See where Southern football is picked to finish in SWAC standings, along with all-SWAC picks

Southern is picked to repeat as the Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division champions, and nine Jaguars were selected preseason all-conference at SWAC media day Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama.

In polling of coaches and sports information directors, Southern was a strong favorite to win its fourth division title in seven years ahead of Alcorn State and Texas Southern. The Jaguars received 13 of 24 first-place votes.

Three Jaguars — defensive tackle Tahj Brown, safety Jordan Carter and kicker Joshua Griffin — made first team All-SWAC. 

On the second team were offensive lineman Eli Fields, defensive end Ckelby Givens, linebacker Jalan Campbell, cornerback Kriston Davis, punter Robens Beauplan and snapper Braxston Blackwell.

Florida A&M was a clear choice to win the East with 16 first-place votes. Rattlers quarterback Jeremy Moussa was selected preseason offensive player of the year, and Grambling defensive end Sundiata Anderson took the defensive honor.

SWAC football predicted order of finish

West Division

Southern, 122 points (13)

Alcorn State, 94 points (6)

Texas Southern, 73 points (1)

Grambling State, 69 points (2)

Prairie View A&M, 68 points (2)

Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 33 points

East Division

Florida A&M, 116 points (16)

Jackson State, 94 points (2)

Alabama State, 80 points (2)

Alabama A&M, 73 points (2)

Mississippi Valley State, 35 points (2)

Bethune-Cookman,- 34 points

*First-place votes listed in parenthesis ( )

2023 SWAC preseason team

First-team offense

Quarterback: Jeremy Moussa, Florida A&M

Running Back: Jarveon Howard, Alcorn State

Running Back: Donovan Eaglin, Alabama A&M

Offensive Lineman: Jalen Goss, Florida A&M

Offensive Lineman: Jonathan Williams, Alabama A&M

Offensive Lineman: Will Ready, Alcorn State

Offensive Lineman: Cameron Covin, Florida A&M

Offensive Lineman: T.J. Yarbrough, Alcorn State

Wide Receiver: Jah’Marae Sheread, Florida A&M

Wide Receiver: Derek Morton, Texas Southern

Tight End: D.J. Stevens, Jackson State

First-team defense

Defensive Lineman: Malachi Bailey, Alcorn State

Defensive Lineman: Sundiata Anderson, Grambling State

Defensive Lineman: Tahj Brown, Southern

Defensive Lineman: Zareon Hayes, Alabama A&M

Linebacker: Colton Adams, Alabama State

Linebacker: Lewis Matthews, Grambling State

Linebacker: Isaiah Major, Florida A&M

Defensive Back: Omari Hill-Robinson, Bethune-Cookman

Defensive Back: Javan Morgan, Florida A&M

Defensive Back: Jordan Carter, Southern

Defensive Back: Kendall Bohler, Florida A&M

First-team specialist

Place Kicker: Joshua Griffin, Southern

Punter: Jimmy Iles, Grambling State

Return Specialist: Darnell Deas, Bethune-Cookman

Long Snapper: Jason Longcor, Alcorn State

Second-team offense

Quarterback: Andrew Body, Texas Southern

Running Back: Jacorey Howard, Texas Southern

Running Back: Ahmad Antoine, Prairie View A&M

Offensive Lineman: Eli Fields, Southern

Offensive Lineman: Arrington Taylor, Prairie View A&M

Offensive Lineman: Ryan Atkins-Frazier, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Offensive Lineman: Robert Alston, Alabama State

Offensive Lineman: Mehdi Torrence, Texas Southern

Wide Receiver: Lyndon Rash, Grambling State

Wide Receiver: Marcus Riley, Florida A&M

Tight End: Kamari Young, Florida A&M

Second-team defense

Defensive Lineman: Ckelby Givens, Southern

Defensive Lineman: Michael Akins, Texas Southern

Defensive Lineman: Kendarius Clark, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Defensive Lineman: Gentle Hunt, Florida A&M

Linebacker: Jalan Campbell, Southern

Linebacker: Rico Dozier, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Linebacker: Terreance Ellis, Alcorn State

Defensive Back: Adrian Maddox, Alabama State

Defensive Back: Cail Jackson, Alabama State

Defensive Back: Kevin Thomas, Grambling State

Defensive Back: Kriston Davis, Southern

Second-team specialists

Place Kicker: Anthony Turnage, Mississippi Valley State

Punter: Robens Beauplan, Southern

Return Specialist: Chaunzavia Lewis, Texas Southern

Long Snapper: Braxston Blackwell, Southern