BIRMINGHAM, ALA – A pair of Jackson State University players, QB Robert Kent and LB Elgin Andrews, lead the selections of the 2002 Preseason All-SWAC team. Each has been picked as the Southwestern Athletic Conference Preseason Players of the Year on offense and defense, respectively.
The 2002 Preseason All-SWAC teams are selected in voting by the conference football coaches and sports information directors
Robert Kent, a 6-5, 205 lb. junior from Indianola, MS, led the Southwestern Athletic Conference passing and total offense in 2001 averaging 330.9 ypg passing and 347.6 ypg in total offense. Kent passed for 31 TD’s (3640 yds) and rushed for 9 more.
Elgin Andrews, the Southwestern Athletic Conference tackles leader in 2001, is a 6-1, 248 lb senior from McComb, MS. Last season Andrews recorded 112 tackles (48 solo) for an average of 10.2 tackles per contest.
In a breakdown of the team category, Jackson State had eight players selected (three 1st Team), followed by Texas Southern’s seven players (one 1st Team). Grambling State’s six players were all 1st team picks and Southern had six players selected (five 1st Team). Alabama State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Alabama A&M had four players selected, followed by Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State with three and two players picked respectively.
Twenty-six seniors, eleven juniors and nine sophomores were picked. Fourteen players are repeat All-SWAC selections from last season, seven 1st team players and seven 2nd team selections.
Geographically, fourteen players are from the Louisiana, followed by Mississippi (8) and Texas (7). There are four players from the States of Alabama and Florida, two each from Florida, Missouri and Tennessee and one player each from Illinois, New York and Oregon.
2002 PRESEASON
ALL-SWAC FOOTBALL TEAM
(Selected by SWAC Football Coaches and Sports Information Directors)
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
OL- Courtney Van Buren, Ark.-Pine Bluff (6-6, 331, Sr., St. Louis, MO)
OL- Gary Jenkins, Southern (6-3, 290, Soph., New Orleans, LA)
OL- Andreas Brown, Alabama State (6-4, 305, Sr., Sawyerville, AL)
OL- Terry Riley, Grambling State (6-0, 300, Sr. Shreveport, LA)
OL- Brandon James, Grambling State (6-3, 280, Sr., Grambling, LA)
QB- Robert Kent, Jackson State (6-5, 205, Jr., Indianola, MS)
RB- Tarnaka Counslor, Jackson State (5-9, 178, Sr. Clarksdale, MS)
RB- Phillip Doolin, Ark.-Pine Bluff (6-0, 240, Jr., Kansas City, MO)
WR- Michael Hayes, Southern (6-5, 220, Sr., Opelousas, LA)
WR- Kris Peters, Alcorn State (5-8, 160, Sr., Baton Rouge, LA)
TE- Chris Coleman, Alabama State (6-4, 235, Jr., Boca Raton, FL)
K – Brian Morgan, Grambling State (5-10, 185, Soph, Groves, TX)
DEFENSE
DL- Earl Cochran, Alabama State (6-4, 225, Jr. Bessemer, AL)
DL- Robert Mathis, Alabama A&M (6-2, 235, Sr., Atlanta, GA)
DL- Antwan Lawrence, Grambling State (6-1, 275, Sr. Brunswick, GA)
DL- Willie Gray, Grambling State (6-0, 280, Sr., New Orleans, LA)
LB- Lenard Mack, Texas Southern (6-2, 228, Sr., Houston, TX)
LB- Elgin Andrews, Jackson State (6-1, 248, Sr., McComb, MS)
LB- Chris Cooper, Southern (6-1, 231, Sr., New Orleans, LA)
DB- Chris Brown, Grambling State (6-3, 200, Sr., Zachary, LA)
DB- Denmark Reed, Grambling State (6-1, 180, Sr., Baton Rouge, LA)
DB- Terrence Arnold, Southern (6-0, 188, Sr., New Orleans, LA)
DB- Santino Hall, Texas Southern (6-1, 183, Jr., Palm Beach, FL)
P – David Beckford, Alabama State (6-0, 185, Sr., Hollywood, FL)
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
OL- Chris Hammond, Jackson State (6-3, 280, Sr., Chicago, IL)
OL- Mario Branch, Miss. Valley (6-7, 315, Sr., Greenwood, MS)
OL- Robert Louis, Alabama A&M (6-2, 235, Soph., Tampa, FL)
OL- Michael Matthews, Jackson State (6-4, 300, Sr., Memphis, TN)
OL- Herbert Rouse, Texas Southern (6-2, 285, Soph., Bronx, NY)
QB- Donald Carrie, Alcorn State (6-2, 210, Soph. New Orleans, LA)
RB- Jermaine Joseph, Texas Southern (6-1, 230, Soph., Houston, TX)
WR- Cortez Hankton, Texas Southern (6-2, 185, Sr., New Orleans, LA)
WR- Tim Manning, Jackson State (5-11, 175, Jr., Jackson, MS)
K – Vincent Patrick, Texas Southern (5-11, 175, Soph., Portland, OR)
DEFENSE
DL- Bobby Mays, Jackson State (6-3, 240, Sr., Macon, MS)
DL- Deon Deboise, Jackson State (6-1, 290, Jr., Macon, MS)
DL- Ezekiel Davis, Ark.-Pine Bluff (6-2, 250, Soph., Houston, TX)
DL- Robert Watson, Texas Southern (6-2, 235, Soph., Missouri City, TX)
LB- Cedric McDonald, Miss. Valley State (6-0, 235, Sr., Sosa, MS)
LB- Jamaal Ware, Alabama A&M (6-1, 215, Sr., Lanett, AL)
LB- Omega Logan, Alcorn State (5-9, 225, Jr., Dallas, TX)
DB- Lenny Williams, Southern (6-0, 175, Jr., Lake Charles, LA)
DB- Tyrone Parsons, Alcorn State (5-9, 160, Jr., Memphis, TN)
DB- Oliver Celestine, Texas Southern (6-1, 200, Jr., New Orleans, LA)
DB- Henry Freeman, Alabama A&M (6-0, 190, Sr., Mobile, AL)
P – Aaron Wall, Ark.-Pine Bluff (5-10, 170, Sr., Arlington, TX)
PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Offense – Robert Kent / Jackson State (6-5, 205, Jr., Indianola, MS)
Defense – Elgin Andrews / Jackson State (6-1, 248, Sr., McComb, MS)
