BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Bethune-Cookman placed three players on the Southwestern Athletic Conference Preseason Football, it was announced Thursday at SWAC Football Media Day. 

Tight End Kemari Averett was named First Team Offense, Defensive Back Omari Hill-Robinson First Team Defense and Kickoff Returner Darnell Deas Second Team Specialist.

Averett, a senior, finished near the top of the SWAC in nearly every offensive category: Averett finished sixth in receptions with 52, fourth in yards with 888, third in touchdowns with 11, seventh in yards per catch with 17.1, and fourth in yards per game with 80.7. Averett also finished in the top ten in points per game – fourth among all those not including kickers.

Hill-Robinson, a senior, led the Wildcats in most defensive categories, where he also finished among SWAC leaders. He finished with the second-most tackles in the conference with 101 – averaging 9.2 per game, the highest mark in the SWAC. He also added 5.5 tackles for loss, two pass break ups, two hurries, and a forced fumble.

Deas, a junior, finished second in the SWAC with an average of 28 yards per return this season. Deas racked up 476 return yards on 17 returns. At South Carolina State, Deas returned four kicks for 142 yards, including a 95-yard return for a touchdown. He also returned a kick 89 yards for a touchdown against Alabama A&M.

The Wildcats were selected to finish fifth in the SWAC East Division in the preseason poll of head coaches and sports information directors. Jackson State was picked to finish first, followed by Florida A&M, Alabama A&M, and Alabama State. Mississippi Valley State was picked to finish sixth. Southern was picked to win the SWAC Western Division.

The full list of 2022 SWAC Football preseason honorees are available at swac.org.  

Bethune-Cookman opens its 2022 season on Sept. at the University of Miami.

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