BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference released its 2014 all-conference teams Friday and saw the big winners spread across the league with two co-players of the year. First year Grambling State University head coach Broderick Fobbs was named Coach of the Year.
Malcolm Cyrus of Alabama State University and John Gibbs, Jr. from Alcorn State University shared co-offensive player of the year honors. Texas Southern’s Darian Claibourne, and Mississippi Valley State’s Quantavius Peterson shared newcomer of the year. Prairie View A&M University’s Jerome Howard earned the defensive player of the year award, and western division champion Southern University’s quarterback Austin Howard was named freshman of the year.
Fobbs brought the Tigers from a last place finish (1-10) record a year ago to competing for a division title in his first season at the helm. Grambling State closed out the season 7-5 overall, 7-2 against SWAC opponents. The Tigers went on a seven game win streak to start conference play after nearly upsetting a ranked Bethune Cookman program the third game of the season.
Cyrus led the SWAC and finished third in the nation with 1,662 yards rushing, scoring 12 touchdowns. The senior also caught 28 passes for another 380 yards and a score. After clocking an additional 34 yards in kick returns, Cyrus finished with over 2,000 all-purpose yards, fourth best in the nation.
Gibbs led the Braves to an eastern division title and the team’s first berth to the conference championship game. He completed 169-of-294 passes for a total of 2,237 yards, 18 touchdowns and has been intercepted only six times. His dominance in the air was only matched by his ability to leave the pocket as he grabbed a career-high 874 yards this season and another 11 touchdowns. He ranks third in the league in passing efficiency.
Howard led all defensive players averaging 11.8 tackles per game. He finished fifth national in total tackles with 118, second in the league. The linebacker is also ranked top 10 in the SWAC for tackles for loss and sacks. He earned 10-plus tackles in eight of the team’s 10 games. The preseason All-SWAC first teamer has also earned College Football Performance Award weekly honors this season.
Claiborne stepped up in the Tigers front seven and immediately began to make an impact. He led with a team-high 77 tackles. He had five tackles for loss and also grabbed an interception this season. Peterson, who has earned SWAC newcomer of the week honors, finished the year with 874 passing yards and six touchdowns. The quarterback also rushed 297 yards and five touchdowns.
Howard led the Jaguars to their second consecutive SWAC Championship appearance as a true freshman. He has thrown for over 2,100 yards and 17 touchdowns this season. Howard passed for over 200 yards in five games and closed out the regular season with four rushing touchdowns.
