Published On: 02.23.21 | 

By: Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Football preview: Alabama A&M begins spring season with 11 preseason All-SWAC players

Alabama A&M quarterback Aqeel Glass was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year on the Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football team. (Alabama A&M Athletics)

The 2020-21 football season is different for everyone. There have been countless tests for the novel coronavirus, cancellations, opt-outs and football games being played in the spring.

But Alabama A&M coach Connell Maynor said his Bulldogs expect to play to their regular standard when they kick off their season on Saturday, March 6 at Mississippi Valley State.

“Our goal is winning our division, getting in the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) Championship Game, winning the SWAC Championship and if they have a Celebration Bowl, get there and represent SWAC and win that,” he said in an interview with Alabama NewsCenter. “It hasn’t changed for us. If we’re gonna play games, we’re gonna play to win. We’re gonna try to win every game we play, taking them one at a time.

“Of course, these guys will get this year back so it’s a great opportunity to have a chance to play five, six, seven, eight games and get some young guys some experience that they didn’t have,” the coach continued. “Then you’ve got older guys that are going to get a chance to play some football and have another year of eligibility. In that aspect, it’s a win-win situation.”

Alabama NewsCenter: What is the outlook for this spring season?

Connell Maynor: The first year we were 6-5 and that was the first winning season here since 2011. Last year, we were 7-5. We took the wins up one more and had back-to-back winning seasons. We lost to Alcorn at their place on the last play of the game. We threw the ball in the end zone and caught it for what we thought was a touchdown. But our receiver had stepped out and stepped right back in right before he caught the ball. Of course, they took the touchdown away and ruled him out of bounds. It was a 6-point game at that point. If we score that touchdown and kick the extra point, we beat Alcorn last year at their place and we represent our side in the SWAC Championship. It’s very realistic that we can win our side and get to the SWAC Championship and win it and represent the SWAC in the Celebration Bowl. That’s why we play. We were a couple of players away last year from doing that, so of course we think that we can do that this year.

ANC: What is the strength of your team?

Maynor: I would have to say the offense. I think our offense was No. 1 in a lot of categories last year. I think we missed by one-tenth of a point or a couple of tenths of a point from being the No. 1 offense in the league in scoring. I think we had more yards than anybody else. We had a 1,400-yard rusher. We had two 1,000-yard receivers and our quarterback threw for 3,600 yards. I would definitely say the offense is probably the strength of the team right now, going into the season.

ANC: Who are the standouts on the Alabama A&M team?

SWAC: The Southwestern Athletic Conference today released its revised Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football team with Alabama A&M’s Aqeel Glass being named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. The preseason team and preseason poll was updated to include only student-athletes and teams scheduled to participate during the spring season.

A total of nine student-athletes were elevated on the team, including Alabama A&M running back Gary Quarles and offensive lineman Jonathan Williams. Each was tabbed a Preseason All-SWAC second team selection.

Other first-team selections from the Bulldogs are sophomore wide receiver Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, redshirt junior tight end Kendric Johnson, junior defensive lineman Marcus Cushine, senior linebacker Armoni Holloway and senior kicker Spencer Corey.

Each team in the league was represented on the preseason team. Alabama A&M tallied the most preseason selections with 11 total picks.

Maynor: Receivers Ibrahim and Zabrian Moore both had 1,000 yards. We’re looking at those guys and we’ve got some other good receivers right behind those guys that we feel are very good.

ANC: What game do your fans have circled on your schedule?

Maynor: It would be Alabama State, our archrivals. We always play them in the (Magic City) Classic every year. That’s the game that all the fans and alumni circle.

ANC: What is your lingering question?

Maynor: The only thing I need to know is if Alcorn’s going to opt out or if Alcorn’s going to play. That’s the only thing that’s up in the air for me – are they going to play or are they going to opt out. (Editor’s note: Subsequent to this interview, Alcorn State announced that its football team will not play this spring. The SWAC announced the revised predicted order of finish, which has Alabama A&M picked to finish first in the East Division. AAMU claimed 13 first-place votes while tallying a league-leading 83 total points.)

Read spring season football previews for Birmingham-Southern College, Huntingdon College, Samford University and Jacksonville State University.