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HBCU Football: Will Alabama A&M repeat as SWAC champions?

By Jarrett Hoffman

CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 15: Aqeel Glass#4 of the Alabama A&M Bulldogs steps back to pass in the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 15: Aqeel Glass#4 of the Alabama A&M Bulldogs steps back to pass in the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 15: Aqeel Glass#4 of the Alabama A&M Bulldogs throws a pass in the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 15: Aqeel Glass#4 of the Alabama A&M Bulldogs throws a pass in the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

Alabama A&M storylines going into the 2021 season

  • Will Aqeel Glass win a second straight Deacon Jones Trophy?

Alabama A&M senior quarterback Aqeel Glass had a spectacular spring season leading the Bulldogs to a SWAC championship and winning the Deacon Jones trophy in the process.

In five games, Glass averaged 338.75 passing yards per game scoring 16 passing touchdowns. Glass ranked seventh in the FCS in passing touchdowns making him one of only two players to rank in the top 10 in that category despite playing less than five games.

Glass recorded at least 270 passing yards and three passing touchdowns in each game with his best performance coming against the Jackson State Tigers.

In his game against Jackson State, Glass recorded a career-high 440 passing yards on 27/40 passing scoring six touchdowns leading Alabama A&M to a 52-43 win.

While there are high expectations for a repeat performance being named the Preseason SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, he will have an uphill battle to win a second straight Deacon Jones Trophy.

Glass will have to contend with players from teams that sat out the 2020 spring season most notably Alcorn State quarterback Felix Harper who won the 2019 SWAC Player of the Year.

  • How good will the Alabama A&M defense be without Marcus Cushnie?

As previously mentioned, the Alabama A&M defense will move forward without their former leader at defensive end Marcus Cushnie now a member of the Florida State Seminoles.

Cushnie accounted for seven of the team’s 11 sacks and two of their team’s six quarterback hits in the spring season. No other player recorded more than two sacks individually.

Even with Cushnie, Alabama A&M was in the middle of the pack on defense ranking third in the SWAC in points allowed per game (24.0), fourth in passing yards allowed (198.8), and fifth in rushing yards allowed (139.0).

The Bulldogs defense will look to make a smooth transition without Cushnie led by SWAC All-Preseason selections the Holloway brothers senior linebacker Armoni and senior cornerback Amari.

In addition, they also have senior linebacker Quantravis Kelly who led the team with two interceptions in the spring, junior cornerback Caleb Riley who had five pass breakups, and Ja’Marian Green who recorded an interception and three pass breakups.

If these players maintain their production in the fall, they could do just enough to keep the team afloat and repeat as SWAC champions.

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