PRAIRIE VIEW A&M FOOTBALL PLAYERS RECEIVE PRESEASON HONORS

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA (jULY 22, 2009) Seven members of the Prairie View A&M University Panther football team received All-Southwestern Athletic Conference Honors Tuesday, as the SWAC Office announced their annual preseason teams during its annual media day festivities. In addition to the individual accolades, the Panthers were also picked to finish third in the SWAC Western Division standings.

Representing Prairie View on the All-SWAC First Team are running back Donald Babers, offensive lineman James Dekle, defensive end Quinton Spears, defensive back Anthony Beck and punter Pedro Ventura. Earning second team honors were offensive lineman James Blanton and tight end Marlon Allen.

Babers, Beck, Dekle, Spears and Ventura earned all-conference honors last season following Prairie View’s 9-1 campaign while this marks the first time both Blanton and Allen received All-SWAC accolades.

In addition to the SWAC’s preseason teams, a total of nine Panthers received either First or Second Team All-SWAC Honors by Phil Steele’s College Football Preview.

The quartet of Babers, Beck, Dekle and Spears received first team honors while Allen, Ventura, offensive lineman Stoney Owens, defensive lineman Dalvin Nettles and linebacker Renaldo Revuelta landed spots on the second team.

Prairie View begins preseason practice on Monday, Aug. 10 and kicks off the 2009 season with the annual Labor Day Classic versus conference rival Texas Southern on Saturday, Sept. 5 at Reliant Stadium beginning at 7 p.m.