The FCS preseason All-America team dropped, and three HBCU players landed on the second team. That’s not nothing. These aren’t participation trophies. These are guys who spent 2025 wrecking offensive lines, shutting down passing lanes, and making return men look silly.
Opta Analyst put together the list. Quavion Davis from Jackson State on the offensive line. Jordan Franklin from South Carolina State at linebacker. Elijah Kennedy from North Carolina A&T as a return specialist. All three earned second-team honors heading into the 2026 season.
But here’s what’s interesting. This comes right before HBCU conference media days kick off. So these three players are walking into those rooms with some real national recognition already attached to their names. And all three programs have championship-type expectations this fall.
Jordan Franklin: The Bulldog’s Anchor
Franklin is probably the headliner here. He put together a 2025 season that earned him First Team All-MEAC honors. The numbers: 62 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions. That’s productive by any standard.
He was a huge part of why South Carolina State won back-to-back MEAC championships. The Bulldogs also won the 2025 Cricket Celebration Bowl in four overtimes against Prairie View A&M. That game was wild. Franklin was a big reason they got there in the first place.
Quavion Davis: Clearing the Way
Davis didn’t get the flashy stats. He’s an offensive lineman. But his 88% blocking grade and 27 pancake blocks tell the story. He allowed just 1.5 sacks all season. That’s basically a clean pocket for the quarterback all year.
Jackson State’s running game benefited directly. Ahmad Miller ran for over 1,000 yards. Denario Davenport and Travis Terrell Jr. each added more than 600. The Tigers won the SWAC East Division, and Davis was the guy making those holes happen up front.
Elijah Kennedy: The Return Game’s Scariest Weapon
Kennedy is the wild card here. North Carolina A&T struggled in Sean Gibbs’ first season as head coach. But Kennedy was electric. He piled up 979 combined return yards, averaged 16.1 yards per punt return, and took two punts back for touchdowns.
The Aggies need to take a step forward in 2026. Having a returner who can flip field position like Kennedy does gives them a real edge. He’s one of the FCS’s best special teams players, and that’s not hyperbole.
All three guys will be worth watching when the season starts. HBCU football has been getting more national attention, and players like these are the reason why.
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