For the last seven preseasons, the top five players to watch have been ranked.   Here are the top five players through the halfway point of the season.

1. Tarik Cohen, North Carolina A&T, Running Back (5-6, 173, Sr., Bunn, N.C.)
Is there any doubt that Cohen is No. 1 at the midway point? He became the MEAC’s all-time leading rusher in the Aggies 35-0 victory over Norfolk State last week and did it while running for a 62-yard touchdown.  He followed up his 256-yard, three-touchdown rushing performance against Hampton two weeks ago with 200 yards and a touchdown against NSU.  He has rushed for 670 yards (134 yards per game) and seven touchdowns on the season, while averaging an amazing 7.9 yards per carry and is well on his way to rushing for 5,000 yards in his career; he sits at 4,501 yards right now.  To boot, his is also the Aggies leading receiver with 17 receptions for 152 yards.

2.  Brandon Duncan, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Quarterback (6-3, 215, r-Soph, Roosevelt, N.Y.)
Despite UAPB having a 1-4 record, Duncan has been very good.  He leads the SWAC in passing yards (1,474) and is eighth in FCS in passing yards per game (294.8).  He is doing all of this while completing 64.2 percent of his passes and has an 8-to-1 touchdown to interception ratio.  Duncan was named BOXTOROW National Player of the Week earlier in the season after completing 29-of-52 passes for 505 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in UAPB’s 45-43 three-overtime victory over Alcorn State.

3.  Kevin Lacey, Tuskegee, Quarterback (6-6, 175, r-Sr., Wetumpka, Ala.)
Lacey has been nothing short of spectacular for the Golden Tigers and is the main reason they are off to the 6-0 start.  After a par three seasons for the Golden Tigers, Lacey has broken out so far this year.  After completing just 43 percent of his passes last year, Lacey is completing 62 percent of his passes for 1,336 yards, 13 touchdowns and just three interceptions.  His touchdown to interception ratio all of last season was 14-to-13.  Lacey is averaging 222.7 yards passing per game.

4.  Amir Hall, Bowie State, Quarterback (6-4, 180, Soph., Bowie, Md.)
Through six games, Hall is putting up HUGE numbers and the Bulldogs are winning. He leads all HBCU quarterbacks in passing yards and is fifth in Division II (2,031).  He has thrown for 400 or more yards in a game three times this season.  Hall saw no action last year and has stepped into the starting role and has led the Bulldogs to a 4-2 overall record and 3-0 in the CIAA.  While his favorite receiver is Nyme Manns (44 receptions, 646 yards, 14.7 yards per reception, five touchdowns),  who was on our preseason list of top five players to watch, he has completed at least 10 passes to seven different receivers.  He’s completing 61 percent of his passes and is responsible for 19 touchdowns (15 throwing, four rushing).

T-5. Carlo Thomas, Johnson C. Smith, Strong Safety (6-2, 185, Jr., East Orange, N.J.)
Thomas was a BOXTOROW All-American last year after recording 12 interceptions.  He has five so far this season in five games, one of which he returned for a touchdown and also has three pass breakups.  He has become more of a complete safety and has 50 tackles (33 solo) and three tackles for loss.  He has already been named CIAA Defensive Back of the Week twice this year.

T-5. William Stanback, Virginia Union, Running Back (6-2, 230, Sr., Hempstead, N.Y.)
A former star at UCF, Stanback has rushed for 817 yards in six games for the Panthers and leads the CIAA in rushing and is seventh in Division II (136.2).  He has also rushed for 10 touchdowns.  Stanback has rushed for 100 or more yards in all but one game where he rushed for 94 yards against Newberry.  Hakeem Holland who rushed for 1,040 yards last year was supposed to be the man, but went down with a separated shoulder against Winston-Salem State and Stanback has stepped up.