football
MSU Athletics Communication
BALTIMORE, Md. (August 14, 2024) — The Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) has released its list of candidates for 2024 Player of the Year, and Morgan State University is well represented with three Bears on the prestigious list. The announcement was made Tuesday, recognizing the top candidates for the BCFHOF Player of the Year award.
The prestigious award is given annually to the most outstanding football player at a Historically Black College & University (HBCU).
“The Black College Football Player of the Year award highlights the incredible talent and dedication of today’s HBCU football players,” said Doug Williams, MVP of Super Bowl XXII, co-founder of the BCFHOF and 2011 inductee. “These student-athletes represent the very best of HBCU football.”
Experienced offensive player Treyvon Branch (White Plains, Md.), senior linebacker Erick Hunter (Capitol Heights, Maryland) and senior defensive lineman Elijah Williams (Jersey City, NJ) are among the recipients.
Branch was named to the Preseason All-MEAC First Team, the conference office announced. The 6-foot-3, 295-pound senior was selected to the All-MEAC Second Team last season and played a key role on the Bears’ offensive line. His consistent blocking paved the way for Morgan State’s high-powered offense, which ranked among the best in the conference in several categories.
This season, Branch is expected to be a veteran leader in the trenches for the Bears. His experience and physical strength will add power to the Bears offense.
Hunter led the MEAC with 75 tackles and ranked 6th in tackles for loss (9.5). In addition to his outstanding tackling skills, Hunter also showed off his versatility and playmaking ability. He recorded 7 quarterback hurries, 3.0 sacks (No. 11), two forced fumbles, two interceptions and a pass breakup. Hunter is ready to continue his impressive run and lead Morgan to even greater success in the 2024 season.
Williams, also a member of the Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team, was a standout defensive player in the trenches for the Bears in 2023. His contribution to the team’s success was undeniable and he rightfully earned his place on the First-Team All-MEAC as one of the conference’s most dominant edge rushers.
The New Jersey product recorded 50 total tackles, including 31 solo tackles, and his ability to break the line of scrimmage and disrupt plays was unmatched, as evidenced by his league-leading 11.0 tackles for loss.
Candidates for the watch list were selected based on their past performance and future potential. The list will be expanded throughout the 2024 season. The finalists and winner will be chosen by a selection committee.
After the season, the four finalists will be announced and the winner will receive the prestigious Deacon Jones Trophy.
“The Deacon Jones Trophy is considered the most prestigious and recognized award in HBCU football,” said James Harris, BCFHOF co-founder and 2012 inductee. “Deacon is still considered one of the game’s greatest players and is a legend in every way. To this day, he represents the very best of Black college football.”
The announcement will be made during halftime of the 2025 Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl. The bowl will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025, in New Orleans and will be broadcast live on the NFL Network.
Howard opens the 2024 season on Thursday (August 29) at Rutgers, live on the Big Ten Network. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. at SHI Stadium.
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com, the HBCU Legacy Bowl website at www.HBCULegacyBowl.com and/or the Black College Football Hall of Fame website at www.BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org.
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ABOUT MORGAN
Founded in 1867, Morgan State University is a Carnegie University-classified High Research (R2) Institution that offers more than 126 academic programs leading to degrees from bachelor’s to doctoral. As Maryland’s Outstanding public university for urban researchand the only university whose entire campus declared a national treasure Founded by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan State University serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body with the goal of opening the doors to higher education as widely as possible to as many people as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
