Football | 8/13/2025 1:00:00 PM

BALTIMORE, Md. (Aug. 13, 2025) – Preseason honors keep rolling in for Morgan State football, as Erick Hunter and Jason Collins Jr. have been named to the 2025 Black College Football Player of the Year Watch List by the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

The list features 50 of the nation's top Black College student-athletes. The award winner will be announced at the HBCU Legacy Bowl Awards ceremony in New Orleans, Louisiana, on the eve of the all-star game.

Hunter, the 2025 MEAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, adds another milestone to his growing legacy with this latest national recognition. The award highlights his dominance in conference play and his rising influence on the national stage — establishing him as both a fierce competitor and a must-watch talent in 2025.

Though sidelined for most of the 2024 season, Hunter's return for the final two games demonstrated his resilience and impact. He quickly made his presence known, finishing the year with a standout performance against Howard that included seven tackles and a sack.

Hunter, who ranks ninth in all-time career tackles at Morgan State with a total of 196, has solidified his status as one of the top defenders in the FCS. In 2023, he topped the MEAC with 75 tackles throughout the regular season and was ranked sixth in tackles for loss with 9.5. His statistical performance also featured seven quarterback hurries, three sacks (ranking No. 11 in the MEAC), two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and one pass breakup.

Collins, who was named the 2025 MEAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, achieved 634 rushing yards and scored eight touchdowns on 114 attempts, which led to him receiving the 2024 MEAC Rookie of the Year award. His standout performance occurred against Delaware State, where he made a remarkable 75-yard touchdown run and accumulated a total of 152 rushing yards on 24 carries.
 
Collins, a dual-threat player from the backfield, also achieved 17 receptions totaling 143 yards. He placed fifth in the MEAC for rushing yards, seventh in all-purpose yards (69.9 ypg), 10th in scoring (4.0 ppg), and 11th in total offense (52.8 ypg). To conclude his impressive season, Collins was recognized as a finalist for the 2024 Jerry Rice Award, which honors the top freshman in FCS football.

"The Black College Football Player of the Year Award honors the talent, dedication, and spirit of today's HBCU football players," Doug Williams, BCFHOF Co-Founder and 2011 Inductee, said. "These young men uphold a proud legacy and inspire future generations to dream bigger and to always aspire for greatness."

The Award is presented annually to the most outstanding football player from a Historically Black College & University. Former North Carolina A&T and NFL running back Tarik Cohen was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Award in 2016; Bowie State QB Amir Hall was the 2017 and 2018 recipient; former Tennessee State and NFL WR Chris Rowland was the 2019 recipient; former Alabama A&M QB Aqeel Glass was the recipient in the Spring 2021 and Fall 2021 seasons, former Jackson State and NFL QB Shedeur Sanders was the 2022 winner of the Award; North Carolina Central QB Davius Richard and Florida A&M QB Jeremy Moussa were the co-winners in 2023; and in 2024, Virginia Union RB, Jada Byers was the sole recipient.

Four finalists will be announced after the season concludes. The winner of the Black College Football Player of the Year Award will be revealed during halftime of the 2026 Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl. This award recipient will receive the Deacon Jones Trophy. 

The Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl is scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and will be broadcast live on the NFL Network.

"In HBCU football, no accolade carries greater meaning than the Deacon Jones Trophy," BCFHOF Co-Founder and 2012 Inductee James Harris, said. "Deacon's greatness wasn't just in his dominance on the field, but in the way he inspired others through his leadership, integrity, and unwavering commitment to excellence. His legacy continues to set the standard for what Black College Football represents."

The candidates for the Watch List were selected based on their past performance and future potential. Additional candidates will be added as the 2025 season progresses. A Selection Committee will choose the finalists and the winner.

Morgan is set to open its 2025 football season on the road Saturday, August 30, with a challenging out-of-conference matchup against the University of South Alabama Jaguars. This highly anticipated season-opening showdown for Morgan will kick off at 7 p.m., taking place on the Jaguars' home turf at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
 
Season tickets for the 2025 campaign are now available. Click here to purchase. 

The full list of the 2025 Black College Football Player of the Year Watch List is here.
 

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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.