Nine Players from CIAA Named to Black College Football Player of the Year Watch List
Atlanta, GA (August 14, 2019) – The Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) announced today the 2019 Watch List for the Black College Football Player of the Year Award with nine players from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) being named to the list.
The list of CIAA players on BCFHOF watch list is led by Fayettville State running back Stevie Green and kick returner Brandon Smith as well as Virginia Union running back Tabyus Taylor and defensive back Sterling Hammond. The list also includes Bowie State defensive lineman Joshua Pryor, Lincoln (PA) defensive lineman Solomon Bassett, Winston-Salem State defensive back Daryus Skinner, Shaw linebacker Devon Hunt, Saint Augustine's linebacker Joseph Harris, Jr.
FSU's Green was top three in the CIAA in both rushing yards and all-purpose yards and Smith is the league's returning Special Teams Player of the Year while Panthers teammates Hammond and Taylor ranked among league leaders in interceptions as well as led the conference in rushing, total yards, and scoring, respectively.
Hunt (Defensive Player of the Year) and Pryor (Defensive Rookie of the Year) were two of the top defenders in the CIAA last season after finishing first in tackles and second in sacks, respectively, while Lions standout Bassett was also among league leaders in sacks.
Skinner led all of Division II in interceptions in 2018 and Harris was top 10 in tackles and interceptions in the CIAA.
The Award is presented annually to the most outstanding football player from a Historically Black College & University. Former North Carolina A&T, and current Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Award in 2016; Bowie State quarterback Amir Hall was the 2017 and 2018 recipient.
The winner of the 2019 Black College Football Player of the Year Award will be honored with the Deacon Jones Trophy during the Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which takes place on February 15, 2020 in Atlanta. Four finalists will be unveiled on December 3, 2019.
The Watch List candidates have been selected based on past performance and future potential. Additions to the list may be made as the 2019 season progresses. The finalists and the winner will be chosen by a selection committee.
| First Name |
Last Name |
Position |
School |
Class |
Conference |
| Kyle |
Anthony |
WR |
Howard |
Senior |
MEAC |
| Solomon |
Bassett |
DL |
Lincoln (PA) |
Senior |
CIAA |
| Elijah |
Bell |
WR |
North Carolina A&T |
Senior |
MEAC |
| Jordan |
Bentley |
RB |
Alabama A&M |
Senior |
SWAC |
| Traviontae |
Brown |
DB |
Benedict |
Senior |
SIAC |
| Brian |
Cavicante |
LB |
Delaware State |
Junior |
MEAC |
| Qwynnterrio |
Cole |
DB |
Alcorn State |
Junior |
SWAC |
| Santo |
Dunn |
RB |
Morehouse |
Junior |
SIAC |
| Jequez |
Ezzard |
WR |
Howard |
Senior |
MEAC |
| Marques |
Ford |
DL |
Bethune-Cookman |
Senior |
MEAC |
| Deondre |
Francois |
QB |
Hampton |
Senior |
MEAC |
| Aqeel |
Glass |
QB |
Alabama A&M |
Junior |
SWAC |
| Stevie |
Green |
RB |
Fayetteville State |
Senior |
CIAA |
| Kevin |
Greenhow |
WR |
Central State |
Junior |
SIAC |
| Sterling |
Hammond |
DB |
Virginia Union |
Senior |
CIAA |
| Joseph |
Harris, Jr. |
LB |
Saint Augustine's |
Soph |
CIAA |
| Marquis |
Hendrix |
LB |
Bethune-Cookman |
Senior |
MEAC |
| Devon |
Hunt |
LB |
Shaw University |
Senior |
CIAA |
| Noah |
Johnson |
QB |
Alcorn State |
Senior |
SWAC |
| Rico |
Kennedy |
LB |
Morgan State |
Senior |
MEAC |
| Ian |
McBorrough |
LB |
Morgan State |
Junior |
MEAC |
| Mac |
McCain III |
DB |
North Carolina A&T |
Junior |
MEAC |
| Joseph |
McWilliams |
DB |
Grambling State |
Senior |
SWAC |
| Trevor |
Merritt |
DB |
Bethune-Cookman |
Senior |
MEAC |
| Kerrion |
Moore |
RB |
Winston-Salem State |
Senior |
CIAA |
| Javen |
Morrison |
DB |
Alcorn State |
Senior |
SWAC |
| Jalen |
Morton |
QB |
Prairie View A&M |
Senior |
SWAC |
| Solomon |
Muhammad |
LB |
Alcorn State |
Senior |
SWAC |
| Anfernee |
Mullins |
DL |
Grambling State |
Senior |
SWAC |
| Caylin |
Newton |
QB |
Howard |
Junior |
MEAC |
| Ju’Anthony |
Parker |
DB |
Prairie View A&M |
Senior |
SWAC |
| Dedrick |
Parson |
RB |
Howard |
Soph |
MEAC |
| Taeyler |
Porter |
RB |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
Senior |
SWAC |
| Joshua |
Pryor |
DL |
Bowie State |
Soph |
CIAA |
| Jimmie |
Robinson |
WR |
Bethune-Cookman |
Senior |
MEAC |
| Chris |
Rowland |
WR |
Tennessee State |
Senior |
OVC |
| Michael |
Sims |
QB |
Morehouse |
Junior |
SIAC |
| Daryus |
Skinner |
DB |
Winston-Salem State |
Senior |
CIAA |
| Xavier |
Smith |
WR |
FAMU |
Soph |
MEAC |
| Brandon |
Smith |
KR |
Fayetteville State |
Junior |
CIAA |
| Austin |
Stephens |
LB |
Miles |
Senior |
SIAC |
| Tabyus |
Taylor |
RB |
Virginia Union |
Soph |
CIAA |
| Davoris |
Thomas |
LB |
Tuskegee |
Senior |
SIAC |
| Isaiah |
Totten |
RB |
North Carolina Central |
Junior |
MEAC |
| Dawonya |
Tucker |
RB |
Prairie View A&M |
Senior |
SWAC |
| Leonard |
Tyree |
WR |
Miles |
Senior |
SIAC |
| De’Shawn |
Waller |
RB |
Alcorn State |
Senior |
SWAC |
| Camron |
Young |
DB |
Fort Valley State |
Senior |
SIAC |