Grambling’s Kincade leads All-SWAC team

boxtorow.com

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama A&M University, Grambling State University and Prairie View A&M University took home the four major awards of the 2016 season, as the Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its postseason football awards in voting conducted by league head coaches and sports information directors. The conference made the announcement on Wednesday, just two days prior to its 2016 Toyota SWAC Football Championship on Saturday, Dec. 3, at NRG Stadium in Houston.

Grambling State quarterback Devante Kincade was named Offensive Player of the Year, and fellow Tiger Donovan McCray secured Defensive Player of the Year accolades. Alabama A&M running back Jordan Bentley received the Freshman of the Year award, and Prairie View A&M’s Joshua Simmons landed the Newcomer of the Year award. Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs took home his third-straight SWAC Coach of the Year award after leading the Tigers to a second-straight nine-win season as well as an unblemished record in conference play for the second-straight year. Under Fobbs, Grambling State currently stands as the only team in the nation (FCS) with a top-5 scoring offense and defense.

Grambling State picked up the most all-conference selections with 14. Southern was next with 10 selections. Both Grambling State and Southern each had an astounding nine players garner first-team consideration.

Kincade led Grambling State to a 9-1 overall record and a second-straight perfect record in conference play. The signal-caller for the Western Division champion ranks third in the FCS and first in the SWAC in passing efficiency (171.6) and is first in the conference in completion percentage (65.2), passing yards per game (263.3) and total offensive yards per game (290.4). Kincade boasted 28 touchdown passes to just three interceptions, and posted two games where he threw for at least 400 yards and five scores or better this season (Sept. 24 vs. Alcorn State, Oct. 29 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff).

McCray anchored the front four of a Tigers defensive unit that led the SWAC in most every statistical category and ranked fourth in FCS in points allowed (16.4), as well as ranked first nationally in red zone defense (.577). McCray made 28 total stops – 11.5 for loss — with five sacks, three fumble recoveries, a blocked kick and a safety recorded.

Bentley was one of the Bulldogs’ brightest spots this season, as he rushed for 851 yards and notched 10 total scores (9 rush, 1 receiving). The Guntersville, Ala. native rushed for 100 yards or more three times this season and had a three-touchdown game against Texas Southern on Oct. 1 during a stretch where he found the end zone in four straight contests.

Simmons was used in a variety of roles for the Panthers, doing much of his damage as a receiver and return man. He posted 20 grabs for 240 yards and two scores – fourth-best on the team in each category – and racked up 434 return yards and one kick return touchdown. In all, Simmons accounted for more than 700 all-purpose yards and three total touchdowns.

The full team is listed below.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Devante Kincade (Grambling State)

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Donovan McCray (Grambling State)

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Joshua Simmons (Prairie View A&M)

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

Jordan Bentley (Alabama A&M)

COACH OF THE YEAR

Broderick Fobbs (Grambling State)

FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE

QB

Devante Kincade

Grambling State

RB

Lenard Tillery

Southern

RB

Martez Carter

Grambling State

OL

Justin Miller

Grambling State

OL

Terrell Lee

Southern

OL

Anthony Mosley

Southern

OL

Sam Baptiste

Alabama State

OL

Jamal Boulden

Southern

WR

Chad Williams

Grambling State

WR

Willie Quinn

Southern

TE

Dillon Beard

Southern

DEFENSE

DL

 Javancy Jones

Jackson State

DL

Aaron Tiller

Southern

DL

 Donovan McCray

Grambling State

DL

Samuel Reese

Grambling State

LB

Arkez Cooper

Grambling State

LB

Darien Anderson

Alcorn State

LB

Kourtney Berry

Alabama State

DB

Guy Stallworth

Grambling State

DB

Danny Johnson

Southern

DB

Jameel Jackson

Grambling State

DB

Eric Foster

Alcorn State

SPECIAL TEAMS

K

Eric Medina

Texas Southern

P

Eric Medina

Texas Southern

RS

Willie Quinn

Southern

 

SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE

QB

Austin Howard

Southern

RB

Khalid Thomas

Alabama State

RB

Jordan Bentley

Alabama A&M

OL

Trent Scott

Grambling State

OL

Detonio Dade

Alcorn State

OL

Donovan Wheaton

Prairie View A&M

OL

Timothy Gardner

Alcorn State

OL

Gustavo Lopez

Prairie View A&M

WR

Verlan Hunter

Grambling State

WR

Willie Young

Arkansas-Pine Bluff

TE

Jonathan Dorsey

Alabama A&M

DEFENSE

 DL

Blain Winston

Grambling State

 DL

Michael Brooks

Alcorn State

 DL

Roderick Henderson

Alabama State

 DL

DeVohn Reed

Prairie View A&M

 LB

Javancy Jones

Jackson State

 LB

Willie Duncan

Arkansas-Pine Bluff

 LB

Michael Hurns

Alcorn State

 DB

Bradley Street

Alabama State

 DB

Terrence Singleton

Prairie View A&M

 DB

Zavian Bingham

Jackson State

 DB

Justin Jemison

Jackson State

SPECIAL TEAMS

K

Jonathan Wallace

Grambling State

P

Owen Hoolihan

Prairie View A&M

RS

Martez Carter

Grambling State