Before the first HBCU football game kicks off, let's look at which players are the best of the best. I ranked the top three returning players at each position by using statistics and on-field performance from prior seasons.
Let's take a look at the list.
Top 3 players in HBCU football entering 2025, by position
Quarterback
- Walker Harris, North Carolina Central
- JaCobian Morgan, Jackson State
- Cam Ransom, Bethune-Cookman
The top two quarterbacks in HBCU football are Jackson State's JaCobian Morgan and North Carolina Central's Walker Harris. Both were named preseason first team all-conference.
Bethune-Cookman's Cam Ransom rounds out the quarterbacks. He threw for seven touchdowns to just one interception across his final four games.
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Running back
- Jason Collins, Morgan State
- Kevon King, Norfolk State
- Jacorian Sewell, Alcorn State
Kevon King ran for 10 touchdowns last season at Norfolk State, and Jason Collins was named the preseason MEAC Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for eight touchdowns last season. Jacorian Sewell represents the SWAC backfield after rushing for 735 yards on 5.7 yards per carry.
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Pass catchers
- Joanes Fortilien, Jackson State
- Maleek Huggins, Bethune-Cookman
- Nate Rembert, Jackson State
Jackson State has two of the top three pass catchers returning in Nate Rembert and Joanes Fortilien. Rembert played at Mississippi Valley State last year, finishing with over 1,000 yards. Fortilien was a Tiger last year, catching 11 touchdowns.
Closing out the group is Bethune-Cookman's Maleek Huggins, who caught 37 passes for 543 yards and three touchdowns last season.
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Offensive line
- Vincent Byrd Jr., Norfolk State
- Ashton Grable, Florida A&M
- Trevon Humphrey, North Carolina Central
Florida A&M's Ashton Grable is my top offensive lineman in the SWAC, primarily playing guard last season. The other two linemen come from the MEAC as Norfolk State's Vincent Byrd Jr. returns after not allowing a sack last season, and Trevon Humphrey is the only returning First-Team All-MEAC offensive lineman this fall.
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Defensive line
- Ckelby Givens, Southern
- Noah Miles, Howard
- Jeremiah Williams, Jackson State
Two of the top defensive linemen in all of FCS football play for HBCUs. Southern's Ckelby Givens is my pick for the top FCS edge defender entering the year, and Jackson State's Jeremiah Williams is my pick for the top FCS interior lineman entering the year. Givens had 27.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks last season. Williams had 58 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and two sacks from the inside last year.
Rounding out the defensive line group is Howard's Noah Miles. He had 11.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks in a breakout season.
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Linebacker
- Stemarion Edwards, Alcorn State
- Erick Hunter, Morgan State
- Max U'Ren, North Carolina Central
Erick Hunter is a First-Team All-American linebacker. Few 鈥 if any 鈥 are better than the Morgan State product in the FCS. Alcorn State's Stemarion Edwards had 91 tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss last year, finishing with double-digit tackles in four of his last five games. Max U'Ren is a leader on North Carolina Central's defense that finished seventh in the FCS in total defense last year
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Defensive back
- T.J. Huggins, Florida A&M
- Malcolm Reed, North Carolina Central
- Jarod Washington, South Carolina State
Malcolm Reed made 60 tackles and had two interceptions last season and returns as one of the top safeties in the FCS. Cornerback Jarod Washington helped lead South Carolina State to a Celebration Bowl berth last season, where he made 10 tackles. Closing out the list is Florida A&M's T.J. Huggins, coming off a three-interception season.
馃张: Recapping the 2024 HBCU football season
馃摬 B/R:
馃摎 Football History: Top MEAC/SWAC Challenge moments | Individual stars | | Recapping 2022 | Recapping 2021
Championships: Jackson State wins 2024 Celebration Bowl | Tennessee State, NC Central win tennis title | Football title history | Track champions
馃彑 Classics: Every HBCU Football Classic's history | Florida Classic | Bayou Classic | Can't miss atmospheres
馃弨 HBCU hoops: Pac-12/SWAC series |1980s Alcorn State | NBA draft picks | Hall of Famers
馃憖 March Madness: Men's history | Women's history | Two HBCU wins in 2021 | HBCU vs. HBCU | Tournament upsets
