5. Jimmie Robinson, Bethune-Cookman, All-Purpose, Sr., Palm Coast, Fla.
Slash. Robinson is a player who can do a lot of things. He racked up 1,512 all-purpose yards in four different ways. He led the Wildcats in rushing (459 yards on just 46 carries) and had 285 yards receiving on 20 receptions. He led the MEAC with 730 kick return yards, good for 33.2 yards per return and three touchdowns. He also returned punts. In total, he scored 11 touchdowns last year, third in the MEAC. Look for Robinson to be more of an integral part of the Wildcat offense in 2019.

 

 

4. Jequez Ezzard, Howard, Wide Receiver, Sr., Union City, Ga.
May be the biggest deep threat in the country. Only caught 40 passes, but amassed 1,064 yards. That’s an average of 26.6 yards per reception which led FCS by far. He also had 12 touchdowns. Ezzard had two 200-yard receiving games, including eight receptions for 221 yards and a touchdown against Ohio. Ezzard also had back-to-back three-touchdown receiving games against North Carolina Central and Delaware State where he combined for 12 receptions for 365 yards. For his career he has caught 76 passes for 1,986 yards, and 18 touchdowns.

 

 

3. Taeyler Porter, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Running Back, 5-10, 185, Sr., Immokalee, Fla.
When Porter came to Arkansas Pine Bluff from ASA Miami Junior College, he was unknown. Yet throughout the course of a trying 2018 season for the Golden Lions, he continued to improve and took the SWAC by storm. Porter led the conference in rushes (226) and rushing yards (1,220), averaged 5.4 yards per carry and rushed for nine touchdowns. He rushed for 100 or more yards in seven games and had a breakout performance against Grambling, carrying the ball 28 times for 226 yards and three touchdowns. The Golden Lions have the potential for a big time aerial attack, which could open up even more rushing opportunities for Porter in 2019.

 

 

T-2. Noah Johnson, Alcorn State, Quarterback r-Sr., Tampa, Fla./Caylin Newton, Howard, Quarterback, Jr., Atlanta, Ga.
It was such a tough call, I could not give it to one over the other. Johnson had a much higher completion percentage (62.1) than Newton (51.3). Johnson had more rushing yards (1,080) and rushing touchdowns (11) than Newton (504, 4). Newton averaged considerably more total offensive yards per game (313.3) than Johnson (252.8). Their touchdown to interception ratio was about even (Newton 21-17), Johnson (15-9) and while you could argue Johnson had the better overall offense, Newton had the better receivers. Newton was also able to put up solid numbers against FBS competition (532 yards of total offense, 50 percent completing, 4 TDs
against Ohio), compared to 72 yards of total offense by Johnson against Georgia Tech. Johnson was however huge in the post season, in the SWAC championship game against Southern and Celebration Bowl against A&T, totaling 530 yards of total offense and four touchdowns (all rushing).

 

1. De’Shawn Waller, Alcorn State, Running Back, Sr., Atlanta, Ga.
Alcorn State has become Running Back U. and Waller is the latest star. He was the BOXTOROW Impact Player of the Year award winner in 2018 and for good reason. Starting the 2018 season No. 3 on the depth chart, Waller led the SWAC in rushing touchdowns (12), finished second in the SWAC in rushing (1,215), and averaged 6.5 yards per carry. He closed the season rushing for over 100 yards in each of his last five games and seven of his last eight. He did major damage in postseason play, rushing for 177 yards on just 11 carries (16.1 yards per carry) and three touchdowns in the SWAC championship game victory over Southern. He got loose against the
vaunted North Carolina A&T run defense, rushing for 167 yards on 19 carries against the Aggies in the Celebration Bowl. All five starters return to the offensive line.