SWAC East Storylines In 2023

Between several new head coaches and quarterback battles, SWAC football's east division has plenty of trends to follow.

BIRMINGHAM — SWAC football is near.  It's only a couple of weeks until Jackson State takes the field in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, then the rest of the conference for the 2023 season.  The SWAC East is primed (no pun intended) for a significant shakeup between the two divisions.  How will T.C. Taylor lead his alma mater Jackson State in his first year as a head coach?  Can Florida A&M get over the hump and make it to the SWAC Championship?  What are the expectations for the new head coaches in the division?

There are plenty of storylines before the season kicks off in the SWAC East Division, and you'll find one for each team below.

Who Will Be The Starting Quarterback For Alabama A&M?

An adage in football is, "If you have two quarterbacks, you don't have one."  That was the case for the Bulldogs in 2022, where Xavier Lankford and Quincy Casey split reps and combined for a conference-high 15 interceptions.  Casey isn't listed on the 2023 spring roster, but the signs indicate him returning after completing his undergraduate degree.  Lankford, a redshirt junior, is the elder statesman of the listed quarterback group. 

Alabama A&M is projected to finish fourth in the SWAC East, and running back Donovan Eaglin is one of three First-Team selections.  Connell Maynor's squad has the potential to exceed expectations, but that's only possible if the quarterback situation is resolved, whether it's Casey, Lankford, or someone new.

Is Dematrius Davis Still The Answer At Alabama State?

The freshman quarterback had an up-and-down first season for the Hornets, battling injuries and subpar passing performances, throwing for over 200 yards once.  Additionally, UAB quarterback Damon Isaiah Stewart transferred to Alabama State over the summer, a sign that the starting job won't just be handed to Davis.

"I think Davis has the head start.  He played the most last year," head coach Eddie Robinson told HBCU Legends during SWAC Media Day.  "However, for us to be a great team, you have to have competition at every position.  So we'll let those guys go into camp with Davis slightly ahead, and everybody else has to compete.

"We have to have the best players playing at all times."  Robinson added that for Davis to better his chances of being the starter, he has to be more consistent.  But his consistency also comes from others doing their job and putting Davis in the best position possible.  It's clear the starting job is Davis' to lose, but his position is far from solidified.

Raymond Woodie Era Begins At Bethune-Cookman

Three of the four new head coaches are in the SWAC East, including Bethune-Cookman alum Raymond Woodie, now the head coach of his alma mater after the Ed Reed fiasco. Cornerback Omari-Hill Robinson shared his thoughts on his new coach:  "He's a big factor as to why we're all together and became a brotherhood. He brought us together and made us work harder."

Woodie comes from the Willie Taggart tree at Florida State and most recently served as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Florida Atlantic.  The Wildcats are in for a tough slate this season, playing against Memphis and Miami in the first three games. But here's something to watch:  Woodie is flexing his recruiting muscle with the 2024 class, and there's much to like about his early work.

Jeremy Moussa's Time To Shine At Florida A&M

Moussa had a solid season in 2022, throwing 2,730 yards and 21 touchdowns.  But the Rattler quarterback spent last season in the shadow of Shedeur Sanders, both in production and press.  Fanfare aside, Sanders is now at Colorado, and Moussa enters the season as the best quarterback in the league, indicated by his Preseason SWAC Offensive Player of the Year selection.

"The biggest thing I need to focus on is to continue being consistent," Moussa said.  "People look at how talented your arm is, how fast and athletic you are. But it's really a mental position.  You have to be able to deliver the ball accurately and on time at a highly consistent level.  "The more you do that, the more success you'll have on the field."

Some areas Moussa could improve are protecting the football (10 interceptions - most in the SWAC) and in accuracy (57.1% completion percentage).  But 2023 will be his second season in Willie Simmons' offense, and he believes he'll be more in tune with a year under his belt.

Chemistry At Jackson State With So Much Turnover

T.C. Taylor is technically a new coach, and this is his first head coaching job. But the Jackson State alum has been a staple in the program for considerable time.  Where the concern comes is with the roster; it will be 60-70 new players to represent the Tigers in 2023.  When there's so much turnover, that creates a lot of questions, including about the chemistry of the team.

"If you don't have chemistry on the football team, you have nothing," Taylor said. "You got 11 guys out there that have to play as one." Both running back J.D. Martin and defensive lineman Devonta Davis echoed their coach's sentiment, saying a big part of developing chemistry was "accountability."  The success of Jackson State this season will be determined on how well the team gels together with so many new faces and only a couple of weeks before the MEAC/SWAC Challenge.

Kendrick Wade Bringing "Blue Collar" Football To Mississippi Valley

Wade, a former wide receiver and graduate assistant for the Delta Devils, takes over his alma mater after Vincent Dancy joined Deion Sanders in Colorado. One could describe him as a reserved personality, but he was clear about the mentality of his program in 2023.  "Blue collar," Wade said. "We're going to let people talk. We're not going to talk.  We're going to let our play do the talking for us."  The players have taken well to Wade, including quarterback Jamari Jones, who talked about his early experiences working with Wade.

"I love his passion and energy for the game," Jones said.  "He always gets the most out of me. If I'm not playing up to my expectations or standards, he definitely lets me know."  Wade and Mississippi Valley will have an early test in 2023, going against the reigning HBCU national champion North Carolina Central in Indianapolis.