The race for the most prestigious individual honor in HBCU football is officially underway.
The Black College Football Hall of Fame has announced its 2026 Watch List for the Black College Football Player of the Year Award, highlighting 52 standout players.
The annual award recognizes the most outstanding football player in HBCU football. The winner will receive the Deacon Jones Trophy, named in honor of the legendary Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end who helped redefine the pass rush.
This year’s list features a strong mix of quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, offensive linemen and defensive playmakers representing the SWAC, MEAC, CIAA, SIAC and other HBCU programs.
Among the most notable names is Alabama State quarterback Andrew Body, the 2026 SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Jackson State defensive back Kam Sallis, the reigning SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, also made the list.
Other prominent candidates include South Carolina State standouts Joshua Barker, Ka’Von Chisolm, Jordan Franklin, James Reddick II, Tyler Smith, Darius Thompson and Moses Umoren; Jackson State wide receiver Joanes Fortilien and wide receiver Nate Rembert; and North Carolina Central quarterback Josh Jones.
The list also features quarterbacks Jamir Dismukes of Fayetteville State, Xzavier Jackson of Clark Atlanta and Rahsaan Matthews Jr. of Virginia State.
Who made the Deacon Jones watch list?
The 2026 Watch List includes players from 26 HBCU programs.
Alabama State, South Carolina State and North Carolina Central lead the way with five selections apiece, while Jackson State, Prairie View A&M and several other programs are also well represented.
The complete watch list includes:
Elijah Baker — Alabama State, OL
Joshua Barker — South Carolina State, DL
Chase Bingmon — Prairie View A&M, RB
Andrew Body — Alabama State, QB
Chance Bush — Allen, OL
Ka’Von Chisolm — South Carolina State, DL
Jaiden Cleveland — Clark Atlanta, DL
Darius Cyprian — Kentucky State, WR
Quaveon Davis — Jackson State, OL
Jamir Dismukes — Fayetteville State, QB
Derrick Drayton — Albany State, DL
Wayne Favors — Delaware State, DB
Joanes Fortilien — Jackson State, WR
Jordan Franklin — South Carolina State, LB
Trevon French — Edward Waters, LB
Kedrick Green — Howard, DB
Malik Gucake — Prairie View A&M, DL
Danarius Hilliard — Arkansas-Pine Bluff, LB
Xzavier Jackson — Clark Atlanta, QB
Eden James — Howard, RB
Jaylen Jennings — Arkansas-Pine Bluff, RB
Michael Joiner Jr. — Alabama State, DL
Josh Jones — North Carolina Central, QB
Brian Lane — Johnson C. Smith, WR
Isaiah Lawson — North Carolina Central, LB
Rahsaan Matthews Jr. — Virginia State, QB
Arturo Mattocks — Morgan State, LB
Calvin McMillian — Prairie View A&M, OL
AC McMoore — North Carolina Central, OL
Ryan Nolan — Norfolk State, OL
Chance Peterson — North Carolina Central, WR
James Reddick II — South Carolina State, OL
Nate Rembert — Jackson State, WR
D’Avery Robinson — Arkansas-Pine Bluff, WR
Cameran Rogers — Alcorn State, OL
Kam Sallis — Jackson State, DB
Travion Searcy — Central State, DB
Alex Simmons — Morgan State, TE
Ta’Shaun Sims — Alabama State, DB
David Smith — Benedict, RB
Bobby Smith — Johnson C. Smith, RB
Tyler Smith — South Carolina State, RB
Johntarrious Thomas — Edward Waters, RB
Eric Thomas Jr. — Alcorn State, DL
Darius Thompson — South Carolina State, WR
Isaiah Turner — Benedict, OL
Moses Umoren — South Carolina State, OL
Zach Underwood — Morehouse, DL
Mehki Wall — North Carolina Central, WR
Brandon Wiley — Bluefield State, WR
Jaylen Williams — Norfolk State, DL
Wyatt Wright — Alabama A&M, LB
The watch list is not necessarily final. The Black College Football Hall of Fame says additional players can be added as the 2026 season progresses, meaning strong performances throughout the fall could dramatically reshape the race.
Winner will be announced during post-season bowl game
After the season, the field will be narrowed to four finalists.
The finalists and eventual winner will be selected by a committee, with the winner announced during halftime of the 2027 Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl.
The Legacy Bowl is scheduled for Saturday, February 27, 2027, in Atlanta, Georgia, with the game set to air live on NFL Network.
For BCFHOF co-founder and 2011 inductee Doug Williams, the award represents much more than individual statistics.
“The Black College Football Player of the Year Award represents the excellence, dedication, and competitive spirit of HBCU football,” Williams said.
Williams emphasized that the players on the list are establishing legacies that can influence generations of HBCU athletes to come.
BCFHOF co-founder and 2012 inductee James Harris also pointed to the significance of the trophy’s namesake.
The Deacon Jones Trophy honors one of the most dominant defensive players in football history. Jones became synonymous with disrupting quarterbacks and is widely credited with popularizing the term “sack.”
Now, a new generation of HBCU stars will have the opportunity to add their names to that legacy.
With the 2026 season approaching, the watch list provides the first look at the players who could ultimately compete for one of the biggest individual prizes in Black college football.
And with additions still possible throughout the season, the race for the Deacon Jones Trophy is just getting started.
