BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama State University football standouts Adrian Hardy, Rechard Johnson and Nick Andrews were all named 2009 Southwestern Athletic Conference All-Conference performers Wednesday as voted on by the league's head coaches, sports information contacts and selected media members.
   
Hardy and Johnson were both chosen first-team All-SWAC honorees on defense while Andrews was tabbed a second-team offensive selection.

“I am extremely proud of all of our award winners,” said Hornets head coach Reggie Barlow. “Each one of these guys worked hard all season and are very deserving of this honor. I think it is a great accomplishment for each one of them and I'm very happy for those guys. All three of these guys played the game with a lot of passion and it was an honor for me to coach them and watch them play this season.”

Hardy, a senior linebacker from Selma, Ala., finished with 104 tackles this season leading both the team and the SWAC. His average of 9.5 stops per game also led the league and ranked him 34th in the NCAA. Hardy posted five double-digit tackle performances this season including a career best 17 tackles against Tuskegee. He also finished the year with 10.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and a team-best five interceptions.

A senior defensive back from Montgomery, Johnson ranked second on the team and third in the SWAC with 91 tackles this year. He finished the season ranked fourth in the league with 8.3 tackles per game and 10 pass break-ups. Johnson recorded nine stops behind the line of scrimmage from his rover position while also sharing the team lead with a pair of blocked kicks.

Andrews, a sophomore wide receiver from Maplesville, Ala., was the Hornets' most potent offensive threat in 2009 leading the team with five touchdowns. His 47 receptions this season ranked first for ASU and tied for second in the SWAC while his 803 receiving yards ranked second in the league this season and marked the eighth best single season performance in ASU history. Andrews averaged 73.0 yards per game receiving (third in the SWAC) and finished the season with a pair of 100-plus yard receiving performances including a career-best 136 yards against Concordia.

In addition, Andrews was one of the conference's top kick returners ranking second in the SWAC with 24.8 yards per return (20th in the NCAA). He finished the season listed second in the league with 122.3 all-purpose yards per game.