JSU Has 4 Players Named to the HBCU Player of the Year Watch List

Jackson State Running Back Travis Terrell Jr.

WACO, Texas | The Stats Perform HBCU National Player of the Year Award honors the outstanding player from the 21 HBCU programs of the Division I subdivision in the Mid-Eastern Athletic, Southwestern Athletic, CAA Football and OVC-Big South conferences. All positions are eligible for the award, and it was reflected in last season's 10 finalists: two running backs, two defensive backs, a linebacker, an offensive lineman, two defensive linemen and two quarterbacks, including the inaugural winner, Eric Phoenix of South Carolina State.

Jackson State placed four players on the Watch List released Thursday afternoon, the most of any HBCU in the country.

Southern University defensive end Ckelby Givens is the only returning finalist from last season and is part of a 20-player preseason watch list for the HBCU National Player of the Year Award. A national panel involving HBCU/FCS coverage will select the award winner after the regular season. The recipient will be announced on Dec. 8, then honored at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Presentation on Jan. 3, 2026 in Nashville Tennessee.

Quarterback JaCobian Morgan earned a spot on the Preseason List after earning a pair of Preseason Offensive Player of the Year awards. The graduate student finished last season with 2,051 yards through the air on 150-of-234 passing, finishing the season 10-1 as a starter, including 10 consecutive wins. He also threw 19 touchdown passes with just eight interceptions, finishing with a 64.1 completion percentage.

He also rushed for 225 yards and four touchdowns. Morgan completed the season ranked nationally in several categories including passing efficiency (13th/157.9), points responsible for (16th/164), passing yards per completion (17th/13.72), passing touchdowns (24th/21),  completion percentage (31st/0.637), points responsible for per game (35th/11.7), passing yards (43rd/2,236), passing yards per game (69th/159.7), completions per game (80th/11.64), and rushing touchdowns (98th/6).

He was joined on the list by Nate Rembert, coming off a first-team all-conference selection from a season ago at Mississippi Valley State. Rembert, a first team all-conference and third team preseason All-American this season, recorded 70 receptions for 1,038 yards at Mississippi Valley State. He recorded four touchdowns and averaged 86.5 yards per game last season, and is one of only four receivers at Mississippi Valley State to record 1,000 yards receiving in a season.

They were joined by Travis Terrell Jr. who was named all-conference and Preseason All-American earlier this month. He was ranked among the best in the nation in returns, leading the nation in kick returns for touchdowns with two. He also ranked in the top five nationally in three other categories, including third in punt returns (16.7), fourth in combined kick returns (851), fifth in kickoff returns (30.6), and 36th in all-purpose yards (108.08). The sophomore also ran the ball 459 yards on 75 carries with four touchdowns, and also caught 15 passes for 95 yards on the offensive side of the ball.

Jeremiah Williams, was also named to the list after multiple preseason All-American honors and a preseason all-conference selection. The redshirt senior, who was named the 2024 Cricket Celebration Bowl Defensive MVP, recorded 58 total tackles, including 22 solo stops. He also recorded 7.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. Williams recorded a season-high nine tackles against Florida A&M (Oct. 19), and seven tackles against Grambling State (Sept. 21) and Alabama A&M (Oct. 5). He recorded at least one tackle in 13 of the 14 games last season, and recorded four quarterback hurries.

Jackson State Season Tickets

Season tickets begin at $110 for youth general admission and $170 for general admission. Reserved seating is sold at $235 this season, and box seats $300.  All ticket packages include a $10 donation, which directly supports the Sonic Boom of the South and enhances the NIL infrastructure for the Division of Athletics. There are seven options for parking passes during the 2025 season, beginning at $135 for the VIP Tiger Lot. Four different lots (Lots B, C, D, and H) are $360 for the season, while Lot A is $660.

The car tailgate lot will be sold at $560 for the year, and the RV tailgate lot is $810. All passes include a $10 donation, which directly supports the Sonic Boom of the South and enhances the NIL infrastructure for the Division of Athletics, and Fans must purchase a minimum of two (2) season tickets to be eligible for season parking. 

For answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs), click here, and all ticketing information can be found on the Ticket Central page by clicking here. The deadline for season parking and single-game ticket pre-sales is July 31. Meanwhile, reserved and single-game ticket sales begin August 5.

Las Vegas HBCU Classic Tickets

Tickets and travel packages are on sale for the inaugural Las Vegas HBCU Classic at Allegiant Stadium on Oct. 25. For more information, click here.

Southern Miss Single-Game Tickets

Jackson State and Southern Miss single-game tickets went on sale to the general public on July 30 at 10 a.m. for the game in Hattiesburg. More information and links will follow at a later date. Due to expected high demand and increased call traffic, fans are encouraged to purchase tickets online or by clicking here. The game is set for a 4 p.m. kickoff on ESPN+ on Sept. 6. 

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