BALTIMORE, Md. (August 7, 2024) -- The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) released the third annual Aeneas Williams Award Preseason Watch List, with 19 of the nation's best defensive backs in Historically Black Colleges
and Universities (HBCU) Division I football and a pair of Morgan State student-athletes made their way on the list.
Returning starters Carlvainsky Decius and Ja'son Prevard have made a significant impact as defensive standouts for the Bears. Both players have earned recognition for their outstanding abilities by being named to the Preseason All-MEAC and Phil Steele Preseason All-MEAC Football Team.
Decius, a tenacious defender, contributed significantly to his team's success during the previous season. As the fifth leading tackler, he recorded an impressive 39 stops to go along with three tackles for loss and two sacks in 10 starts.
Prevard, a promising young talent, made a substantial impact in his freshman year. As a starting cornerback, he accumulated 22 tackles, 13 of which were solo efforts. His impressive seven breakups and one interception showcased his exceptional ball-hawking skills and ability to read opposing receivers' routes.
Together, Decius and Prevard form a formidable duo and the sky is the limit for their impact on the team this season.
The preseason watch list is selected by a screening committee and in partnership with the organization DraftHBCUPlayers and the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. The list is not final, and players who have outstanding seasons may be added to the semifinalists and finalists lists as the season progresses.
About the Aeneas Williams Award
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.
The 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.
For more information about the Aeneas Williams Award, past award recipients and to check-in on upcoming award key dates, visit www.oklahomasportshalloffame.org. Follow up with Aeneas Williams Award in-season news on our Paycom Jim Thorpe Award socials: Instagram (@jimthorpeaward), X (@jimthorpeaward), and Facebook (Paycom Jim Thorpe Award).
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.
