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Football MSU Athletics Communications

Morgan State Football’s Aki Harvey Named to Prestigious Aeneas Williams Watch List

BALTIMORE, Md. (August 19, 2026) – Morgan State University standout defensive back Aki Harvey has earned national recognition after being named to the 2026 Aeneas Williams Award Watch List, announced by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

Harvey is among 16 of the nation's top defensive backs from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) selected to the prestigious preseason watch list. The list is selected by a screening committee in partnership with DraftHBCUPlayers and the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.
 
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The preseason watch list is not final, with additional players who produce outstanding seasons eligible to be added to the semifinalist and finalist lists as the 2026 campaign progresses.

A Preseason All-MEAC First Team selection, Harvey enters his senior season as one of the anchors of the Bears' secondary. The reliable cornerback appeared in all 12 games for Morgan State during the 2025 season, recording 24 tackles, including 16 solo stops, along with a fumble recovery and an interception return of 69 yards.

With another year of experience under his belt, Harvey enters the 2026 season with elevated expectations and an opportunity to establish himself as one of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's premier defensive backs.

Morgan State will open the 2026 campaign on the road Saturday, August 29, against the North Carolina A&T Aggies. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Truist Stadium in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The Aeneas Williams Award, presented by the Chickasaw Nation, honors the nation's top defensive back in HBCU Division I football. The award recognizes performance on the field, athletic ability, and character.

Established in 2022, the Aeneas Williams Award is named in honor of Southern University walk-on and Pro Football Hall of Famer Aeneas Williams. The award celebrates the longstanding tradition of HBCU football and its impact on the college game and the NFL.

A New Orleans, Louisiana native, Williams was a junior walk-on defensive back at Southern University before tying the NCAA Division I-AA single-season interception record as a senior. He was selected in the third round of the 1991 NFL Draft by the Phoenix Cardinals and later played for the St. Louis Rams.

During a remarkable 14-year NFL career, Williams earned eight Pro Bowl selections and four All-Pro honors, appeared in a Super Bowl, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Beyond football, Williams has dedicated much of his life to faith, service, and helping others fulfill their potential. In 2007, he and his wife, Tracy, founded The Spirit Church in St. Louis, Missouri, where he serves as Senior Pastor.
 
Aeneas Williams Award Important Dates

Wed., Aug. 19: Preseason watch list announced at 11 a.m. CT/noon ET
Tue., Nov. 3: Semifinalists announced at 11 a.m. CT/noon ET
Tue., Dec. 1: Finalists announced at 11 a.m. CT/noon ET
Thurs., Dec. 10: Winner announced at 11 a.m. CT/noon ET
Tue., Feb. 9, 2027: Aeneas Williams Award Banquet honoring the 2026 Winner in Oklahoma City

The official presentation of the Aeneas Williams Award takes place in Oklahoma City, in conjunction with the annual Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet. The current winner and former winners are invited each year to celebrate. Over 600 supporters attend this joint award banquet each year, including many celebrities and dignitaries.

For more information about the Aeneas Williams Award and past award recipients, please visit www.oklahomasportshalloffame.org. Follow up with the Aeneas Williams Award in-season news on our Paycom Jim Thorpe Award socials: Instagram (@jimthorpeaward), X (@jimthorpeaward), and Facebook (Paycom Jim Thorpe Award).

The Chickasaw Nation is dedicated to meeting our mission to enhance the overall quality of life of the Chickasaw people, ensuring that they stay united, thriving, and dedicated to the preservation of family, community, and heritage in the State of Oklahoma. A diverse economic portfolio generates funds to support a variety of quality programs and services in the State of Oklahoma in the areas of education, health care, youth, and more, which directly benefit Chickasaws and their Oklahoma communities.

DraftHBCUPlayers is a platform and movement dedicated to evaluating black college talent for professional sports. Pairing scouting with history while motivating our student-athletes is our top priority. DraftHBCUPlayers consists of scouts, producers, photographers, coaches, and writers striving towards one goal: promoting HBCU athletes throughout every conference, division, and sport.



 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 website of Bear 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.
 
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Aki Harvey

#13 Aki Harvey

DB
6' 4"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Aki Harvey

#13 Aki Harvey

6' 4"
Junior
DB