BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Five players were named to the 2015 All-SWAC Preseason Team while Prairie View A&M was picked third in the SWAC West in the annual SWAC Preseason Poll.
Four Panthers received first team honors in running back Johnta' Hebert, offensive lineman Glen Haisley, defensive lineman Devohn Reed and defensive back Damond Jackson. Hebert also earned a spot as a first team return specialist.
Hebert led the FCS in all-purpose yards per game (225.3) by a decisive margin and finished second in the SWAC rushing yards per game (106.3) as a junior. He scored at least one touchdown in nine of Prairie View's 10 games, totaling 15 overall.
Haisley is the top returning starter on an offensive line which only allowed eight sacks in 2014. He primarily played played a big role in blocking for the SWAC's No. 2 ranked offense which averaged 460 total yards per game (22nd NCAA). With his protection, PVAMU finished with the SWAC's No. 4 ranked rush offense (196 ypg), third-ranked passing offense (264.6 ypg) and second-ranked scoring offense (36.6). The line's blocking allowed the offense to finish the season with eight games over 400-plus offensive yards along with two-plus games over 500 yards and one game with 600-plus yards of total offense.
Reed is a redshirt sophomore from Houston who finished with 37 tackles and three sacks while also leading all SWAC defensive linemen with 4.6 tackles per game. Reed had a solid three-game stretch to open the season with seven tackles apiece against Southern, Grambling State and Jackson State while also accumulating two sacks at Jackson State.
A finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, which is awarded to the top freshman on the FCS ranks, Jackson was as good as advertised after finishing third on the team with 80 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and an interception. The New Orleans, La. native had three double-digit games with 12-plus tackles as he had 12 tackles versus Grambling State and Alabama State and 13 tackles against Alcorn State.
Offensive lineman Jordan Johnson rounds out the honorees with a second team selection as he has the ability to play both guard and tackle for the Panthers.
For the predicted order of finish in both divisions, the defending champion Alcorn State Braves totaled 95 votes including 10 first place votes to become the preseason favorite out of the East Division. Jackson State followed with 83 points, Alabama A&M gathered 66 points, with Alabama State (50) and Mississippi Valley State (31) closing the division's preseason ranking.
