UAPB Football: Javonnie Gibson, Christon Love, & Jaden Kelley Named to SWAC All-Conference Postseason Team

BIRMINGHAM, AL.-  A trio of standout football players from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff have been named to the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) All-Conference Team, as announced on Tuesday. Wide receiver JaVonnie Gibson, offensive tackle Christian Love, and linebacker Jaden Kelly were all honored for their significant impacts during the season at their respective positions.

JaVonnie Gibson had an impressive first year with the Golden Lions, playing a crucial role in propelling the UAPB offense into the top five in the conference. He finished second in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and first in the SWAC for receiving yards, totaling 1,215 yards. Additionally, he tied for third in the conference with nine touchdown receptions and ranked third in all-purpose yards, averaging 101.3 yards per game. Gibson garnered several accolades throughout the season, including FCS Player of the Week, SWAC Player of the Week, and SWAC Newcomer of the Week. Notably, he achieved over 150 receiving yards in three games, culminating in a career-high of 183 yards against Prairie View A&M.

Christian Love, a native of Detroit, Michigan, started all 12 games on the offensive line at the center position and giving up only one sack and 28 knock downs for the Golden Lions this season. He was recognized as the team’s best offensive lineman and played a vital role in the offensive line unit that helped UAPB rank among the top five in the SWAC for scoring, averaging 23.5 points per game, and sixth in total offense with 335.3 yards per game.

Jaden Kelly is known for his toughness and playmaking ability as a standout defensive player. In his first year as a starter, he played in all 12 games this season, ranking third in the SWAC with 91 tackles. He also recorded the second-highest number of solo tackles in the conference, with a total of 51. On average, Kelly made 7.6 tackles per game, including 3.5 tackles for loss, and he had one fumble recovery. He had two games in which he recorded 10 or more tackles, with a career-best performance against Southern University where he made 15 tackles.