Recapping the 2021 HBCU football season
Follow the 2022 HBCU football season
👀The final HBCU football power rankings for the 2021 season
The 2021 HBCU football season is over and it's time to take a look at the final HBCU football power rankings from NCAA Digital's Stan Becton.
The rankings were done weekly throughout the regular season, sorting each HBCU football team at the FCS level based on their performances this season. Nicknamed The Road to Atlanta, the weekly power rankings led up to the annual meeting of HBCU football's two best teams at this year's Celebration Bowl held in Atlanta, GA.
Celebration Bowl Offensive MVP Shaquan Davis speaks after the win
Celebration Bowl Offensive MVP Shaquan Davis caught up with NCAA Digital's Stan Becton to talk about winning the first Celebration Bowl in South Carolina State history. See the interview below.
Updated Celebration Bowl history
South Carolina State's victory brings the MEAC's record against the SWAC to 5-1 in the all-time series. Here's the list of Celebration Bowl champions.
| Year | Champion | Score | Runner-Up | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | South Carolina State (MEAC) | 31-10 | Jackson State (SWAC) | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta GA |
| 2019 | North Carolina A&T (MEAC) | 64-44 | Alcorn State (SWAC) | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta GA |
| 2018 | North Carolina A&T (MEAC) | 24-22 | Alcorn State (SWAC) | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta GA |
| 2017 | North Carolina A&T (MEAC) | 21-14 | Grambling State (SWAC) | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta GA |
| 2016 | Grambling State (SWAC) | 10-9 | North Carolina Central (MEAC) | Georgia Dome, Atlanta GA |
| 2015 | North Carolina A&T (MEAC) | 41-34 | Alcorn State (SWAC) | Georgia Dome, Atlanta GA |
🏆 South Carolina State wins the 2021 Celebration Bowl
South Carolina State has defeated Jackson State 31-10 in the 2021 Celebration Bowl. Wide receiver Shaquan Davis was named offensive MVP and cornerback Decobie Durant was named Defensive MVP. The Celebration Bowl victory is the first in South Carolina State program history.
Click or tap here to see how South Carolina State won the Celebration Bowl and for a full recap.
Follow Live: The Celebration Bowl is underway
The 2021 Celebration Bowl is underway as SWAC champion Jackson State battles MEAC champion South Carolina State for the HBCU football crown. NCAA.com will be providing live coverage and updates throughout the game.
Click or tap here to follow live updates for the 2021 Celebration Bowl
📈 HBCU All-Americans: 6 HBCU players earn AP All-American honors
Six HBCU players landed on the 2021 AP FCS All-American teams. See the selected players below.
AP FCS All-American Teams
1st Team
- TE Kemari Averett, Bethune-Cookman
- LB Isaiah Land, Florida A&M
- DB Decobie Durant, South Carolina State
2nd Team
- OL Justin Redd, Norfolk State
- LB James Houston, Jackson State
3rd Team
- DB Markquese Bell, Florida A&M
🔥 Jackson State makes history, lands No. 1 recruit
On national signing day, Jackson State made history with the commitment of the nation's No. 1 recruit Travis Hunter. A Georgia native, Hunter signed with Jackson State, flipping from his 21-month commitment to Florida State.
After the stunning move, Hunter is the highest-rated recruit to sign with an HBCU in the modern database era. Hunter played wide receiver and cornerback in high school, but his collegiate position is unknown.
See how Hunter announced his commitment to the Tigers below.
HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE 🤯
— PFF College Football (@PFF_College) December 15, 2021
THE NATION’S NUMBER ONE RECRUIT TRAVIS HUNTER HAS COMMITTED TO HBCU JACKSON STATE!!@DeionSanders x @JacksonStateU pic.twitter.com/OPdLMtk9K6
Three things you need to know for this year's Celebration Bowl
The 2021 Celebration Bowl is poised to be a must-watch game, with NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders leading Jackson State against Oliver "Buddy" Pough and South Carolina State. NCAA Digital's Stan Becton previews three things to know about the matchup.
Click or tap here for all Celebration Bowl news and live updates during the game.
Stan Becton has been with NCAA.com since 2021 and has covered numerous NCAA championship events, including the Men’s Frozen Four. He is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University where he played football and earned a degree in Professional Writing. You can follow him on Twitter @stan_becton.
📈 HBCU All-Americans: HBCU players land on the Hero Sports All-American teams
A multitude of HBCU players landed on the 2021 Hero Sports Freshman, Sophomore and FCS All-American teams. See the selected players below.
Hero Sports Freshman All Americans
- QB Shedeur Sanders, Jackson State
- DB Esaias Guthrie, Delaware State
Hero Sports Sophomore All-Americans
- RB Devon Starling, Tennessee State
- RB Niko Duffey, Alcorn State
- RB Caleb Johnson, Mississippi Valley State
- WR Shaquan Davis, South Carolina State
- DL Jeblonski Green, South Carolina State
- LB Jacob Roberts, North Carolina A&T
- K Adrian Olivo, North Carolina Central
Hero Sports FCS All-American Teams
1st Team
- LB Isaiah Land, Florida A&M
- DB Markquese Bell, Florida A&M
- RS Isaiah Bolden, Jackson State
2nd Team
- TE Kemari Averett, Bethune-Cookman
- LB James Houston, Jackson State
- DB Decobie Durant, South Carolina State
3rd Team
- OL Keenan Forbes, Florida A&M
- DL Antwan Owens, Jackson State
- LB Aubrey Miller Jr., Jackson State
Deion Sanders wins 2021 FCS Eddie Robinson Award
Jackson State football head coach Deion Sanders was named the 2021 recipient of the Stats Perform FCS Eddie Robinson Award, which is presented to the national coach of the year in the Division I subdivision. Sanders is only the second HBCU head coach to win the award, ending a 12-year drought since Prairie View A&M's Henry Frazier III won in 2009.
Shedeur Sanders win Jerry Rice Award
Jackson State quarterback Shedeur Sanders was named the 2021 Jerry Rice Award winner as the best freshman in FCS football. Sanders is the first HBCU player to win the award in its 11-year history after throwing for 2,971 yards, 28 touchdowns and only five interceptions, leading Jackson State to a SWAC title and its first Celebration Bowl berth. See more at the links below.
Shedeur Sanders' top five plays | 2021 Jerry Rice Award | Jerry Rice Award history
HBCU Legacy Bowl: Four more players earn invites to post-season all-star game
Four players earned invites to the HBCU Legacy Bowl, bringing the total FCS participants to 24. Tennessee State quarterback Geremy Hickbottom, Jackson State linebacker Keonte Hampton, Alabama State running back Ezra Gray, and Alabama State defensive lineman Christian Clark are the newest editions to the post-season all-star game that features the best players from HBCUs around the country. See the list of all FCS selections below.
FCS HBCU Legacy Bowl participants
- QB Aqeel Glass, Alabama A&M
- QB Felix Harper, Alcorn State
- WR Xavier Smith, Florida A&M
- RB Jah-Maine Martin, North Carolina A&T
- WR Ryan McDaniel, North Carolina Central
- RB Isaiah Totten, North Carolina Central
- DB Jalon Thigpen, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
- QB Juwan Carter, Norfolk State
- OL Cam Durley, Tennessee State
- DB Juwan Taylor, Alcorn State
- OL Jamal Savage, Bethune-Cookman
- TE Taron Mallard, Bethune-Cookman
- DB Aaron Walker, Howard
- OL De'Jour Simpson, North Carolina A&T
- OL Keenan Forbes, Florida A&M
- DE Chris Myers, Norfolk State
- OL Danny Garza, Prairie View A&M
- WR Josh Lanier, Jackson State
- WR Josh Wilkes, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
- WR Trey Gross, Delaware State
- QB Geremy Hickbottom, Tennessee State
- LB Keonte Hampton, Jackson State
- RB Ezra Gray, Alabama State
- DL Christian Clark, Alabama State
The HBCU Legacy Bowl will be held February 19, 2022 at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, LA. Click or tap here for the latest HBCU Legacy Bowl news.
HBCU football coaching hires: Grambling State hires former NFL coach Hue Jackson
Grambling State has hired Hue Jackson as its next head football coach. Jackson heads to Grambling after serving as the offensive-coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Tennessee State this past year. Jackson previously was a head coach in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders and Cleveland Browns.
Prairie View A&M is the only the remaining HBCU head coaching vacancy at the FCS level.
Grambling State Tabs Hue Jackson as Head Football Coach https://t.co/RmVnoG6PCP
— GSU_Tigers (@GSU_TIGERS) December 10, 2021
The top players, by position, in the 2021 HBCU football season
The 2021 HBCU football season is almost at a close, but talented players shined for teams throughout the FCS season. Yet a select group of players have rose above the rest with on-field play. Here are the top players, by position, in the 2021 HBCU football season from NCAA Digital's Stan Becton.
- QB - Aqeel Glass, Alabama A&M
- RB - Bishop Bonnett, Florida A&M
- LB - Isaiah Land, Florida A&M
- S - Markquese Bell, Florida A&M
- CB - Decobie Durant, South Carolina State
Click or tap here for the complete list of top HBCU players
Stan Becton has been with NCAA.com since 2021 and has covered numerous NCAA championship events, including the Men’s Frozen Four. He is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University where he played football and earned a degree in Professional Writing. You can follow him on Twitter @stan_becton.