SWAC SU

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2022 Football Postseason Honors on Tuesday morning. The all-conference teams and individual award winners were voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

Jackson State’s Shedeur Sanders was selected Offensive Player of the Year while fellow teammate Aubrey Miller Jr. was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year. Alcorn State’s Jarveon Howard was named Newcomer of the Year. Jackson State’s Kevin Coleman Jr. was selected for Freshman of the Year accolades while JSU’s Deion Sanders was tabbed Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season to round out the list of individual award winners.

Offensive Player of the Year

Sanders led Jackson State football to its first 11-0 record in program history. He tallied seven games with 3+ TD passes this season to go along with four 300-yard passing games. Sanders set single-season school records for touchdown passes (32) and completions (284) while passing for 3,083 yards and rushing for a career-high five touchdowns. He leads the SWAC in completions, completion percentage, passing yards, and touchdowns. Sanders set a career-high with 438 passing yards against Mississippi Valley State and threw a career-high 5 TDs twice in games against Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman.

Defensive Player of the Year

Miller 98 tackles (53 solo) with one sack, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, four quarterback hits, five pass breakups, and one touchdown this past season. He recorded eight+ tackles in a game seven times this season, including four 10+ tackle games. He tied a career-high with 19 tackles against Texas Southern. During the Tigers’ season opener he recorded nine tackles and returned a fumble 19 yards for a touchdown against Florida A&M.

Newcomer of the Year

Howard was named SWAC Newcomer of the Week twice this past season. He leads the league in rushing yards (1,273) while ranking fourth in scoring (78 points). He ranks tied for 20th in the FCS with 12 rushing touchdowns and is also currently ranked eighth in the FCS in rushing yards. Howard rushed for a season-high 299 yards and four touchdowns against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. He tallied 199 yards and a score on the ground in his debut against No. 10 Stephen F. Austin. Howard contributed five (5) games of 100 yards or more this past season.

Freshman of the Year

Coleman caught 24 passes for 324 yards and one touchdown while averaging 25.3 yards on nine kickoff returns and 8.7 yards on six punt returns this past season. He contributed 2+ receptions in a game nine times this season while catching two passes for 76 yards including career-long 64-yard reception versus Mississippi Valley State. Coleman averaged 47.0 yards on two kickoff returns, including a career-long 68-yard return versus Alabama A&M.

Coach of Year

Sanders led Jackson State football to its first 11-0 regular season in school history. JSU also completed the first undefeated fall regular season by a league team since 1991. The Tigers tallied 10 wins by margins of 10+ points. Jackson State held 10 opponents to 14 points or less while the defense also leads the FCS in seven defensive categories. JSU has won 17 consecutive conference games and 19 straight games against SWAC opponents.