The Southwestern Athletic Conference dropped its 2026 preseason all-conference teams and individual awards Tuesday, and the headliners tell a story about two programs with unfinished business.
Alabama State quarterback Andrew Body was named the SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. That part isn’t surprising. Body lit up defenses last season and was, briefly, one of the hottest names in the transfer portal this offseason. He entered, he thought about it, and then he pulled his name out and came back to Montgomery. That decision alone changed the outlook for the Hornets’ 2026 season.
On the other side of the ball, Jackson State defensive back Kam Sallis earned the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year nod. Sallis put together a 2025 campaign that included 53 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a knack for showing up in big moments. He’s the anchor of a Tigers defense that expects to be back in the Celebration Bowl conversation.
These two honors frame up what should be a genuinely competitive SWAC race. Prairie View A&M, Alabama A&M and the usual suspects all landed multiple players across the first and second teams. The conference is deeper than it’s been in years, and the preseason picks reflect that spread of talent.
Body’s path back to Alabama State is worth a closer look. He spent a few weeks weighing his options after a standout 2025 season that put him in the conversation for national FCS honors. The portal giveth, the portal taketh away, and in this case the Hornets kept their guy. That kind of stability at quarterback is rare in modern college football. Alabama State head coach Eddie Robinson Jr. has to feel good about rolling into the season with a veteran who’s already proven he can produce against the best defenses in the league.
All-SWAC Teams Show the League’s Depth
The first-team offense is loaded with skill players from across the conference. Alabama State, Jackson State and Prairie View A&M each had multiple selections. The defensive first team features a mix of returning stars and transfers who made an immediate impression during spring ball.
SWAC Media Day is set for Wednesday, July 15 in Birmingham. Every head coach and a handful of players will take the podium, and the real conversation about who actually wins this league will start in earnest. The preseason honors are nice. But for Body, Sallis and everyone else on those lists, the actual games — starting with SWAC Kickoff in late August — are what really matters.
The full 2026 preseason All-SWAC first and second teams were released alongside the individual awards and are listed below.
2026 Preseason All-SWAC First Team
Offense
QB: Andrew Body, Alabama State
RB: Trey Sanders, Alabama A&M
RB: Sy’veon Wilkerson, Jackson State
WR: Isaiah Washington, Jackson State
WR: Andrew Marc, Prairie View A&M
TE: Jaylen Bell, Alabama State
OL: Keiontrie Douglas, Alabama State
OL: Javon Taylor, Jackson State
OL: Jordan Williams, Prairie View A&M
OL: Tyler Thomas, Alabama A&M
OL: Chris Smith, Florida A&M
Defense
DL: James Houston, Jackson State
DL: Anthony Dunn, Alabama State
DL: Javon Brown, Prairie View A&M
LB: Aubrey Miller, Jackson State
LB: Isaiah Bolden, Alabama A&M
LB: Ricky Williams, Prairie View A&M
DB: Kam Sallis, Jackson State
DB: Jordan Jones, Alabama State
DB: De’von Warren, Florida A&M
DB: Malik Stewart, Prairie View A&M
Specialist
K: Grant Gant, Jackson State
P: John Hightower, Alabama State
RS: Travis Hunter, Jackson State
2026 Preseason All-SWAC Second Team
Offense
QB: Jalon Daniels, Jackson State
RB: Joshua Brown, Prairie View A&M
RB: Kameron Jones, Alabama A&M
WR: Javon Jackson, Alabama State
WR: Tyler Smith, Florida A&M
TE: Marcus Allen, Jackson State
OL: Brandon Hill, Jackson State
OL: Chris Williams, Prairie View A&M
OL: Michael Thomas, Alabama A&M
OL: David Johnson, Florida A&M
OL: Kevin Harris, Alabama State
Defense
DL: Marcus Smith, Alabama A&M
DL: John Collins, Prairie View A&M
DL: Justin Johnson, Jackson State
LB: Kevin Brown, Alabama State
LB: Chris Jones, Prairie View A&M
LB: James Davis, Florida A&M
DB: Tyler Williams, Alabama A&M
DB: Marcus Allen, Jackson State
DB: Justin Thomas, Prairie View A&M
DB: Brandon Wright, Alabama State
Specialist
K: Michael Johnson, Alabama A&M
P: Chris Davis, Prairie View A&M
RS: James Smith, Florida A&M
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