HERO Sports welcomes you to "Three-a-Days" where we will preview every single one of the 126 FCS programs and all 13 conferences. Today, we present … the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
We'll leave no stone left unturned when it comes to giving the FCS diehards all they could ask for this offseason. Learn about every program in the country with HERO Sports.
[divider]MORE FCS FOOTBALL:
- FCS Home
- FCS Preview Schedule – Team Links
- The HERO Sports Preseason Top 25 Poll
- Preseason All-American Teams
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SWAC
(NOTE: Team-by-team previews in this conference are below)
NAMES TO KNOW
THE NFL PROSPECT: DeShawn Waller, RB, Alcorn State
A high-end free agent or potential day three pick, Waller rushed for more than 1,200 yards last year and 12 TDs and he should be in the discussion again this year.
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Noah Johnson, QB, Alcorn State
Johnson threw for 2,207 yards and 15 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,080 yards and 11 touchdowns. He's primed for a massive 2019.
TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Solomon Muhammad, LB, Alcorn State
Muhammad finished 2nd on the team in tackles with 64 despite missing two games. He also wrapped up four sacks and nine tackles for a loss. It came after a breakout year in 2017 where he notched 52 tackles in just seven games including 6.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.
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OUR TAKE
SUM IT UP: Here's a prediction: The SWAC takes back the HBCU National Championship this year. That may infuriate those rabid Aggies fans in North Carolina, but we have a hunch that the Celebration Bowl goes to the SWAC this year, and we'll explain more and why below. Overall, the league looks pretty competitive, with Alcorn State running away with the preseason vote in the SWAC East, and Southern U. edging Prairie View A&M in the SWAC West.
THE FAVORITE: Alcorn State — The Braves just look really, really strong this year and they seem poised to take back the Celebration Bowl this December after the SWAC has fallen two straight years to the MEAC champs — North Carolina A&T. Alcorn looks balanced, and scary on offense in particular. Usually, we say "pencil in this prediction." Well, you can put this one in permanent ink, we'll stand by it.
THE THREATS: Prairie View A&M and Southern U. have been pretty strong in recent years and can play with anybody in the HBCU ranks. We'll see how they handle Alcorn State being favored.
THE DARK HORSE: Grambling always will have an aura about it, and even though the Tigers were rebuilding some last year, you just know it won't be long until they bounce back into the mix.
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FCS 2020 NFL PROSPECTS: The List
BEST FCS TRADITIONS: The List
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PREVIEWS: The SWAC
Alabama A&M | Alabama St.| Alcorn St.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff | Grambling | Jackson St. | Miss. Valley St.
Prairie View A&M | Southern U. | Texas Southern
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CONFERENCE PREVIEWS
Big Sky | Big South | CAA
Ivy | MEAC | MVFC
NEC | OVC | Patriot
Pioneer | SoCon | Southland | SWAC
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