by Donal Ware
boxtorow.com
5. Justin Hardy, Miles, Running Back, 5-8, 185, Jr., Homewood, Ala. Hardy sort of burst onto the scene in 2017. Sort of because he was part of Miles’ SIAC championship team in 2015, but in 2016 was academically ineligible. Even though last year was a struggle for the Golden Bears, Hardy was the bright spot. He carried the ball 179 times for 1,197 yards, averaged 6.7 yards per carry and rushed for 12 touchdowns on his was to being named SIAC Offensive Player of the Year. He rushed for at least 100 yards in six of his 10 games, including 111 yards at Alcorn State to open the season and 210 yards (and three touchdowns) at Central State (10/7/17).
4. De’Arius Christmas, Grambling State, Linebacker, 5-10, 220, Sr., Vicksburg, Miss. Christmas is as smart in the classroom as he is on the field. He carries a 4.0 GPA in industrial engineering. On the field, he engineered the Tigers solid defense to the tune of 88 tackles (48 solo), 17.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2017. And the Tigers are so stout up front that Christmas could have well over 100 tackles this year.
3. Lamar Raynard, North Carolina A&T, Quarterback, 6-4, 195, r-Sr., High Point, N.C. Raynard is undefeated as an Aggie starter (26-0) going back to his redshirt freshman season in 2015. He throws one of the best deep balls in FCS. He was named MEAC Offensive Player of the Year last year and led the MEAC in passing yards (2,932), completion percentage (63.7), passing touchdowns (27) and pass efficiency (161.7). He is on pace to break most of A&T’s passing records.
2. Amir Hall, Bowie State, Quarterback, 6-4, 180, Sr., Bowie, Md. It’s hard to believe that Hall could do any more than he did in 2017, but that is exactly what BSU head coach Damon Wilson expects from him in 2018. The numbers spoke for themselves: 41 touchdown passes to just four interceptions; completed 65 percent of his passes; threw for 3,519 yards; he also rushed for 406 yards and eight touchdowns. He was named BOXTOROW Offensive Player of the Year and won the Deacon Jones Award given by the Black College Football Hall of Fame as the best player in HBCU Football.
1. Caylin Newton, Howard, Quarterback, 5-11, 195, Soph., Atlanta, Ga. Coming into his freshman season last year, Newton was looked at as Cam Newton’s younger brother. But after his performance against UNLV in his first collegiate game as the Bison upset the Rebels 43-40, he put the college football world on notice that he was going to make his own name. In that game, he amassed 330 yards of total offense (140 throwing, 190 rushing) and three touchdowns (one throwing, two rushing). He had a good freshman campaign, completing 51 percent of his passes for 2,432 yards (second in MEAC) with 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions and rushed for 753 yards, averaged 4.5 yards per carry and 12 touchdowns. His 289.5 yards of total yards per game led the MEAC. Anxious to see what he does this season with a year under his belt.
