Up to now few years, the switch portal has been very variety to the SWAC, with many prime additions happening to grow to be the highest expertise the convention provides.
Along with the reigning SWAC Offensive and Defensive Participant of the 12 months, gamers resembling Malachi Bailey, Jarveon Howard, James Houston, and Aubrey Miller made a profound affect transferring into the convention.
Here’s a listing of gamers from every SWAC workforce who may make an analogous assertion within the 2024 season.
Alabama A&M Bulldogs: TE DJ Nelson
We start the proceedings with UT Martin tight finish switch DJ Nelson, who’s trying to revive what was as soon as a dominant Alabama A&M move offense.
In 2022, Nelson took benefit of his first season taking part in important snaps by being chosen to the All-OVC First Crew.
He recorded 21 receptions for 267 yards and scored six touchdowns (tied for many on the workforce). Although his numbers took a slight dip final season, the UT Martin switch nonetheless managed 12 receptions for 135 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Though Alabama A&M handled inconsistencies on the quarterback place, they nonetheless managed to rank this in passing within the SWAC.
Measuring 6’5 and 230 kilos, Nelson shall be a matchup nightmare for opposing secondaries.
Alabama State Hornets: QB Andrew Physique
For the previous couple of years, Alabama State has been among the many prime defensive groups within the SWAC, most notably main the convention in scoring protection final season.
Nonetheless, their offense has held them again from championship rivalry. They completed eighth in scoring and ninth in whole offense final season.
The Hornets addressed these issues through the offseason by buying Texas Southern quarterback switch Andrew Physique.
Physique involves Alabama State following a yr wherein he missed all however one sport because of harm. The yr earlier than that, nevertheless, he had a breakout efficiency, bringing Texas Southern one sport shy of its first SWAC championship look in over a decade.
With a protection already competing at an elite degree, Physique’s affect on the Hornets’ offense may propel the workforce to the highest of the SWAC East.
Alcorn State Braves: DB Markel McLaurin
The 2024 season shall be a season of change for the Alcorn State Braves, who moved on from former head coach Fred McNair, who had been with the workforce since 2016.
Alcorn is coming off a yr wherein they completed with a 7-4 general file, an enchancment over their 5-6 mark within the earlier season.
They search to enhance their move protection, which ranked within the backside half of the SWAC final yr. Southern Mississippi switch Markel McLaurin will possible play a significant function within the Braves’ defensive enchancment.
In his first full season with Southern Miss (second season general), McLaurin put up 33 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 5 move breakups, and a compelled fumble.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions: DB Quentin Sterling
The Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions have struggled lately, posting a 1-7 convention file in every of the previous three seasons.
Final season, the Golden Lions had the worst protection within the SWAC, permitting 33.8 factors per sport, together with 23 passing touchdowns, the second-most allowed by a SWAC workforce.
UAPB dipped into the JUCO ranks to unravel their issues within the secondary buying Jones Faculty switch Quentin Sterling.
Sterling recorded 44 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions (returning one for a landing), three move breakups, and a compelled fumble in his two seasons with Jones Faculty.
Bethune-Cookman Wildcats: LB Orin Patu
Coming into their second season with head coach Raymond Woodie, the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats look poised to submit its first successful season since becoming a member of the SWAC in 2021.
The Wildcats had an amazing offseason, including 9 FBS transfers, together with 5 from Energy 5 applications.
Whereas one of many notable transfers the workforce added was California operating again Raymond Woodie III, son of the Wildcats’ head coach, linebacker Orin Patu has an opportunity to be a game-changer for the workforce.
Beforehand taking part in for California and Arizona, Patu acquired restricted taking part in time, showing in solely 20 video games in 5 seasons.
Nonetheless, he brings nice dimension to the Wildcats, sporting a 6’4 and 240-pound body, and can look to translate that to success on the sphere.
Florida A&M Rattlers: QB Daniel Richardson
The defending SWAC and Celebration Bowl champion Florida A&M Rattlers may even enter the 2024 season with a very totally different personnel group.
Along with transferring on from head coach Willie Simmons, the workforce shall be with out their reigning SWAC Offensive Participant of the 12 months quarterback, Jeremy Moussa.
Trying to fill the void left by Moussa is Central Michigan and Florida Atlantic quarterback switch Daniel Richardson.
Richardson is a confirmed commodity, having served as a starter within the final three seasons (two with Central Michigan and one with Florida Atlantic.
In his first yr as a starter with Central Michigan in 2021, Richardson had a profession yr posting 2,633 passing yards, finishing 60% of his passes, and scoring 24 touchdowns with simply six interceptions.
Grambling State Tigers: WR Deuce Jones
Sticking with the theme of groups coming into the 2024 season underneath new management, Grambling State is coming into its first yr underneath head coach Mickey Joseph.
Regardless of ending with a 5-6 general file final season, the workforce’s third straight shedding season, the Tigers discovered a diamond within the tough in Alabama State quarterback switch Myles Crawley.
Crawley completed second within the SWAC, averaging 210.3 passing yards per sport and scoring 16 touchdowns.
As Crawley pitches his bid for SWAC Offensive Participant of the 12 months, he shall be aided by New Mexico extensive receiver switch Deuce Jones.
In Jones’ two seasons with New Mexico, he caught 13 passes for 267 yards and scored a landing.
Jackson State Tigers: DB Cameron Smith
Final season, Jackson State defied expectations of their first season underneath T.C. Taylor, ending with a 7-4 general file.
Their move protection was a giant cause for his or her success, as they led the convention with 17 interceptions. The Tigers’ secondary acquired a lot stronger this offseason with the addition of Japanese Michigan switch Cameron Smith.
Final season, Smith completed with 45 tackles, 1.0 tackles for loss, an interception, two move breakups, and a compelled fumble.
Standing at 6’2, Smith provides peak to a secondary with a mean peak of 6’0.
Mississippi Valley State: QB Ruben Lee
Through the Early Signing interval, Mississippi Valley State initially appeared to have discovered its quarterback of the long run buying Southern switch Harold Blood.
Nonetheless, Blood later rescinded his dedication transferring on to the SEC becoming a member of the College of Missouri. Thankfully, the Delta Devils courted one other HBCU quarterback this time from the MEAC in Norfolk State switch Ruben Lee.
Although Lee didn’t get a chance to play at NSU, he put forth a strong efficiency at Hinds Neighborhood Faculty a yr earlier.
He recorded 501 passing yards in 4 video games together with a 212-yard efficiency towards Northwest.
Prairie View A&M Panthers: RB Lamagea McDowell
The newest switch portal addition on this listing, Prairie View A&M, acquired an enormous increase to its backfield by fielding a dedication from Campbell operating again switch Lamagea McDowell.
McDowell performed every of the final 4 seasons at Campbell and has been the workforce’s beginning operating again up to now two years.
In his remaining two seasons with the workforce, McDowell produced 857 speeding yards on 198 makes an attempt and scored 12 touchdowns.
He put up a profession efficiency towards Maine final season with 114 speeding yards and two touchdowns.
Southern Jaguars: DB Jamarius Brown
The one former Division II participant on this listing, former Miles Golden Bears defensive again Jamarius Brown, will embark on a journey to Baton Rouge to play for Southern.
Brown performed a giant half within the Golden Bears’ six-game enchancment final season, which noticed them inside a sport of a SIAC championship look.
He tallied 25 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, an interception, three move breakups, and a blocked kick.
The Miles switch was instrumental within the workforce’s upset win over Alabama State, ending the sport with 4 tackles and an interception.
Texas Southern Tigers: WR Donald McKinney
Texas Southern, which underwent wholesale modifications through the offseason, bringing in head coach Cris Dishman, is rounding out the listing.
Regardless of getting out to a late begin within the recruiting path, the Tigers made some strong pickups, with former Western Illinois extensive receiver Donald McKinney standing out.
Final season, McKinney put up a strong season, catching 26 passes for 357 yards and scoring three touchdowns.
