BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2024 postseason football awards that saw eight Alabama State University student-athletes garner all-conference honors.
 
Treqwan Thomas (DL), Rico Dozier (LB), DeMarkus Cunningham (LB), James Burgess (CB), Amon Scarbrough (S), and Arelious Dunn (OL nabbed first-team honors.  Desmond Daniels (OL) and Keane Lewis (S) were second-team honorees.
 
The eight selections for Alabama State match the eight from the 2023 SWAC postseason team and move Head Coach Eddie Robinson, Jr's total to 18 during his three-year tenure.
 
Thomas (DL) led the SWAC and FCS in fumbles forced (.42) while ranking first in the SWAC and second in the FCS in sacks per game (1.0). Thomas topped the SWAC with 12 sacks on the year. Thomas averaged 1.4 tackles for loss per game, ranking fourth in the SWAC and 14 nationally. The Orlando, Fla., native finished with 32 tackles, 12 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, and three quarterback hurries.
 
Dozier (LB) led the defense with 100 tackles, ranking second in the SWAC (38th FCS) with 8.3 tackles per game, 11th with 4.5 sacks, and 15th with 9.5 tackles for loss. Dozier had 47 solo tackles, four quarterback hurries, two fumbles forced, and three pass breakups.
 
Cunningham (LB) was second on the team with 94 tackles and 41 solo stops. He added three sacks and six tackles for loss. The Bessemer, Ala., native led the SWAC and ranked fourth nationally with three fumbles recovered, while his 7.8 tackles per game ranked fifth in the conference.
 
Burgess (CB) tied for third in the SWAC with 10 passes defended and tied for first with four interceptions (17th FCS). The Center Point, Ala., product had 53 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, one fumble recovered, and one fumble forced on the season. Burgess was named one of three finalists of the Aeneas Williams Award.
 
Scarbrough (S) tallied 60 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, four interceptions and five pass deflections. The Birmingham, Ala., native ranks 17th nationally and second in the SWAC with four interceptions and tied for fourth in nine passes defended.
 
Dunn (OL) is the top center in the SWAC, not allowing a sack in 610 snaps and grading 86 percent on the season. The 18 sacks allowed were the fewest allowed by an offensive line in the SWAC, while the 1.5 per game ranked second (32nd FCS). Dunn also totaled 13 knockdowns on the year.
 
Lewis had 40 tackles that included 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sacks. He was second on the team with two interceptions and four pass breakups. He tied for second in the SWAC with two fumbles recovered (15thFCS), and added a blocked punt return for a touchdown, which ranked first in the SWAC and fourth nationally.
 
Daniels graded 85 percent and gave up one sack over 466 snaps played. He started 11 of 12 games, allowing eight pressures with 18 knockdowns. The 18 sacks allowed were the fewest allowed by an offensive line in the SWAC, while the 1.5 per game ranked second (32nd FCS). Dunn also totaled 13 knockdowns on the year.
 
The Alabama State defense was the top defense in the SWAC, ranking first or second in the SWAC in nine categories and the top 10 in the FSC in 10 categories.
 
Sacks (SWAC/FCS) 3.25/gm (1/3) | Total Defense265.0 (1/3) | Rush Defense 105.9 (1/9) | Scoring 16.7 (1/5) | Interceptions15 (1/9) | Fumbles Forced 16 (1) | Turnovers Gained 27 (1/7) |  Fewest First Downs 180 (1/6) |  Turnover Margin .75 (1/5) | Sacks39 (1) | Tackles for Loss 7.3/gm (2/8) | Passing Yards Allowed 159.1  (2/7) | Fumbles Recovered 10 (3/12).
 
The offensive line paved the way for 2,028 this season, becoming the first team to rush for 2000 yards since 2019. The Hogs paved the way for four 200-yard rushing games, including a season-high 308 at Bethune-Cookman. ASU rushed for 211 yards against Florida A&M, 203 against North Carolina Central, and 204 against Alabama A&M. Alabama State rushed for 100 yards in 10-of-12 games, missing the 100-yard mark Alcorn State and Grambling State. The Hornets outrushed 9-of-12 opponents, and the 18 sacks tied for second in fewest sacks allowed.  ASU ranks averaged 169.0 yards per game, ranking 4th in the SWAC after ranking 11th in 2023.
 
2024 All-SWAC Football Team Selections 
 
All-SWAC First Team Offense
Quarterback: Daniel Richardson, Florida A&M
Running Back: Irv Mulligan, Jackson State
Running Back: Donovan Eaglin, Alabama A&M
Offensive Lineman: Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M
Offensive Lineman: Arelious Dunn, Alabama State
Offensive Lineman: D'Andre Townes-Blue, Jackson State
Offensive Lineman: Charles Davis, Florida A&M
Offensive Lineman: Ashton Grable, Florida A&M
Wide Receiver: JaVonnie Gibson, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Wide Receiver: Nathan Rembert, Mississippi Valley State
Tight End: Tavarious Griffin, Alcorn State
 
All-SWAC First Team Defense
Defensive Lineman: Ckelby Givens, Southern
Defensive Lineman: Treqwan Thomas, Alabama State
Defensive Lineman: Malachi Bailey, Alcorn State
Defensive Lineman: Joshua Nobles, Jackson State
Linebacker: Andrew Jones, Grambling State
Linebacker: Rico Dozier, Alabama State
Linebacker: DeMarkus Cunningham, Alabama State
Defensive Back: James Burgess, Alabama State
Defensive Back: Amon Scarbrough, Alabama State
Defensive Back: Ke'Vric Wiggins Jr., Jackson State
Defensive Back: MJ Hinson, Texas Southern
 
All-SWAC First Team Specialist
Place Kicker: Guillermo Garcia Rodriguez, Prairie View A&M
Punter: Anthony Frederique, Bethune-Cookman
Return Specialist: Travis Terrell Jr., Jackson State
Long Snapper: Avery Salerno, Jackson State
 
All-SWAC Second Team Offense
Quarterback: Jacobian Morgan, Jackson State
Running Back: Jacorian Sewell, Alcorn State
Running Back: Dennis Palmer, Bethune-Cookman
Offensive Lineman: Ronald Brown, Alcorn State
Offensive Lineman: Desmond Daniels, Alabama State 
Offensive Lineman: Christon Love, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Offensive Lineman: Evan Henry, Jackson State
Offensive Lineman: Kirk Ford Jr., Jackson State
Wide Receiver: Keenan Hambrick, Alabama A&M
Wide Receiver: Jamari Gassett, Florida A&M
Tight End: Koby Gross, Florida A&M

All-SWAC Second Team Defense
Defensive Lineman: James Ash, Florida A&M
Defensive Lineman: Keelan Cox, Texas Southern
Defensive Lineman: Dorian Wesley, Alabama A&M
Defensive Lineman: Jaden Hardy, Grambling State
Linebacker: Cortez Andrew, Alabama A&M
Linebacker: Stemarion Edwards, Alcorn State
Linebacker: Jaden Kelly Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Defensive Back: Delvon Gulley, Alabama A&M
Defensive Back: Keane Lewis, Alabama State
Defensive Back: Kendall Bohler, Florida A&M
Defensive Back: Edwin Summerour, Alcorn State
 
All-SWAC Second Team Specialist
Place Kicker: Gerardo Baeza, Jackson State
Punter: Matt Noll, Jackson State
Return Specialist: Darnell Deas, Bethune-Cookman
Long Snapper: Clayton Thomas Jr., Bethune-Cookman