DURHAM, N.C. – Three North Carolina Central University football players are on the preseason watch list for the Stats Perform HBCU Player of the Year: quarterback
Walker Harris, offensive lineman
Trevon Humphrey and defensive back
Malcolm Reed.
The watch list was revealed on Thursday.
All three players were All-MEAC honorees in 2024, when the Eagles went 8-3 overall and 4-1 in the conference. They were also First Team recipients when the MEAC unveiled its preseason teams last week.
Harris was a Second Team All-MEAC honoree last season after completing 61% of his passes and throwing for 1,882 yards and 18 touchdowns. He threw a season-high four touchdown passes against Norfolk State, and he racked up a career-high 321 passing yards against Howard.
Humphrey helped NCCU rank as the No. 1 scoring offense and rushing offense in the MEAC. He anchored an Eagles offensive line that helped the team record at least 350 yards of total offense seven times last season.
Reed ranked second in the MEAC in pass breakups and eighth in interceptions last season, while also sitting second on the team with 60 tackles. In addition to his conference accolades, Reed is also a Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-American.
In the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), the Stats Perform HBCU National Player of the Year Award honors the outstanding player from the 21 HBCU programs in the MEAC, SWAC, 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.
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, Tenn.
The Eagles open the 2025 season on Saturday, Aug. 23, in the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge, squaring off against Southern live on ABC at 7:30 p.m.
For more information on NCCU athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.
