Alabama State football paces 2026 preseason SWAC Football Awards

[ASFN Admin]

The 2026 HBCU college football season is right around the corner, with the SWAC announcing its preseason award winners on Wednesday, July 8.

Alabama State football paced all member institutions with a league-high, nine preseason all-conference selections.

Headlining those selections is Hornet quarterback Andrew Body, who was named the SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year ahead of the 2026 season. Body powered Alabama State to its first 10-win season in 21 years, and was named the SWAC's Offensive Player of the Year in 2025 after completing nearly 71% of his passes for 1,770 yards, 20 touchdowns and only one interception. Body also rushed for 518 yards and four touchdowns in 2025.

It's already been an eventful offseason for Body who was named the ASWA's Small College Athlete of the Year in 2025, was named to the 2026 Walter Peyton Award Preseason Watch List and was a counselor at the Manning Passing Academy.

The rest of the 2026 SWAC Football Preseason Awards were as follows:

2026 SWAC Football Preseason Awards​

Offensive Player of the YearAndrew Body, Alabama State

Defensive Player of the YearKam Sallis, Jackson State

2026 Preseason All-SWAC First Team​

OffenseQuarterback: Andrew Body, Alabama StateRunning Back: Jaylen Jennings, Arkansas-Pine BluffRunning Back: Chase Bingmon, Prairie View A&MOffensive Line: Elijah Baker, Alabama StateOffensive Line: Calvin McMillian, Prairie View A&MOffensive Line: Quaveon Davis, Jackson StateOffensive Line: Christian Loving, Bethune-CookmanOffensive Line: Cameran Rogers, Alcorn StateWide Receiver: Nate Rembert, Jackson StateWide Receiver: D'Avery Robinson, Arkansas-Pine BluffTight End: Travon Jones, Prairie View A&M

DefenseDefensive Line: Malik Gucake, Prairie View A&MDefensive Line: Eric Thomas Jr., Alcorn StateDefensive Line: Arenza Davis, Alabama A&MDefensive Line: Michael Joiner Jr., Alabama StateLinebacker: Danarius Hilliard, Arkansas-Pine BluffLinebacker: Wyatt Wright, Alabama A&MLinebacker: Stephen Sparrow Jr., Bethune-CookmanDefensive Back: Ta'Shaun Sims, Alabama StateDefensive Back: Kam Sallis, Jackson StateDefensive Back: Eric Zachery, Prairie View A&MDefensive Back: Herman Brister III, Southern

SpecialistsPlace Kicker: David Faulk, Alabama A&MPunter: Demetrion Duvall, Alcorn StateReturn Specialist: Nehemiah Hixon, Alabama StateLong Snapper: Cole Hash, Bethune-Cookman

2026 Preseason All-SWAC Second Team​

OffenseQuarterback: Jared Lockhart, Jackson StateRunning Back: Trey Holly, SouthernRunning Back: Jamarie Hostzclaw, Alabama StateOffensive Line: Dezmond Penn, Alabama StateOffensive Line: Abe Diallo, Alcorn StateOffensive Line: Jayden Daniels, Texas SouthernOffensive Line: Alexander Vigil, Grambling StateOffensive Line: Nick Carter, Arkansas-Pine BluffWide Receiver: Roriyon Richardson, Texas SouthernWide Receiver: Jordan Chambers-Smith, Alabama A&MTight End: Kordell Rodgers, Texas Southern

DefenseDefensive Line: Marquis Cagle, Arkansas-Pine BluffDefensive Line: Malik Stinnett, Bethune-CookmanDefensive Line: Kenneth Andrews, Alcorn StateDefensive Line: Isaiah Washburn, Bethune-CookmanLinebacker: Marcellius Johnson, Grambling StateLinebacker: Carmello Jones, Jackson StateLinebacker: Douglas Franklin, Mississippi Valley StateDefensive Back: Naim Lassiter, Bethune-CookmanDefensive Back: Keon Handley Jr., Alabama A&MDefensive Back: KJ Chisholm, Jackson StateDefensive Back: Tayvion Haney, Alcorn State

SpecialistsPlace Kicker: Andrew Abu-Akel, Alabama StateReturn Specialist: Jay'Shaun Johnson, Grambling StateLong Snapper: Garrett Wilemon, Alabama State

Jaeden Day covers high school sports, Alabama State football and Auburn recruiting for the Montgomery Advertiser/USA Today. You can find him on X at dayjaeden12, or reach him at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Alabama State football paces 2026 preseason SWAC Football Awards

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