2023 HBCU LEGENDS FOOTBALL HONORS

The 2023 HBCU Legends Football Honors from across the SWAC, MEAC, CIAA, SIAC, and Independents.

HOUSTON — The 2023 HBCU football season was remarkable, bizarre, and hopeful for coaches, players, and fans nationwide. A Division I HBCU Football Champion out of the Southwestern Athletic Conference was finally crowned after years of falling to the MEAC.   

We present the HBCU Legends Football Honors of 2023.

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2023 HBCU LEGENDS FOOTBALL HONORS

QB Jeremy Moussa (Florida A&M) is our 2023 HBCU Football MVP across all divisions. The senior quarterback was the SWAC leader in passing, earning him the 2023 SWAC Offensive Player of the Year award.

2023 HBCU FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

• MVP:  Jeremy Moussa
• Offensive Player of the Year:  LaDarius Owens
• Defensive Player of the Year:  Isaiah Major
• Offensive Impact Players of the Year:  Marcus Riley (FAMU), Jah'  Shehead (FAMU), Davius Richard (NCCU), Terrell Jennings (FAMU), 
• Defensive Tenacious Impact Players of the Year:  Isaiah Major (FAMU), Kenneth Gallop Jr. (Howard), Sundiata Anderson (Grambling State), Rico Dozier (UAPB), Colton Adams (Alabama State), Gentle Hunt ( FAMU), Terrell Allen (Tennessee State), Malachi Bailey (Alcorn State), Jacob Williamson (Texas Southern), Ckelby Givens (Southern), Kendall Bohler (FAMU), Jayden Broughton (Benedict), Benari Black (Johnson C. Smith), Shamar Graham (VA Union), Willie Drew (VA State), William Davis (VA Union), Elijah Williams (Morgan State), Darrian Barber (Howard), Ja'Son Prevard (Morgan State), Terron Mallory (Norfolk State), Erick Hunter (Morgan State), Jayden Flaker (NCCU), Patrick Godbolt (S. Car. State), Qwahsin Townsel (Hampton), Lewis Mathews (Grambling State), and Aaron Smith (S. Car. State).
• Newcomers of the Year:  Jace Wilson (Texas Southern, Jawarn Howell (S. Car. State), KJ McNeil (VA State)
• Special Teamers of the Year:  Taymon Cooke (NC A&T), Cameron Gillis (FAMU), Trey Wilhoit (FAMU)
• Collegiate Scholars of the Year:  Benedict Tigers' defensive end, Loobert Denelus, and NCCU Eagles' quarterback, Davius Richard. (For the student athletes who excelled on the battlefield and in the classroom) 

RB LaDarius Owens (Texas Southern) is our 2023 HBCU Football Offensive Player of the Year after leading all HBCU football rushers with 202 carries for 1,369 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. The Manvel, Texas native was 6th in the FCS in rushing - at one point in the season, he was 2nd in the nation.

2023 FOOTBALL COACHES OF THE YEAR

• HBCU Division I COTY: Willie Simmons
• HBCU Division II COTY: Chennis Berry
• HBCU Rising Stars of Coaching:  Dr. Alvin Parker, Dr. Henry Frazier, Bubba McDowell, Eddie George, T.C. Taylor, Aaron James, Richard Hayes Jr. (Fayetteville State)

HBCU Division I Coach of the Year

Florida A&M's head coach, Willie Simmons, took his Rattlers into the Mercedes-Benz Stadium and fought off a pesky Howard Bison team to hoist the 2023 Celebration Bowl Trophy. Simmons punctuated the FAMU run with a 2023 Division I HBCU Coach of the Year honors from several media outlets. 

Today, he's mulling an offer to join Duke University's football staff as a running backs coach. Although he'll receive an increase in pay, better structure, and a chance to advance within the Division I circle, will the King of Tallahassee move for a position coach's role?

South Carolina State head coach Chennis Berry and former legendary head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough; Credit: SCS Athletics / South Carolina State head coach Chennis Berry and former legendary head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough; Credit: SCS Athletics

HBCU Division II Coach of the Year

In Columbia, South Carolina, Benedict's head coach Chennis Berry repeated with an undefeated regular season, SIAC Championship, and Division II HBCU Football Championship title.

Berry accepted an offer from South Carolina State to succeed the legendary Oliver "Buddy" Pough and take over the Bulldogs football program in Orangeburg, SC.

Dec. 16, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Florida A&M Head Coach Willie Simmons kneels on the ground after the Cricket Celebration Bowl game between Florida A&M University and Howard University at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. FAMU defeated Howard 30-26. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Network

HBCU Football Moments of the Year

• Florida A&M Winning The Celebration Bowl and HBCU National Championship
• Benedict's 2nd-Straight Undefeated Season
• Howard Defeating North Carolina Central, Winning The MEAC
• Buddy Pough's Retirement and Chennis Berry's Entrance At South Carolina State
• Terrence Graves Wins Again As Interim Head Coach At A Bayou Classic; Lands The Head Coach Position
• Texas Southern Squandering a 31-7 Lead To Arkansas-Pine Bluff
• Willie Simmons deciding to accept the Duke position or remain at Florida A&M

Florida A&M Crowned HBCU Football National Champions, Defeating Howard in 2023 Celebration Bowl