College Sports Madness recognizes SWAC in preseason
SWAC.org
College Sports Madness recognized the Southwestern Athletic Conference in several of its preseason announcments which included its 2013 Preseason FCS Football All-American Teams, Top 44 team previews and the media outlet's rendition of the All-SWAC preseason teams.
Robert Simpson (Mississippi Valley State), Bobby Wenzig (Alabama State) and Chuck Baker (southern) landed on CSM's 2013 All-America Team.
To view CSM's 2013 FCS Preseason All-America Team - CLICK HERE.
Simpson and Wenzig were named to the third team after garnering preseason All-America FCS honors from The Sporting News and Phil Steele's College Football Preview magazines. Prior to the selection, both were named to the All-SWAC preseason first team and added to the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) watch list. They were also ranked among Phil Steele's Top 100 players and position ratings. Baker was tagged CSM's FCS Preseason Freshman of the Year.
Wenzig continues to pile on preseason honors also garnering a preseason selection on Lindy's Sports Annual Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Preseason All-America second team.
Wenzig (6-2 • 180 • Sr. • San Diego, Calif.) was also named to the 2013 All-SWAC Preseason First Team as a punter and kicker.
Last year, he averaged a league best with 45.6 yards per punt. He was also named to the All-SWAC First Team as a punter after winning the SWAC Specialist of the Week award on six occasions. His postseason accolades include BoxtoRow, Academic, SBN Sports Black College and FCS All-America honors.
Wenzig finished second on the team in scoring with 62 points. He connected 38-of-42 PATs and finished 8-for-14 on field goal attempts. He made a season-long 46-yard attempt against Alabama A&M in the State Farm Magic City Classic.
He averaged more than 61 yards per kickoff, resulting in 14 touchbacks, helping the Hornets limit opponents to only 19 yards per kick return. He was tagged by the CFPA last month as a place kicker and punter on its FCS preseason watch list.
Last season, Simpson (6-4 • 255 • Sr. • Gulfport, Miss.) finished atop the SWAC in tackles for loss with 22.5, finishing second in FCS. His play on the field placed him on this year's Buck Buchanan watch.
In 2012, He finished fourth in the SWAC in sacks with seven while recording two fumbles and 59 tackles (29 solo). At the end of the year, he was named to the All-SWAC First Team defense at the defensive tackle position.
He helped lead MVSU (5-6, 5-4 SWAC) to its best record since 2006. The Delta Devils defense ranked fourth in the nation and second in tackles for loss (98). The unit led the SWAC in total defense, rushing defense, interceptions, opponent third down conversions and first downs.
Baker , a wide receiver out of Salmen High School (Slidell, La.), decommitted from LSU last November and signed with Southern. Baker (6-2 • 185 • Fr.) was a standout receiver but also played several other positions for the Spartans.
One of his biggest plays of the season was on special teams when he blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown in a District 7-4A showdown with Franklinton, which Salmen won 27-17. He finished the regular season with 23 receptions for 324 yards and five touchdowns. Baker received a scout grade of 83 and 4-out-of-5 stars from ESPN.com. He was listed on the site as the 205th best player int the country, ranked 29th at the position, 98th in the region, and 10th in the state of Louisiana.
In College Sports Madness weekly updates of the Top 44 FCS teams preview, defending SWAC Football champions, Arkansas-Pine Bluff were listed No. 42 (No. 40 Overall).
The Golden Lions claimed a West Division title on their way to a 10-2 record, the most wins in the program's history. UAPB captured the HSRN Conway Cup and the network's National Championship title. The Golden Lions were also named Black College National Champions by the American Sports Wire and were voted by the coaches poll as the BoxtoRow National Champions.
UAPB was voted during the preseason to recapture the SWAC's West Divison while 9-of-11 of its players that received preseason honors landed on the first team.
To read CSM's preview and evaluation of UAPB's returning leaders, key returners, key losses, strengths, weaknesses, the bottom line and projected postseason - CLICK HERE
CSM, also named its All-SWAC Team - to view - CLICK HERE