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T-5 Jaylen Harris, Prairie View A&M, Defensive Back, r-Sr., Round Rock, Texas
Harris is one of the best corners in the SWAC, a shutdown type of corner and his numbers back up his play. In 2019, he led the conference in passes defensed per game (1.8), tallying 14 pass breakups and four interceptions. For his career, he has tallied 30 pass breakups and 7 INTs. Prior to Prairie View A&M, Harris was enrolled at UTEP. Prior to UTEP, he spent a few years in the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system as a centerfielder and second baseman.
T-5 Harry Ballard, III, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Wide Receiver, Sr., St. Louis, Mo.
Ballard was fourth in the SWAC in receptions (52), yards per reception (18.0) and receiving yards (938), and was fifth in touchdown receptions (10). Ballard had five games of 100 yards or more in receiving including against Alabama A&M (where he also caught three touchdowns), at Tennessee State, and at Prairie View A&M. Ballard is a transfer from the University of Missouri.
4. Jerry Garner, Mississippi Valley State, Defensive End, Sr., Chunchula, Ala.
One of the more underrated players in the country as he’s on a Valley team that was 2-9 in 2019 and 5-28 in his career with the Delta Devils, but the team should be improved, led by Garner and the defense. Garner led the SWAC in sacks (9) and was second in tackles for loss (16) in 2019. He also had 53 tackles (31 solo), three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Against some of the better teams MVSU faced including Lamar, Alcorn State, Grambling, and Alabama A&M, he combined for six tackles for loss and two sacks. In his last two seasons, Garner has registered 12 sacks, 26.5 tackles for loss, and 96 tackles. Not only a pass rusher, he is a sure tackler and has a nose for the football.
3. Keonte Hampton, Jackson State, Linebacker, Sophomore, West Point, Miss.
With all of the big name recruits and transfers that Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders has brought in, there was not a lot of talk about Hampton. All Hampton did in 2019 was lead the SWAC in tackles (121, 78 of those were solo), recorded 14 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks. He’s a player with college experience and will be the leader of the Tigers’ defense.
2. Aqeel Glass, Alabama A&M, Quarterback, Senior, St. Louis, Mo.
Glass is one of the top 25 NFL prospects at quarterback – across all of college football. He can make all of the throws. He is looking to get drafted into the National Football League, which if that happens, would make him the first quarterback drafted into the NFL from an HBCU since the late Tarvaris Jackson was taken in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. In 2019, he led the SWAC in passing yards (3,200) and was second in passing touchdowns (32). He completed 61 percent of his passes and threw 11 interceptions. A really good season and leading the Bulldogs to the SWAC championship could catapult his stock even higher.
1. Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, Alabama A&M, Wide Receiver, Sophomore, Miramar, Fla.
Ibrahim had a spectacular freshman season. He was second in the SWAC in receptions (59), third in receiving yards (1,004), tied for third in receiving touchdowns (11), and averaged 17.0 yards per reception. He seemed to get better every game. Was looking forward to the matchup against Alcorn State on what could have been the HBCU game of the year and seeing Ibrahim go up against Qwinnterrio Cole, but have also circled March 20 when he will go up against PV and Harris.
