UNDER THE BANNER

What’s Going On in and Around Black College Sports

Black College FCS to FBS Defections:

The Black College Sports Page takes a look this week at the players you will not see on the SWAC, MEAC, Tennessee State, Hampton and North Carolina A&T rostrums as the 2026 college preseason football Media Days kick off next week.

That’s because the black college players listed below in our STAT CORNER have moved on to the FBS ranks.

For the last few years, Sam Herder of Hero Sports has compiled a comprehensive list of the FCS to FBS transfers. This year, his list (https://herosports.com/2026-fcs-to-fbs-transfers-bzbz/) includes over 435 2025 FCS players who have made the jump to FBS programs for 2026.

Herder’s list from 2025 included 73 players leaving the black college FCS ranks to move to the FBS out of a total of more than 500.

Our list below, taken from Herder’s 2026 compilation, includes 46 who left the black college FCS ranks to move up to the more competitive and lucrative FBS. Fifteen (15) who were all-conference performers.

The list includes all-SWAC first teamers in wide receivers Jyziah Rockwell of Prairie View A&M who transferred to Western Kentucky and Jalen Jones of Alabama State who has taken up residence at Texas Tech, running back Ahmad Miller of Jackson State who has taken his talents to Syracuse and offensive lineman Brian Williams Jr. of Jackson State who will play this year at UTEP.

Rockwell (74 receptions, 1,161 yards, 9 TDs, 82.9 ypg.) and Jones (51 rec., 1,167 yards, 8 TDs, 97.3 ypg.) were the top two receivers, and the only pass catchers to top 1,000 receiving yards in 2025 SWAC football. Miller was the only running back to top 1,000 yards with 1,064 yards and six TDs at JSU.

Also on the list of those moving on are a pair of prolific receivers from a year ago at Bethune-Cookman – Maleek Huggins (64 rec., 864 yds., 8 TDs, 72.0 ypg.) and Javon Ross (52 rec., 685 yds., 4 TDs,, 57.1 ypg.). That means four of the SWAC’s top five receivers are not returning this season. Ross, who was also first team all-SWAC as a kick returner, has moved on to Tulsa, while Huggins, an all-SWAC second teamer, is now at Miami (OH).

All-SWAC second team linebacker Isaiah Bogerty of Texas Southern is also now at UTEP.

Leading the MEAC defections were four first-team all-conference selections from Delaware State including the top two running backs in the conference, Marquis Gillis and James Jones.

Gillis ran for 1,195 yards and 8 TDs for head coach DeSean Jackson’s Hornets last season while Jones piled up 958 yards and 9 TDs. Both Gillis and Jones are moving out West with Gillis playing at Arizona State and Jones at New Mexico State. First team offensive lineman Isaiah Cook, who helped clear the way for the two star running backs at DSU, has transferred to Rutgers. First-team linebacker Brian Bates Jr. is the fourth Hornet to leave, moving to Sam Houston State.

All-MEAC second team offensive linemen JaQuan Sprinkle and Donquarious Parker of N. C. Central and Chevy Trask Jr. of South Carolina State have moved. Sprinkle will play at LSU, Parker is at Arkansas State and Trask has joined Northern Illinois of the Mountain West. Morgan State defensive back Hiroshi Carr was also a all-MEAC second teamer and will play this season at Southern Miss.

HBCU Div. II to FBS Defections:

There are 14 black college players who stood out at the NCAA Div. II level last season who will be playing at FBS programs in 2026.

College Football Everyday (http://www.cfbeveryday.com/division-ii-and-iii-players-moving-to-fbs) has compiled this list.

At the top is Livingstone defensive end Kenyon Garner, last season’s CIAA Defensive Player of the Year. Garner (6-4, 230) led all of Division II in sacks (15.0, 1.5 per game) while also leading the nation in tackles for loss (28.0, 2.8 pg.). He will play this season at Florida Atlantic.

Bowie State defensive back Elijah McKinney led the CIAA and was second in the nation in passes defended (17, 1.7 pg.) in 2025. The all-CIAA first teamer will play this season at Liberty.

Also heading to FBS programs are Allen edge rusher Amarie Fleming (14.5, 1.32 pg.) and Savannah State’s edge Xavier Esquillen (11.5, 1.15 pg.), all-SIAC first teamers who were third and fourth in Div. II sacks a year ago. Fleming (6-2, 230) has moved to Texas Tech while Esquillen (6-2, 250) will play at Georgia State.

Another edge rusher with some gaudy stats is Mathias Smith-Davis of Central State who had 10 sacks, 48 tackles and 14.5 tackles for loss as a redshirt freshman. He is moving on to Northern Illinois.

Six-four, 270-pound Morehouse tight end Mauric Veney was an all-SIAC selection who hauled in 32 passes for 381 yards and 3 touchdowns a year ago. Veney has transferred to Vanderbilt.

Virginia Union offensive lineman Joseph Rounds, a second-team all-CIAA selection is now at Marshall.

HBCU Div. II to FBS Transfers

NEXT WEEK: The BCSP will preview the over 100 new faces entering the black college FCS ranks from the FBS and those coming from other locations.