ASU's Body named SWAC preseason Offensive Player of the Year

Alabama State quarterback Andrew Body led the Hornets to 10 wins before a season-ending injury in 2025. He is back and is receiving preseason accolades from different sources. (Courtesy Alabama State Athletics)

By GRAHAM DUNN

Quarterback Andrew Body headlined Alabama State University's nine players named to the 2026 Southeastern Athletic Conference's Preseason All-Conference team, released on Wednesday.
Body was named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and was one of five first-team selections, including offensive lineman Elijah Baker, defensive lineman Micael Joiner, safety Ta'Shaun Sims, and return specialist Nehemiah Hixon.
Jamarie Hostzclaw, Dezmond Penn, Andrew Abu-Akel, and Garrett Wilemon earned second-team honors.

Before a season-ending injury last year, Body led Alabama State to its first 10-win season in 21 years. He was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference's Offensive Player of the Year, completing nearly 71 percent of his passes for 1,770 yards, 20 touchdowns, and only one interception, while compiling an elite 203.6 pass efficiency rating.

The dual threat QB also rushed for 518 yards and four touchdowns, including six touchdowns in the Magic City Classic against Alabama A&M.

In the season opener, Alabama State dropped a back-and-forth 52-42 result at UAB, with Body passing for 312 yards and four touchdowns, rushing for another 119 yards and a TD, and earning HBCU national player of the week.

The Hornets' 38-34 defeat at Jackson State wasn't decided until a final play just outside the reigning SWAC champion's goal line. Body racked up a career-high 442 yards of total offense and passed for a touchdown.

He .was named the SWAC's Offensive Player of the Week three times and earned HBCU National Player of the Week twice..

Body led the SWAC in touchdown passes (20) and points responsible for (144) while ranking second in completion percentage (70.5).

Alabama State opens the season on Aug. 29 against Southern University in the Birmingham Classic.