Previews arranged in HBCSports Press Association predicted order of finish
All coaches interviews done by FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW host Donal Ware

EAST

Alabama A&M (8-3, 6-2)
Key returning players: RB Ulysses Banks (All-SWAC), FS Al Donaldson (All-American), DE Jeremy Maddox (All-SWAC).

Outlook: The Bulldogs, who have won at least seven games in each of coach Anthony Jones’ six seasons at the helm and reached the SWAC Championship Game three times, are out to regain supremacy in the East after finishing second to eventual conference champ Jackson State last season. Their first order of business is replacing All-SWAC QB Kelcy Luke. Sophomore Kevin Atkins was the only returning QB on the Bulldogs’ preseason roster. He played in five games and didn’t complete any of his five pass attempts. The Bulldogs should be solid defensively with Maddox and DBs Al Donaldson and Maurice Thomas as its anchors if they can find capable replacements for the three starting LBs that graduated. Quinton Holmes showed promise in a backup role last season and will be counted for more production. Afu Okosun is penciled in as one spot, and Bobby McClain returns to the weak side position after switching the strong side to round out the linebacker corps.

Alabama State (5-6, 4-5)
Key returning players: CB Brandon Averett (All-SWAC), OLB Rechard Johnson (All-SWAC).

Outlook: Second-year coach Reggie Barlow has installed a spread offense in hopes of adding punch to the Hornets’ attack, which finished at the bottom of the conference in passing yards and averaged 18.8 points. The Hornets have no experienced quarterbacks or running backs returning, making their prospects for offensive improvement bleak. The Hornets have a potential big-play receiver in Darius Mathis if they can find a quarterback to get him the ball. The defensive picture is much brighter. The front four of Noel Alphonse (6-5, 269), Nickolas Grant (6-2, 225), Clyde Holloway (6-1, 270) and Christopher Preer (6-3, 312) returns intact. The defense kept the Hornets in most of their games last season and was the major reason they got off to a 4-0 start. But it needs to improve on its 23 takeaways to offset the Hornets’ expected lack of offensive production, which led to a five-game losing streak that ruined their season.

Alcorn State (2-8, 2-7)
Key returning players: CB Roderick Williams (2nd team All-SWAC); WR Emmanuel Arceneaux (34 receptions, 523 yards, 4 TDs).

Outlook: Rookie coach Ernest T. Jones, a backup receiver on the Steve McNair-led 1994 squad that won the SWAC title, hopes to guide the Braves back to the top of the conference. Jones has brought in a bevy of assistant coaches from Division IA programs to implement his system, but don’t expect any quick fixes. The quarterback position was unsettled at the end of spring drills with senior Tony Hobson holding a slight edge over junior Tim Buckley and a flock of newcomers. Antoine Young (46 carries, 176 yards) and Davarius Pilcher, who missed last season with an injury, are the best of the ball carriers. LB Lee Robinson has emerged as the Braves’ defensive leader. A healthy Clint Mosley should help the linebacker corps immensely.

Jackson State (8-4, 7-2)
Key returning players: QB Trae Rutland (302 passing yards, 0 TDs), DB Malcolm Palmer (1st team All-SWAC).

Outlook: The Tigers are slightly ahead of schedule after winning the SWAC championship in coach Rick Comegy’s second season at the helm. Their ability to repeat as champions hinges on how successful they are at replacing QB Jimmy Oliver, MVP of the SWAC Championship game, who made several big plays running the ball, a dimension that Rutland doesn’t bring. The Tigers have a deep corps of receivers, which will be even deeper with the return of TE Marcel Frost who missed last season with a broken leg. Seven defensive starters return from the unit that ranked in the top three in the conference in five categories. The defensive line, consisting of Marcus Bernard (6-4, 260), Dennis Coit (6-1, 320), Sam Washington (6-4, 264) and Neil Pogue II (6-2, 290) is especially impressive.

Mississippi Valley State (3-8, 2-7)
Key returning player: RB Ronald Brewer (190 carries, 841 yards, 7 TDs), DE Fred Poole (39 tackles).

Outlook: Coach Willie Totten’s Delta Devils took a step backwards after posting back-to-back six-win seasons. The Delta Devils will employ elements of the old Satellite Express Offense that Totten ran when he was their quarterback and Jerry Rice was his top receiver as the Delta Devils will use their RBs in the passing game more. RBs Brewer and Johey Hargrett are both excellent receivers. The receiving corps is deep with the tandem of Brando Stargell and Abner Brown returning and Clarence Cotton healthy. Quarterback is a sore spot, however. Ryan Burciaga will have to provide more consistency there. Defensively, the Delta Devils will blitz more and put added pressure on opponents. Veteran DBs Steven Fulbright and Michael Higgins will have to be solid in order for the scheme to be effective.

WEST

Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4-7, 4-5)
Key returning players: RB Martell Mallet, 128 carries, 499 yards, 3 TDs); DE Ledarius Anthony (All-SWAC, 8.5 sacks).

Outlook: The Golden Lions under first-year coach Monte Coleman look to regain the form that got them to the 2006 SWAC Championship Game following last year’s disappointing fourth-place finish in the Division. The Golden Lions have several offensive weapons, including QB Jonathan Moore, who split time with now graduated Chris Wallace, the running back tandem of Mallet and Mickey Dean and a dangerous trio of receivers in 2007 SWAC Newcomer of the Year Bruce Peters, Raymond Webber and Ryan Whatley. The offensive line, which allowed a conference-leading 47 sacks, must step up. Defensively the triumvirate of Anthony, All-SWAC LB Tim Turner and FS Stewart Franks should make the Golden Lions one of the top units in the conference.

Grambling (8-4, 7-1)
Key returning players: QB Brandon Landers (2,609 yards passing, 23 TDs), RB Frank Warren (901 yards rushing, SWAC Freshman of the Year).

Outlook: A return trip to the SWAC Championship Game for second-year coach Rod Broadway’s Tigers hinges on the development of the offensive line. Gs Revay Smith and Muhammad Kari are the only returning starters. Victor Phillips is the only other returnee on the offensive line who got significant playing time. Senior WR Nick Lewis has big-play potential. RBs Warren and Cornelius Walker give the Tigers an explosive ground game. However, because they will be operating behind a relatively inexperienced line, their productivity could tail off. Defensively, the Tigers are relying on a flock of young linemen to team with DE Christian Anthony and DT Melvin Matthews, the only returning starters up front. The linebacker corps is experienced and the cornerback tandem of Kenneth Anio and Nigel Copeland heads a savvy group of pass defenders.

Prairie View (7-3, 6-3)
Key returning players: LB Zach East (SWAC Defensive Player of the Year, 127 tackles, 3 sacks); QB Mark Spivey (1,206 yards passing, 9 TDs).

Outlook: Expectations are high for Coach Henry Frazier III’s Panthers, who had their first winning season since 1976 and recorded their high victory total since 1964. The Panthers calling card once again will be defense. Ten starters return from the unit that allowed a conference-low 15.2 points a game. East is the leader, but he has plenty of talent around him. With the secondary returning intact and DE Gary Hicks anchoring the line, the Panthers should again be difficult to score against. Balance and staying away from mistakes are the Panthers hallmarks on offense. They gave up a conference-low 10 sacks and committed just 19 turnovers, second-best in the conference. The Panthers, however, need to score more points if they hope to fulfill their championship aspirations. They averaged 21.1 points last season, which placed them in the middle of the conference.

Southern (8-3, 6-3)
Key returning players: QB Bryant Lee (2nd team All-SWAC; 2,326 passing yards, 23 TDs); DE Vic Lands (All-SWAC; 7 ½ sacks).

Outlook: The Jaguars rebounded from consecutive losing seasons and finished second in the West. Coach Pete Richardson, the dean of SWAC coaches with 15 seasons at Southern, has the Jaguars poised to return to the SWAC Championship Game. There strength is on the offensive side, where Lee runs the conference’s top passing attack. The Jaguars should be even more potent this season because of the maturation of the offensive line, which began last year as a match work unit due to academic issues. The running game is question as Brian Threat (172 yards) and Kendrick Smith (161 yards), the top two rushers from last season, missed part of spring practice while recovering from injuries suffered during the ’07 campaign. The Jaguars expect to be strong defensively, with eight starters returning. S Glenn Bell sets the tone for the Jaguars defense with his aggressiveness and versatility. Lands and LB Gary Chatman anchor a solid front seven.

Texas Southern (0-11, 0-9)
Key returning players: WR Brian Haith (48 receptions, 564 yards, 2 TDs); WR William Osborne (33 receptions, 392 yards, 3 TDs).

Outlook: There’s only one direction for the Tigers to go under first-year coach Johnnie Cole after winning just four games the previous four seasons and enduring two winless campaigns in that span. Cole, record-setting quarterback for the Tigers during the ’80s, will rely on transfer QB Bobby Reid to inject life into an offensive unit that averaged just 14.0 points. Reid started 27 games during three seasons at Oklahoma State and passed for 3,143 yards and 28 touchdowns. Reid will be one of several new faces for the Tigers, who lost 22 lettermen. Cole brought in his brother, L.C. Cole, as defensive coordinator, and he will have a solid nucleus to build around. LB DeJuan Fulghum is the leading tackler among returnees. NG David Knighten and DE Matthew Valmore anchor the line in the 3-4 scheme that L.C. Coles has installed. DB Curtis Thomas, a transfer from Minnesota, solidifies the secondary.