BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Florida A&M Football prepares to begin its second season in the SWAC and begin the preseason with the SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and six student-athletes named to the Preseason All-SWAC Teams.
 
"We're honored to have six student-athletes voted as preseason All-SWAC members," said Head Coach Willie Simmons. "They are all well deserving! Obviously, the goal is to have the most postseason All-SWAC performers, but this is definitely worthy of acknowledging."
 
Isaiah Land - Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, All-SWAC First Team Defense (LB)
 
Isaiah Land earned SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and All-SWAC First Team Defense honors after a career year in which he led the nation in sacks (19) and tackles for loss (25.5). Land had multiple 3+ sacks games and recorded a single-game FAMU record with five in the 30-7 win versus South Carolina State. Land was also named the Buck Buchanan Award winner (National Defensive Player of the Year), named to six All-American teams, the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year, and the All-SWAC First Team Defense.
 
Land has now been named to the Preseason Athlon Sports All-American Team, East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 list, SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, and Preseason All-SWAC First Team Defense.
 
Xavier Smith - Preseason All-SWAC First Team Offense (WR)
 
Xavier Smith earned Preseason All-SWAC First Team Offense honors after leading the Rattlers in receiving in 2021 with 713 yards. Smith's 713 receiving yards were the sixth most in the SWAC. Smith also ranked 21st in the nation averaging 5.8 receptions per game, and seventh in the SWAC in all-purpose yards per game (91.45).
 
BJ Bohler - Preseason All-SWAC First Team Defense (DB)
 
BJ Bohler earned Preseason All-SWAC First Team Defense honors after proving to be one of the best defensive backs in the nation in 2021. Bohler finished 2021 tied for the sixth most passes defended in the nation with 16 (12 pass breakups and four interceptions), tied for the eighth most interceptions (four), and tied for the 11th most pass breakups (12). Bohler earned BOXTOROW All-American honors, All-SWAC First Team Defense, and was named the Florida Classic MVP after being the only player in the NCAA to record a forced fumble, fumble recovery, interception, and a defensive touchdown in the same game.
 
Jose Romo-Martinez - Preseason All-SWAC First Team Special Teams (PK)
 
Jose Romo-Martinez earned Preseason All-SWAC First Team Special Teams honors after ranking 12th in the nation and first in the SWAC in field goals per game (1.42). Romo-Martinez earned BOXTOROW All-American and All-SWAC First Team Special Teams honors.
 
Cameron Covin - Preseason All-SWAC Second Team Offense (OL)
 
Cameron Covin earned Preseason All-SWAC Second Team Offense honors as he returns to an offense that ranked first in the SWAC in sacks allowed, third in the SWAC in scoring, and fourth in the SWAC in total offense. Covin started 11 games for the Rattlers in 2021.
 
Javan Morgan - Preseason All-SWAC Second Team Defense (DB)
 
Javan Morgan earned Preseason All-SWAC Second Team Defense honors after finishing the 2021 season with the second most interceptions for the Rattlers (3). Morgan recorded an interception in wins over South Carolina State, UAPB, and the game-sealing interception versus Alabama A&M.
 
Full Preseason SWAC Honors List
 
 
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Shedeur Sanders, Jackson State 

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Isaiah Land, Florida A&M

Preseason All-SWAC First Team Offense
Quarterback: Shedeur Sanders, Jackson State 
Running Back: Gary Quarles, Alabama A&M
Running Back: Caleb Johnson, Mississippi Valley State
Offensive Lineman: Dallas Black, Southern
Offensive Lineman: Mark Evans II, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Offensive Lineman: Drake Centers, Texas Southern
Offensive Lineman: Tony Gray, Jackson State 
Offensive Lineman: Robert Alston, Alabama State
Wide Receiver: Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, Alabama A&M
Wide Receiver: Xavier Smith, Florida A&M
Tight End: Kemari Averett, Bethune-Cookman
 
Preseason All-SWAC First Team Defense
Defensive Lineman: Sundiata Anderson, Grambling State
Defensive Lineman: Ronnie Thomas, Mississippi Valley State
Defensive Lineman: Jason Dumas, Southern 
Defensive Lineman: Jordan Lewis, Southern
Linebacker: Isaiah Land, Florida A&M
Linebacker: Aubrey Miller, Jackson State 
Linebacker: Monroe Beard III, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 
Defensive Back: Omari Hill-Robinson, Bethune-Cookman
Defensive Back: Irshaad Davis, Alabama State
Defensive Back: Shilo Sanders, Jackson State 
Defensive Back: BJ Bohler, Florida A&M 
 
Preseason All-SWAC First Team Specialist
Place Kicker: Jose Romo-Martinez, Florida A&M
Punter: Josh Sanchez, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Long Snapper: Thomas Reny, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Return Specialist: Isaiah Bolden, Jackson State
 
Preseason All-SWAC Second Team Offense
Quarterback: Andrew Body, Texas Southern  
Running Back: Niko Duffey, Alcorn State  
Running Back: Jaden Stewart, Prairie View A&M  
Offensive Lineman: Jeremiah Stafford, Southern 
Offensive Lineman: Brian Williams, Southern  
Offensive Lineman: Cameron Covin, Florida A&M
Offensive Lineman: Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M
Offensive Lineman: Arrington Taylor, Prairie View A&M 
Wide Receiver: C.J. Bolar, Alcorn State
Wide Receiver: Malachi Wideman, Jackson State 
Tight End: Jyrin Johnson, Texas Southern

Preseason All-SWAC Second Team Defense
Defensive Lineman: Jalen Bell, Mississippi Valley State 
Defensive Lineman: Troy James, Prairie View A&M
Defensive Lineman: Devonta Davis, Jackson State 
Defensive Lineman: Athen Smith, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 
Linebacker: Tarik Cooper, Texas Southern  
Linebacker: Claudin Cherelus, Alcorn State 
Linebacker: Blake Thomas, Grambling State 
Defensive Back: Cam'Ron Silman-Craig, Jackson State 
Defensive Back: Quin Mitchell, Grambling State 
Defensive Back: Caleb Brunson, Mississippi Valley State 
Defensive Back: Javan Morgan, Florida A&M
 
Preseason All-SWAC Second Team Specialist
Place Kicker: Garrett Urban, Grambling State
Punter: Garrett Urban, Grambling State
Long Snapper: Desmond Calloway, Prairie View A&M
Return Specialist: Darnell Deas, Bethune-Cookman
 
 
The Rattlers report for camp on July 28, with the first practice scheduled for July 29 as they prepare for their week zero game at North Carolina on Saturday, August 27 at 8:00 p.m.
 
Fans may visit FAMUAthletics.com/tickets for all their ticket needs.
 
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