Alcorn State will have a new quarterback and a retooled defense when the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff opens SWAC play against the Braves this fall.
UAPB and Alcorn will meet in the 2025 Southern Heritage Classic at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis on Sept. 27. The Braves replaced Tennessee State in this game after the Tigers withdrew during the offseason.
Alcorn (6-6, 5-3 SWAC in 2024) is entering Cedric Thomas’ second season as head coach. The UAPB alumnus led the Braves to a second-place finish in the SWAC West Division last year.
Thomas did so with one of the league’s top running backs, Jacorian Sewell, who returns this season to lead the Alcorn offense. Sewell was fourth in the SWAC with 67.3 rushing yards per game and scored six touchdowns. He also caught 10 passes for 47 yards.
Sewell carried the ball 20 times for 111 yards and a touchdown when the Braves faced UAPB (3-9, 2-6) last year and will likely be a challenge for the UAPB defense again this season, but the Braves lose two other key pieces of their offense from last year.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Starting quarterback Xzavier Vaughn was a graduate student last year in his lone year as the Braves’ starter. The dual-threat quarterback led the team in rushing touchdowns with 11 and was the second leading rusher behind Sewell with 727 yards on 128 carries. He also threw for 1,475 yards and five touchdowns with six interceptions.
Tight end Tavarious Griffin was a senior who led the team with 376 receiving yards on 41 catches. Although he did not catch a touchdown pass, he scored five times on handoffs and was the team’s third-leading rusher with 194 yards on 25 carries.
Most of the Braves’ top receivers after Griffin return, led by Tyran Warren and his three touchdowns, but Alcorn needs someone new to get the ball to them.
Rising senior Tre Lawrence threw two touchdown passes with three interceptions last year, with Tyler Macon also getting limited reps. Alcorn signed two transfers: Howard backup Jaylon Tolbert and Andre Washington from Charlotte. Washington began his career at South Carolina State and did not play during his time at Charlotte.
Alcorn must also replace most of its starting offensive line, though the Braves signed several newcomers, including Norfolk State transfer Jaden Bryant, a 12-game starter last year.
On defense, the Braves must replace five of their top six tacklers from last year thanks to the transfer portal. Linebacker Dew Jaquez is the top returner with 57 tackles, 5.5 for loss with two sacks.
Alcorn loses linebacker Stemarion Edwards (91 tackles) and defensive lineman Malachi Bailey (54 tackles), who combined for 33 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 9 quarterback hurries and an interception.
Gideon Spottsville is the leading returner on the defensive line with 32 tackles, three for loss. The Braves lose two of their interception leaders in the secondary but bring back others such as Wallace Melton, who had 38 tackles and three breakups.
The Braves hit the junior college ranks hard to replace their significant defensive losses. They also signed Mississippi State transfer Tobias Hinton, a linebacker who did not play during his two years with the Bulldogs, and Texas Southern transfer Xavier Kately, who played 10 games last season as defensive back.
Alcorn has won four straight games against UAPB. The Golden Lions’ last win was a 45-43 victory in Lorman, Miss., in 2016.