The 2025 HBCU football season is almost finished, but talented players shined throughout the FCS season. A select group of players stood out among their peers thanks to on-field performances. Here are the top players, by position, from the 2025 HBCU football season.
2025 marks the fifth consecutive year of listing the top players in HBCU football. To make this All-HBCU list, a player must've made their all-conference team. This list has more than the traditional 22 players plus specialists. On offense, the list features an extra, third wide receiver and an all-purpose back to showcase the increase in spread offenses throughout college football. On defense, the list features both four defensive linemen and four linebackers since teams play both a 4-3 and 3-4 defense. With the rise of nickel packages, the list also features an additional defensive back. In total, there are 30 players.
MORE: What happened in the 2025 HBCU football season
Overall, the SWAC leads the MEAC in players to land on the list, ;17-11. However, the MEAC leads the SWAC when it comes to players on the list per conference team.
Top 2025 HBCU football players, by position
Offense
- QB - Andrew Body | Alabama State
- RB - Marquis Gillis, Delaware State
- RB - Ahmad Miller | Jackson State
- WR - Jalen Jones | Alabama State
- WR - Jordan Smith | South Carolina State
- WR - Jyzaiah Rockwell | Prairie View A&M
- TE - Travaunta Abner | Alabama A&M
- OT - Roger Smith | South Carolina State
- OG - DāAndre Townes-Blue | Jackson State
- C - Jestus Johnson | Delaware State
- OG - Brian Williams Jr. | Jackson State
- OT - Trevon Humphrey | North Carolina Central
- AP - Chris Mosley | North Carolina Central
About the offense
Andrew Body was the best overall player at any position during this HBCU football season, and thatās with him missing games late. Body completed 71 percent of his passes for 1,770 yards and 20 touchdowns in eight games, adding in 518 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Before his injury, Body was near the top of the FCS in passing efficiency.
At running back, Marquis Gillis led the nationās top rushing offense at Delaware State, while Ahmad Miller ran the ball for the nationās second-best rushing offense at Jackson State. Chris Mosley grabs the all-purpose spot as one of the most electric playlists in the country when the ball is in his hands, whether it be running or receiving.
The best wide receiver in HBCU football ā undoubtedly in my opinion ā was Jalen Jones. Jones led the SWAC with 1,167 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns. Jordan Smith finished the regular season with 50 catches for 791 yards and seven touchdowns. He scored a touchdown against every DI HBCU he played this season except Morgan State, but he had 107 yards in that game. Jyzaiah Rockwell narrowly gets the last spot over North Carolina Centralās Chauncey Spikes. Rockwell averaged over 15 yards per catch and has the potential to be DI HBCU footballās second 1000-plus yard receiver after the SWAC Championship Game.
Travaunta Abner is the best tight end HBCU football has seen in a few years. The transfer from Miles adjusted well to the DI level, catching 35 passes for 380 yards and three touchdowns during an injury-riddled season.
MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Year Roger Smith leads the big guys in the trenches. North Carolina Centralās Trevon Humphrey joins him after helping the Eagles allow the fewest sacks in the SWAC. Jestus Johnson (DSU), DāAndrew Townes-Blue (JSU) and Brian Williams Jr. (JSU) rounded out the offensive line after leading some of the top rushing attacks in the nation.
Past All-HBCU teams: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021
Defense
- DL - Thomas Johnson | North Carolina Central
- DL - Ckelby Givens | Southern
- DL - Michael Lunz II | South Carolina State
- DL - Quincy Ivory | Jackson State
- LB - Erick Hunter | Morgan State
- LB - Stemarion Edwards | Alcorn State
- LB - Danarius Hillard | Arkansas Pine-Bluff
- LB - Reid Pulliam | Jackson State
- S - Ta'Shaun Sims | Alabama State
- S - Antwone Watts | Bethune-Cookman
- CB - Jarod Washington | South Carolina State
- CB - Eric Zachery | Prairie View A&M
- DB - Jelani Vassell | North Carolina Central
About the defense
The top defensive lineman in HBCU football this year was North Carolina Centralās Thomas Johnson. He led DI HBCU football in sacks (12) and finished second with 18 tackles for loss. The player with more tackles for loss than Johnson was Southernās Ckelby Givens, finishing with 18.5 TFLs to add to 9.5 sacks. South Carolina Stateās Michael Lunz also had an impressive year off the edge with 15.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.
The final defensive lineman spot goes to Quincy Ivory. Ivory earned SWAC Defensive Player of the Year honors and got the spot over his teammate Jeremiah Williams. While there weren't any interior defensive linemen to earn First-Team all-conference honors this year, nor make my list this year, Williams would've been the first interior defensive lineman I would've chosen.
The best linebacker in HBCU football this year was Morgan Stateās Erick Hunter, who led all of DI HBCU football with 102 tackles. He impressively finished tied for third in the MEAC with 14 tackles for loss. Joining Hunter as linebackers are Stemarion Edwards, Danarius Hillard and Reid Pulliam, all of whom flew around the football in the SWAC.
The top cornerback in HBCU football was South Carolina Stateās Jarod Washington, while the top safety in HBCU football was Alabama Stateās TaāShaun Sims. Washington had 20 pass breakups in 12 games to lead the FCS, also nabbing two interceptions. Sims finished second in the FCS with five interceptions on the year. Antwone Watts grabs the other safety spot after leading the SWAC in tackles. Eric Zachery is the final cornerback after making six pass breakups in his final three regular-season games. Closing the secondary group is Jelani Vassell, who had five interceptions from his nickel position.
š: HBCU football championship history
Specialists
- K - Andrew Brown | North Carolina A&T
- P - Max Tulen, Bethune-Cookman
- RS - Elijah Kennedy | North Carolina A&T
- LS - Cole Hash | Bethune-Cookman
About the specialists
Andrew Brown gets the nod at kicker after making a 56 and a 55-yard field goal during the season, while only missing one non-blocked kick. Elijah Kennedy returned a kickoff for a touchdown and two punts for touchdowns, earning him a spot on this list.
š: The greatest individual seasons in HBCU football history
Top players breakdown
| No. of Players | School |
|---|---|
| 5 | Jackson State |
| 4 | North Carolina Central, South Carolina State |
| 3 | Alabama State, Bethune-Cookman |
| 2 | Delaware State, North Carolina A&T, Prairie View A&M |
| 1 | Alabama A&M, Alcorn State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Morgan State, Southern |
| 0 | Florida A&M, Grambling State, Hampton, Howard, Mississippi Valley State, Norfolk State, Tennessee State, Texas Southern, |
MORE: A History of every HBCU classic
Just Missed
Here are the players who just missed out on this All-HBCU team:
- WR Maleek Huggins | Bethune-Cookman
- OL Isaiah Cook | Delaware State
- OL Calvin McMillian | Prairie View A&M
- OL Ashton Grable | Florida A&M
- DL Jeremiah Williams | Jackson State
- DL Warren Robinson | Grambling State
- DL James Stewart | Tennessee State
- DB Zuri Watson | Howard
- DB Tomondrey Braxton | North Carolina Central
š: Recapping the 2024 HBCU football season
š² B/R:
š Football History: Top MEAC/SWAC Challenge moments | Individual stars | | Recapping 2022 | Recapping 2021
Championships: Jackson State wins 2024 Celebration Bowl | Tennessee State, NC Central win tennis title | Football title history | Track champions
š Classics: Every HBCU Football Classic's history | Florida Classic | Bayou Classic | Can't miss atmospheres
š HBCU hoops: Pac-12/SWAC series |1980s Alcorn State | NBA draft picks | Hall of Famers
š March Madness: Men's history | Women's history | Two HBCU wins in 2021 | HBCU vs. HBCU | Tournament upsets
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