As the 2025 football season kicks off for historically Black colleges and universities, teams will be taking the field in pursuit of rivalry wins, conference titles and Cricket Celebration Bowl berths.

From talented edge rushers to dual-threat quarterbacks, here are several players to look out for this football season. 

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) 

Erick Hunter, Morgan State 

Erick Hunter was one of the top linebackers in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in 2023, ranking No. 2 in the conference in total tackles (75) and recording 9.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions. Though he missed most of his senior season in 2024 with an injury, Hunter had seven tackles and a sack in Morgan State’s season-finale win over Howard.

Hunter was named to the preseason watch list for the 2025 Buck Buchanan Award, which is given each year to the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). He also was selected as the preseason MEAC Defensive Player of the Year. With the graduation of defensive lineman Elijah Williams, Morgan’s all-time leader in sacks and tackles for loss, the Bears have high hopes that Hunter will return to his 2023 dominance.

Morgan State will kick off its season on Aug. 30 against South Alabama.

Walker Harris, North Carolina Central 

Walker Harris enters the 2025 season as the most experienced quarterback in the MEAC after spending six years learning the offense under North Carolina Central head coach Trei Oliver.

In 2024, Harris’ first full season as the team’s starter, he ranked No. 2 in the MEAC in passing yards (1,882), passing touchdowns (18) and completion percentage (61.2%). He led the Eagles to an 8-3 overall record (4-1 in MEAC play) and helped Central become the No. 1 scoring offense in the conference. Harris, who was named to the 2025 preseason All-MEAC first team, is hoping to lead the program to its first Celebration Bowl appearance since 2022, when the Eagles won the championship.

North Carolina Central will begin its season on Saturday facing Southern in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge.

Billy Atkins Jr., South Carolina State 

South Carolina State quarterback Billy Atkins transferred in the offseason from James Madison. He made his first start since 2022 in December at the Boca Raton Bowl, throwing for 181 yards and a touchdown while leading James Madison to its first bowl win in program history.

South Carolina State will start its season on Aug. 30 against Wofford.

Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) 

JaCobian Morgan, Jackson State

Last season, Jackson State’s offense was spearheaded by Irv Mulligan, the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s top rusher. This year, graduate senior quarterback JaCobian Morgan, who was voted the preseason SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, will guide the Tigers’ Celebration Bowl title defense.

In 2024, Morgan took over starting quarterback duties, throwing for 2,236 yards and 21 touchdowns and rushing for an additional 321 yards and six touchdowns. With the return of running back Travis Terrell Jr. and the pickup of transfer wide receivers Shemar Savage (Prairie View A&M) and Nate Rembert (Mississippi Valley State), Morgan has strong offensive weapons to surpass his 2024 statistics.

Jackson State will kick off its season on Aug. 30 against Hampton in the HOPE Labor Day Classic.

Ckelby Givens, Southern

Southern defensive end Ckelby Givens established himself as one of the best defenders in the nation a season ago. The talented edge rusher led the FCS in tackles for loss (27.5) and tied for third in total sacks (12) while helping the Jaguars to a 7-1 conference record and a berth in the SWAC championship game. Givens, who anchored the No. 1 passing defense in the conference, earned SWAC co-Defensive Player of the Year honors. He was voted the 2025 SWAC preseason defensive player of the year.

Southern will begin its 2025 season on Saturday facing North Carolina Central in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge.

Desmond Daniels, Alabama State

Offensive tackle Desmond Daniels enters the season as a preseason All-SWAC first-team selection. In 2024, he earned All-SWAC second-team honors, surrendering only one sack and allowing eight pressures while playing 466 snaps. Daniels also earned a spot on the 2025 HBCU National Player of the Year Award watch list, highlighting his growing reputation as one of the top linemen at the FCS level.  

Alabama State will open its season on Aug. 28 against the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Jacorian Sewell, Alcorn State

Jacorian Sewell, a preseason All-SWAC first-team selection, is one of the top running backs returning to the SWAC this season. In 2024, he finished No. 3 in the conference in total rushing yards (807) and scored six touchdowns en route to earning All-SWAC second-team honors. In one of his best games last season, against eventual Celebration Bowl champion Jackson State, Sewell rushed for 122 yards, including an 82-yard touchdown, the longest rush of the season in the SWAC.

Alcorn State will start its season on Aug. 28 against Northwestern State.

Coastal Athletic Association (CAA)

Korion Sharpe, North Carolina A&T

Korion Sharpe, a 6-foot-4 right guard, is a four-year starter and staple for North Carolina A&T’s offensive line. Sharpe has played more than 1,600 snaps during his collegiate career, and in 2024 his return from an injury helped the Aggies rush for 1,349 yards. Sharpe earned Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) honorable mention honors last season, and conference coaches named him to the 2025 preseason All-CAA offensive team.

North Carolina A&T will begin its season on Aug. 30 against Tennessee State in the John Merritt Classic.

Will Hicks, Hampton 

Defensive back Will Hicks is Hampton’s top returning tackler from a season ago. As a redshirt freshman in 2024, he had 48 total tackles, three tackles for loss and an interception. During his best game last season, against Virginia Union, he registered eight tackles in the Pirates’ 33-21 victory. Hicks earned honorable mention honors on the 2025 preseason All-CAA awards list.

Hampton will begin its season on Aug. 30 against Jackson State. 

Cayla Sweazie and Calandrea Carter contributed to this report.