JACKSON, Miss. | Jackson State had eight players selected to the Phil Steele Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Preseason Teams, including four named on the first team.
 
The first team included three offensive players led by Irv Mulligan, Evan Henry, and Fabian McCray. They were joined by punter Matt Noll.
 
Mulligan finished the year with 674 yards on 122 carries in eight games including five games. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry and averaged 84.3 yards per game. He also caught five passes for 42 yards last season. Mulligan recorded three 100-plus yard games including a season-high 174 yards on 21 carries against Bethune-Cookman. He also ran for 115 yards against Alabama A&M and another 110 against South Carolina State.
 
McCray hauled in 41 receptions for 584 yards and four touchdowns including a season-long 47-yard reception. He recorded a season-high eight receptions for 79 yards against Alabama State, and another seven against UAPB. McCray recorded a season-high 109 yards against Alcorn State with a pair of touchdowns. Meanwhile, Henry was named to the team on the offensive line after helping the offense average 161.6 yards per game running 227.7 yards passing. He helped amass 389.4 yards per game last season.
 
Noll finished the year recording 34 punts for 1,507 yards. He averaged 44.3 yards per punt and recorded a season-high 65-yard punt. He ended the season with three touchbacks and a pair of fair catches. He has earned Preseason All-Conference honors from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and has been named to two All-American teams this month.
 
The Tigers placed a pair of players on the Second Team on the defensive side of the ball in Jeremiah Williams and Esaias Guthrie, while also having a pair named to Third Team in Kirk Ford Jr. and Robert McDaniel.
 
Williams finished the season with 45 tackles including 20 solo stops. He also finished the season with 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks (against Southern, Mississippi Valley State, and UAPB). He recorded a tackle in all 11 games last season.
 
Ford helped the offense average 161.6 yards per game running 227.7 yards passing. He helped amass 389.4 yards per game last season. Meanwhile, McDaniel, a transfer from Alcorn State, totaled 30 tackles for the Braves as a defensive back in 2023 with 21 solo stops. He also recorded a pair of tackles for loss. McDaniel accounted for six turnovers last season causing three fumbles and was among the league leaders with three interceptions. He also recorded five pass breakups.
 
Jackson State opens the season on the road against ULM on August 29.
 
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