Jacobian Morgan, a quarterback from Jackson State, is the “it” factor. Last year, he led the Tigers to the HBCU National Championship, earning MVP honors in the Celebration Bowl. He threw for 2,236 passing yards with 21 touchdowns. Morgan is a dual threat, boasting strong arm strength, smart decision-making, and speed that can extend plays, making him a nightmare for the defense. If he stays healthy this season and SU dominates the East Division again, he’s the guy to beat, but remember, SWAC coaches and SIDS voted him Pearson OPOY for a reason.

Jacorian Swell, the graduate running back from Alcorn State, earned first-team All-SWAC honors and a spot for the 2025 HBCU National Player of the Year. Last season, he rushed for 804 yards and six touchdowns on the ground while adding 10 receptions in the backfield. His career average of 5.7 yards per carry speaks to his elusiveness and power, traits that helped Alcorn State stay competitive in the East Division. Cedric Thomas, Alcorn State head coach, called Swell the heartbeat of their run game. He also described that with Swell vision, strength, and speed could help the Braves to an upset or two, especially lead on ground attack against pass-heavy teams like Southern and Jackson State.

Thad Franklin Jr, running back for Florida A&M, is another First-Team person selection. Franklin bought Power Five pedigree for Rattlers and delivered in 2024 with 120 Carries for 653 yards with five touchdowns. His physical and running style wore down defenses. Franklin's consistency and powering through defense earned him key pieces to the FAMU offense. FAMU is still looking for a starter quarterback to lead the team, and Franklin's workload could increase, making him a dark horse for OPOY.

Jackson State Nate Rembert, a transfer wide receiver from Mississippi Valley State, was a 2024 First-Team All-SWAC. Last Season, he had 70 Catches for 1,083 average of 14.8 and four touchdowns. His slot speed and route running made him the second leading receiver, and pairing with Morgan could lead him to monster numbers.

Joanes Fortilien, a sophomore wide receiver from Jackson State, had 41 receptions for 627 yards(15.3 average) and a conference-high 11 touchdowns. His red-zone dominance, scoring on over a quarter of his catches, earned him a buzz as a future NFL prospect. Fortillien's 6’5 size a nd hands make him a matchup problem for Corners.