FCS Football: Highest-Graded HBCU Players In 2023
We utilized the Pro Football Focus database and grading system to look at the top HBCU players from across FCS football in the 2023 season.
Each player's PFF Grade represents their overall offensive or defensive grade for the 2023 season, including postseason performances. Only players who played 20% of the minimum number of snaps at each position were included in the rankings below.
*Note: These rankings are based on the PFF grading system and do not represent FCS Football Central's positional rankings for the season.
Quarterback:
1. Davius Richard (North Carolina Central; 90.5 PFF Grade)
2. Quinton Williams (Howard; 83.7 PFF Grade)
3. Aaron Allen (Alcorn State; 83.3 PFF Grade)
4. Jeremy Moussa (Florida A&M; 80.5 PFF Grade)
5. Myles Crawley (Grambling State; 78.7 PFF Grade)
Running Back:
1. Elijah Burris (Hampton; 84.7 PFF Grade)
2. Jawarn Howell (South Carolina State; 81.8 PFF Grade)
3. Johness Davis (Arkansas Pine-Bluff; 81.2 PFF Grade)
4. Chance Williams (Grambling State; 80.9 PFF Grade)
5. Floyd Chalk (Grambling State; 79.8 PFF Grade)
Wide Receiver:
1. Kasey Hawthorne (Howard; 76.7 PFF Grade)
2. Marcus Riley (Florida A&M; 76.6 PFF Grade)
3. Shemar Savage (Prairie View A&M; 76.2 PFF Grade)
4. Jordan Smith (South Carolina State; 75.5 PFF Grade)
5. Romon Copeland (Hampton; 74.8 PFF Grade)
Tight End:
1. EJ Core (Delaware State; 73.9 PFF Grade)
2. Tavarious Griffin (Alcorn State; 73.8 PFF Grade)
T-3. Kamari Young (Florida A&M; 65.6 PFF Grade)
T-3. KeShawn Toney (South Carolina State; 65.6 PFF Grade)
5. Jeremiah Pruitte (Florida A&M; 63.6 PFF Grade)
Offensive Tackle:
1. Da'Metrius Weatherspoon (Howard; 77.4 PFF Grade)
2. Malcolm Jefferies (Delaware State; 75.9 PFF Grade)
3. Carson Vinson (Alabama A&M; 73.6 PFF Grade)
4. Tairiq Stewart (North Carolina A&T; 72.4 PFF Grade)
5. John Mitchell (Southern; 71.3 PFF Grade)
Offensive Guard:
1. Nick Taiste (South Carolina State; 81.1 PFF Grade)
2. Evan Gregory (Norfolk State; 69.9 PFF Grade)
3. Kirk Ford (Jackson State; 69.4 PFF Grade)
4. Traveon Newsome (Southern; 67.4 PFF Grade)
5. Robert Alston (Alabama State; 66.7 PFF Grade)
Center:
T-1. DeShawn Ingram (Howard; 73.1 PFF Grade)
T-1. Jack Nance (Texas Southern; 73.1 PFF Grade)
3. Torricelli Simpkins III (North Carolina Central; 72.1 PFF Grade)
4. Deonta Reed (Alcorn State; 71.6 PFF Grade)
5. Jawaun Singletary (Grambling State; 71.1 PFF Grade)
Defensive Tackle:
1. James Ash (Florida A&M; 81.4 PFF Grade)
2. Quantez Mansfield (North Carolina Central; 80.9 PFF Grade)
3. Jaden Taylor (North Carolina Central; 80.5 PFF Grade)
4. Elinus Noel III (Texas Southern; 79.0 PFF Grade)
5. Gentle Hunt (Florida A&M; 78.8 PFF Grade)
Defensive End/EDGE:
1. Ckelby Givens (Southern; 90.3 PFF Grade)
2. Terrell Allen (Tennessee State; 86.8 PFF Grade)
3. Elijah Williams (Morgan State; 84.6 PFF Grade)
4. Anthony Dunn Jr. (Florida A&M; 83.7 PFF Grade)
5. Sundiata Anderson (Grambling State; 81.7 PFF Grade)
Linebacker:
1. Erick Hunter (Morgan State; 87.6 PFF Grade)
2. Qwahsin Townsel (Hampton; 86.0 PFF Grade)
3. Colton Adams (Alabama State; 85.0 PFF Grade)
T-4. Jacob Williams (Texas Southern; 84.8 PFF Grade)
T-4. Terreance Ellis (Alcorn State; 84.8 PFF Grade)
Cornerback:
1. Robert McDaniel (Alcorn State; 86.8 PFF Grade)
2. Mikey Victor (Alabama State; 84.9 PFF Grade)
3. Jason Chambers (North Carolina Central; 81.3 PFF Grade)
4. Carson Hinton (Howard; 80.9 PFF Grade)
5. Janaz Sumpter (North Carolina A&T; 80.6 PFF Grade)
Safety:
1. Omar Emmons (Mississippi Valley State; 91.2 PFF Grade)
2. Deco Wilson (Florida A&M; 86.6 PFF Grade)
3. DeJuan Lewis (Prairie View A&M; 85.3 PFF Grade)
4. Emari Pait (Alabama A&M; 83.0 PFF Grade)
5. Kenny Gallop Jr. (Howard; 81.1 PFF Grade)
