passed for 2,2128 yards and 15 touchdowns across the campaign. That was in addition to running backs
Reggie Davis (839 yds) and
Jacorian Sewell (766 yds) combining for 16 touchdowns via the ground.
Also making his first appearance to the Preseason All-SWAC First Team Defense was defensive lineman
Eric Thomas Jr., a 6-foot-3, 245-pound junior from Columbus, Mississippi. Last season, Thomas racked up 26 total tackles (14 solo) in 12 games for the Purple and Gold. He added a team fourth-highest 6.5 tackles for loss, as well as finishing second on the team in quarterback sacks (4.0). He also had four quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery.
Demetrion Duvall, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound junior from Akron, Ohio, placed himself on the Preseason First Team for Special Teams, after the Braves punter finished the season second in the SWAC with 49 kicks for 2,093 yards, averaging 42.7 yards per punt. He had a career-long 63-yard kick against Florida A&M (Oct. 18), in addition to placing 14 kicks inside the 20-yard line. In total, he tallied 13 punts of 50 yards or better – tied for second-most in the league in that category.
Abe Diallo, a junior from Seffner, Florida, landed on the Second Team Offense as an offensive lineman for the Braves. On the ground throughout the 2025 campaign, the Alcorn offensive line blocked for Tolbert to amass the third-most rushing yards on the team with 226 and a pair of touchdowns, averaging 18.8 yards per game.
The Preseason Second Team Defense was represented by
Kenneth Andrews (Clinton, Miss.) and
Tayvion Haney (Little Rock, Ark.). Andrews finished the year seventh overall for the Purple and Gold with 33 stops (22 assisted) in 12 games played, with 2.5 of those coming behind the line of scrimmage. He was also responsible for a pair of quarterback pressures. As for Haney, he contributed 29 tackles (23 solo) to go along with a team second-most six pass breakups.
The Preseason Offensive Player of the Year was Andrew Body of Alabama State, while the Defensive Player of the Year was Kam Sallis of Jackson State.
Alcorn begins the season Saturday, Aug. 29, as the Barves welcome Miles to Jack Spinks – Marino Casem Stadium for a 6 p.m. kickoff.
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