Aeneas Williams Award Watch List
The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) has released the 5th Annual Aeneas Williams Award Preseason Watch List.
This list includes sixteen of the nation’s best defensive backs in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Division I college football. The preseason watch list is selected by a screening committee in partnership with DraftHBCUPlayers and the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.
Delivering one of the nation’s most dominant defensive performances last season, South Carolina State defensive back Jarod Washington was named the 2025 Aeneas Williams Award winner. The Fredericksburg, Virginia, native became the only FCS player with six passes defended in a game in 2025, a feat he accomplished twice.
This list is not final, and players who have outstanding seasons may be added to the semifinalists and finalists lists as the season progresses.
026 AENEAS WILLIAMS AWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST
| Player | School, Pos., Class |
|---|---|
| Nasir Bashir | Norfolk State, CB, Gr. |
| Herman Brister III | Southern, S, Jr. |
| KJ Chisholm Jr. | Jackson State, CB, Jr. |
| Wayne Favors III | Delaware State, CB, Sr. |
| Kedrick Green | Howard, S, Gr. |
| Stephon Hall | Norfolk State, S, Gr. |
| Keon Handley Jr. | Alabama A&M, S, Gr. |
| Tayvion Haney | Alcorn State, CB, Sr. |
| Kwantre’ Harry | South Carolina State, CB, Sr. |
| Aki Harvey | Morgan State, CB, Sr. |
| Naim Lassiter | Bethune-Cookman, CB, Jr. |
| Jakarri Martin II | N. Carolina Central, CB, Jr. |
| Sharmari Reed | South Carolina State, CB, Gr. |
| Kam Sallis | Jackson State, S, Sr. |
| Ta’Shaun Sims | Alabama State, S, Jr. |
| Eric Zachery | Prairie View A&M, CB, Jr. |
NFL Numbers Reach 30 With Hunter’s Addition
Add the name of former Morgan State linebacker Erick Hunter to the list of former black college players on NFL opening day rosters when the league begins play Wednesday.
Hunter, the former MEAC defensive standout for the Bears, was an undrafted free agent in the Detroit Lions camp who was released last Sunday. A day later the New England Patriots picked him up and added him to their 53-man active roster.
His addition brings the number of black college players on NFL rosters to 30. Prior to his addition, the number was at 29, the lowest number in the 33 years of the BCSP’s publication and the first time those numbers had dipped below 30.
Hunter will get a chance to see action right away as the Patriots and Seattle Seahawks open the season Wednesday at 8:20 p.m. on NBC in a rematch of last year’s Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, Ca. Seattle prevailed in that match up, 29-13.
