BALTIMORE, Md. (Nov. 25, 2025) — Morgan State quarterback Raymond Moore III has been selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, giving the Bears back-to-back recipients of the league's top freshman honor.
Moore's recognition follows last year's winner, running back Jason Collins Jr., who ended a 21-year drought since the award was last claimed by a Morgan State player — quarterback Bradshaw "The Big Show" Littlejohn.
Morgan State also placed six players on the All-MEAC Teams.
Redshirt senior linebacker Erick Hunter was selected to the All-MEAC First Team, along with senior defensive lineman Blanche Gold. Freshman wideout Justin Perry, junior defensive end Lance Byndon, senior defensive back Jadon Carter, and redshirt sophomore defensive back Hiroshi Carr were named to the Second Team.
Moore wasted no time making an impact in his debut season with the Bears. After seeing spot duty in the first three contests against Toledo, Central State, and Miles College, he made his first career start during Homecoming against Virginia Lynchburg — delivering 227 total yards and two touchdowns to guide Morgan State to a commanding 44–6 victory.
Across nine games, including six starts, the Baltimore native threw for 1,049 yards on 90-of-166 passing with nine touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also showcased his dual-threat ability with 414 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns, emerging as one of the league's most dynamic young playmakers.
Moore closed the regular season as a six-time MEAC Rookie of the Week honoree, contributing to Morgan State's conference-leading 16 weekly awards in 2025. He was also recently named a finalist for the 15th Annual Jerry Rice Award, presented to the national freshman player of the year in Division I FCS football.
Hunter, a Buck Buchanan Award finalist, was once again the driving force of the Bears' defense. He finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the MEAC with 102 tackles (tied for No. 36 nationally in FCS). The Capitol Heights, Md. native added 14 tackles for loss, four sacks, and started all 12 games. He also tallied five quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles, and an interception — and delivered one of the season's top highlights with a 90-yard blocked-kick return for a touchdown against Norfolk State.
Gold anchored the defensive front as a force of nature, relentlessly disrupting opposing offenses. The Landover, Md., native closed the season ranked No. 3 in the MEAC with 12.5 tackles for loss, added a team-best 7.5 sacks to place fifth in the league, and finished with 45 tackles—sixth most on the roster. His consistent backfield pressure was a cornerstone of Morgan State's dominance in the trenches.
Perry quickly established himself as one of Morgan State's most promising young playmakers. The dynamic wideout became a dependable target in the Bears' passing attack, highlighted by a breakout performance at Georgetown, where he surpassed 100 receiving yards, earning MEAC Rookie of the Week honors. He followed that effort with a game-high 76 yards in the Bears' Homecoming rout of Virginia–Lynchburg. Perry finished the season among the MEAC's receiving leaders with 464 yards (No. 8) on 25 receptions and five touchdowns, while ranking No. 24 nationally (FCS) in yards per catch (18.6).
Byndon delivered steady production along the Bears' defensive front, routinely generating pressure and asserting control at the line of scrimmage. The Cincinnati, Ohio native totaled 44 tackles, including 8.0 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He also contributed key momentum-shifting plays, recording a blocked field goal at Norfolk State on Nov. 15, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries over 12 games.
Carter entered the year on the prestigious Aeneas Williams Watchlist, honoring the top defensive backs across HBCU Division I football — and his performance lived up to the billing. The senior wrapped up the season as the Bears' third-leading tackler with 55 stops, including 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles across 12 games. He also delivered one of the season's defining plays with a 94-yard blocked field goal return for a game-winning touchdown against Miles College on Sept. 27.
Carr, named the Aeneas Williams Award HBCU Defensive Back of the Week on Nov. 19, emerged as a reliable force in the secondary during his first season with the Bears. The Stafford, Va. native ranked fifth on the team with 46 tackles (33 solo) and added four pass breakups, two interceptions, and a forced fumble. His six total passes defended placed him No. 9 in the MEAC.
With a conference rookie of the year, six all-conference selections, and multiple national award finalists, Morgan State's 2025 campaign showcased a roster rich with emerging stars and impactful veterans. The Bears' collective achievements underscore the program's continued ascent and set the stage for even greater expectations in the seasons ahead.
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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.
