HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Defending Historically Black College and University (HBCU) National Champion Alabama A&M continues to catch the eye of high profile organizations with multiple individuals earning spots across three prominent national award watch lists entering the Fall 2021 campaign.
Following one of the most successful seasons in program history, graduate quarterback
Aqeel Glass (St. Louis, Mo.) and junior wide receiver
Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim (Miramar, Fla.) have combined to earn four spots on three national watch lists.
Both Glass and Ibrahim are among 56 preseason nominees for the Deacon Jones Award, presented by the Black College Football Hall of Fame and representing the Black College Football Player of the Year. That is an award that Glass earned this past spring, making him the first to do so in program history, and has helped to springboard him onto three other lists.
Earlier in the offseason he was picked for the Walter Payton Award Watch List as one of the Football Championship Subdivision's (FCS) top players and has more recently been selected to the watch lists for both the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl and the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA).
The CFPA's list represents the FCS National Performer of the Year and has been open to all FCS players since its founding seven years ago. It is an organization that has recognized 28 future National Football League (NFL) first round selections, including the likes of Joe Burrow, Derrick Henry, Marcus Mariota, Amari Cooper and Jameis Winston.
When it comes to an invite to the Reese's Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, quite often it is a ticket to the NFL. This past year there were 106 individuals from that all-star game that we're selected in the NFL Draft, with 36 of those coming in the first three rounds. That overall number represents 41-percent of the 2021 draft , making this year's game on NFL Network on February 5 must-see T.V.
On January 12 the CFPA will announce their honors while the Black College Hall of Fame will announce the Fall 2021 Deacon Jones Award winner on Saturday, February 19. The latter will take place at halftime of the Inaugural HBCU Legacy Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Alabama A&M and Glass and Ibrahim are set to defend their HBCU National Championship and SWAC Championship beginning next month when they kick off the season under the lights at Louis Crews Stadium on September 4 against South Carolina State.
Deacon Jones Award Watch List
| First Name |
Last Name |
Pos. |
School |
Conference |
|
| Kailen |
Abrams |
LB |
Central State |
SIAC |
|
| Zach |
Anderson |
DB |
Fort Valley State |
SIAC |
|
| Markquese |
Bell |
DB |
Florida A&M |
MEAC |
|
| Cam |
Brown |
DL |
Savannah State |
SIAC |
|
| Dalane |
Brown, II |
WR |
Central State |
SIAC |
|
| Caleb |
Brunson |
DB |
Mississippi Valley State |
SWAC |
|
| Juwan |
Carter |
QB |
Norfolk State |
MEAC |
|
| Christian |
Clark |
DL |
Alabama State |
SWAC |
|
| Devyn |
Coles |
DB |
Norfolk State |
MEAC |
|
| Shaquan |
Davis |
WR |
South Carolina State |
MEAC |
|
| Derik |
Davis |
DL |
Albany State |
SIAC |
|
| Irshaad |
Davis |
DB |
Alabama State |
SWAC |
|
| De'Shaan |
Dixon |
DL |
Norfolk State |
MEAC |
|
| Santo |
Dunn |
RB |
Morehouse |
SIAC |
|
| Decobie |
Durant |
DB |
South Carolina State |
MEAC |
|
| Anthony |
Evelyn |
WR |
Lane |
SIAC |
|
| Joshua |
Flowers |
DB |
Winston-Salem State |
CIAA |
|
| Chase |
Foster |
DB |
Southern |
SWAC |
|
| Javon |
Frazier |
DL |
Virginia State |
CIAA |
|
| Sidney |
Gibbs |
RB |
Shaw |
CIAA |
|
| Chad |
Gilchrist |
LB |
South Carolina State |
MEAC |
|
| Aqeel |
Glass |
QB |
Alabama A&M |
SWAC |
|
| Jawain |
Granger |
DB |
Delaware State |
MEAC |
|
| Ezra |
Gray |
RB |
Alabama State |
SWAC |
|
| Charles |
Hall |
WR |
Virginia Union |
CIAA |
|
| Keonte |
Hampton |
LB |
Jackson State |
SWAC |
|
| Felix |
Harper |
QB |
Alcorn State |
SWAC |
|
| Ethan |
Howard |
TE |
Southern |
SWAC |
|
| Abdul-Fatai |
Ibrahim |
WR |
Alabama A&M |
SWAC |
|
| Da'Kendall |
James |
WR |
Norfolk State |
MEAC |
|
| Ja'Rome |
Johnson |
QB |
Bowie State |
CIAA |
|
| Kevin |
Johnson |
RB |
Norfolk State |
MEAC |
|
| Jordan |
Lewis |
DL |
Southern |
SWAC |
|
| Jah-Maine |
Martin |
RB |
North Carolina A&T |
MEAC |
|
| Aubrey |
Miller, Jr. |
LB |
Jackson State |
SWAC |
|
| Brooks |
Parker |
LB |
Delaware State |
MEAC |
|
| Jahseari |
Patterson |
DL |
Fort Valley State |
SIAC |
|
| Nigel |
Peele |
LB |
Fayetteville State |
CIAA |
|
| LeCharles |
Pringle |
WR |
Alcorn State |
SWAC |
|
| Joshua |
Pryor |
DL |
Bowie State |
CIAA |
|
| Tyrin |
Ralph |
WR |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
SWAC |
|
| Jaleel |
Scroggins |
DB |
Shaw |
CIAA |
|
| Mike |
Sims |
QB |
Morehouse |
SIAC |
|
| Jarod |
Sims |
RB |
Southern |
SWAC |
|
| Desmond |
Smith |
TE |
Virginia Union |
CIAA |
|
| Xaiver |
Smith |
WR |
Florida A&M |
MEAC |
|
| Stephen |
Stokes |
DB |
North Carolina Central |
MEAC |
|
| Brett |
Sylve |
RB |
Kentucky State |
SIAC |
|
| Ta'Shaun |
Taylor |
LB |
Winston-Salem State |
CIAA |
|
| Jalon |
Thigpen |
DB |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
SWAC |
|
| Jaylun |
Thomas |
DL |
Miles |
SIAC |
|
| Montavious |
Tinch |
TE |
Miles |
SIAC |
|
| Isaiah |
Totten |
RB |
North Carolina Central |
MEAC |
|
| Kolby |
Watts |
LB |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
SWAC |
|
| Josh |
Wilkes |
WR |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
SWAC |
|
| Joshua |
Williams |
DB |
Fayetteville State |
CIAA |
|
