The HBCU stats leaders thru the season’s first month are also making noise on the national level.
HBCU football stats leaders: Jada Byers
Virginia Union sophomore Jada Byers, the preseason CIAA offensive player of the year, is off to a great start.
The 5-7, 180-pounder, who ran for 910 yards and 12 TDs as a freshman last season, is putting up much better numbers in 2022. The Panthers are 4-0.
Byers, from Hammonton, N. J., leads all HBCU runners and tops NCAA Div. II in rushing yards (777), rushing yards per game (194.2) and all-purpose yards (233.3 ypg.). He is tied for first in D2 in rushing TDs (9). His average of 7.5 yards per carry is 12th in Div. II.
His 11 total touchdowns are the best in Div. II and HBCU football. His 66 points tops the HBCU charts in scoring and is second in Div. II.
Markell Scott and others
Langston sophomore Markell Scott out of Pine Bluff, Arkansas is the leading rusher in NAIA football and is only behind Byers in the HBCU stats. Scott averages an HBCU-best 9.8 yards per carry that is second in the NAIA. His seven rushing touchdowns also top the NAIA. His Langston Lions are also 4-0.
The top four HBCU rushers lead their respective conferences in rushing – Byers (CIAA), Scott (Sooner Athletic Conference), Jarveon Howard of Alcorn State (SWAC) and Emanuel Wilson of Fort Valley State (SIAC). NC A&T sophomore Bhayshul Tuten is the top rusher in the Big South Conference while Devon Starling is second in rushing in the Ohio Valley Conference.
HBCU football stats leader: Shedeur Sanders
Jackson State sophomore quarterback Shedeur Sanders is the runaway HBCU leader thru September in passing stats. He is also in the top five nationally in eight FCS offensive categories.
The son of JSU head coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders has throw for 1,394 yards thru four games. It is almost 500 yards more than the next passer on the HBCU list – Florida A&M’s Jeremy Moussa.
Other HBCU stats leaders
Florida A&M senior Xavier Smith (7.5 receptions per game) is tied for sixth and Jackson State’s Dallas Daniels (7.0 rpg.) is tenth in FCS receiving yards through the month. Smith and Daniels are 1-2 in the HBCU receiving stats.
Hampton senior Jadakis Bonds, Smith and Daniels each has four TD receptions, tied for first in the HBCU list and 11th in the FCS.
HBCU stats leaders: Special teams and defense
SC State sophomore Dyson Roberts is the top punter in the HBCU ranks at 46.3 yards per punt. That average is second in the FCS. Dyson is the punter who flipped the field repeatedly in last year’s Celebration Bowl win against SWAC champion Jackson State. He averaged 49.0 yards on eight punts with a long punt of 74 yards in that game.
A 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown vs. Grambling has pushed Bethune-Cookman sophomore Darnell Deas to the top of the FCS and HBCU kickoff return list. See the return here.
NC Central junior Khalil Baker has an HBCU-best four interceptions in four games. It is also tied for the lead in the FCS.
Lane senior defensive lineman Andrew Farmer leads HBCUs and all of NCAA Div. II football in tackles for loss with 17.5 in just four games. Chowan linebacker Montre Moore is second in D2 in total tackles with 12.2 per game.
HBCU FOOTBALL INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS
Thru games of September 24, 2022
