BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2021 Football Postseason Honors on Monday morning. The all-conference teams and individual award winners were voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

Alabama A&M’s Aqeel Glass was selected Offensive Player of the Year while Florida A&M’s Isaiah Land was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year. Jackson State’s James Houston was named Newcomer of the Year. Jackson State’s Shedeur Sander was selected for Freshman of the Year accolades while JSU’s Deion Sanders was tabbed Coach of the Year to round out the list of individual award winners.

Offensive Player of the Year

Alabama A&M’s Glass closed one of the most impressive careers in league history with a fitting final campaign, recording 3,568 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and 356.8 yards per game along with a 160.8 passing efficiency in ten games. He recorded five games of at least 400 passing yards in Fall 2021, including resetting the program’s NCAA Division I Era record with 462 yards in a single game. Additionally, he has been named one of 25 finalists for the Walter Payton Award representing the top player in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and was the first selection to the Inaugural HBCU Legacy Bowl.

Defensive Player of the Year

Florida A&M’s Land was one of the top players in the nation this past season as he was selected as one of 25 players named to the Buck Buchanan Award Finalist list. At the conclusion of regular season play he led the nation with 25.5 tackles for loss and 19 sacks. Land also added three forced fumbles, two pass breakups, and one fumble recovery. He was named Week 4 BOXTOROW Player of the Week after a three-sack performance. Land was also named SWAC Defensive Player of the Week after setting a Rattlers’ record five sacks versus South Carolina State. He recorded a sack or tackles for loss in ten of the 11 games this season and recorded two or more sacks in five games and did the same for tackles for loss in six games.

Newcomer of the Year

Jackson State’s Houston concluded regular season play as one of the most dominant defensive lineman in the SWAC. During regular season play he totaled 59 tackles (44 solo) and 20.5 tackles for loss for -125 yards. Houston also contributed 14.5 sacks for -102 yards, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one defensive touchdown, and eight QB hurries. The Tigers featured the top-ranked defense at the conclusion of regular season play and allow just 13.8 points and 258.3 yards per game.

Freshman of the Year

Jackson State’s Sanders had a stellar debut season for the Tigers as he has been named a finalist for the Stats Perform FCS Jerry Rice award. At the conclusion of regular season play he led the SWAC with a 68.7 completion percentage while passing for 2,971 yards (2^nd in SWAC), 28 touchdowns (2^nd in SWAC) and only five interceptions. Sanders averaged 270.1 passing yards (2^nd in SWAC) per game while leading the Tigers to an undefeated 8-0 record in league play and their first SWAC Championship appearance since 2013.

Coach of Year

Jackson State’s Sanders led the Tigers to a 10-1 overall record and a perfect 8-0 mark in SWAC regular season play. Under Sanders’ leadership the Tigers are currently ranked in the top 15 of the FCS Coaches Poll and are also ranked in the top 25 of the Stats FCS Poll. The Tigers claimed the SWAC East Division title for the first time since the 2013 season. For his efforts Sanders has been named a finalist for the Stats Perform FCS Eddie Robinson award.

A complete listing of all-conference selections and individual award winners is listed below.

2021 SWAC Football Postseason Awards

Offensive Player of the Year
Aqeel Glass- Alabama A&M

Defensive Player of the Year
Isaiah Land- Florida A&M

Newcomer of the Year
James Houston- Jackson State

Freshman of the Year
Shedeur Sanders- Jackson State

Coach of the Year
Deion Sanders- Jackson State 

All-SWAC First Team Offense
Quarterback: Aqeel Glass- Alabama A&M
Running Back: Bishop Bonnett- Florida A&M
Running Back: Gary Quarles- Alabama A&M
Offensive Lineman: Keenan Forbes- Florida A&M
Offensive Lineman: Dallas Black- Southern
Offensive Lineman: Mark Evans II- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Offensive Lineman: Johnathan Bishop- Southern
Offensive Lineman: Drake Centers- Texas Southern
Wide Receiver: Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim- Alabama A&M
Wide Receiver: Odieu Hilaire- Alabama A&M
Tight End: Kemari Averett- Bethune-Cookman

All-SWAC First Team Defense

Defensive Lineman: James Houston- Jackson State
Defensive Lineman: Jason Dumas- Prairie View A&M
Defensive Lineman: Sundiata Anderson- Grambling State
Defensive Lineman: Antwan Owens- Jackson State
Linebacker: Isaiah Land- Florida A&M
Linebacker: Untareo Johnson- Bethune-Cookman
Linebacker: Aubrey Miller- Jackson State
Defensive Back: Markquese Bell- Florida A&M
Defensive Back: Drake Cheatum- Prairie View A&M
Defensive Back: BJ Bohler- Florida A&M
Defensive Back: Omari Hill-Robinson- Bethune-Cookman

All-SWAC First Team Specialist

Place Kicker: Jose Romo-Martinez- Florida A&M
Punter: Josh Sanchez- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Return Specialist: Isaiah Bolden- Jackson State 

All-SWAC Second Team Offense
Quarterback: Shedeur Sanders- Jackson State
Running Back: Caleb Johnson- Mississippi Valley State
Running Back: Niko Duffey- Alcorn State
Offensive Lineman: Tony Gray- Jackson State
Offensive Lineman: Ja’Tyre Carter- Southern
Offensive Lineman: Danny Garza- Prairie View A&M
Offensive Lineman: Jay Jackson-Williams- Florida A&M
Offensive Lineman: Robert Alston- Alabama State
Wide Receiver: Keith Corbin- Jackson State
Wide Receiver: Dee Anderson- Alabama A&M
Tight End: Jyrin Johnson- Texas Southern

All-SWAC Second Team Defense

Defensive Lineman: Ronnie Thomas- Mississippi Valley State
Defensive Lineman: Savion Williams- Florida A&M
Defensive Lineman: Michael Badejo- Texas Southern
Defensive Lineman: Deonte Williams- Florida A&M
Linebacker: Monroe Beard III- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Linebacker: Keonte Hampton- Jackson State
Linebacker: Tarik Cooper- Texas Southern
Defensive Back: Irshaad Davis- Alabama State
Defensive Back: Keonte’ Daniels- Mississippi Valley State
Defensive Back: Darius Campbell- Prairie View A&M
Defensive Back: Shilo Sanders- Jackson State

All-SWAC Second Team Specialist

Place Kicker: Garrett Urban- Grambling State
Punter: Garrett Urban- Grambling State
Return Specialist: Darnell Deas- Bethune-Cookman

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BIRMINGHAM – The women’s basketball game scheduled between Alabama State and Alabama A&M initially slated to be played on Saturday, January 16 has been postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test and subsequent quarantining of student-athletes among the Alabama A&M program.

This action follows the guidelines and protocols set by the league and its COVID-19 Advisory Committee.

A make up date for the game has not been determined at this time.

With the women’s game being postponed, the men’s basketball game between Alabama State and Alabama A&M has been moved to a 3:00 pm tip-off at T.M. Elmore Gymnasium located on the campus of Alabama A&M University.

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BIRMINGHAM – The Southwestern Athletic Conference has named Alabama A&M’s Jalen Johnson its SWAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for his outstanding performances during games played Dec. 15-21. Johnson (Indianapolis, Ind.) delivered an outstanding home opening performance as the Bulldogs upset No. 16 (Mid-Major) South Alabama 93-90 in double overtime on Saturday, Dec. 19.

In a career-high 42 minutes of play, Johnson scored 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting and also tallied a double-double with 11 rebounds. He was also able to contribute defensively adding three steals and a blocked shot for the Bulldogs.

Other Notable Performances:

• Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Shaun Doss averaged 17.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 1.0 blocks in games at North Texas and at No. 2 Baylor. He recorded his first-career double-double at #2 Baylor with 25 points and 10 rebounds along with two assists and one block.
• Jackson State’s Tristan Jarrett scored a total of 52 points for the week, for an average of 17.3 points per game, including 16 rebounds (5.3 rebounds per game), 9 total steals (3.0 steals per game), 8 assists. Tallied 22 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 4 assists against Bradley.
• Texas Southern’s Michael Weathers led TSU at BYU with 23 points, six steals and five assists.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference has named Alabama A&M’s Jalen Johnson and Texas Southern’s Michael Weathers its SWAC Men’s Basketball Co-Players of the Week for outstanding performances during the opening week of competition.

Johnson (Indiana, Ind.) delivered an outstanding season opening performance as Alabama A&M defeated Samford in the final seconds 78-76. In 28 minutes of work he recorded career-highs of 28 points on 13-of-17 shooting along with collecting seven rebounds.

Weathers (Roeland Park, Kansas) led TSU in scoring (14.7 ppg) over a three-game span as the Tigers capped off the week with a comeback win over Wyoming in which he scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half. The senior guard also led TSU for the past three games in field goals made (19), rebounds (7.7) and steals (2.0). He finished one rebound short of a double-double in his TSU debut at Washington State and has scored in double digits while collecting seven or more rebounds in all three games.

Other Notable Performances:

• Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Shaun Doss led or tied for team lead in double figures in games against Marquette, #7 Wisconsin, and Iowa State while averaging 19.3 points per game, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. He scored a career-high 27 points with five rebounds in UAPB’s season-opener at Marquette.
• Alcorn State’s Kurk Lee entered the game off the bench and contributed a team-high 14 points in his debut for the Braves. He connected on 6-for-11 shots from the floor and went 2-of-3 from beyond the arc.
• Mississippi Valley State’s Kam’Ron Cunningham contributed 13 points for MVSU against Arkansas and 24 points versus Wyoming.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference has named Alabama A&M’s Dariauna Lewis and Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Tyler Pyburn its SWAC Women’s Basketball Co-Players of the Week for outstanding performances during the opening week of competition.

Lewis (Omaha, Neb.) delivered an outstanding season opening performance as AAMU upset No. 11 (Mid-Major) Troy 80-69. In 26 minutes of play she scored 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting which was highlighted by a double-double with 10 rebounds. She also went a perfect 5-of-5 from the foul line and added a blocked shot.

Pyburn (Blooming Grove, Texas) was a key contributor for Arkansas-Pine Bluff during the Lady Lions dominating victory over Arkansas State, 85-68. She scored a career-high 23 points in UAPB’s win over the Sun Belt Conference foe, ending a 13-game losing streak against the Red Wolves. Pyburn had career highs in field goals made (nine) and three-pointers (five) while shooting 56.3 percent from the field (9-16) and 50 percent from the three-point line (5-10).

Other Notable Performances:

• Southern’s Genovea Johnson led all scorers while recording a career high 21 points and five rebounds against Kansas State of the Big 12 Conference.
• Alcorn State’s Kirdis Clark produced double-digit scoring efforts in opening games at Southeastern Louisiana and Wichita State. She led the Lady Braves in three statistical categories against the Shockers tallying 11 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. She added 12 points, three assists, and three steals in her senior campaign debut at SLU while averaging 11.5 points and 5.0 rebounds through two games.

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