Courtesy of South Carolina State Athletic Communications


ORANGEBURG, S.C. – The South Carolina State football team posted three representatives on the preseason watch list for the Black College Football Player of the Year, which was announced by the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

Defensive back Decobie Durant, linebacker Chad Gilchrist and receiver Shaquan Davis were all named to the watch list, which is comprised of 56 players from 27 different Division I and II HBCUs.

The news is the latest in a string of preseason honors for Durant, the senior defensive back, was recently named the Preseason MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and was also selected to the preseason watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the Division I FCS. Durant earned first-team All-MEAC honors in 2019 and was selected to the Boxtorow and Stats FCS Preseason All-American teams. He spearheads a South Carolina State team picked 1^st in the league poll, while during the spring led the team with four (4) interceptions and eight (8) tackles and five (5) breakups. Currently he is the top NFL prospect returning this season with 81 career tackles, nine (9) interceptions ,20 pass breakups and 20 pass deflects to date.
 
A preseason All-MEAC first-team selection, Gilchrist during the spring 2021 season finished second on the team in tackles with 33 (25 solo), 6 tackles for loss for 10-yards, while in 2019 he posted 30 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss for 23-yards and 2 sacks for 10-yards.

Davis, another preseason first-team All-MEAC pick, led the SC State receiving corps in the spring with 14 catches for 294-yards (21-ypc), 4 touchdowns and 73.5 ypg in four games played. In 2019, he was second on the team with 31 receptions for 632-yards and 6 touchdowns.

The complete watch list can be seen here.

Four finalists will be unveiled on Nov. 30. The winner of the sixth annual Black College Football Player of the Year Award, which will be announced during halftime of the inaugural HBCU Legacy Bowl, will be honored with the Deacon Jones Trophy. The HBCU Legacy Bowl takes place on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The game will be broadcast live on NFL Network.

ABOUT DEACON JONES 
David "Deacon" Jones played defensive end for South Carolina State University and Mississippi Valley State University from 1958 to 1960. Blessed with speed, agility and quickness, the "Deacon" became one of the finest pass rushers in the business. He won unanimous All-NFL honors six straight years from 1965 through 1970 and was selected to eight Pro Bowls. Jones is an inaugural Black College Football Hall of Fame inductee (2010) and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

ABOUT THE HBCU LEGACY BOWL 
The HBCU Legacy Bowl, presented by the Black College Football Hall of Fame, is a postseason all-star game that will showcase the top 100 NFL draft-eligible football players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The game will be played on the Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022 (Yulman Stadium at Tulane University), and broadcast live on NFL Network. More than a football game, the week-long celebration of Black culture and history will provide invaluable exposure for HBCU students. HBCU Legacy Bowl founding partners include the NFL, adidas, Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and his 15 and the Mahomies Foundation, Seattle Seahawks LB Bobby Wagner, Sugar Bowl, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Riddell and Tulane University. 

Follow at www.HBCULegacyBowl.com and on social media via @HBCULegacyBowl. 

ABOUT THE BLACK COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME 
The Black College Football Hall of Fame was established in October of 2009 by African-American pioneers and quarterbacks, Pro Bowl MVP James "Shack" Harris and Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams to preserve the history and honor the greatest football players, coaches and contributors from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). There have been 90 Inductees since inception, including Mel Blount, James Harris, Willie Lanier, Art Shell and Doug Williams, who serve as trustees.