BALTIMORE, Md. (December 5, 2024) — The postseason accolades continues to pile up Morgan State football standout Elijah Williams. His impressive performance this season has resonated with coaches and scouts alike, positioning him as one of the premier defensive talents in the FCS.
Williams has earned a significant recognition by being named to the prestigious BOXTOROW 2024 HBCU All-America team, announced on Thursday that highlights his exceptional performance and contributions this season.
"Agent Zero" has gained a ton of recognition over the past couple of weeks, and so far he's been named to the All-MEAC First Team, was an Buck Buchanan Award finalist, and is one of just ten finalists for the Urban Edge Network's inaugural HBCU+ National Player of the Year Award.
Williams, a Jersey City, N.J. product, emerged as a dynamic force on one of the nation's top defensive units this season (FCS ranked No. 21 in total defense). With his exceptional performance, he ranked No. 7 in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) with an impressive tally of 11.0 sacks. He also recorded 15.0 tackles for loss, placing him second in the MEAC and No. 20 in the nation.
In addition to his impressive sack and tackle for loss numbers, Williams contributed significantly in several other facets of the game, amassing 54 tackles (No. 14 in MEAC), with 32 being solo stops. His versatility was further highlighted by his ability to apply pressure on the quarterback, as evidenced by two QB hurries, and his knack for creating turnovers, including two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. To add to his contributions, he even showcased his athleticism by blocking a field goal against #20 North Carolina Central.
Williams has etched his name into the annals of college football history, concluding his tenure at Morgan State with a remarkable legacy as the institution's all-time leader in both sacks and tackles for loss. With an impressive tally of 31 sacks and 52 tackles for loss, he not only distinguished himself as a formidable defensive presence but also set a benchmark for future generations of athletes at the university.
His remarkable contributions on the field have propelled him to a spot in the annals of the MEAC, where his career sack total ranks seventh all-time. Notably, he finds himself in close company with fellow Bear James Dozier, who holds the sixth position with his own impressive count of 31.5 sacks from 1987 to 1990.
BOXTOROW has named the All-America Team since 2007, based on voting by media who cover HBCU Football.
In total, 17 programs are represented of the 32 selections.
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com or the BOXTOROW website at www.BOXTOROW.com.
The 2024 HBCU college football All-America team.
OFFENSE
QB: Eric Phoenix, South Carolina State Gr. Savannah, Ga.
RB: Jada Byers, Virginia Union, Sr., Hammonton, N.J. #
RB: Irv Mulligan, Jackson State Gr. Beaufort, S.C.
OL: Eric Brown, Jr. South Carolina State Sr. Hartsville, S.C.
OL: D'Andre Townes-Blue, Jackson State Jr. Willow Grove, Pa.
OL: Trevon Humphrey, North Carolina Central r-Soph. Greensboro, N.C.
OL: Nick Taiste, South Carolina State Sr. West Columbia, S.C.
OL: Cam Johnson, South Carolina State r-Sr. Irmo, S.C.
TE: Tavarious Griffin, Alcorn State, Sr., Tallassee, Ala.$
WR: JaVonnie Gibson, Arkansas-Pine Bluff r-Jr. Opelousas, La.
WR: Reginald Vick Jr., Virginia Union r-Soph. Wendell, N.C.
DEFENSE
DL: Ckelby Givens, Southern, Jr., Shreveport, La.$
DL: Treqwan Thomas, Alabama State r-Jr. Orlando, Fla.
DL: Ashad Hall, South Carolina State Jr. St. Petersburg, Fla.
DL: Malachi Bailey, Alcorn State Sr. Atlanta, Ga.*
DL: Elijah Williams, Morgan State Sr. Jersey City, N.J.*
LB: Andrew Jones, Grambling r-Jr. Marrero, La.
LB: Benari Black, Johnson C. Smith Sr. Charlotte, N.C.
LB: Rico Dozier, Alabama State, Jr., Abbeville, La.$
DB: Lashon Young, Miles Soph. Sweetwater, Ala.
DB: Kenny Gallop, Howard, Sr., Portsmouth, Va.#
DB: Nick Blake, West Virginia State Jr. New York, N.Y.
DB: James Burgess, Alabama State Sr. Center Point, Ala. *
DB: Amon Scarbrough, Alabama State Sr. Birmingham, Ala.*
DB: Boogie Trotter, Tennessee State Jr. Nashville, Tenn.*
DB: Jarod Washington, South Carolina State Sr. Fredericksburg, Va.*
DB: Ke' Vric Wiggins Jr., Jackson State Sr. Houston, Texas*
SPECIALISTS
P: Juan Velarde North Carolina Central Sr. Anderson, S.C.
PK: Guillermo Garcia Rodriguez Prairie View A&M Gr. Dickison, Texas
PR: DeJuan Bell Fort Valley State Gr. North Augusta, S.C.
KR: CJ Evans Tennessee State r-Sr. Mobile, Ala.
RS: Travis Terrell Jackson State Fr. Atlanta, Ga.
Honorable Mention
QB: Daniel Richardson, Florida A&M; David Wright III, Clark Atlanta
RB: Ike Brown, Lane; Jaden Sutton, Delaware State; J'Mari Taylor, North Carolina Central
OL: Arelious Dunn, Alabama State; Darius Fox, Howard; Ashton Grable, Florida A&M; Larry Jones, Jr., Virginia Union; Connor
Meadows, Tennessee State; Bruno Onwuazor, Virginia State; Jason Stovall, Miles; Christian Twymon, Miles, Carson Vinson Alabama A&M
TE: Kameron King, Fayetteville State; Keshawn Toney, South Carolina State
WR: Brevin Caldwell, Johnson C. Smith; Caden High, South Carolina State; Nathan Rembert, Mississippi Valley State; Justin Smith-Brown, South Carolina State
DL: Jayden Broughton, South Carolina State; Roc Dowdell, Miles; Joshua Nobles, Jackson State;
LB: Jaki Brevard, North Carolina Central; DeMarkus Cunningham, Alabama State; Aaron Smith, South Carolina State
DB: Malcolm Reed North Carolina Central
P: Anthony Frederique, Bethune-Cookman
KR: Jaxon Williams,Benedict
RS: DeJuan Bell, Fort Valley State
*Tie
#2022 and 2023 HBCU All-American
$2023 HBCU All-American
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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.
