BIRMINGHAM – A total of seven Prairie View A&M Panthers earned accolades as the 2018 Southwestern Athletic Conference Preseason All-SWAC football teams were announced today in conjunction with the league's Football Media Day.
DB
Ju'Anthony Parker and OL
Corbin Finlayson earned first team honors. RB
Dawonya Tucker, OL
Roderick Smith, WR
Markcus Hardy, TE
Zarrian Holcombe, and DB
Reggie Stubblefield earned second-team honors.
In the predicted order of finish in the SWAC West, the Panthers were picked third behind defending league champion Grambling St. and Southern, with Texas Southern picked fourth and Arkansas-Pine Bluff fifth. In the SWAC East, defending division champion Alcorn State was picked first, followed by Alabama St., Jackson St., Alabama A&M and Miss. Valley St.
Parker (5-11, 165; Jr., Dallas, Texas) was second in the SWAC in interceptions (four) and tied for conference lead in interception returns for touchdowns (two). Parker had 28 tackles, nine passes defensed and one fumble recovery. He returned a pair of interceptions for touchdowns (37 yards at Alabama St; 44 yards against Bacone).
Finlayson (6-3, 280; R-Jr., Jupiter Farms, Fla.) anchored middle of offensive line from center position. He helped the offense to score 30 or more points seven times and gain 400+ yards total offense eight times. The offense rushed for 120+ yards nine times and passed for 200+ yards eight times. The Panthers lead the conference in first downs per game (21.3), is second in rushing offense (163.1 ypg), passing offense (261.3 ypg), and total offense (424.2 ypg), and is third in scoring (30.0 ypg).
Tucker (5-7 170 Jr. Terrell, Texas / Terrell HS) was second on team in carries (89), rushing yards (485), and rushing touchdowns (five), while also caught 13 passes for 115 yards, returned 12 punts for 50 yards, and had seven kickoff returns for 130 yards (18.6 avg). Tucker had a career-best 119 all-purpose yards against Sam Houston St. (9/7), rushing for then career-high 95 yards and career-best three touchdowns.
Smith (6-2 285 Jr. Red Oak, Texas / Desoto HS / Utah St.) played in nine games with seven starts, with the offense averaging 420.1 yards per game in those starts last season playing multiple positions on the line in his first season as a Panther.
Hardy (6-2 215 Sr. Carrollton, Texas / Creekview HS / Angelo St.) was a big-play threat was fourth on team both in receptions (14) and receiving yards (280), was first in yards per catch (20.0) and was third in touchdowns. He caught scoring passes in three straight games at Alabama St. (9/23), vs. Jackson St. (9/30), and vs. Grambling (10/7), including career-long 76-yard TD reception vs. Jackson St.
Holcombe (6-6 235; Jr. Houston, Texas / Summer Creek HS / Illinois) caught 10 passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns. He caught his first pass as a Panther for 8-yard TD catch at Nicholls (9/16). Holcombe made a career-high three receptions for 16 yards at Southern (11/4), and then caught two passes for career-high 43 yards at Incarnate Word (11/16).
Stubblefield (6-0 180; Jr. Arlington, Texas / Sam Houston HS) was fourth on team in tackles (51), fifth on team in solo tackles (28), was tied for second on the team in interceptions (two), was first in passes defensed (10) and had one forced fumble and one blocked kick. Stubblefield made career-high 11 tackles (seven solo), with 0.5 TFL at Alcorn (10/14). He made nine tackles including 1.0 TFL and one pass breakup at Incarnate Word (11/16).
PVAMU football opens the season Saturday, August 25 at Rice at 6 p.m. Season tickets are on sale now at
pvpanthers.com/tickets.
