Custom Search Atlanta, GA – The Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) announced today the establishment of the Black College Football Player of the Year Award. It will be presented annually to the most outstanding football player from a Historically Black College & University (HBCU).
“We’re excited about the establishment of this Award, which will honor the best football player attending an Historically Black College and University,” said Super Bowl MVP quarterback Doug Williams, a BCFHOF co-founder and 2011 inductee.
The winner of the inaugural Black College Football Player of the Year Award will be announced on February 25, 2017 at the Eighth Annual Black College Football Hall of Fame Ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia, and will be honored with the Deacon Jones Trophy.
“Players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities have had a tremendous impact on the game of football,” said BCFHOF co-founder and 2012 inductee James Harris. “There are very few players who represent this Award better than the legendary Deacon Jones.”
The Watch List candidates have been selected based on past performance and future potential. Additions to the list may be made as the 2016 season progresses. The finalists and the winner will be chosen by a Selection Committee.
| First Name | Last Name | School | Position | Class |
| Malcolm | Bell | North Carolina Central | QB | Sr. |
| Kourtney | Berry | Alabama State | LB | Sr. |
| Leeward | Brown | Tuskegee | OL | Jr. |
| Martez | Carter | Grambling State | RB | Jr. |
| Tarik | Cohen | North Carolina A&T | RB | Sr. |
| Markus | Cook | Jackson State | OL | Jr. |
| Nehemiah | Coward | Central State | DB | Sr. |
| Detonio | Dade | Alcorn State | OL | Sr. |
| Jawill | Davis | Bethune-Cookman | WR | Jr. |
| Shawheem | Dowdy | Virginia Union | QB | Sr. |
| Jessamen | Dunker | Tennessee State | OL | Sr. |
| Leonorris | Footman | Alcorn State | QB | Jr. |
| Khris | Gardin | North Carolina A&T | WR/KR | Jr. |
| Marquis | Green | Mississippi Valley State | DB | Soph. |
| Trey | Green | Prairie View A&M | QB | Sr. |
| Derrick | Griffin | Texas Southern | WR | Soph. |
| Greg | Hankerson | Norfolk State | QB | Sr. |
| Hakeem | Holland | Virginia Union | RB | Soph. |
| Austin | Howard | Southern | QB | Jr. |
| Michael | Jones | Bethune-Cookman | RB | Sr. |
| Javancy | Jones | Jackson State | DL | Sr. |
| Mike | Jones | North Carolina Central | DB | Jr. |
| Carl | Jones | North Carolina Central | OL | Sr. |
| Javonte | Kelly | Lane | LB | Sr. |
| Angelo | Keyes | North Carolina A&T | DL | Sr. |
| Darius | Leonard | South Carolina State | LB | Jr. |
| Nyme | Manns | Bowie State | WR | Sr. |
| Dorrel | McClain | North Carolina Central | RB | Soph. |
| Jonah | McCutcheon | Tuskegee | DB | Jr. |
| Paulin | Miano | Virginia Union | DL | Sr. |
| Twarn | Mixson | Hampton | WR | Sr. |
| Julian | Morgan | Tuskegee | DL | Sr. |
| Anthony | Mosley | Southern | OL | Sr. |
| Jamarcus | Nance | Miles | RB | Sr. |
| Ebeneezer | Ogundeko | Tennessee State | DL | Jr. |
| Brandon | Parker | North Carolina A&T | OL | Jr. |
| Jac'que | Polite | Winston Salem State | OL | Sr. |
| Willie | Quinn | Southern | WR | Sr. |
| Marquis | Ragland | North Carolina A&T | DL | Sr. |
| Clim | Robbins | Central State | DB | Sr. |
| Chris | Ruffin | Miles | OL | Jr. |
| Stephen | Scott | Lincoln (PA) University | RB | Sr. |
| Jarvis | Small | Albany State | RB | Sr. |
| Patrick | Smith | Tennessee State | WR | Jr. |
| Guy | Stallworth | Grambling State | DB | Sr. |
| Victor | Tabbs | Elizabeth City State | TE | Sr. |
| Carlo | Thomas | Johnson C. Smith | DB | Jr. |
| Osband | Thompson | Tuskegee | LB | Jr. |
| Lenard | Tillery | Southern | RB | Sr. |
| David | Whipple | Miles | QB | Sr. |
| Chad | Williams | Grambling State | WR | Sr. |
| Daniel | Williams | Jackson State | WR | Sr. |