HOUSTON -- Will 2026 be the year Coach Eddie Robinson Jr., Andrew Body and Alabama State seize the SWAC football championship title and represent the conference in the 2026 Cricket Celebration Bowl? Or will reigning champion Prairie View A&M, led by Coach Tremaine Jackson, quiet its doubters and return to Atlanta in December for another shot at the HBCU Division I Football Championship?Plenty of storylines are brewing ahead of next week’s 2026 SWAC Media Day on July 15 in Birmingham. Talent abounds across the SWAC, as the Hornets, JSU, and PVAMU football programs received most nods from coaches and sports information directors in the annual preseason honors.On Wednesday, the Southwestern Athletic Conference named Alabama State quarterback Andrew Body and Jackson State defensive back Kam Sallis its 2026 preseason offensive and defensive players of the year, respectively, headlining the preseason All-SWAC football voting.Body, who graduated in May, earned the offensive honor after First Team All-SWAC recognition at quarterback, following an eight-game 2025 season in which he completed 113 of 160 passes for a 70.6 percent completion rate, 1,770 yards, 20 touchdowns and one interception. He added 500 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns, averaging 221.3 passing yards per game with a 203.6 passer efficiency rating. Alabama State finished 10-2 overall and 7-1 in conference play in 2025.JSU defensive back Sallis was voted defensive player of the year after also earning First Team All-SWAC honors. Last season, he intercepted two passes for a Jackson State defense that held opponents to 18.8 points and 111.7 rushing yards per game while forcing eight team interceptions. The Tigers went 9-3 overall, finished 7-1 in conference play, and reached the SWAC Football Championship Game before Prairie View A&M stunned JSU 23-21, winning the conference title.Alabama State led all SWAC member institutions with nine preseason all-conference selections. Jackson State, Bethune-Cookman and Alcorn State each placed six players on the preseason teams. Prairie View A&M, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Alabama A&M each had five selections.The 2026 SWAC football season begins Thursday, August 27, with teams competing for division titles and a berth in the SWAC Football Championship Game.2026 SWAC Preseason Awards: QB Andrew Body, Alabama State and DB Kam Sallis, Jackson State | Credit: ASU Athletics and JSU Athletics; SWAC2026 SWAC Preseason AwardsOffensive Player of the Year: Andrew Body, Alabama StateDefensive Player of the Year: Kam Sallis, Jackson State2026 Preseason All-SWAC First TeamOffenseQuarterback: Andrew Body, Alabama StateRunning Back: Jaylen Jennings, Arkansas-Pine BluffRunning Back: Chase Bingmon, Prairie View A&MOffensive Line: Elijah Baker, Alabama StateOffensive Line: Calvin McMillian, Prairie View A&MOffensive Line: Quaveon Davis, Jackson StateOffensive Line: Christian Loving, Bethune-CookmanOffensive Line: Cameran Rogers, Alcorn StateWide Receiver: Nate Rembert, Jackson StateWide Receiver: D'Avery Robinson, Arkansas-Pine BluffTight End: Travon Jones, Prairie View A&MDefenseDefensive Line: Malik Gucake, Prairie View A&MDefensive Line: Eric Thomas Jr., Alcorn StateDefensive Line: Arenza Davis, Alabama A&MDefensive Line: Michael Joiner Jr., Alabama StateLinebacker: Danarius Hilliard, Arkansas-Pine BluffLinebacker: Wyatt Wright, Alabama A&MLinebacker: Stephen Sparrow Jr., Bethune-CookmanDefensive Back: Ta'Shaun Sims, Alabama StateDefensive Back: Kam Sallis, Jackson StateDefensive Back: Eric Zachery, Prairie View A&MDefensive Back: Herman Brister III, SouthernSpecialistsPlace Kicker: David Faulk, Alabama A&MPunter: Demetrion Duvall, Alcorn StateReturn Specialist: Nehemiah Hixon, Alabama StateLong Snapper: Cole Hash, Bethune-CookmanSWAC preseason honors by the numbers | SWAC2026 Preseason All-SWAC Second TeamOffenseQuarterback: Jared Lockhart, Jackson StateRunning Back: Trey Holly, SouthernRunning Back: Jamarie Hostzclaw, Alabama StateOffensive Line: Dezmond Penn, Alabama StateOffensive Line: Abe Diallo, Alcorn StateOffensive Line: Jayden Daniels, Texas SouthernOffensive Line: Alexander Vigil, Grambling StateOffensive Line: Nick Carter, Arkansas-Pine BluffWide Receiver: Roriyon Richardson, Texas SouthernWide Receiver: Jordan Chambers-Smith, Alabama A&MTight End: Kordell Rodgers, Texas SouthernDefenseDefensive Line: Marquis Cagle, Arkansas-Pine BluffDefensive Line: Malik Stinnett, Bethune-CookmanDefensive Line: Kenneth Andrews, Alcorn StateDefensive Line: Isaiah Washburn, Bethune-CookmanLinebacker: Marcellius Johnson, Grambling StateLinebacker: Carmello Jones, Jackson StateLinebacker: Douglas Franklin, Mississippi Valley StateDefensive Back: Naim Lassiter, Bethune-CookmanDefensive Back: Keon Handley Jr., Alabama A&MDefensive Back: KJ Chisholm, Jackson StateDefensive Back: Tayvion Haney, Alcorn StateSpecialistsPlace Kicker: Andrew Abu-Akel, Alabama StateReturn Specialist: Jay'Shaun Johnson, Grambling StateLong Snapper: Garrett Wilemon, Alabama StateHBCU Legends will have several pre-media day series on polls, votings, stadiums, and broadcasting on Friday.HBCU LEGENDS PODCASTAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow