MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama State University linebacker Colton Adams was named the Phil Steele's SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and was one of six players named to the publications Preseason All-SWAC team.
 
Colton Adams (LB) was also a first-team selection while Kisean Johnson (WR), Robert Alston (OL) and Adrian Maddox (DB) were second-team selections. Cail Jackson (DB) and Kelvin Stokes (DL) represent ASU as third team honorees.
 
Adams adds the selection to a growing list that includes Preseason First-Team All-SWAC, Bluebloods Preseason All-American, and BOXTOROW Preseason All-American honors. In 2022, Adams earned BOXTOROW First-Team All-American, All-SWAC, and Hero Sports Sophomore All-American. He led the SWAC, and FCS, with 11.6 tackles per game while starting in all 11 games at middle linebacker. The Wetumpka (Ala.)-native registered a SWAC-best 128 tackles and ranked second with 52 solo tackles. He ranked seventh in the SWAC with 1.2 tackles for loss per game, 2.0 sacks, three pass breakups, and forced a fumble.
 
Johnson played nine games in 2022, tying for the team lead with 31 catches and a team-best 530. yards with three touchdown catches.
 
Maddox was recently selected Preseason All-SWAC Second Team and HBCU Sports preseason All-Defense for 2023 and was a 2022 Jerry Rice Award Finalist. The Conyers (Ga.)-native recorded eight tackles and an interception in his collegiate debut against Howard in the MEAC-SWAC challenge. He became the youngest to intercept a pass in a collegiate game against Howard. Maddox posted 49 tackles, six tackles for a loss, two sacks, and two interceptions in 2022. He had a season-high nine tackles against Alabama A&M and his second career interception came at UCLA.  
 
Alston was recently selected Second-Team Preseason All-SWAC after earning being named a 2021 Second-Team All-SWAC selection and a 2022 Preseason First-Team selection. The Linden (Ala.) product played nine games with seven starts and was instrumental in helping Alabama State to six wins. He anchored an offensive line that helped the Hornets average nearly 19 points per game and averaged 111.8 yards per game rushing and 1,762 total yards. They also averaged 195 yards passing and put up 3,377 yards of total offense.
 
Jackson played in 11 games in 2022, registering 26 total tackles including 12 solo stops with one tackle for loss and one forced fumble. He finished with three interceptions including a season-high two against Florida A&M. Jackson recorded three or more tackles six times on the season including four each against Florida A&M and UAPB.
 
Stokes played in all 11 games on the defensive line rotation last season. The Millbrook, Ala., product recorded 26 total tackles that included 11 solo stops, four tackles for loss and one sack.
 
The Hornets are set to begin preseason camp on Wednesday at the Houston Markham Complex.
 

Phil Steele's SWAC Preseason All-Conference Team
OFFENSE
	1st TEAM	2nd TEAM	3rd TEAM
QB	Jeremy Moussa, Florida A&M, Sr.	Trazon Connley, Prairie View A&M, Sr.	Andrew Body, Texas Southern, Jr.
RB	Jarveon Howard, Alcorn St, Sr.	Gary Quarles Jr., Southern, Sr.	LaDarius Owens, Texas Southern, Sr.
RB	Donovan Eaglin, Alabama A&M, Jr.	Ahmad Antoine, Prairie View A&M, Sr.	Caleb Johnson, Prairie View A&M, Sr.
WR	Jah'Marae Sheread, Florida A&M, Sr.	Kisean Johnson, Alabama St, Jr.	Cassius Allen, Southern, Jr.
WR	Marcus Riley, Florida A&M, Sr.	Lyndon Rash, Grambling St, Sr.	Rico Powers, Jackson St, Soph.
WR	Derek Morton, Texas Southern, Sr.	Monterio Hunt, Alcorn St, Sr.	Brian Jenkins Jr., Prairie View A&M, Sr.
TE	DJ Stevens, Jackson St, Sr.	Jyrin Johnson, Texas Southern, Jr.	Tavarious Griffin, Alcorn St, Sr.
OL	Jalen Goss, Florida A&M, Sr.	Robert Alson, Alabama St, Jr.	Morgan Moore, Florida A&M, Sr.
OL	Cameron Covin, Florida A&M, Sr.	Jack Nance, Texas Southern, Sr.	Arrington Taylor, Prairie View A&M, Sr.
OL	Jonathan Williams, Alabama A&M, Sr.	Traveon Newsome, Southern, Jr.	TJ Lee, Florida A&M, Jr.
OL	Will Ready, Alcorn State, Sr.	Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M, Jr.	Ryan Atkins-Frazier, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Sr.
OL	T.J. Yarbrough, Alcorn State, Sr.	Kardell Thomas, Florida A&M, Sr.	Eric Dunn, Prairie View A&M, Sr.
DEFENSE
	1st TEAM	2nd TEAM	3rd TEAM
DL	Sundiata Anderson, Grambling St, Sr.	Gentle Hunt, Florida A&M, Jr.	Anas Luqman, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Soph.
DL	Zareon Hayes, Alabama A&M, Sr.	Ckelby Givens, Southern, Soph.	Kelvin Stokes, Alabama St, Sr.
DL	Malachi Bailey, Alcorn State, Sr.	Michael Akins, Texas Southern, Soph.	Rasheed Lyles, Southern, Sr.
DL	Tahj Brown, Southern, Sr.	Judas McKenzie, Bethune-Cookman, Sr.	Dre Jones, Florida A&M, Sr.
LB	Colton Adams, Alabama St, Sr.	Rico Dozier, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Jr.	Jacob Williams, Texas Southern, Jr.
LB	Isaiah Major, Florida A&M, Sr.	Johnny Chaney Jr., Florida A&M, Jr.	Warren Shankle, Prairie View A&M, Sr.
LB	Lewis Matthews, Grambling St, Sr.	Terreance Ellis, Alcorn St, Jr.	Derrick Williams, Southern, Jr.
LB	Jalan Campbell, Southern, Sr.	Keyshawn Johnson, Prairie View A&M, Sr.	Tre'Vion Green, Prairie View A&M, Sr.
DB	Omar Hill-Robinson, Bethune-Cookman, Sr.	Jordan Carter, Southern, Jr.	Cail Jackson, Alabama St, Jr.
DB	Esaias Guthrie, Jackson St, Soph.	Kriston Davis, Southern, Sr.	Uriah Ratliff, Bethune-Cookman, Soph.
DB	Javan Morgan, Florida A&M, Jr.	Adrian Maddox, Alabama St, Soph.	Quincy Mitchell, Grambling St, Sr.
DB	Kendall Bohler, Florida A&M, Jr.	Andrew Smith, Alcorn St, Jr.	Tariq Mulmore, Prairie View A&M, Jr.
SPECIAL TEAMS
	1st TEAM	2nd TEAM	3rd TEAM
K	Joshua Griffin, Southern, Jr.	Anthony Turnage, Mississippi Valley St, Jr.	Carlos Villagomez, Prairie View A&M, Jr.
P	Trey Wilhoit, Florida A&M, Jr.	Jimmy Iles, Grambling State, Sr.	Robens Beauplan, Southern, Sr.
KR	Darnell Deas, Bethune-Cookman, Jr.	Maurice Lloyd, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Sr.	Chaunzavia Lewis, Texas Southern, Soph.
PR	Chaunzavia Lewis, Texas Southern, Soph.	Jah'Marae Sheread, Florida A&M, Sr.	Brian Jenkins Jr., Prairie View A&M, Sr.
AP	Jah'Marae Sheread, Florida A&M, Sr.	Chaunzavia Lewis, Texas Southern, Soph.	Maurie Lloyd, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Sr.
LS	Jason Longcor, Alcorn State, Jr.	Braxton Blackwell, Southern, Jr.	Thomas Reny, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Sr.
2023 SWAC PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: QB Jeremy Moussa, Florida A&M, Sr.
2023 SWAC PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: LB Colton Adams, Alabama St, Sr.