With the close of the 2021-22 campaign, the Alabama A&M Sports Information Office is counting down the Top-10 stories from the campaign throughout the summer. Today, we continue the No. 4 story of the season - Bulldogs Bring Home Bevy of Awards.
Make sure to check www.AAMUSports.com every Friday to catch the latest release.
Story No. 4: Bulldogs Bring Home Bevy of Awards
Alabama A&M Athletics produced another impressive campaign and brought home the awards and honors that are a hallmark of that type of season.
With 98 combined accolades in 2021-22 we'll approach them slightly differently from our other countdown releases, briefly touching on each section and then providing direct links to the releases for the awards in their own section so that you can take in all the details.
SWAC WEEKLY HONORS (25)
A&M would be no stranger to Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) weekly honors, hauling in 25 over seven of the program's 16 teams. Making that more impressive, however, is the fact that four sports (bowling, men's golf, men's and women's tennis) don't have the opportunity for weekly recognition.
Beginning in the fall, women's soccer collected four honorees and football five before women's basketball brought home seven and men's basketball a pair. The spring would see seven more with baseball and softball bringing in three apiece and men's outdoor track & field one.
Women's Soccer (4)
Jodi Medina, Goalkeeper of the Week (10/27)
Tateyanna Pitter, Defender of the Week (10/27)
Makayla Rushing, Offensive Player of the Week (9/22)
Taylor Watson, Defender of the Week (9/22)
Football (5)
Aqeel Glass, Offensive Player of the Week (9/6, 10/15, 11/22)
Gary Quarles, Offensive Player of the Week (9/20)
Dee Anderson, Co-Offensive Player of the Week (11/8)
Men's Basketball (2)
Jalen Johnson, Player of the Week (11/24)
Garrett Hicks, Impact Player of the Week (11/19)
Women's Basketball (7)
Dariauna Lewis, Player of the Week (1/5, 1/25), Impact Player of the Week (12/15, 12/23)
Nigeria Jones, Player of the Week (12/15), Impact Player of the Week (3/2)
Deshawna Harper, Impact Player of the Week (11/24)
Baseball (3)
Jared Tribett, Hitter of the Week (3/29)
Jose Figueroa, Pitcher of the Week (3/29)
Josue Torres, Pitcher of the Week (5/11)
Softball (3)
Venice Sanders, Hitter of the Week (4/6)
Allyson Riches, Hitter of the Week (4/26)
Esperanza Coe, Hitter of the Week (5/4)
Men's Outdoor Track & Field (1)
Brandon McLaren, Field Athlete of the Week (3/30)
CONFERENCE
The Bulldogs would continue their treasure hunt with 52 All-SWAC honors, those coming from an impressive 11 programs. The fall would see four from women's soccer and five from football while the winter yielded two from women's basketball and one each from bowling and men's basketball.
The spring would mark another successful season with men's and women's tennis, softball and men's outdoor track & field each collecting a pair. They would be joined by a selection apiece from baseball and men's golf. And that doesn't even include a host of preseason and media honors. Read below for all the details.
ALL-SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (52)
Women's Soccer (7)
All-SWAC – Postseason (4)
Makayla Rushing, First-Team
Jodi Medina, First-Team*
Sherice Clarke, Second-Team
Taylor Watson, Second-Team
*Goalkeeper of the Year
All-SWAC – Preseason (3)
Makayla Rushing, First-Team
Jodi Medina, First-Team*
Jameela Barrett, Second-Team
*Goalkeeper of the Year
Football (23)
All-SWAC – Postseason (5)
Aqeel Glass, First-Team*
Gary Quarles, First-Team
Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, First-Team
Odieu Hilaire, First-Team
Dee Anderson, Second-Team
*Offensive Player of the Year
Phil Steele All-SWAC (10)
Aqeel Glass, First-Team
Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, First-Team
Odieu Hilaire (WR), First-Team
Gary Quarles, First-Team
Dee Anderson, Second-Team
Odieu Hilaire (Ret.), Third-Team
Kendric Johnson, Third-Team
Jonathan Williams, Third-Team
Armoni Holloway, Fourth-Team
Abram Jones, Fourth-Team
All-SWAC – Preseason (8)
Aqeel Glass, First-Team
Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, First-Team
Spencer Corey, First-Team
Gary Quarles, Second-Team
Jonathan Williams, Second-Team
Zabrian Moore, Second-Team
Armoni Holloway, Second-Team
Amari Holloway, Second-Team
Bowling (1)
Montaya Walton, Second-Team
Men's Basketball (3)
All-SWAC – Postseason (1)
Jalen Johnson, First-Team
All-SWAC – Preseason (2)
Garrett Hicks, First-Team
Jalen Johnson, First-Team
Women's Basketball (4)
All-SWAC – Postseason (2)
Dariauna Lewis, Second-Team
Nigeria Jones, Second-Team
All-SWAC – Preseason (2)
Dariauna Lewis, First-Team
Nigeria Jones, Second-Team
Men's Golf (1)
BK Kim, Second-Team
Baseball (1)
Tim Dixon, Second-Team
Softball (6)
All-SWAC – Postseason (2)
Allyson Riches, First-Team
Lauryn Gross, First-Team
All-SWAC – Preseason (4)
Esperanza Coe, First-Team (Pitcher)
Esperanza Coe, First-Team (Designated Player)
Taylor Woods, Second-Team
Alyssa Lopez, Second-Team
Men's Tennis (2)
Natiphat Mulada, First-Team (No. 3)*
Matis Torres Ramis, Second-Team (No. 6)
*Player of the Year
Women's Tennis (2)
Camila Ruiz Diaz, Second-Team (No. 4)
Neha Ghare, Second-Team (No. 5)
Men's Track & Field (2)
Brandon McLaren, First-Team (Javelin)
Brandon McLaren, First-Team (Long Jump)
ALL-DISTRICT (6)
A&M would deliver at a record rate at the district level as well as they hauled in four College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District honors and a pair of National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District recognitions.
The CoSIDA awards marked the most in a year in the program's history while the NABC honors was the first time with multiple selections in available records. Honorees from women's soccer and men's basketball for CoSIDA Academic All-District were the first in their respective program's histories.
Women's Soccer (1)
CoSIDA Academic All-District (1)
Arielle Fortune
Football (1)
CoSIDA Academic All-District (1)
Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim
Women's Basketball (1)
CoSIDA Academic All-District (1)
Dariauna Lewis
Men's Basketball (3)
CoSIDA Academic All-District (1)
Garrett Hicks
NABC All-District (2)
Jalen Johnson, First-Team
Garrett Hicks, Second-Team
ALL-AMERICANS (11)
The accomplishments of Alabama A&M would continue to reach the highest levels throughout the year with 11 All-America/All-American recognitions.
Football would lead the way with those, collecting eight across three different teams, while women's basketball – specifically Dariauna Lewis – would bring home a pair and men's basketball one.
Highlighting those honors were Stats Perform FCS Third-Team recognition for Aqeel Glass, CoSIDA Academic All-America Second-Team and BOXTOROW First-Team honors for Lewis and a BOXTOROW First-Team selection for Jalen Johnson.
Football (8)
Stats Perform FCS (1)
Aqeel Glass, Third-Team
BOXTOROW - Postseason (4)
Aqeel Glass, First-Team
Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, First-Team
Odieu Hilaire, First-Team
Gary Quarles, Honorable Mention
BOXTOROW - Preseason (3)
Aqeel Glass
Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim
Jonathan Williams
Women's Basketball (2)
CoSIDA Academic All-America (1)
Dariauna Lewis, Second-Team
BOXTOROW – Postseason (1)
Dariauna Lewis, First-Team
Men's Basketball (1)
BOXTOROW – Postseason (1)
Jalen Johnson, First-Team
MAJOR AWARDS AND HONORS (38)
Atop the impressive run of accolades for the Bulldogs would be 38 that fell into the category of major awards and honors. Some of these include previous mentioned recognition such as All-America and Academic All-District selections as they rise to this level, however, there were a number of other honors that Alabama A&M took home.
Of those, there were league Coach and Player of the Year recognitions, National Player of the Year and Player of the Week honors, national watchlists, a prestigious Department of Defense scholarship and postseason showcase or All-Star Game selections. Check out the extensive list below to take in all the details on these tremendous accomplishments.
Women's Soccer (6): SWAC Coach of the Year: Emanuel Stephens,
SWAC Goalkeeper of the Year: Jodi Medina, Preseason SWAC Goalkeeper of the Year: Jodi Medina, CoSIDA Academic All-District: Arielle Fortune (First In Program History), SWAC All-Tournament: Makayla Rushing, Tateyana Pitter
Football (18): Black College Hall of Fame National Player of the Year (Deacon Jones Award): Aqeel Glass, BOXTOROW National Player of the Year: Aqeel Glass, Walter Payton Award Finalist (FCS Heisman) - 9th: Aqeel Glass, SWAC Offensive Player of the Year: Aqeel Glass, Preseason SWAC Offensive Player of the Year: Aqeel Glass, BOXTOROW National Player of the Week (9/7): Aqeel Glass, Inaugural HBCU Legacy Bowl Selection: Aqeel Glass,
2022 Senior Bowl Watch List: Aqeel Glass, NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Selection: Aqeel Glass
NFL HBCU Combine Invitees: Aqeel Glass, Dee Anderson, NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Offensive Coordinator: Duane Taylor, Phil Steel SWAC Offensive Player of the Year: Aqeel Glass,
Black College Hall of Fame National Player of the Year (Deacon Jones Award) Watch List: Aqeel Glass, Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, CoSIDA Academic All-District: Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, AFCA Minority Offensive Staff of the Year: Alabama A&M Offensive Staff
Men's Basketball (5): CoSIDA Academic All-District: Garrett Hicks (First In Program History),
Lou Henson Award Mid-Season Watch List (Top Mid-Major Player): Jalen Johnson, NABC All-District: Jalen Johnson, First-Team, Garrett Hicks, Second-Team, SWAC All-Tournament: Jalen Johnson
Women's Basketball (4): CoSIDA Academic All-America Second-Team: Dariauna Lewis, CoSIDA Academic All-District: Dariauna Lewis, Preseason Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Watch List: Dariauna Lewis, BOXTOROW National Player of the Week (2/28): Nigeria Jones
Baseball (1): Preseason Black College Nine Elites: Teddy Bridges
Men's Tennis (1): SWAC Player of the Year: Natiphat Mulada (Second In Recorded DI History - 2006)
Women's Tennis (1): DoD SMART Scholarship: Jasmine Boyd
Men's Track & Field (2): SWAC Individual Champion - Javelin: Brandon McLaren, SWAC Individual Champion - Long Jump: Brandon McLaren
ALL AWARDS, ALL THE TIME
To keep up with all of the many honors the Bulldogs earned not only this year but in years past visit the Awards and Honors Archive on www.AAMUSports.com.
TALE OF THE TAPE
Alabama A&M Athletics has compiled an incredible 132 honors during the 2021-22 campaign, a performance that ranks No. 4 in this year's countdown.
The Schedule
Every Friday throughout the Summer and leading up to the 2022-23 preseason, the SID Office will release the list one at a time beginning with the No. 10 story on June 3. The No. 1 story in Alabama A&M Athletics, as chosen by the Sports Information Office, will be released on Friday, August 5.
Countdown to the Top-10 Alabama A&M Athletics Stories from 2021-22
No. 1 – Coming August 5
No. 2 – Coming July 29
No. 3 – Coming July 22
No. 4 – Bulldogs Bring Home Bevy of Awards (July 15)
No. 5 – McLaren Delivers Titles as Men's Track & Field Returns to SWAC Championships (July 8)
No. 6 – Men's Basketball Delivers Impressive Historical Season (July 1)
No. 7 – Women's Basketball and Lewis Attack the Record Books (June 24)
No. 8 – Bowling and Men's Golf Net Honors Not Seen In Years (June 17)
No. 9 – Baseball Delivers Strong Efforts In 2022 Campaign (June 10)
No. 10 – Men's Tennis Delivers Impressive Accolades (June 3)
Honorable Mention (May 27)
Original source can be found here
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