Morgan State University Athletics

BALTIMORE, Md. (April 30, 2025) -- Morgan State University celebrated its outstanding student-athletes and coaches at the 37th Annual Athletics Awards Ceremony on Wednesday evening. The event, held in the Edward P. Hurt Gymnasium, culminated in the crowning of Cheyenne Washington (bowling) as the Female Student-Athlete of the Year and Elijah Washington (football) as the Male Student-Athlete of the Year. Their exceptional performances throughout the year earned them this prestigious recognition. Adding to the evening's accolades, Head Football Coach Damon Wilson was named Coach of the Year, a testament to his leadership and the team's success under his guidance.

Cheyenne Washington's strong performance for Morgan State's bowling team earned her a spot on the All-MEAC Third Team. Contributing significantly to the team's 37-39 overall record and 10-4 MEAC record (good for third place), Washington led the team in average pins with an impressive 193.06, accumulating 5,599 pins across 29 games. Her standout performance at the MEAC #2 Event, where she bowled a season-high 1,390 pins (198.6 average), was instrumental in securing Morgan State's third-place finish. Highlighting her skill, Washington bowled a high game of 226 against UAB and a remarkable 1,110 pins (222.00 average) at the Northeast Classic, including two 267 games against Sam Houston State and Maryland Eastern Shore. Her consistent performance is further evidenced by her MEAC rankings: 7th in anchor 10th frame fill percentage, 9th in traditional single pin spare percentage, and within the top 15 in several other key categories.

Elijah Williams was a standout defensive lineman for the Bears and earned significant recognition as he has been named to the 2024 AFCA Championship Subdivision Coaches; All-America Team. Williams secured a spot on the Second Team All-America. He was just one of three Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) student-athletes to be named to the All-America team. He earned the 2024 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, presented to the national defensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football. "Agent Zero" racked up a number of accolades: All-MEAC First Team; Buck Buchanan Award finalist; BOXTOROW HBCU All-American; Stats Perform FCS All-American; and was one of just ten finalists for the Urban Edge Network's inaugural HBCU+ National Player of the Year Award. 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. Williams has etched his name into the annals of college football history, concluding his tenure at MSU 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.

Coach Damon Wilson guided the Morgan State Bears to a successful season. Despite being picked to finish third in the MEAC preseason poll, the Bears ultimately lived up to those expectations, mirroring their predicted performance with an actual third-place finish in the conference. Their 3-2 conference record and 6-6 overall record, the best since 2014, represent a significant program turnaround. This success wasn't solely based on team performance; individual accolades highlighted the Bears' talent. The team boasted the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, four All-MEAC selections (including three First Team selections), a Consensus All-American, an Aeneas Williams Award semifinalist, an FCS Central Freshman All-American, and three players selected for the HBCU Legacy Bowl. Wilson's coaching clearly fostered both team cohesion and individual excellence, leading to a season far exceeding initial predictions.

2025 MSU Awards Ceremony Team Award Winners