Football 8/6/2025 8:00:00 AM

Hunter Joins BOXTOROW's Top Talent for Preseason Honors

Three Bears named Honorable Mention.

BALTIMORE, Md. (August 6, 2025) -- Morgan State football continues to receive preseason recognition ahead of the 2025 campaign. Linebacker Erick Hunter has been named to the BOXTOROW 2025 HBCU Preseason All-America Team, adding to his growing list of honors. Teammates Dashawn Fields, Jadon Carter, and Malique Leatherbury also earned Honorable Mention honors.

Erick Hunter, the 2025 MEAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, continues to gain national recognition ahead of the season. The standout linebacker has been named to the FCS Central Preseason All-America First Team, earned a spot on the Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Second Team, and was listed on the Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List — given annually to the top defensive player in the FCS. A consistent presence at the core of Morgan State's defense, Hunter enters the fall ready to emerge as one of the nation's top defenders.

Despite missing most of the 2024 season, Hunter made a strong return in the final two games, capping the year with a standout performance against Howard that included seven tackles and one sack.

Hunter, who ranks ninth on Morgan State's all-time tackles list with 196, has already established himself as one of the top defenders in the FCS. In 2023, he earned BOXTOROW Impact Player of the Year honors, was named to the FCS Football Central All-American Third Team, received All-MEAC First Team recognition, and was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award.

Hunter was joined by three fellow Bears who earned Honorable Mention recognition.

Defensive lineman Dashawn Fields — a Preseason All-MEAC First Team selection — was among them. After posting 16 tackles and a tackle for loss as a reserve last season, Fields is expected to step into a larger role in the trenches for Morgan State this fall.

Carter, a Preseason All-MEAC First Team selection at defensive back, is poised to have a breakout season in the secondary. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder possesses valuable experience, having played in all 12 games last year and showcasing his all-around ability by accumulating 25 tackles, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble, and two interceptions.

Leatherbury, a Preseason FCS Football Central All-American, concluded the 2024 season as one of the top punt return specialists in FCS football. A 2024 All-MEAC selection, he averaged an impressive 17.9 yards per return last season, ranking second in the nation. His impact went beyond the numbers, providing a consistent spark for the Bears—highlighted by a pivotal 63-yard return that helped fuel Morgan State's thrilling overtime comeback win over Norfolk State on November 2.

These four student-athletes embody the spirit of the HBCU All-Americans team, which recognizes the exceptional talent and contributions of student-athletes at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Morgan is set to open its 2025 football season on the road Saturday, August 30, with a challenging out-of-conference matchup against the University of South Alabama Jaguars. This highly anticipated season-opening showdown for Morgan will kick off at 7 p.m., taking place on the Jaguars' home turf at Hancock Whitney Stadium.

Season tickets for the 2025 campaign are now available. Click here to purchase.

The 2025 HBCU College Football Preseason All-America Team – presented by BOXTOROW

OFFENSE
QB: Jacobian Morgan, Jackson State, Gr., Canton, Miss.
RB: Thad Franklin, Jr., Florida A&M, Gr., West Palm Beach, Fla.#
RB: Kevon King, Norfolk State, Sr., Chesapeake, Va.
RB: Jacorian Sewell, Alcorn State, Gr. Natchez, Miss.#
OL: Charles Davis, Florida A&M, r-Sr., Marianna, Fla.#
OL: Ashton Grable, Florida A&M, r-Jr., Gordon, Ga.
OL: Trevon Humphrey, North Carolina Central r-Jr. Greensboro, N.C.*
OL: Noah McKinney, North Carolina Central, Sr., Duncan, S.C.#
OL: Korion Sharpe, North Carolina A&T, Sr., Charlotte, N.C.#
OL: D'Andre Townes-Blue, Jackson State Sr. Willow Grove, Pa.*
TE: Marvin Landy, Jackson State, Gr., Lakeland, Fla.
WR: Brevin Caldwell, Johnson C. Smith, Sr., Charlotte, N.C.
WR: Nathan Rembert, Jackson State, Jr., Eustis, Fla.

DEFENSE
DL: Bryce Cage, Grambling State, r-Sr., Baton Rouge, La.
DL: Ckelby Givens, Southern, Sr., Shreveport, La.*
DL: Davion Westmoreland, Florida A&M, Gr., Griffin, Ga.
DL: Jeremiah Williams, Jackson State, r-Sr., Lexington, Miss.
LB: Stemarion Edwards, Alcorn State, Gr., Hollandale, Miss.
LB: Erick Hunter, Morgan State, Sr. Capitol Heights, Md.
LB: Max U'Ren, North Carolina Central, r-Sr., Winston-Salem, N.C.
DB: Camani Cobbs, Tennessee State, r-Soph., McDonough, Ga.#
DB: TJ Huggins, Florida A&M , r-Sr., Miami, Fla.
DB: Michael King Jr. Tuskegee Sr. Tuskegee, Ala.#
DB: Keane Lewis Alabama State Sr. Miami, Fla.#
DB: Malcolm Reed, North Carolina Central, Sr., Raleigh, N.C.
DB: Jarod Washington, South Carolina State r-Sr. Fredericksburg, Va.*

SPECIALISTS
P: Gerardo Baeza, Jackson State, Gr., Boaz, Ala.
PK: Johnny Schifano, Grambling State, Gr., Arlington, Texas
PR: Travis Terrell Jackson State Soph. Atlanta, Ga.*
KR: Travis Terrell Jackson State Soph. Atlanta, Ga.*

Honorable Mention
TE: Luke Bracey, North Carolina Central
OL: Tim Artis, Jr., Howard; Desmond Daniels, Alabama State
WR: Joanes Fortilien, Jackson State
DL: Ishaun Abdul-Ali, Howard; Cameron Davis, Virginia State; Xavier Esquillen, Savannah State; Dashawn Fields, Morgan State; Nay'Ron Jenkins Florida A&M; Daylan Long, Norfolk State; KJ McNeil Virginia State; Noah Miles, Howard; Israel Nwokocha, Benedict
LB: Vincent Paige, Southern
DB: Jadon Carter, Morgan State; Horacio, Johnson Southern; Antwone Watts, Bethune-Cookman
P: Mark Shenouda, Tennessee State
KR: Jaxon Williams, Benedict
PR: Malique Leatherbury, Morgan State

*Tie
#2024 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.

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Players Mentioned

#40 Erick Hunter: LB; 6' 4"; Senior

#12 Malique Leatherbury: WR; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#8 Jadon Carter: DB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior

#59 Dashawn Fields: DL; 6' 4"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#40 Erick Hunter
: 6' 4"; Senior
: LB

#12 Malique Leatherbury
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: WR

#8 Jadon Carter
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior
: DB

#59 Dashawn Fields
: 6' 4"; Freshman
: DL