At a glance:
Atlanta, GA (August 17, 2021) – The Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) announced today the 2021 Watch List for the Black College Football Player of the Year Award. 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; Tennessee State and current Atlanta Falcons WR Chris Rowland was the 2019 recipient; and current Alabama A&M QB Aqeel Glass was the recipient of the Spring 2021 award.
Four finalists will be unveiled on November 30, 2021. The winner of the Black College Football Player of the Year Award, which will be announced during halftime of the Inaugural HBCU Legacy Bowl, will be honored with the Deacon Jones Trophy. The HBCU Legacy Bowl takes place on Saturday, February 19, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The game will be broadcast live on NFL Network.
“There are many gifted football players competing at Historically Black Colleges and Universities right now,” said Super Bowl XXII MVP and BCFHOF co-founder Doug Williams. “This Award is a way for the Black College Football Hall of Fame to recognize these talented student-athletes.”
“The Deacon Jones Trophy is the most prestigious football award for HBCUs,” said BCFHOF co-founder and 2012 inductee James Harris. “Deacon Jones was a pioneer and an icon, and still to this day represents the very best of Black College Football.”
The Watch List candidates have been selected based on past performance and future potential. Additions to the list may be made as the 2021 season progresses. The finalists and the winner will be chosen by a Selection Committee.
| First Name | Last Name | Position | School | Conference |
| Kailen | Abrams | LB | Central State | SIAC |
| Zach | Anderson | DB | Fort Valley State | SIAC |
| Markquese | Bell | DB | Florida A&M | MEAC |
| Cam | Brown | DL | Savannah State | SIAC |
| Dalane | Brown, II | WR | Central State | SIAC |
| Caleb | Brunson | DB | Mississippi Valley State | SWAC |
| Juwan | Carter | QB | Norfolk State | MEAC |
| Christian | Clark | DL | Alabama State | SWAC |
| Devyn | Coles | DB | Norfolk State | MEAC |
| Shaquan | Davis | WR | South Carolina State | MEAC |
| Derik | Davis | DL | Albany State | SIAC |
| Irshaad | Davis | DB | Alabama State | SWAC |
| De'Shaan | Dixon | DL | Norfolk State | MEAC |
| Santo | Dunn | RB | Morehouse | SIAC |
| Decobie | Durant | DB | South Carolina State | MEAC |
| Anthony | Evelyn | WR | Lane | SIAC |
| Joshua | Flowers | DB | Winston-Salem State | CIAA |
| Chase | Foster | DB | Southern | SWAC |
| Javon | Frazier | DL | Virginia State | CIAA |
| Sidney | Gibbs | RB | Shaw | CIAA |
| Chad | Gilchrist | LB | South Carolina State | MEAC |
| Aqeel | Glass | QB | Alabama A&M | SWAC |
| Jawain | Granger | DB | Delaware State | MEAC |
| Ezra | Gray | RB | Alabama State | SWAC |
| Charles | Hall | WR | Virginia Union | CIAA |
| Keonte | Hampton | LB | Jackson State | SWAC |
| Felix | Harper | QB | Alcorn State | SWAC |
| Ethan | Howard | TE | Southern | SWAC |
| Abdul-Fatai | Ibrahim | WR | Alabama A&M | SWAC |
| Da’Kendall | James | WR | Norfolk State | MEAC |
| Ja'Rome | Johnson | QB | Bowie State | CIAA |
| Kevin | Johnson | RB | Norfolk State | MEAC |
| Jordan | Lewis | DL | Southern | SWAC |
| Jah-Maine | Martin | RB | North Carolina A&T | Big South |
| Aubrey | Miller, Jr. | LB | Jackson State | SWAC |
| Brooks | Parker | LB | Delaware State | MEAC |
| Jahseari | Patterson | DL | Fort Valley State | SIAC |
| Nigel | Peele | LB | Fayetteville State | CIAA |
| LeCharles | Pringle | WR | Alcorn State | SWAC |
| Joshua | Pryor | DL | Bowie State | CIAA |
| Tyrin | Ralph | WR | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | SWAC |
| Shedeur | Sanders | QB | Jackson State | SWAC |
| Jaleel | Scroggins | DB | Shaw | CIAA |
| Mike | Sims | QB | Morehouse | SIAC |
| Jarod | Sims | RB | Southern | SWAC |
| Desmond | Smith | TE | Virginia Union | CIAA |
| Xaiver | Smith | WR | Florida A&M | MEAC |
| Stephen | Stokes | DB | North Carolina Central | MEAC |
| Brett | Sylve | RB | Kentucky State | SIAC |
| Ta'Shaun | Taylor | LB | Winston-Salem State | CIAA |
| Jalon | Thigpen | DB | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | SWAC |
| Jaylun | Thomas | DL | Miles | SIAC |
| Montavious | Tinch | TE | Miles | SIAC |
| Isaiah | Totten | RB | North Carolina Central | MEAC |
| Kolby | Watts | LB | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | SWAC |
| Josh | Wilkes | WR | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | SWAC |
| Joshua | Williams | DB | Fayetteville State | CIAA |
ABOUT DEACON JONES
David “Deacon” Jones played defensive end for South Carolina State University and Mississippi Valley State University from 1958 to 1960. Blessed with speed, agility, and quickness, the “Deacon” became one of the finest pass rushers in the business. He won unanimous All-NFL honors six straight years from 1965 through 1970 and was selected to eight Pro Bowls. Jones is an inaugural Black College Football Hall of Fame inductee (2010) and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
ABOUT THE HBCU LEGACY BOWL
The HBCU Legacy Bowl, presented by the Black College Football Hall of Fame is a postseason all-star game that will showcase the top 100 NFL draft-eligible football players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The game will be played on the Saturday, February 19, 2022 (Yulman Stadium at Tulane University), and broadcast live on NFL Network. More than a football game, the week-long celebration of Black culture and history will provide invaluable exposure for HBCU students. HBCU Legacy Bowl founding partners include the NFL, adidas, Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and his 15 and the Mahomies Foundation, Seattle Seahawks LB Bobby Wagner, Sugar Bowl, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Riddell and Tulane University.
Follow us at www.HBCULegacyBowl.com and on social media via @HBCULegacyBowl.
ABOUT THE BLACK COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
The Black College Football Hall of Fame was established in October of 2009 by African-American pioneers and quarterbacks, Pro Bowl MVP
James “Shack” Harris and Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams to preserve the history and honor the greatest football players, coaches and contributors from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). There have been 90 Inductees since inception, including Mel Blount, James Harris, Willie Lanier, Art Shell and Doug Williams, who serve as Trustees.
www.BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org
www.Instagram.com/BlackCollegeFootballHOF
