Anderson and Cox Headline SWAC Preseason Honors
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Posted By: How May I Help You NC on July 15, 2013 The Southwestern Athletic Conference released its 2013 SWAC Preseason Teams with University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff quarterback, Ben Anderson, and Jackson State University defensive back, Qua Cox, spotlighting the honors. The announcement was made during the 2013 SWAC Football Media Day. In a vote by the league's football head coaches, sports information directors and select members of the media, Anderson was named SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year with Cox tabbed as the SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Both student-athletes join 49 players that total this year's preseason squads. All 10 member institutions were represented on this year's team. Defending champion, UAPB, led the way with 11 selections including nine voted to the first team. Alabama State, Jackson State, and Prairie View A&M had seven picks apiece. ASU and PVAMU tallied three players on the first team with JSU posting two. Alabama A&M and Southern each recorded five picks with SU finishing the tally with three players making the first team. Rounding out the selections include: Mississippi Valley with four players, registering two on the top team. Alcorn State, Grambling State and Texas southern posted one player apiece on the second team. Anderson finished last season on the All-SWAC First Team before leading the Golden Lions to their first-outright SWAC Championship crown since sharing the title in 1966. He was named Offensive MVP of the 2012 Toyota SWAC Football Championship after lifting UAPB to a 24-21 overtime win over Jackson State. He helped the Golden Lions claim a West Division title on their way to a 10-2 record, the most wins in the program's history. With Anderson, UAPB captured the HSRN Conway Cup and the network's National Championship title. The Golden Lions were also named Black College National Champions by the American Sports Wire. Anderson completed the season with 2,346 passing yards and 16 touchdowns finishing second in SWAC. He rushed for 524 yards and recorded five touchdowns on the ground. He led UAPB in total offense (2,870) while finishing second in the league in the category. Anderson is joined on the preseason first-team offense with running backs Isaiah Crowell (Alabama State) and Justin Billings (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), wide receivers Lee Doss (Southern) and LaDarius Eckwood (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), tight end Dezmond Beverly (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), along with offensive linemen Kenny Eagle (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), Damien Love (Alabama State), Tre Glover (Prairie View A&M), Dillon Bonnet (Prairie View A&M) and Edmund Davis (Alabama State). Last year, Cox led the SWAC with five interceptions leading JSU (7-5) for a consecutive season. He helped the Tigers pick up five consecutive wins to close the regular season en route to winning the Eastern Division with an appearance in the SWAC Football Championship. Cox led the JSU defensive backs with eight pass break-ups and 13 passes defended. He closed the year with 50 tackles (36 solo) including five for a loss and two sacks on a defensive unit that led the league in sacks with 43. He was named to the All-SWAC First Team at the end of the regular season. For the preseason, Cox was placed on the watch lists for the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) and The Sports Network (TSN). He was also named a TSN FCS preseason All-American and selected to the network's Buck Buchanan Award watch list. Along with Cox, the preseason first-team defense includes: defensive linemen Robert Simpson (Mississippi Valley State), Damien Lee (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), Teddrick Terrell (Jackson State), and DeMarcus Berry (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), linebackers Jer-Ryan Harris (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), Jerome Harris (Prairie View A&M), and Anthony Balancier (Southern) with defensive backs Ryan Shaw (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), Kevin Eugene (Mississippi Valley State) and Virgil Williams (Southern) closing out the ranks. For the special teams, Williams (Southern) and Bobby Wenzig (Alabama State) spotlighted the selections. Wenzig topped the votes to garner the first-team place kicker and punter slots. Williams added to his first team defensive back selection receiving the votes for the return specialist. For the predicted order of finish in both divisions, Arkansas-Pine Bluff totaled 105 points, including 14 first-place votes, to become the favorite out of the West Division. Southern followed with 88 points, Prairie View A&M gathered 83 points, with Grambling State (51) and Texas Southern (38) closing the divison's preseason ranking. In the East Division, Alabama State claimed 108 points with 15 first-place votes. Jackson State received 102 points followed by Alabama A&M (60), Mississippi Valley State (51) and Alcorn State (40). Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Ben Anderson (QB) - Arkansas - Pine Bluff Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Qua Cox (DB) - Jackson State 2013 Preseason All-SWAC Football Preseason - First Team OFFENSE QB Ben Anderson Arkansas - Pine Bluff RB Isaiah Crowell Alabama State RB Justin Billings Arkansas - Pine Bluff WR Lee Doss Southern WR LaDarius Eckwood Arkansas - Pine Bluff TE Dezmond Beverly Arkansas - Pine Bluff OL Kenny Eagle Arkansas - Pine Bluff OL Tre Glover Prairie View A&M OL Damien Love Alabama State OL Dillon Bonnet Prairie View A&M OL Edmund Davis Alabama State PK Bobby Wenzig Alabama State P Bobby Wenzig Alabama State RS Virgil Williams Southern DEFENSE DL Robert Simpson Mississippi Valley State DL Damien Lee Arkansas - Pine Bluff DL Tedderick Terrell Jackson State DL DeMarcus Berry Arkansas - Pine Bluff LB Jer-Ryan Harris Arkansas - Pine Bluff LB Jerome Howard Prairie View A&M LB Anthony Balancier Southern DB Qua Cox Jackson State DB Ryan Shaw Arkansas - Pine Bluff DB Kevin Eugene Mississippi Valley State DB Virgil Williams Southern 2013 Preseason All-SWAC Football Preseason - Second Team OFFENSE QB Dray Joseph Southern RB Tommy Gooden Jackson State RB Rakeem Sims Jackson State WR Julian Stafford Mississippi Valley State WR Montarius Smith Alabama A&M TE Justin Robinson Alabama State TE Olatunde' Idowu Prairie View A&M OL Keathric Brown Arkansas - Pine Bluff OL Jordan Arthur Jackson State OL Clint Marsh Grambling State OL Justin Goodrich Alabama A&M OL Antonio Griggs Mississippi Valley State PK Chris Barrick Prairie View A&M P Travis Jatzlau Prairie View A&M RS Johnta' Hebert Prairie View A&M DEFENSE DL Carlton Jones Alabama State DL Reginald Bailey Alabama A&M DL Arthur Miley Southern DL Corey Johnson Alabama A&M LB Xavier Lofton Arkansas - Pine Bluff LB Todd Wilcher Jackson State LB DeMarques Taylor Alabama State DB Cameron Loeffler Jackson State DB Jamison Knox Alcorn State DB Le'Tevin Wilcox Texas Southern DB Derrick Harris Alabama A&M 2013 Predicted Order of Finish: (First-Place Votes) WEST DIVISION 1. Arkansas - Pine Bluff 105 (14) 2. Southern 88 (6) 3. Prairie View A&M 82 (3) 4. Grambling State 51 (1) 5. Texas Southern 38 EAST DIVISION 1. Alabama State 108 (15) 2. Jackson State 102 (9) 3. Alabama A&M 60 4. Mississippi Valley State 51 5. Alcorn State 40 If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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How May I Help You NC
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