Football Preview: Alcorn State
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – With four consecutive SWAC East Division titles, the Alcorn State football team begins with more depth than in previous seasons with 105 players who entered camp for the 2018 season.
While the offensive firepower of quarterback Lenorris Footman (third in the SWAC in passing efficiency with a 138.6 rating), running back De’Lance Turner (top rusher in the SWAC with 1,355 yards and 10 touchdowns) and wide receiver Norlando Veals (SWAC best 901 receiving yards and seven touchdowns) all gone to graduation, the Braves still possess proven commodities at the skill positions.
Among them are quarterback Noah Johnson (6-0, 195), who has 31 career combined touchdowns for the Purple and Gold. The redshirt junior also tied the school record for touchdowns in a single game with eight against Mississippi Valley State in 2016. The mark tied Steve McNair’s eight TDs vs. Chattanooga in 1994.
The choice for the SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year went to senior running back P.J. Simmons, who garnered 8.6 rushing yards per carry. The load is expected to increase for Simmons, who ranked sixth in the conference in rushing yards (678) on only 80 totes. He is also on the Walter Payton Award Watch List.
Redshirt senior Charles Hughes (6-2, 197) was third on the team in receptions last season with 31, and the Macon, Miss. native will be counted on for his leadership of that group as each of the top two receivers from last year (Veals and Marquis Warford) have exited.
Offensively, Alcorn State ranked second in points per game (31.0), first in total yards of offense per game (461.3), fourth in rushing offense (237.4 yards per game), and fourth in passing offense (223.9 yards per game).
On defense, the Braves ranked third in scoring defense (21.8 allowed points per game), seventh in total defense (356.9 yards allowed per game), third in rushing defense (133.1 allowed yards per game), and sixth in pass defense (223.6 yards allowed per game).
The Braves defense exhibited more of a bend, but don’t break approach by giving up some sizeable chunks of yards, but were stingier when it came to allowing points on the scoreboard. While no player returning ranked in the top 15 for tackles on the Braves, it took on more of an all hands-on deck approach to stopping the opposition.
Alcorn State return eight starters from a defense that ranked top-five in the nation in red zone defense last year, allowing opponents to score on just 64.5 percent of their trips inside the 20. The Braves were also 16th in the FCS in tackles for a loss with 7.6 per game.
Junior defensive back/linebacker Trae Ferrell (6-1, 250) was named as an All-SWAC First Team selection after compiling 11 tackles for a loss and four sacks. Junior linebacker Solomon Muhammad (52 tackles, two forced fumbles), and senior defensive back Brady Smith (55 tackles, 7 pass break ups) were All-SWAC Second Team selections in the preseason.
On special teams, Corey McCullough was the top kicker in the conference in terms of field goals made per game (1.42) as the junior made 17-of-23 field goal attempts and 43-of-45 PATs.
Head coach: Fred McNair; 12-11 record at ALCN (third year); 12-11 Overall (third year)
2017 record and finish: 7-5 overall, 5-2 SWAC (first in the SWAC East Division)
Returning statistical leaders
Passing: Noah Johnson (55-of-104, 782 yards, 4 TDs, 4 INTs)
Rushing: P.J. Simmons (80 carries, 687 yards, 7 TDs)
Receiving: Charles Hughes (31 receptions, 423 yards, 1 TDs)
Tackles: Leishaun Ealey (56 tackles)
Sacks: Trae Ferrell (4)
Interceptions: Javen Morrison (3 INTs)
Potential game breaker: Simmons was referred to as “the guy” during the Week 1 teleconference call by head coach McNair and it’s not that hard to understand why when considering how efficient he was at gaining yards when he had the opportunity. Possessing far and away the best overall rushing attack in the conference (444 carries, 2,849 yards for 30 touchdowns), the Braves should still considered a force on the line as they continue to pound the rock.