FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DECEMBER 10, 2004

JAGUARS QUATERBACK RICKS NAMED SWAC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

"Offensive Player of the Year" went to QB Thomas Ricks of Southern University, "Newcomer of the Year" went to Aries Nelson of Mississippi Valley State University and "Freshman of the Year" was claimed by Brandon Landers of Grambling State University. Defensive Player of the Year was claimed by LB Ronald "Rock" Dillon of Alabama State University.

Southern's Thomas Ricks a 6-3, 215, R-Sr., from LaPlace, LA, made the most of his first year as a starter for the Jaguars leading the conference in Total Offense with a 273.7 ypg average. He passed for 2,406 yards (227-392-9) with 21 TDs. Alabama State's Rock Dillion a 5-11, 217 Sr., from Memphis TN led a Hornets' defense that led the conference in Rushing Defense.

Miss. Valley State's Aries Nelson, a 6-3, 215, sophomore from Cleveland, Mississippi, transferred to the Delta Devils' program this season and helped revive the MVSU offense with his 212.3 ypg of Total Offense( #4 in SWAC). Grambling State's freshman Brandon Landers was forced into the Tigers' line-up in the third quarter of GSU first game after All-American Bruce Eugene went down with a season-ending injury. Landers finished the season ranked fifth in Total Offense (206.7 ypg) passing for 1,733 yards (132-316-15) and 18 TDs.

All SWAC schools has representation on the 2004 team. Alabama State, the SWAC East division champion, leads with 10 players (six 2^nd team). Alcorn State had 8 players selected (three 2^nd team). Two school had seven players named Southern (three 2^nd team) and Alabama A&M (five 2^nd team). Three schools have six players on the teams, Ark.-Pine Bluff (3), Grambling State (2) and Jackson State (2). Prairie View A&M has two players (1), followed by Miss. Valley State and Texas Southern with one each.

2004 ALL-SWAC Football Team

FIRST TEAM
Offense
OL- Myniya Smith- Southern - 6-7, 340, Sr., New Orleans, LA
OL- SeDarrin Freeman- Ark.-Pine Bluff - 6-4, 350 Sr., Easton, TX
OL- Robert Louis- Alabama A&M - 6-3,290,Sr., Tampa, FL
OL- Andre' Bennett- Grambling State - 6-6, 350, So., Vicksburg, MS
OL- Cary Nagel- Alabama State - 6-3, 280, Sr., Shelton, WA
QB- Thomas Ricks- Southern - 6-3, 215, Sr., LaPlace, LA
RB- Keldrick Williams- Alabama State - 5-9, 202, Jr., Montgomery, AL
RB- James Johnson- Ark.-Pine Bluff - 6-1, 215, Sr., Gary, IN
FB - Ruben Mayes- Grambling State - 6-2, 245, So., Memphis, TN
TE - Johnny Washington- Alcorn State - 6-3, 246, Sr., Memphis, TN
WR- Charlie Spiller- Alcorn State - 5-11, 181, So., Woodville, MS
WR - James Vernon- Southern - 6-0, 175, Jr., Baton Rouge, LA
PK - Brian Morgan- Grambling State - 6-0, 185, Sr., Groves, TX
KR - Cletis Gordon- Jackson State - 6-3, 180, Jr., Amite, LA

Defense
DL - Kenneth Pettway- Grambling State - 6-4, 255, Sr., Houston, TX
DL - Maurice Troutman- Ark.-Pine Bluff - 6-3, 265, Sr., Long Beach, CA
DL - Deon Deboise- Jackson State - 6-1, 290, Sr., Shuqualak, MS
DL - Ross Gordon- Alcorn State - 6-3, 250, Sr., Lena, MS
LB - Joseph Scott- Jackson State - 6-2, 230, Sr., Hattiesburg, MS
LB - Ronald "Rock" Dilllon- Alabama State - 5-11, 217, Sr., Memphis, TN
LB - Dwan Wilson- Alcorn State - 6-3, 229, Sr., Tylertown, MS
DB - Levernonte Turner- Alabama A&M - 6-3-194-Sr., Birmingham, AL
DB - Ahmad Treaudo- Southern - 6-0, 190, Sr., New Orleans, LA
DB - Stacey Thomas- Texas Southern - 6-0, 200, Jr., New Orleans, LA
DB - Jeffrey Hobbs- Alcorn State - 5-10, 199, Sr. Menhenhall, MS
P - Eric Hernandez- Prairie View A&M - 5-10, 185, So., Pleasanton, TX

PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Offense
QB- Thomas Ricks- Southern - 6-3, 215, Sr., LaPlace, LA
Defense
LB - Ronald "Rock" Dilllon- Alabama State - 5-11, 217, Sr., Memphis, TN
Newcomer
QB - Aries Nelson- Miss. Valley State - 6-3, 215, So., Cleveland, MS
Freshman
QB - Brandon Landers- Grambling State - 6-0, 190, Fr., Monroe, LA

SECOND TEAM
Offense
OL - Roderick Green - Ark.-Pine Bluff - 6'6, 290 Sr., El Dorado, AR
OL - Landis Wilkerson- Alabama State - 6-2, 300, Sr., Etowah, TN
OL - Ryan Beneby- Alabama State - 6-4, 350, Jr., Jacksonville, FL
OL - Jackie Skipper - Ark.-Pine Bluff - 6'1, 290 So., Bastrop, LA
OL - Michael Dansby- Jackson State - 6-5, 340, JR, Birmingham, AL
QB - Donald Carrie- Alcorn State - 6-1, 221, Sr., New Orleans, LA
RB - Cedric Bowen - Ark.-Pine Bluff - 5'9, 190, Jr., Long Beach, CA
RB - Ab Kuuan- Grambling State - 5-11, 214, Jr., Sylacauga, AL
FB - Ken Williams- Alcorn State - 5-10, 270, So. Birmingham, AL
WR - Reginald Glover- Alabama State - 6-4, 184, Sr., Selma, AL
WR - Nate Huges- Alcorn State - 6-2, 180, So., Macon, MS
TE - Charles Moody- Alabama A&M - 6-1/251/Fr., Daleville, GA
PK - Anthony Johnson- Alabama State - 5-9, 146, So., Bay Minette, AL
KR - Landry Carter- Grambling State - 5-8, 183, RB, R-Fr., Tallulah, LA

Defense
DL - Ali Hassan- Alabama A&M - , 6-1,275, Sr., Lithonia, GA
DL - Charles Parham- Alabama State - 6-1, 239, Sr., Columbus, GA
DL - Perry Davis- Southern - 6‑0, 280, Sr., New Orleans, LA
DL - Chris Traylor- Alabama A&M - 5-10,212, Fr., West Point, GA
LB - Tyler Knight- Miss. Valley State - 6-0, 210, So., LB, Little Rock, AR
LB - Johnny Baldwin- Alabama A&M - 6-2, 218, So., Bessemer, AL
LB - Tarus Morgan- Southern - 6-1, 240, Sr., Chattanooga, TN
DB - Melvin Screen- Alabama State - 5-11, 191, Jr., Miami, FL
DB - Santana Lane - Prairie View A&M - 6-1, 170, Sr., Houston, TX
DB - Kevin Moffett- Southern - 6-0, 190, Sr., Laurel, MS
DB - Cletis Gordon- Jackson State - 6-3, 180, Jr., Amite, LA
P - Jose Osorio- Alabama A&M - 5-10, 214, So., College Park, GA