Is the SWAC slowly becoming the nation’s premier HBCU FCS conference?
For the first time in the history of the Cricket Celebration Bowl, the Southwestern Athletic Conference has won back-to-back games. The SWAC has been victorious in six of the last eight Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenges, compiling a three-game win streak during that stretch, and they are 10-7 in head-to-head matchups against their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference counterparts over the past three seasons.
This season, intrigue in the SWAC extends beyond Florida A&M (5-0) and Jackson State’s (4-2) success against FCS HBCUs. Jackson State looks to win its third league championship in four years, while every team from “The Wild Wild West” Division aspires to win its first conference title since 2017. Florida A&M aims to rebound after a disappointing 2024 season, which included having a 22-game home win streak snapped by Mississippi Valley State.
Three teams have hired new head coaches, two of whom have a combined 22 years of experience playing in the NFL, while the third led Valdosta State to the Division II Football Championship game last year.
As we close in on the start of the upcoming season, here’s a look at the top returning players and our predicted order of finish.
Returning All-Conference Players
From last season’s All-SWAC Team
Jackson State – 5: PK Gerardo Baeza (1st Team), QB Jacobian Morgan (1st Team), RS Travis Terrell Jr. (1st Team), OL D’Andre Townes-Blue (1st Team), WR Nathan Rembert (1st Team, MVSU Transfer)
Alcorn State – 3: OL Ronald Brown (1st Team), LB Stemarion Edwards (1st Team), RB Jacorian Sewell (1st Team)
Alabama State – 2: OL Desmond Daniels (1st Team), DB Keane Lewis (1st Team)
Florida A&M – 2: OL Charles Davis (1st Team), OL Ashton Grable (1st Team)
Southern – 1: DL Ckelby Givens (1st Team)
Teams With the Most D1 Transfers
Prairie View A&M – 39 (24 FBS, 15 FCS)
Florida A&M – 21 (17 FBS, 4 FCS)
Jackson State – 17 (9 FBS, 8 FCS)
Alabama State – 11 (8 FBS, 3 FCS)
Alcorn State – 11 (6 FBS, 5 FCS)
Bethune-Cookman – 11 (5 FBS, 6 FCS)
Texas Southern – 10 (6 FBS, 4 FCS)
Alabama A&M – 8 (2 FBS, 6 FCS)
Southern – 8 (4 FBS, 4 FCS)
Grambling State – 4 (3 FBS, 1 FCS)
Mississippi Valley State – 4 (3 FBS, 1 FCS)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff – 2 (1 FBS, 1 FCS)
Names To Know
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Jacobian Morgan, Jackson State QB — The preseason SWAC Offensive Player of the Year had an impressive 2024, ranking in the Top 35 nationally in several categories including passing efficiency (13th – 157.9), points responsible for (16th – 164), passing yards per completion (17th – 13.72), passing touchdowns (24th – 21), completion percentage (31st – 0.637), and points responsible for per game (35th – 11.7).
Other players to watch: RB Thad Franklin Jr. (Florida A&M), QB Cam Ransom (Bethune-Cookman), WR Nate Rembert (Jackson State), RB Jacorian Sewell (Alcorn State), RB/RS Travis Terrell Jr. (Jackson State)
TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Ckelby Givens, Southern DL — Last year’s SWAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year improved on his 2023 totals, leading the FCS in total tackles for loss (27.5), tackles for loss per game (2.1), and tied for fourth nationally in sacks (12), while the Jags allowed under 300 yards per contest.
Other players to watch: LB Stemarion Edwards (Alcorn State), DB TJ Huggins (Florida A&M), DB Horacio Johnson (Southern), LB Vincent Paige Jr. (Southern), DL Jeremiah Williams (Jackson State)
THE NFL PROSPECT: Ashton Grable, Florida A&M OL — At 6-4, 315, Grable anchored a Rattler offensive line that controlled the ball for 31 minutes per contest while ranking in the SWAC’s top three in offensive yards per game, passing yards, third down conversions, and red zone offense. The Preseason First Team All-SWAC selection was one of three players from the conference recently named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1,000 Watchlist.
Other players to watch: DL Bryce Cage (Grambling State), OL Desmond Daniels (Alabama State), WR Joanes Fortilien (Jackson State), DL Ckelby Givens (Southern)
HERO Sports’ Predicted Order of Finish
SWAC East
1. Jackson State
2. Florida A&M
3. Alabama State
4. Alabama A&M
5. Bethune-Cookman
6. Mississippi Valley State
SWAC West
1. Alcorn State
2. Southern
3. Prairie View A&M
4. Texas Southern
5. Grambling State
6. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
SWAC Championship Prediction: Jackson State over Alcorn State
Last we saw Jackson State, they concluded 2024 with a ten-game winning streak and earned their tenth East Division title before obtaining their fifth HBCU National Championship.
This fall, T.C. Taylor’s team is loaded as the Tigers look to become the second team to win back-to-back Cricket Celebration Bowls with 12 preseason All-SWAC Football selections.
Quarterback Jacobian Morgan returns to Jackson as the starting signal caller after being an integral part of the nation’s fifth-most prolific offense in 2024, amassing 2,557 total yards, 27 total touchdowns, and completing 63.7% of his passes. The Canton, MS, native has one of the league’s best receiving corps at his disposal, including all-conference selections tight end Marvin Landy and wideouts Joanes Fortilien and Nate Rembert.
Perennial contenders Florida A&M and Alabama State are looking to challenge the Tigers for the divisional championship. The Hornets are hoping that the 2022 version of quarterback will wind up under center while maintaining their status of holding teams to under 20 points per contest with new coordinators Billy Gresham & Todd Middleton. Coach James Colzie III’s team should be in the mix for a title run once again, with running back Thad Franklin Jr. and offensive line stalwarts Charles Davis and Ashton Grable, while facing the strongest teams on their schedule (Jackson State, Alabama State, and Alcorn State) at home. The Rattlers are 24-1 at Bragg Stadium since 2019.
In the West, Southern is the projected frontrunner after losing to Jackson State in the conference title game last season. The Jaguars have a few question marks to address, primarily their youth and inexperience as an offensive unit. The running backs had a combined 13 carries for Southern last season, while Darren Morris (681 career receiving yards, five touchdowns) has the most receptions of any returning wideout at 48. Jalen Woods (541 passing yards, four touchdowns, three interceptions in 6 games played in 2024) has the most experience of the returning quarterbacks. Will he be the long-term answer at starter, or will Jackson State transfer Cam’Ron McCoy unseat him at some point in the season?
While Southern will look to address these potential challenges during a grueling start to their season (vs. NC Central, vs. Alabama State, at Fresno State, vs. Jackson State), I have a hunch that Cedric Thomas will lead Alcorn State to their first-ever West Division Title in his second season as head coach.
Thomas, along with coordinators Jermaine Gales and Trumaine Watson, will return running back Jacorian Sewell (807 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns) to the league’s second-best rushing offense from last season. If FCS transfers linebacker Tabias Hinton (Mississippi State) and defensive back Damion Miller (Southern Miss) can help Alcorn’s defense show some improvement alongside linebacker Stemarion Edwards, the Braves will extend the division’s streak without a consecutive champion since Southern did it in 2018 and 2019.
Keep in mind, Alcorn will face Prairie View Southern at The Reservation this fall. The Panthers are 1-5 in their last six contests against the Braves, while the Jags haven’t won in Lorman since 2016.
