As we continue counting down the kick-off to the 2025 HBCU football season, seven Black College football players should be in the Deacon Jones Award conversation.
Curtis Allen RB, Virginia Union
Virginia Union’s quest for a CIAA championship three-peat will move on without star running back Jada Byers, who electrified Hovey Field in his time with the Panthers.
Byers rewrote the Virginia Union record book, setting new rushing records across the board and becoming the school’s all-time leading rusher with 5,978 rushing yards.
Tasked with filling the role of starting running back is Curtis Allen, who has been a sleeping giant as the Panthers’ backup running back for many years.
Allen has shown flashes of greatness in his three years as Byers’ backup, including a 132-rushing-yard performance in Union’s playoff win over Lenoir-Rhyne last season.
He also brings experience as a starter, compiling 306 rushing yards in two games that Byers missed due to injury.
Allen has shown glimpses of greatness in the past and will have the opportunity to put his skillset on full display in the Panthers’ bid for another conference title.
Kelvin Durham QB, Johnson C. Smith
After a disappointing end to its 2024 campaign, Johnson C. Smith is set up for what could be a historic 2025 season after putting together an impressive offseason.
Despite key losses such as All-CIAA quarterback Darius Ocean and linebacker Benari Black, the Golden Bulls recovered nicely, adding some significant offensive pieces.
This included pairing Clark Atlanta 1,000-yard receiver Armone Harris with fellow 1,000-yard receiver Brevin Caldwell and former Fort Valley State quarterback Kelvin Durham.
Seeing as the Deacon Jones trophy has been swayed toward quarterbacks, Durham would be the most likely candidate to take home the award.
Having only played with one wide receiver who recorded 500 receiving yards in a season previously, playing with two 1,000-yard receivers will do wonders for the former SIAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
Ckelby Givens DL, Southern
Despite the award’s namesake being one of the most influential defensive players in football history, the Deacon Jones trophy has yet to be awarded to a defender.
If there were anyone who had the best chance to break that streak this upcoming season, it would be Southern defensive lineman Ckelby Givens.
The reigning co-SWAC Defensive Player of the Year has been a playmaking machine for the Jaguars’ defensive unit, accumulating 48.5 tackles for loss, 19.0 sacks, and seven forced fumbles in the past two seasons.
In addition to being a top candidate for the Deacon Jones trophy, Givens will also be looking to help get his team back to the SWAC championship for the second straight year.
A second straight SWAC West division championship, paired with his usual individual production, could be the recipe to becoming the first defender to be named Black College Football’s Player of the Year.
Jamal Jones, WR, Clark Atlanta
An argument could be made that Clark Atlanta was the most exciting team in HBCU football last season, putting together a ‘worst-to-first’ year for the ages.
In their first season under head coach Teddy Keaton, the Panthers improved from 0-10 the previous year to 7-3-1, clinching a berth in the SIAC championship game.
However, the offseason brought significant changes for Clark Atlanta, namely the departures of star quarterback David Wright III and leading receiver Armone Harris.
This leaves the door open for returning wideout Jamal Jones to put the team on his back to replicate the success of last season.
Jones was the Panthers’ second-leading receiver with 987 receiving yards on 74 receptions while also scoring three return touchdowns.
With the team fielding Jackson State transfer Zy McDonald, Clark Atlanta’s berth in the SIAC championship game is not out of reach, which could greatly benefit Jones’ case for the Deacon Jones trophy.
Kendric Rhymes RB, Tennessee State
Tennessee State enters the 2025 season looking to replicate its success from the previous year, but with massive internal changes.
Following a 2024 season in which Tennessee State advanced to the FCS Playoffs, winning a share of the Big South/OVC title for the first time since 1999, they will usher in new head coach Reggie Barlow following Eddie George’s departure.
In addition, the loss of key players such as quarterback Draylen Ellis and top defenders Sanders Ellis and Eriq George loom over the Tigers.
That being said, the Tigers had a fairly decent offseason, featuring the addition of former Southern running back Kendric Rhymes, who is looking for a standout performance in his final collegiate season.
Rhymes played an integral role in Southern’s road to a SWAC West division title, posting 645 rushing yards and a team-leading seven touchdowns as the team’s backup running back.
A change of scenery and an enhanced role could give the former Jaguar the opportunity to establish himself among the elites in HBCU football.
Travis Terrell Jr. RB, Jackson State
The reigning Celebration Bowl champion Jackson State Tigers have the recipe for a repeat performance with an offense filled with big-time playmakers.
Despite losing star wide receiver Isaiah Spencer to the transfer portal, the Tigers still have loads of talent, with running back Travis Terrell Jr. being the most intriguing.
Terrell enters the 2025 season following an impressive freshman campaign, stringing together 1,405 all-purpose yards and six total touchdowns.
He is one of only two FCS players to record 300+ yards in three different categories, doing so in rushing (459), kick returns (551), and punt returns (300).
Terrell has shown superstar potential, and the 2025 season could be his time to live up to that.
Tiant Wyche RB, Albany State
In a wide-open SIAC championship race, Albany State will be in the thick of it, looking to claim its first conference championship since 2021.
The reigning SIAC Freshman of the Year and dynamic Golden Rams running back Tiant Wyche will play a major role in getting the team to the promised land.
Wyche began his collegiate career by establishing himself as an all-purpose running back, compiling 1,229 all-purpose yards on 141 touches and scoring six total touchdowns.
He was the only freshman in Division II football to rank in the top 30 in all-purpose yards and one of only two players to record at least 500 rushing yards and 400 kickoff return yards.
If Wyche can develop as a player and continue to get stronger physically and mentally entering the 2025 campaign, the sky’s the limit for what he could accomplish.
