The college football season is right around the corner, and six players from Jackson State are expected to be in the running for the 2025 Black College Football Player of the Year Award.
The Black College Football Hall of Fame announced Tuesday the preseason watch list, composed of 50 players from HBCUs across the country. Representing the Tigers are quarterback Jacobian Morgan, offensive lineman D’Andre Townes-Blue, tight end Marvin Landry, and wide receivers Joanes Fortilien, Nate Rembert, and Shemar Savage.
Morgan’s inclusion is a natural one, considering he led the Tiger offense on a national championship-winning team a season ago. In 2024, he tossed for 2,236 yards with 21 touchdowns compared to eight interceptions. He added 336 yards and six touchdowns with his legs.
Heading into 2025, Morgan’s weaponry may be the best he’s ever had with Landry, Fortilien, Rembert, and Savage. Landry and Fortilien, who were with Jackson State last season, combined for 662 yards and 14 touchdowns. Rembert joins the Tigers after a 1,000-yard season at Mississippi Valley State, while Savage had 465 yards for Prairie View A&M in 2024.
Townes-Blue is once again expected to be the leader of the Jackson State offensive line. Last season, he rotated between center and guard but still managed to be named an All-American by BOXTOROW.
Four finalists for the Black College Football Player of the Year Award will be named after the regular season’s end. Then, on Feb. 21, the winner will be presented with the trophy named after Decon Jones during halftime of the HBCU Legacy Bowl in New Orleans. Jones was a defensive end at South Carolina State and Mississippi Valley State from 1958-60 before becoming an All-NFL player and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee.
“The Black College Football Player of the Year Award honors the talent, dedication, and spirit of today’s HBCU football players,” Black College Football Hall of Fame co-founder Doug Williams said. “These young men uphold a proud legacy and inspire future generations to dream bigger and to always aspire for greatness.”
The last Jackson State player to win the award was now-Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders in 2022.
The only other Mississippi HBCU to have a player featured on the watch list is Alcorn State with running back Jacorian Sewell. He rushed for 801 yards and six touchdowns in 2024.
