HBCU Football: Will Alcorn State reclaim SWAC throne in 2021?

After opting to sit out the 2021 spring football season, the Alcorn State Braves make their return to the gridiron looking to reclaim their spot as the top team in the SWAC.

In the 2010s, the Braves dominated the SWAC ending the decade winning six straight SWAC East division championships and four SWAC conference championships.

The SWAC East division will be much different for the Braves than in years past as they have two new additions in the Florida A&M Rattlers and the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats coming over from the MEAC.

By virtue of sitting out the 2021 spring season, the Braves did not have any players selected to the SWAC’s preseason all-conference team.

However, they are still highly respected as a team as the SWAC awarded them Preseason SWAC East division champions in their predicted order of finish.

The Braves will look to have success despite being without linebacker Solomon Muhammad who has graduated and defensive back Qwynnterrio Cole who transferred to the Louisville Cardinals.

Not only will the Braves have to overcome their losses on the defensive end and the potential for rust after sitting out for so long, but they will also have to compete with a SWAC conference that has gotten much better since they last took the field.

Reigning SWAC champion Alabama A&M will go into the 2021 fall season looking to repeat led by SWAC Player of the Year Aqeel Glass, Jackson State Tigers brought in their greatest recruiting class ever alongside multiple FBS transfers, and the Southern Jaguars have arguably the best defense in the SWAC led by Defensive Player of the Year Jordan Lewis just to name a few.

Will the Alcorn State Braves be able to overcome these obstacles to once again become SWAC football champions?