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

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Dec 21, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alcorn State Braves quarterback Felix Harper (2) celebrates after a touchdown pass against the North Carolina A&T Aggies in the first half of the Celebration Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Alcorn State’s 2021 storylines

Where does the Alcorn State offense rank?

As previously mentioned, the Alcorn State Braves will have a significant number of their offense from their 2019 SWAC championship season.

In 2019, while the Braves ranked fifth in the SWAC in passing yards per game, they led the conference in passing touchdowns.

Unfortunately for the Braves, they will go into the 2021 season without two of their leading receivers from the 2019 season Chris Blair and Raidarious Anderson.

That being said, the Braves will have a good number of offensive players from their 2019 SWAC championship team return for the 2021 fall season.

This includes 2019 SWAC Offensive Player of the Year quarterback Felix Harper, 2019 leading rusher sophomore Niko Duffey and their leader in receiving touchdowns LeCharles Pringle.

This begs the question: Where does the Alcorn State Braves offense rank in the SWAC?

While the Braves won the SWAC championship on the heels led by their quarterback, their main weakness was their inability to protect him in the pocket.

In the 2019 season, Harper was sacked 27 times including six games in which he was sacked more than three times. They ranked seventh in the SWAC in rushing yards per game and just fifth in passing yards per game.

These issues could be a cause for doubt that the Alcorn State offense is good enough to get back to the top of the mountain in the SWAC. However, they were good enough to win the SWAC championship in spite of these flaws then so whose to say they can’t do it again.

Is the Alcorn State defense good enough?

As previously mentioned, the Braves will enter this season without two of their best defenders from the 2019 season Solomon Muhammad and Qwynnterrio Cole.

Muhammad led the Braves with 11.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles while also finishing in a two-way tie with 3.0 sacks as well as recording two interceptions and four pass breakups.

Not only is Muhammad now gone but two more of their players that ranked in the top five in tackles for loss (Darrell Henderson and Theron Bonds) are each now gone

Meanwhile, Cole led the team with five interceptions good for the third-most in the SWAC that season. The player with the second-most interceptions on the team and led the team with six pass breakups Taurence Wilson is also no longer with the team as he has since graduated.

Just like on the line, many of the Braves talent in the secondary is now gone including three additional players that ranked in the top five in pass breakups.

So who remains for the Braves defense from their 2019 SWAC championship team? Their sacks leader defensive lineman Malik Holbert is still there along with fellow lineman and their leader in quarterback hits Jacorian Wren.

In the secondary, they still have defensive back Juwan Taylor who was second on the team with five pass breakups and the defensive MVP in the SWAC championship game.

The Alcorn State defense was a huge factor in the team winning their second straight SWAC championship in 2019.

With so much talent gone on the defensive end for the Braves, it now puts in question whether they have a defense good enough to carry what could potentially be a middling offense.

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