New Era, New Energy: SWAC’s 2025 Breakout Stars
- Abreon Scott
- Jul 22, 2025
- 3 min read
#3 – FAMU QB Jett Peddy
FAMU’s quarterback lineage, Jeremy Moussa, Daniel Richardson, has been rock solid over the past few years. But now? It’s Jett Peddy’s time to shine.
Coming out of Long Beach City College, this kid has real juice: Threw for 2,706 yards and 23 touchdowns in just 11 games, averaging nearly 247 yards per game in one of California’s most competitive JUCO leagues.
He’s got wheels, too, posting a verified 4.40 40-yard dash, so not only can he dice you up from the pocket, but he’ll gas your linebackers if you sleep on contain.
From the tape I’ve seen, Peddy processes defenses like a vet. He reads coverages, manipulates zones, and throws with real anticipation. And that’s exactly what FAMU needs to get back to the top.
Last season, the offense lacked deep-ball aggression and quick-strike ability. Now under Henry Burris, if Peddy can get the ball out quick and in rhythm to the Rattlers’ explosive playmakers?
Man, FAMU could be a 9 or 10-win team easy. And college football better stop sleeping on them boys when they’ve got competent QB play & Play Caller.
#2 – Alabama A&M’s ENTIRE DEFENSE
Yes, the whole defense.
For the last four years, Alabama A&M’s defense has been missing like the back wall at Walmart under the "Have You Seen This Person?" section. But this year, that might all change.
Enter Sam Shade, A&M’s new head coach, and he didn’t come to play.
At Miles College, he inherited a 1–9 team and flipped it into a 7–3 conference juggernaut, going undefeated in the SIAC and posting a +9.2 point margin. That’s not vibes, that’s scheme, discipline, and toughness.
Won SIAC Coach of the Year honors in 2024. The man knows what he’s doing.
Shade builds with defensive pride. His teams don’t just play fast, they play nasty. Physical. Technical.
A&M fans are DONE watching 42–35 shootouts that end in heartbreak. They’d rather win 21–10 and take a nap by the 4th quarter.
If Shade can bring that same edge to Alabama A&M, then the Bulldogs' season could revolve around a suffocating defense, not just praying their offense outscores folks. And that’s a big-time shift in the SWAC.
#1 – The Tremaine Jackson’s (PVAMU aka "12 Fans")
Let’s talk about it.
Y’all know how I feel about Prairie View. For the past two seasons, under Bubba McDowell, they’ve been the most boring team in the SWAC. Predictable. Stale. Vanilla. And despite all that, they somehow stayed “kinda” successful (SADLY).
But PVAMU finally got tired of being dry. New AD Anton Goff came through and did what needed to be done: he hired Tremaine Jackson, a true program changer.
Jackson led Valdosta State to a 30–9 record, including 13–1 in 2024, an undefeated regular season, and a trip to the D-II National Championship. He’s got a career coaching record of 40–12, 5 playoff wins, and just walked out of a program that WON a national title. That’s pedigree.
What he brings to Prairie View is energy, tempo, and a winning mentality. He’s electric on the sideline, commands attention in interviews, and demands excellence on the field.
And if that wasn’t enough? He walked into the SWAC with the #1 rated recruiting and transfer classes this offseason. Let that marinate.
Yes, I know, every team that’s won that “offseason championship” ain’t won the SWAC title the same year. But who in their right mind had PVAMU doing anything notable in 2025? Exactly. Like Keith Sweat said: “NOBODY!”
Their schedule? It’s light. I mean, it’s so easy a girl will let you get to third base without even buying her a McChicken.
If PV finishes third in the West with this cakewalk of a slate, just know the person driving the bus was sipping something other than Gatorade. And yes, I said what I said.
The energy around PVAMU is real. The new uniforms? Fresh. The transfer portal wins? Impressive. The locker room buzz? Tangible. If they stay healthy and Jackson keeps doing Jackson things, don’t be surprised if PVAMU is BE IN ATLANTUHHHH by December.
SWAC Outlook & My 2025 Hot Take
I’m calling it now: this will be the most unpredictable SWAC season we’ve seen in years. 👀
To all my die-hard SWAC fans, this is the season where you’ll need Red Bull in your tailgate cup just to survive.
No more snoozefests. No more check-the-box football. This is that strapped-in, game-on-the-line, everybody-fighting-for-air kind of year.
Let’s get it. I’m Scottay, and I’ll see y’all in the trenches. 💯
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