Five UWA players earn All-Super Region honors

NEWBERRY, S.C. – Five West Alabama football players have been selected to the All-Super Region Two Team, including sophomore running back Javae Swindle, who was voted to the All-Super Region Two First Team.

Senior offensive tackle Taylor Burnett and redshirt freshman place kicker Mark Grant were named to the all-region second team offense. Senior defensive end Mario Gainer and senior cornerback Malcolm Butler were selected to the second team defense.

Selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) who represent Division II football schools in the region, these players represent some of the finest student-athletes in the Gulf South, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic and South Atlantic Conferences, as well as two independent institutions.

West Alabama’s five all-region selections is the fourth-most among NCAA Division II Super Region Two schools. North Alabama led the way with eight, followed by Newberry with seven and Lenoir-Rhyne with six.

A first-team All-GSC selection, Swindle led the GSC in rushing, finishing the season with 1,296 yards and 12 touchdowns on 145 carries. The Thorsby, Ala., product also led the league in yards per carry at 8.9 and recorded the longest run in the GSC this season, an 88-yard scoring romp against Central State.

Grant led the GSC in scoring with 93 points, making 72-of-73 extra point tries and seven field goals. The 72 PATs are a UWA and GSC record. Burnett was also an All-GSC selection and a three-year starter for the Tigers.

Gainer recorded 47 tackles and led the GSC in sacks with 6.0. His 15.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage racked up 108 yards in opponent’s losses. Butler led the GSC in passes defended with 18 and had two interceptions.

UWA finished the season with an 8-3 record and shared the conference championship with UNA. The Tigers won back-to-back GSC crowns for the first time in school history.