BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Alabama State was picked to finish fourth on a vote of the league's head coaches and sports information directors and had five players named All-Conference at the 2019 SWAC Media Days Tuesday morning.

Alabama State (4-7, 3-4 a season ago), was picked behind defending champion Alcorn State in the East Division. Alabama A&M and Jackson State were each picked above the Hornets in the preseason poll, while Mississippi Valley State was picked to finish fifth. In the West Division, defending division champion Southern was picked ahead of Prairie View A&M and Grambling State; while Texas Southern and UAPB were picked fourth and fifth respectively.

Meanwhile, the Hornets had four players named First Team All-Conference and one other named Second Team. On the defensive side of the football, Christian Clark was named First Team on the defensive line after playing in 11 games on the interior line. He recorded 53 total tackles, fifth highest total on the team and recorded 22 solo stops. The redshirt junior garnered 5.0 tackles for loss, totaling 11 yards and recorded a pair of pass breakups on batted balls. Clark finished with a quarterback hurry and one fumble recovery, while also recorded a blocked kick.

He was joined on the defensive side of the ball on the first team by returning starting linebacker Darron Johnson who was named Second Team at the conclusion of last season. Johnson led the team in tackles with 78 despite missing the Prairie View A&M contest. The junior had 29 solo stops on the season and also recorded 5.0 tackles for loss. He also recorded 0.5 sacks (three yards) and had two interceptions – one of which he returned for a 27-yard touchdown for his first career score. Johnson recorded five or more tackles nine times this past season, including a career-high 14 against Alcorn State. He recorded eight against Tuskegee in the season opener and had seven against Grambling State.

The Hornets also had a pair of specialists named First Team this season, including punter Anthony Craven. The senior, in his first year with the Hornets, took over for all-conference performer Trevor Vincent and responded by ranking 18th in the country in punting (second in the conference) at a 42.7-yard average. The junior punted the ball 78 times for 3,310 total yards, while recording four touchbacks and forced seven fair catches. Craven pinned Alabama State opponents inside the 20 on 29 occasions and has 20 punts of 50 or more yards, including a career-high 80-yard punt against South Alabama. Meanwhile, Ezra Gray was named First Team return specialist after he became one of the most respected kick returners in the conference, forcing teams to kick the ball away from him midway through the 2018 season after returns of 72 yards and 99 yards (called back from touchdown) in the first three weeks of the season. Gray finished in the top 50 in the nation (third in the conference) in combined kick returns, and in the top 75 in the nation (third in the conference) in kickoff returns at 23.4. He was also in the top 100 in the nation (fifth in conference) in all-purpose yards per game, while also leading the team in rushing.

Senior defensive back Joshua Hill was the fifth player to earn All-Conference honors as he was named Second Team entering 2019. Hill played in 11 games and finished third on the team in tackles with 61, while recording 41 solo stops. He recorded one tackle for loss from safety position and recorded a pair of interceptions on the season. Hill finished the season with three pass breakups, a fumble recovery and forced three fumbles.

Alabama State opens the 2019 season on the road against UAB on a Thursday night (August 29). Kick is set for 7 pm at Birmingham's historic Legion Field, and the game will be carried by ESPN+ and heard on the Hornet Sports Network.

#2019FootballTickets
Season and single-game tickets are on sale for the 2019 season at ASU Stadium. The Hornets play five games at home during the 2019 campaign including visits from Tuskegee, Kennesaw State, Grambling State, Alcorn State and Prairie View A&M. Several options are available for fans including a Young Alumni package, Group package and Faculty/Staff options.

For more information on purchasing tickets for the upcoming season, visit BamaStateSports.com or call one of two numbers - (334) 229-4551 or (334) 229-8479.

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