BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Six Jackson State University student-athletes earned preseason all-conference honors on a vote by the league's head coaches and sports information professionals, announced by the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) on Wednesday morning.

Kam Sallis, a first-team selection, was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year after he played in 11 games, starting all 11 at defensive back in 2025. He recorded 53 tackles, including 27 solo stops, finished with two interceptions and two pass breakups while also forcing a pair of fumbles. He recorded a career-high 12 tackles against Prairie View A&M, including a career-high eight solo tackles in the same game. He also recorded seven tackles against Southern Miss and recorded a tackle in all 11 games played. Sallis was named an Aeneas Williams Award Semifinalist and was named Second-Team All-Conference at the conclusion of last season.

He was joined on the first team by offensive lineman Quaveon Davis and wide receiver Nate Rembert. Davis, an all-conference selection last season, played on an offensive line that helped pave the way for three running backs to go over 500 yards rushing, including a 1,000-yard rusher. He helped lead an offense that finished the regular season ranked second in rushing offense, second in fourth down conversion percentage, fourth in total offense, fifth in third down conversion percentage, 11th in first down offense, 13th in sacks allowed, and 18th in scoring offense nationally. The senior averaged a grade of 88 percent, while recording 27 pancakes/knockdowns and allowing just 1.5 sacks. 

Rembert played in 12 games with 11 starts last season, recording a team-high 45 receptions for 750 yards. He averaged 16.7 yards per reception, scored seven touchdowns, and averaged 62.5 yards per game. He also ran the ball six times for 74 yards, averaged 12.3 yards per carry, and scored one rushing touchdown while also returning five kicks (four punts and one kickoff). He caught a season-high six passes twice against Mississippi Valley State and Alcorn State, caught five passes against Southern, while catching four against Hampton and Prairie View A&M. He recorded a season-high 100 yards receiving against Alcorn State and 97 yards receiving against Mississippi Valley State. He hauled in two touchdowns against Mississippi Valley State and ran for a season-high 40 yards and a touchdown against Florida A&M.

Meanwhile, reigning SWAC co-Freshman of the Year Jared Lockhart was named the second-team quarterback after he played in seven games with five starts. He started his first collegiate game against Tuskegee and finished the season completing 76-of-113 passes for 1,187 yards. He threw for eight touchdowns and just three interceptions, finished with a 67.3 completion percentage, and finished with a 173.6 quarterback efficiency. Lockhart ran for 189 yards on 57 carries, averaged 3.3 yards per carry, and scored three rushing touchdowns. Lockhart completed 15-of-21 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown against Tuskegee, and threw for a season-high 241 yards on 21-of-27 passing against Mississippi Valley State with a pair of touchdowns. He ran for a season-best 44 yards two times against Tuskegee and Grambling State, and scored a pair of touchdowns on the ground against Tuskegee. He was named SWAC co-Newcomer of the Week two times and was named the FCS HBCU National Player of the Week by Stats Perform following his performance against Alcorn State after throwing for 169 yards.

He was joined by linebacker Carmello Jones, who played in 10 games last season at linebacker and on special teams. He recorded 36 tackles, including 17 solo stops, to go along with 4.5 tackles for loss. Jones finished with one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry. He recorded a season-high seven tackles against Southern Miss,  five tackles against Hampton and Grambling State, and four tackles against Tuskegee. Jones finished with one tackle for loss against Hampton and Florida A&M, and finished with 0.5 tackles for loss five times. KJ Chisholm was also named to the second team after he played in all 12 games with 11 starts at corner last season, finishing with 34 total tackles, including 24 solo stops. He recorded one tackle for loss, and finished the season with five pass breakups. The junior recorded a season-high six tackles against Alcorn State with four solo stops, and recorded five tackles against Alabama State and Grambling State. He finished the season recording a tackle in 11 of 12 games.

Jackson State will join the 11 other institutions next Wednesday as the season unofficially gets underway with SWAC Media Day.

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