TOP RUSHERS IN AND OUT OF PORTAL:
The Delaware State tandem that accounted for 179.4 yards of the Hornets’ FCS leading 291.4 rushing yards per game, has transferred along with the SWAC’s rushing leader.
• Marquis Gillis, Sr., RB, Delaware State – Gillis (6-0, 210), whose 1,150 rushing yards (12 games, 187 carries) led the MEAC in 2025, was 13th in the FCS and fourth among black college players, has decided to transfer to Arizona State.
Gillis’s 99.8 rush yards per game was fourth in the black college ranks, 11th in the FCS and his 6.3 yards per carry was eighth in the FCS, fifth among black college rushers and third in the MEAC. He posted seven 100-yard games and saved his best for last with a season-high 159 rushing yards in a MEAC season-ending showdown loss to South Carolina State. His eight rushing TDs tied for third in the MEAC.
Arizona State finished 8-5 overall in 2025, tied for third in the Big 12 at 6-3. The Sun Devils lost to Duke 42-39 in the Dec. 31 Sun Bowl.
• James Jones, Jr., RB, Delaware State – Jones (6-2, 205), whose 9.8 yards per carry topped the MEAC and was best in the FCS, announced last Tuesday that he was transferring to New Mexico State.
Jones finished the 2025 season with 958 rushing yards, third in the MEAC, on just 98 carries. He posted six 100-yard rushing outings with a high of 158 yards against Southern Connecticut State. Jones also tied Howard sophomore RB Anthony Reagan Jr. for the MEAC lead with nine rushing touchdowns. He averaged 79.8 yards per game and scored on two 90-yard runs and runs of 76, 68, 61 and 54 yards.
New Mexico State was 4-8 overall this season, 2-6 in Conference USA.
• Ahmad Miller, R-So., RB, Jackson State – Miller (6-0, 207), who led the Southwestern Athletic Conference in rushing this past season, announced that he is transferring to Syracuse of the ACC.
Miller ran for a league-best 1,054 rushing yards, 19th in the FCS, 87.8 rushing yards per game (21st in the FCS) with six rushing TDs. He finished behind Alabama State quarterback Andrew Body’s 88.3 rushing yards per game in the SWAC but was the only conference runner to top 1,000 yards. He had five 100-yard rushing games with a best of 180 vs. Hampton to open the season. He averaged 6.4 yards per carry, 12th-best in the FCS and fourth-best in the SWAC.
He joins a Syracuse squad that finished 3-9 overall, 1-9 in the ACC.
