The Deacon Jones trophy, presented in conjunction with the Black College Football Hall of Fame, is the most prestigious award in HBCU football.
In recent years, it has been owned by SWAC quarterbacks with the last four winners all coming out of the conference.
This year, however, that tradition of inconsistent play within the conference and rising stars from other conferences have put the SWAC’s streak in jeopardy.
These are the top candidates to win the 2024 Deacon Jones Award.
Jada Byers RB, Virginia Union
Best Performance: 8/31 vs Kentucky State
Jada Byers is once again proving why he is among the top running backs in all of Division II football, on pace to record his third straight 1,000-yard season. Through four games, Byers has 536 rushing yards (fifth in Division II) on 74 attempts and eight touchdowns (fourth in Division II).
In the Panthers’ season-opening win over Kentucky State, the former CIAA Player of the Year led the way with 211 rushing yards on 14 attempts and three touchdowns. Byers orchestrates a Virginia Union offense that leads the CIAA, averaging 37.0 points per game.
He is looking to become just the second running back to ever hoist the Deacon Jones trophy, joining inaugural winner Tarik Cohen.
Darius Ocean QB, Johnson C. Smith
Best Performance: 9/28 vs Bluefield State
Darius Ocean is a big part of why Johnson C. Smith has been the hottest team in HBCU football so far this season. Ocean leads the CIAA, averaging 245.2 passing yards per game and completing 59% of his passes.
The Valdosta State transfer has passed for over 250 yards in each of the past three games and has three games with at least two passing touchdowns. He is one of the most accurate quarterbacks in Division II football, as he is the only one who has not thrown an interception with over 100 pass attempts.
With Johnson C. Smith having claimed a spot in the AFCA Top 25 rankings for the first time in school history, Ocean is trending upward in the discussion for the Deacon Jones trophy.
Daniel Richardson QB, Florida A&M
Best Performance: 8/24 vs Norfolk State
In his first four games at Florida A&M, Daniel Richardson has shown why there was so much excitement surrounding his arrival in Tallahassee. Richardson is averaging 246.8 passing yards per game, completing 67% of his passes and scoring six touchdowns.
He started the season on a high note, throwing for 286 yards, completing 73% of his passes and scoring three touchdowns in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge against Norfolk State. Richardson will get serious consideration to take home the award should he continue on this trajectory.
The last four winners of the Deacon Jones trophy have been SWAC quarterbacks, including last year’s winner, fellow Florida A&M quarterback Jeremy Moussa (who co-won alongside Davius Richard).
J‘Mari Taylor RB, North Carolina Central
Best Performance: 9/1 vs Alabama State
Having moved on from reigning co-Deacon Jones trophy winner Davius Richard and longtime starting running back Latrell Collier, North Carolina Central has leaned on J’Mari Taylor, who has taken on the responsibility of being the Eagles’ workhorse back.
Taylor has recorded 451 rushing yards on 89 carries and has scored seven touchdowns, along with 12 receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown.
His seven rushing touchdowns already equal his career-best total from the 2022 season. With North Carolina Central favored to win the MEAC and Taylor producing the best numbers of his career, he will have a great case in the Deacon Jones trophy race.
David Wright QB, Clark Atlanta
Best Performance: 8/31 vs Fort Valley State
Coming off a season in which he won the SIAC Player of the Year award, David Wright is continuing to elevate in his first year at Clark Atlanta. He has compiled 1,579 passing yards (second in Division II), completing 57% of his passes and scoring 16 touchdowns (second in Division II) with just four interceptions.
Wright started the season with a banner performance against Fort Valley State, putting up 423 passing yards, completing 74% of his passes and scoring a career-high seven touchdowns.
With Clark Atlanta in a position to contend for a SIAC championship for the first time in decades, Wright could be considered the frontrunner for the award to this point. Should he win it, he would be the first SIAC player to ever win the award.
