boxtorow.com

It’s only appropriate that the two top teams in the HBCU football coaches poll would have some of the best players in the country.

This is the case as Florida A&M and Jackson State combined for 10 selections on the 2021 BOXTOROW HBCU college football All-America team.

BOXTOROW has named All-America teams since 2007 based on voting by national media who cover HBCU football.

The Rattlers had six selections, led by linebacker Isaiah Land – the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year who is a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award which recognizes the best player in FCS – and Buchanan finalist, defensive back Markquese Bell. The Rattlers have the 10th ranked defense in FCS and Land was a huge part of that defense as he leads the nation in sacks (19) and tackles for loss (25.5).

Jackson State had four selections – three on its FCS second ranked defense – led by defensive linemen James Houston and Antwan Owens. The duo has combined for 38.5 tackles for loss and 20.5 sacks. Houston, who also leads the country in forced fumbles (7), received the second most amount of votes of any player.

Alabama A&M quarterback Aqeel Glass received the most votes and is one of six players to repeat as All-Americans from the spring season. Glass, the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, is fifth in FCS in passing yards (3,568), ranks sixth in FCS in touchdown passes (36) and threw for 400 or more yards in a game five times. Jackson State linebacker Aubrey Miller, Alabama A&M wide receiver Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, Southern offensive lineman Jonathan Bishop, Prairie View A&M defensive lineman Jason Dumas, and South Carolina State defensive back Decobie Durant were the other players to repeat as All-Americans from the spring.

In total, 14 programs are represented of the 28 selections. Bowie State and Alabama A&M had three selections each.

The BOXTOROW Superlative Awards will be announced on Wednesday. The awards include players of the year on offense and defense, specialist of the year, rookie of the year, coach of the year, and the impact player award.

2021 BOXTOROW HBCU college football All-America team

OFFENSE
QB: Aqeel Glass, Alabama A&M, Sr., St. Louis, Mo.
RB: Bishop Bonnett, Florida A&M, r-Sr., Jacksonville, Fla.
RB: Calil Wilkins, Bowie State, Sr., Temple Hills, Md.
OL: Keenan Forbes Florida A&M, Gr., Miami, Fla.
OL: Quindonte Bobo Bowie State, Jr., White Plains, Md. 
OL: Johnathan Bishop, Southern, Sr., Birmingham, Ala.
OL: Robert Lacey, Tennessee State, Jr., Mobile, Ala.
OL: Matthew Derks, Delaware State, Gr., Brantford, Ontario
TE: Kemari Averett, Bethune-Cookman, Sr., Atlanta, Ga.
WR: Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, Alabama A&M, Jr., Miramar, Fla.
WR: Odieu Hilaire, Alabama A&M, Jr., Belle Glade, Fla.

DEFENSE
DL: James Houston, Jackson State, Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
DL: Jason Dumas, Prairie View A&M, Sr., Vacherie, La.
DL: Antwan Owens, Jackson State, Sr., Tallahassee, Fla.
DL: Jonathan Ross, Bowie State, r-Soph., Waldorf, Md.
LB: Isaiah Land, Florida A&M, r-Jr., Buffalo, N.Y.
LB: Aubrey Miller, Jr., Jackson State, Sr., Memphis, Tenn.
LB: Payton Lunsford, West Virginia State, r-Jr., Hurricane, W. Va.
DB: Markquese Bell, Florida A&M, r-Sr., Bridgeton, N.J.
DB: Decobie Durant, South Carolina State, r-Sr., Lamar, S.C.
DB: BJ Bohler, Florida A&M, r-Jr., Ocoee, Fla.
DB: Drake Cheatum, Prairie View A&M, Sr., Mesquite, Texas *
DB: Joshua Williams, Fayetteville State, Sr., Fayetteville, N.C. *

SPECIALISTS
P: Matt Noll, Delaware State, Fr., Robesonia, Pa.
PK: Jose Romo-Martinez, Florida A&M, Gr., Banning, Calif.
PR: Brandon Codrington, North Carolina Central, Soph., Raleigh, N.C.
KR: Isaiah Bolden, Jackson State, Jr., Tampa, Fla.
RS: Imeek Watkins, Chowan, Sr., Wilmington, N.C.

Honorable Mention
QB: Juwan Carter, Norfolk State
RB: Brett Sylve, Kentucky State; Gary Quarles, Alabama A&M
OL: Colby Byrd, Norfolk State; Mark Evans, II, Arkansas-Pine Bluff; Miquail Harvey, Albany State; David Keck, Chowan; Jalen Powell, Norfolk State; Justin Redd, Norfolk State
TE: Anthony Williams, Norfolk State
WR: Trey Gross, Delaware State; Charles Hall, Virginia Union
DL: De’Shaan Dixon, Norfolk State; Jamal Holloway, Central State; Jeblonski Green, South Carolina State; Keyshawn James, Fayetteville State
LB: BJ Davis, South Carolina State; Chad Gilchrist, South Carolina State; Devon Hunt, Shaw; Untareo Johnson, Bethune-Cookman
DB: Omari Hill-Robinson, Bethune-Cookman; Brandon Barnes-Brown, Fayetteville State; Armani Maddox, Morehouse
P: Josh Sanchez, Arkansas-Pine Bluff; Jonatan Ward, Kentucky State
K: Adrian Olivo, North Carolina Central
RS: Imeek Watkins, Chowan

 

*Tie