BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Quarterback
Andrew Body headlined Alabama State University's nine student-athletes honored on the 2026 Southeastern Athletic Conference's Preseason All-Conference teams released on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.
Body was named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and was one of five first-team selections, including
Elijah Baker (OL), Micael Joiner (DL),
Ta'Shaun Sims (S), and
Nehemiah Hixon (RS).
Jamarie Hostzclaw,
Dezmond Penn,
Andrew Abu-Akel, and
Garrett Wilemon earned second-team honors.
Andrew Body (QB)
2026 Phil Steele Preseason SWAC Offensive Player of the Year; 2026 Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC (1st Team); 2026 Walter Payton Watch List; 2026 Manning Passing Academy Counselor; 2025-26 ASWA Alabama Small College Athlete of the Year; 2025 Stats Perform HBCU National Player of the Year; 2025 First-Team All-American (BOXTOROW); 2025 BOXTOROW National Offensive Player of the Year; 2025 First-Team All-SWAC; 2025 SWAC Offensive Player of the Year.
Helped power Alabama State to its first 10-win season in 21 years...named the Southwestern Athletic Conference's Offensive Player of the Year...completed nearly 71 percent of his passes for 1,770 yards, 20 touchdowns, and only one interception, while compiling an elite 203.6 pass efficiency rating. The dual threat also rushed for 518 yards and four touchdowns...scored six touchdowns in the Magic City Classic against Alabama A&M...to open the season, Alabama State dropped a back-and-forth, 52-42 result at UAB, with Body passing for 312 yards and four touchdowns, rushing for another 119 yards and a TD, and earning HBCU national player of the week. The Hornets' 38-34 defeat at Jackson State wasn't decided until a final play just outside the reigning SWAC champion's goal line. Body racked up a career-high 442 yards of total offense and passed for a touchdown...was named the SWAC's Offensive Player of the Week three times and earned HBCU National Player of the Week twice...led the SWAC in touchdown passes (20) and points responsible for (144) while ranking second in completion percentage (70.5)...led a prolific offense that led or ranked second in the SWAC in 13 categories while ranking in the top 12 in the FCS in seven categories.
Elijah Baker (OL)
2026 Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC (1st Team); 2025 All-SWAC (1st-Team); 2025 BOXTOROW HBCU All-American (1st Team)
Played and started in 12 games, grading 92 percent or better 10 times...graded season-best 96 percent against Bethune-Cookman and Prairie View...totaled 55 knockdowns while allowing just two pressures and only one sack over 598 snaps.
Michael Joiner (DL)
2026 Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC (1st Team)
Appeared in 11 games for the Hornets in his second season with the team...Totaled 23 tackles (11 solo, 12 assisted) while adding four tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks... Put up a season-best five-tackle outing at Prairie View A&M (Nov. 1)
Ta'Shaun Sims (S)
2026 Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC (1st Team): 2025 First Team BOXTOROW HBCU All-American
Played in 12 games in a breakout second season at ASU...Ranked No. 4 in all of FCS with five interceptions... scored touchdowns on a 75-yard blocked field goal return against Texas Southern (Nov. 8) and a 42-yard interception return against Tuskegee (Nov. 27)...Finished the year with 36 tackles (22 solo, 14 assisted), 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack, nine passes defended, a fumble, and a fumble recovery.
Nehemiah Hixon (RS)
Jamarie Hostzclaw (RB)
Appeared in all 12 games for the Hornets, making nine starts...Ran 122 times for 676 yards and 7 touchdowns...made 11 catches for 109 yards and a score in the air... had his best performance—a 22-carry, 135-yard outing—at Florida A&M (Sept. 27)...posted another 20+ carry, 100+ yard outing at Prairie View A&M (21 carries, 127 yards, Nov. 1)...had seven games with over 50 yards on the ground, including a 62-yard, two-touchdown performance against Mississippi Valley State (Nov. 16)...made a pair of catches for a season-high 36 receiving yards against Tuskegee (Nov. 27).
Dezmond Penn (OL)
2026 Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC (3rd Team): 2025 Preseason Second-Team All-SWAC
Played in ten games on the offensive line for the second straight season...Secured at least a 90 percent grade in nine of his ten qualified games...didn't allow a sack or pressure against any of his opponents... played a role in helping block for one of the nation's most explosive offenses, with the team sitting second in the nation in scoring offense (42.4 points per game), fifth nationally in total offense (460.5 yards per game), first in the SWAC in passing offense (268.8 yards per game), and second in the conference in rushing offense (211.8 yards per game).
Andrew Abu-Akel (K)
2026 Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC (2nd-Team)
Made 9 of 11 field goals for 81.8 percent...ranked fourth in the SWAC in field goal percentage and fifth in field goals made...connected on 51 of 51 point-after attempts...ranked third in the SWAC in scoring and second in scoring by kicks with 78 points and 6.5 points per game...earned SWAC Specialist of the Week one time...connected on 3 of 3 field goals against UAPB with a long of 43...made 2 of 2 field goals with a long of 42 against Jackson State and was 2 for 2 against Miles.
Garrett Wilemon (LS)
2026 Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC (1st Team); 2025 Second-Team All-SWAC Long Snapper
Served as the primary long snapper in all 12 games in his sophomore campaign, making one solo tackle on the year.
2026 SWAC Football Preseason Awards
Offensive Player of the Year
Andrew Body, Alabama State
Defensive Player of the Year
Kam Sallis, Jackson State
All-SWAC First Team Offense
Quarterback: Andrew Body, Alabama State
Running Back: Jaylen Jennings, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Running Back: Chase Bingmon, Prairie View A&M
Offensive Lineman: Elijah Baker, Alabama State
Offensive Lineman: Calvin McMillian, Prairie View A&M
Offensive Lineman: Quaveon Davis, Jackson State
Offensive Lineman: Christian Loving, Bethune-Cookman
Offensive Lineman: Cameran Rogers, Alcorn State
Wide Receiver: Nate Rembert, Jackson State
Wide Receiver: D'Avery Robinson, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Tight End: Travon Jones, Prairie View A&M
All-SWAC First Team Defense
Defensive Lineman: Malik Gucake, Prairie View A&M
Defensive Lineman: Eric Thomas Jr., Alcorn State
Defensive Lineman: Arenza Davis, Alabama A&M
Defensive Lineman: Michael Joiner Jr., Alabama State
Linebacker: Danarius Hilliard, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Linebacker: Wyatt Wright, Alabama A&M
Linebacker: Tobias Hinton, Alcorn State
Defensive Back: Ta'Shaun Sims, Alabama State
Defensive Back: Kam Sallis, Jackson State
Defensive Back: Eric Zachery, Prairie View A&M
Defensive Back: Herman Brister III, Southern
All-SWAC First Team Specialist
Place Kicker: David Faulk, Alabama A&M
Punter: Demetrion Duvall, Alcorn State
Return Specialist: Nehemiah Hixon, Alabama State
Long Snapper: Cole Hash, Bethune-Cookman
All-SWAC Second Team Offense
Quarterback: Jared Lockhart, Jackson State
Running Back: Trey Holly, Southern
Running Back: Jamarie Hostzclaw, Alabama State
Offensive Lineman: Dezmond Penn, Alabama State
Offensive Lineman: Abe Diallo, Alcorn State
Offensive Lineman: Jayden Daniels, Texas Southern
Offensive Lineman: Alexander Vigil, Grambling State
Offensive Lineman: Nick Carter, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Wide Receiver: Tyran Warren, Alcorn State
Wide Receiver: Roriyon Richardson, Texas Southern
Tight End: Kordell Rodgers, Texas Southern
All-SWAC Second Team Defense
Defensive Lineman: Marquis Cagle, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Defensive Lineman: Malik Stinnett, Bethune-Cookman
Defensive Lineman: Kenneth
Andrews, Alcorn State
Defensive Lineman: Isaiah Washburn, Bethune-Cookman
Linebacker: Stephen Sparrow Jr., Bethune-Cookman
Linebacker: Marcellius Johnson, Grambling State
Linebacker: Carmelo Jones, Jackson State
Defensive Back: Naim Lassiter, Bethune-Cookman
Defensive Back: Keon Handley Jr., Alabama A&M
Defensive Back: KJ Chisholm, Jackson State
Defensive Back: Tayvion Haney, Alcorn State
All-SWAC Second Team Specialist
Place Kicker: Andrew Abu-Akel, Alabama State
Return Specialist: Jay'Shaun Johnson, Grambling State
Long Snapper: Garrett Wilemon, Alabama State
