Jada Byers, who was a record-setting rusher at Virginia Union, was named Black College Football Player of the Year by the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
Byers led the CIAA, rushing for 1,497 yards (1,712 all-purpose yards) and scoring 23 touchdowns in 2024 en route to winning CIAA Offensive Player of the Year. He became the first player to win two CIAA Offensive Player of the Year awards since former Bowie State quarterback Amir Hall.
Byers is the first Division II player to win the Deacon Jones Trophy since Hall earned the honor in 2018.
🏈 BREAKING NEWS 🏈
Congratulations to @VUU_Football RB JADA BYERS on being named the 2024 Black College Football Player of the Year and receiving the DEACON JONES TROPHY! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/YZwvAPWjBa
— BlackCollegeFootball (@BCFHOF) February 22, 2025
During his four-year career at Virginia Union, Byers set the Panthers’ all-time record for rushing yards (5,311) and touchdowns (70). He eclipsed a career-best 324 rushing yards and six touchdowns against Bowie State.
“He will forever be remembered as one of the greatest in VUU history,” said Panthers coach Alvin Parker
