The Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) revealed its 2019 Watch List for the Black College Football Player of the Year Award where Howard University saw four Bison on the list: senior wideouts Kyle Anthony (Miramar, Fla.) and Jequez Ezzard (College Park, Ga.), junior quarterback Caylin Newton (Atlanta) and redshirt sophomore running back Dedrick Parson (Philadelphia). The announcement came Wednesday.

“There are many gifted football players competing at Historically Black Colleges and Universities right now,” said Super Bowl XXII MVP and BCFHOF co-founder Doug Williams. “This Award is a way for the Black College Football Hall of Fame to recognize these talented student-athletes.”

All four Bison have received several preseason accolades, including 2019 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) honors and Phil Steele FCS recognition.

Recently, both senior wideouts were named to the Phil Steele Preseason FCS All-America Third Team after giving defensive coordinators’ nightmares as they took turns victimizing several secondaries throughout the 2018 campaign. Anthony led the conference in receptions per game (5.3) and finished third in receiving yards per game (65.9). Ezzard led the country in yards per reception (26.6), while setting a new school record for receiving yards in a game (223) at Ohio (Sept. 1).

Newton made this third watch list after being named MEAC Preseason Player of the Year: College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) FCS National Performer of the Year (POY) Trophy Watch List and the STAT FCS Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List. A year ago, the reigning MEAC Player of the Year ended his sophomore campaign ranking among the nation’s leaders in several categories, including passing yards per completion (1st/16.85) and total offense (7th/313.3). He completed his second season as the MEAC’s top passer with 2,629 yards and 22 touchdowns in 10 games.

After becoming the second consecutive Bison to win the league’s top rookie honor, Parson enters his sophomore year ranked among the conference leaders in several categories, including rushing yards (3rd), scoring (3rd) and all-purpose yards (6th). Last season, the Philadelphia native had two 100-yard games, including a season-best 149 in the home victory over Florida A&M (Nov. 3).

The Black College Football Player of the Year Award is presented annually to the most outstanding football player from a Historically Black College & University (HBCU). In 2016, former North Carolina A&T State and current Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen was selected as the inaugural recipient. Bowie State’s quarterback Amir Hall was the recipient for the past two seasons (2017 & 2018).

The winner of the 2019 Black College Football Player of the Year Award will be honored with the Deacon Jones Trophy during the Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which takes place February 15, 2020 in Atlanta. The four finalists will be unveiled December 3, 2019.

“The Deacon Jones Trophy is the most coveted individual award a football player from an HBCU can receive,” said BCFHOF co-founder and 2012 inductee James Harris. “I enjoy monitoring the progress of these young men throughout the season.”

The watch list composes of 48 student-athletes from 27 different HBCUs, including 16 from the MEAC.

To view the 2019 Black College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List, please click here.

On Aug. 31, the Ron Prince era begins at FBS foe Maryland. Kickoff is set for noon on the Big Ten Network.

For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com or the BCFHOF website at www.blackcollegefootballhof.org.Print Friendly Version

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