HBCU football programs concluded a record-breaking year with some of the best played games in history during the 2021 season. HBCU – Pro Sports Media Association (HBCU-PSM) voted the major individual awards as chosen by its members in our first edition football player of the year awards for HBCU Major football programs consisting of NCAA Division I SWAC, MEAC, Big South, and Ohio Valley HBCU conference members and the Mid-Major small schools made up of HBCU NCAA Division II members from the CIAA, SIAC and other Division II HBCU schools, as well as those in the NAIA.
For the majors, Alabama A&M University saw quarterback Ageel Glass as the Offensive Player of the Year, while Florida A&M University linebacker Isaiah Land was the choice as HBCU-Pro Sports Media Association Defensive Player of the Year. Jackson State University coach Deion Sanders was the unanimous choice as Coach of the Year in his second season for the Tigers.
Jackson State’s Isaiah Bolden was chosen as the Special Team Player of the Year, quarterback Shedeur Sanders was the unanimous choice as Freshmen of the Year, and Defensive Lineman James Houston selected as the Most Outstanding Player.
In addition to the individual awards, Jackson State occupied a combined 4 of the 6 spots on the HBCU-PSM national football award winners. The Tigers 4 selections are the most of any team for the national awards.
For the mid-majors, Kentucky State University running back Brett Sylve was voted as the Offensive Player of the Year, while Albany State University linebacker Stephan Pierre was chosen as Defensive Player of the Year. Bowie State University coach Damon Wilson was the mid-major choice as Coach of the Year.
Albany State University kicker Gabriel Ballinas was voted as the Special Team Player of the Year, Virginia Union University running back Jada Byers Freshmen of the Year, and Bowie State University running back Calil Wilkins voted as the Most Outstanding Player of the Year.
Albany State and Bowie State saw 2 of the 6, each, selected in the Mid-Majors receive HBCU-PSM national football award winners.
2021 HBCU-PRO SPORTS MEDIA ASSOCIATION MAJOR DIVISION FOOTBALL AWARDS:
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Alabama A&M QB, Ageel Glass dominated the HBCU football 2021 landscape with 3,568 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and 356.8 yards per game and 160.8 passing efficiency over the 10 games he played in. Glass currently ranks in the Top-10 nationally of nine different NCAA statistical categories.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Florida A&M LB, Isaiah Land is considered as one of the top defensive players in the nation and one of 25 NCAA Division I players named a Buck Buchanan Award Finalist. Land led the nation with 25.5 tackles for loss and 19 sacks. Land has added three forced fumbles, two pass breakups, and one fumble recovery. Land recorded a sack or tackles for loss in ten of the 11 games this season and recorded two or more sacks in five games and for tackles for loss in six games.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Jackson State Deion Sanders was named as the HBCU-Pro Sports Media Coach of the Year. Under Sanders his squad is 11-1, the Tigers are a combined 15-4 in the last two seasons, including 9-0 this season against SWAC conference opponents have won 14 consecutive regular-season conference games and 26 consecutive home games. Tigers defense rank as the SWAC’s best.
SPEACIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jackson State Return Specialist Isaiah Bolden as the primary kickoff returner finished the season with 500 kickoff return yards on 15 attempts for an average of 33.33 yards per return. Bolden had a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown during the season.
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Jackson State QB, Shedeur Sanders, all he did was led the SWAC with a 68.7 completion percentage while passing for 2,971 yards (2nd in SWAC), 28 touchdowns (2nd in SWAC) and only five interceptions. He averaged 270.1 passing yards per game while leading the Tigers to an 8-0 conference record and their first SWAC Championship since 2013.
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jackson State DL, James Houston dominant all of HBCU football on the defensive line. During the regular season he totaled 59 tackles (44 solo) and 20.5 tackles for loss for minus 125 yards. Houston also contributed 14.5 sacks for 102 loss yards, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one defensive touchdown, and eight QB hurries. His play on the field helped the Tigers to the top-ranked defense at the end of the 2021 regular season.
2021 HBCU-PRO SPORTS MEDIA ASSOCIATION MID-MAJOR DIVISION FOOTBALL AWARDS:
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kentucky State RB, Brett Sylve averaging 141.18 all-purpose yards per game ranking him 17th in NCAA Division II football. He led the SIAC conference in scoring averaging 7.2 yards per game on 17 rushing touchdowns, tied for 5th in DII.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Albany State LB, Albany State’s Stephan Pierre lead the SIAC in individual tackles (56 solo tackles). His play on the field helps the Golden Rams to an undefeated conference record and a conference championship this season. The defense allowing just 197.6 yards per game and led the league in rush defense and pass defense Pierre ability to stop the run, who allowed just 89.8 yards per game.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Bowie State head coach Damon Wilson led the Bulldogs to 12 wins this season going undefeated against CIAA conference opponents (7-0). The team was nationally ranked and made school history by reaching the Super Region of the NCAA DII Quarterfinals.
SPEACIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Albany State Kicker, Gabriel Ballinas considered the most consistent kicker in all of HBCU football this season. In one game Ballinas made four field goals.
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Virginia Union University RB, Jada Byers, the freshman led CIAA rookie running backs with 910 rushing yards, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. He led the conference with 12 rushing touchdowns, which currently ranks in the top 15 nationally in NCAA Division II football.
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Bowie State Running back Calil Wilkins rushed for more than 1,322 yards which led the CIAA with nine touchdowns while catching 12 balls for 141 receiving yards and a score during the 2021 season.
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