Black College Football Hall of Fame Announces 2018 Black College Football Player of the Year Award Finalists

 
At a glance:

• Four Finalists have been selected from a Watch List comprised of over 50 players.
• The Finalists will be honored during the Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia on February 16, 2019.
• The winner will be announced during the Induction Ceremony and presented with the Deacon Jones Trophy.

 
Atlanta, GA (November 29, 2018) – The Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) announced today four Finalists for the Black College Football Player of the Year Award. The Award is presented annually to the most outstanding football player from a Historically Black College & University (HBCU) that embodies the rich tradition of athletic excellence and integrity associated with HBCUs. Former North Carolina A&T State University, and current Chicago Bears Running Back Tarik Cohen was the inaugural recipient of the Award in 2016, and Bowie State quarterback Amir Hall was selected as the recipient in 2017.
 
The 2018 Finalists include QB Amir Hall (Bowie State University), DL Darryl Johnson (North Carolina A&T State University), QB Noah Johnson (Alcorn State University) and QB Caylin Newton (Howard University).
 
The Finalists were chosen by a five-member Selection Committee, which is composed of Black College Football Hall of Fame founders James "Shack" Harris and Doug Williams, longtime SBN Broadcaster and Director of News and Sports for the Power News Radio Network Ty Miller, former USA Today sports writer Roscoe Nance, and ESPN College Football Analyst Jay Walker.
 
"The Black College Football Player of the Year Award showcases the immense talent of our HBCU student-athletes today," said Doug Williams, BCFHOF Co-Founder and 2011 Inductee. "Each finalist has had an incredible season and we are excited to celebrate their success."
 
The winner of the 2018 Black College Football Player of the Year Award will be announced on February 16, 2019 at the 10^th Annual Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Presented by the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta, Georgia. He will be presented with the Deacon Jones Trophy, named in honor of the football legend and inaugural BCFHOF inductee.
 
"On behalf of the Black College Football Hall of Fame Trustees, we congratulate the Black College Football Player of the Year Finalists," said James "Shack" Harris, Co-Founder and 2012 Inductee. "These student-athletes represent the very best of HBCU football."
 
The Finalists will also be recognized at the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta on December 15^th, along with the BCFHOF Class of 2019, which will be televised on ABC.

2018 FINALISTS
 
AMIR HALL
 
Quarterback … Bowie State University … Senior … 2018 CIAA Offensive Player of the Year … Three-time 1^st Team All-CIAA … Led conference in passing yards (4,152), passing touchdowns (31) and total offense (4,597) … Also had 445 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns … The CIAA's all-time career passing touchdown leader (102) and all-time career passing yards leader (11,358) … Candidate for The Harlon Hill Award (Division II College Football Player of the Year) … 2017 Black College Football Player of the Year (Deacon Jones Trophy).
 
DARRYL JOHNSON, JR.
 
Defensive End … North Carolina A&T State University … Junior … Two-time 1^st Team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) … Led MEAC in sacks (10.5) and tackles-for-loss (18.5) … Had 47 total tackles and three pass breakups in 2018 … His 18.5 TFL ranked #10 nationally in FCS Football … In season-opening upset victory over nationally ranked Jacksonville State, Johnson's strip sack sealed the game for the Aggies … Finalist the Buck Buchanan Award for FCS Defensive Player of the Year … Named to 2017 AFCA and BoxToRow All-American Teams.
 
NOAH JOHNSON
 
Quarterback … Alcorn State University … Junior … Led the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in passing efficiency (137.7) and completion percentage (63.4), and #2 in total offense (2,757) … Ranked #5 in SWAC in rushing yards (813) and touchdowns (7) … Led Alcorn State to East Division title and the SWAC Championship game … Led Alcorn's offense to #1 in the SWAC in yards per game (471.3) … Finalist the Walter Payton Award for FCS Offensive Player of the Year … Finalist for the Cspire Conerly Award as the top collegiate player in Mississippi.

CAYLIN NEWTON
 
Quarterback … Howard University … Sophomore … 1^st Team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) … Led MEAC in passing yards (2,629), passing touchdowns (22) and total offense (3,133 yards), and ranked #2 in efficiency (136.7) … Ranked #7 nationally in FCS Football in total offense … Added 504 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns … Led Howard's offense to #1 in the MEAC in points per game (33.6) and yards per game (470.8) … Finalist the Walter Payton Award for FCS Offensive Player of the Year.
 
 
ABOUT DEACON JONES
 
David "Deacon" Jones played defensive end for South Carolina State University and Mississippi Valley State University from 1958 to 1960. Blessed with speed, agility, and quickness, the "Deacon" became one of the finest pass rushers in the business. He won unanimous All-NFL honors six straight years from 1965 through 1970 and was selected to eight Pro Bowls. Jones is an inaugural Black College Football Hall of Fame inductee (2010) and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
 
ABOUT THE BLACK COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
 
The Black College Football Hall of Fame was established in October of 2009 by African-American pioneers and quarterbacks, Pro Bowl MVP James "Shack" Harris and Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams to preserve the history and honor the greatest football players, coaches and contributors from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). There have been 77 Inductees since inception, including Mel Blount, James Harris, Willie Lanier, Art Shell and Doug Williams, who serve as Trustees.
 
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