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Stan Becton | NCAA.com | September 29, 2025

Ranking the top 10 HBCU football players after one month

The moments after North Carolina Central won the 2025 MEAC/SWAC Challenge

The first month of the HBCU football season is in the books and a few players have already begun to separate themselves as elite. I ranked the top 10 HBCU football players so far in the 2025 season.

1. RB Chris Mosley, North Carolina Central

Chris Mosley leads the FCS in rushing yards and all-purpose yards with 607 and 857 yards, respectively. From his season debut in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge where he burst free for a 49-yard touchdown run, Mosley has been electric. 

Against North Carolina A&T, Mosley had three rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns, further showcasing how shifty he is with the ball in his hands. Together with another player on this list, Mosley forms the best QB-RB duo in HBCU football.

EVERYTHING HBCU: Schedule, scores, updates and more from the 2025 HBCU football season

2. QB Andrew Body, Alabama State

Some forgot about Andrew Body after he spent the majority of last season injured, but the former All-SWAC quarterback is healthy in 2025 and is reminding everyone why he was so highly-touted week after week. 

Body is third in the FCS in passing efficiency this season. Alabama State’s offense  is second in the nation in third down percentage, further showing Body’s efficiency with the football in his hand.

Body also has 235 rushing yards and a score on the ground. He’s been electric and looks like the missing piece for Alabama State.

3. DE Ckelby Givens, Southern

Ckelby Givens is tied for first in the FCS with 6.5 sacks and ranks second in the FCS in tackles for loss at 9.5. While Givens had lackluster performances against North Carolina Central and Jackson State, his 4.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks against Alabama State and Fresno State proved that he is not just a good player against subpar teams. 

As Givens continues to stuff the stat sheet, he’ll remain a top contender for national FCS awards.

LATEST RANKINGS: See which school leads the latest HBCU Football Power Rankings

4. LB Erick Hunter, Morgan State

Erick Hunter has lived up to the billing as one of the best linebackers in FCS football with 41 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble in five games. 18 of his tackles came against FBS foes South Alabama and Toledo.

Hunter continues to lead a Morgan State defense that’s one of the best in the FCS, ranking 15th in run defense and 18th in total defense.

5. DL Quincy Ivory, Jackson State

Quincy Ivory has been as advertised for Jackson State after transferring in from Florida this year. He’s earned SWAC Newcomer of the Week honors twice and SWAC Defensive Player of the Week once.

Ivory’s 27 tackles and 8.0 tackles for loss are outpacing another former Florida transfer turned JSU Tiger, James Houston, now playing for the Dallas Cowboys. In Houston’s first four games as a Tiger, he had 18 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss in his first game. While Houston had 6.5 sacks to Ivory’s 4.0 sacks, Ivory is still performing at a First-Team All-SWAC level to start the year.

6. QB Walker Harris, North Carolina Central

Walker Harris is second in the FCS in passing yards, throwing for 1,514 yards in six games. He’s been on a tear the last three games, commanding an NCCU offense that has averaged over 53 points per game during that span, with an 8:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio during that stretch.

Harris has looked the part in his second year as a starter, taking command and appearing more comfortable spreading the ball across the field.

WALTER PAYTON AWARD: 10 early-season Walter Payton Award candidates to watch

7. QB Kaiden Bennett, Delaware State

Kaiden Bennett was a late addition to the Delaware State Hornets under new head coach DeSean Jackson. Yet, Bennett has proven to be worth the wait. Bennett has eight rushing touchdowns this year, the third-most in the FCS. While his passing numbers aren’t gaudy, Bennett has a 115.7 quarterback rating, leading DSU to a three-game win streak for the first time since 2012. 

Bennett’s play has Delaware State looking like a MEAC dark horse to start the year.

8. DL Thomas Johnson, North Carolina Central

Thomas Johnson leads the MEAC in sacks and tackles for loss with 5.5 and 7.0 on the season, respectively. The 5.5 sacks rank fifth in the FCS. While Johnson hasn’t recorded a sack in his last two games he started off the season hot, proving himself to be one of the top players in HBCU football.

ROOKIES: Top 10 freshmen in FCS football after 4 weeks of action

9. CB Tyrell Raby, Grambling State

Tyrell Raby has been a playmaker in the Grambling State secondary. 

Against an Ohio State squad from the FBS, Raby allowed just 35 yards on six targets against a wide receiving corps filled with future NFL draft picks. Raby also had an interception against the Buckeyes, his second of the year.

Then in overtime against Kentucky State, Raby forced a fumble and returned it to the house for the game-winning score.

All of it led Raby to be the third-highest graded cornerback in the entire FCS per PFF after Week 4 with a 90.0 grade (credit to Hero Sports).

10. WR Jalen Jones, Alabama State

Jalen Jones started the season with six catches, 174 yards and a touchdown against an FBS opponent in UAB. While Jones’ next game against Southern was quiet, he then scored two touchdowns in each of his next two games while adding in a 118-yard performance against Miles.

Jones has five touchdowns on the year and has showed a great ability to make big plays, with two 60-plus yard receptions.

Honorable mentions: QB Cornelius Brown IV, Alabama A&M; WR Maleek Huggins, Bethune-Cookman; RB Marquis Gillis, Delaware State; OG Sam Hill, Howard; DE Tim Alderman, North Carolina A&T; OL Trevon Humphrey, North Carolina Central; DB Horacio Johnson, Southern

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