Southern had a couple of its players receive recognition about a month away from the 2026 season.
The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its preseason football selections on Wednesday. Redshirt junior defensive back Herman Brister and redshirt junior running back Trey Holly made the preseason All-SWAC first-team defense and second-team offense, respectively.
Southern safety Herman Brister III (3) jumps during a warmup drill at the spring showcase on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at A.W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Staff photo by Michael Johnson
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
Brister was third on the team in total tackles (55) and second in solo tackles (36) in 10 games last season. The safety also had 1.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, two quarterback hits and one forced fumble.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Brister made the preseason All-SWAC second-team defense in 2025 after transferring from the Air Force in 2024. When the Southern Lab product was asked about last year’s recognition during August camp, he said he’s focused on team success and that his individual accolade doesn’t matter.
Holly was among the best tailbacks in the Southwestern Athletic Conference last year after transferring from LSU.
In 11 games, the Farmerville native had 869 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns, both fourth in the SWAC. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry for a 2-10 Southern team that started three different quarterbacks last season.
In Southern’s 28-27 win over Grambling in the Bayou Classic, Holly had two rushing touchdowns and 61 rushing yards.
Southern had five players recognized in last year's preseason conference teams: senior defensive end Ckelby Givens, senior linebacker Vincent Paige, graduate student cornerback Horacio Johnson, graduate student tight end Dupree Fuller, and Brister.
The Jaguars have several new players and will be led by first-year head coach and Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk in 2026. Their season opener is against Alabama State at 2 p.m. on Aug. 29 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.
The All-SWAC preseason football teams were voted on by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.