Three Alcorn players named All-SWAC

By Michael Kerekes (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Thursday, December 17, 2009

LORMAN — Three players from the Alcorn State football team were recently selected to the 2009 All-SWAC squad.

Braves junior defensive end Malcolm Taylor was selected to the all-conference first-team defense. Sophomore center Isaac Williams earned second-team offensive honors, and junior Josh Cragin was named to the second-team defensive line.

Braves head coach Earnest Collins said the recognition of three of his players was a great honor for them and the school.

“You always want to be recognized as one of the best in the conference,” Collins said. “For those three young men, it’s a great accolade for them and their school.”

All three are players that have put in the time and energy that makes them deserving of recognition, Collins said.

“Malcolm Taylor is a young man who had his job taken at a point in time last year. I told him he should be one of the dominant defensive linemen in the conference because of his size and long arms. I challenged him to be one of the best, and he lived up to that.

“Isaac Willams has been starting since he was a freshman. Not many teams elect a sophomore as a captain, but he’s been a leader ever since he stepped onto the field. I know he won’t settle for being second in anything, so you can expect him to strive to be first-team next season.

“Josh is a young man who didn’t have the kind of year he wanted to last season. For him to come back this year and make second-team is a tremendous honor for him.”