BALTIMORE, Md. (Nov. 6, 2024) - There has been growing recognition for Morgan State's Carlvainsky Decius as a playmaker for the Bears and people are starting to take notice.

In a season marked by impressive performances and standout athletes, Decius, a senior cornerback hailing from New Carrollton, Maryland, has garnered significant recognition for his contributions on the football field. On Tuesday, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) announced Decius as a semifinalist for the prestigious 3rd Annual Aeneas Williams Award, honoring elite defensive backs in college football.

The Aeneas Williams Award celebrates the legacy of one of the NFL's great cornerbacks, Aeneas Williams, who played for the St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals. The award recognizes defensive backs not only for their skill on the field but also for their leadership, sportsmanship, and academic achievements. Being named as a semifinalist underscores Decius's outstanding performance in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and his potential as a rising star in the sport.

This season, Decius has accumulated an impressive 31 tackles and he currently ranks No. 5 in the MEAC with two interceptions and is No. 9 in passes defended with six.

With his skill set and determination, the future looks bright for Decius, a name to keep an eye on in the football world.

Decius joins a list of 10 players who are among the nation's best defensive backs in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Division I college football. 
 

AENEAS WILLIAM AWARD 2023 SEMIFINALISTS

Name	School
Carlvainsky Decius	Morgan State
Kendall Bohler	Florida A&M
James Burgess	Alabama State
Kenny Gallop Jr.	Howard
MJ Hinson Jr.	Texas Southern
Isaiah Norris	N.C. Central
Andrew Smith	Alcorn State
Boogie Trotter	Tennessee State
Barry Wagner Jr.	Delaware State
Jordan White	Hampton

The Aeneas Williams Award is presented by the Chickasaw Nation and awarded to the best defensive back in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Division I college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character.
 
This award was established in 2022 and serves as the first of its kind in HBCU history in honor of its namesake, Southern University walk-on and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Aeneas Williams. The contribution of HBCUs to the landscape of college football and the NFL has forever left an impact on the game. HBCUs hold an incredibly rich athletic tradition, tied to the game of football, that continues to exemplify the culture of these schools for over the past century.


FOLLOW MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS IN CYBERSPACE 
There are many ways to keep up with MSU athletics online and on the go:
• Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official web site of Bears athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios and more. 
• Follow us on social media:
 Facebook: /MorganStateBears
 Twitter: @MorganStBears
 Instagram: /MorganStateBears

ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.