Courtesy of Jackson State Athletics
Defending HBCU National Champion, Jackson State, had seven players named to eight positions on the 2025 HBCU college football Preseason All-America team presented by BOXTOROW on Tuesday.
Florida A&M had the next most players with five, while North Carolina Central had four.
JaCobian Morgan was named Preseason All-American as the quarterback after he finished last season with 2,051 yards through the air on 150-of-234 passing, finishing the season 10-1 as a starter, including 10 consecutive wins. He also threw 19 touchdown passes with just eight interceptions, finishing with a 64.1 completion percentage. He also rushed for 225 yards and four touchdowns. Morgan completed the season ranked nationally in several categories including passing efficiency (13th/157.9), points responsible for (16th/164), passing yards per completion (17th/13.72), passing touchdowns (24th/21), completion percentage (31st/0.637), points responsible for per game (35th/11.7), passing yards (43rd/2,236), passing yards per game (69th/159.7), completions per game (80th/11.64), and rushing touchdowns (98th/6).
He was joined by transfer Nate Rembert at wide receiver, a year after he was named a Second Team HBCU All-American. Last season, recorded 70 receptions for 1,038 yards at Mississippi Valley State. He recorded four touchdowns and averaged 86.5 yards per game last season, and is one of only four receivers at Mississippi Valley State to record 1,000 yards receiving in a season.
The Tigers had two other players on the offense including, offensive lineman D’Andre Townes-Blue and tight end Marvin Landy. Townes-Blue helped lead one of the most explosive offenses in the country. The team ranked second in the country in red zone offense (0.963), sixth in scoring offense (36.4), eighth in rushing offense (211.9), 31st in sacks allowed (1.50), 34th in total offense (401.2), 59th in time of possession (30:09), and 81st in passing offense (189.3). Meanwhile, Landy finished last season with 17 receptions for 235 yards, including three touchdowns. He finished the season averaging 13.8 yards per reception. Landy recorded a season-high 55 yards on three receptions against UAPB (Nov. 2) and 51 yards in the season opener against ULM (Aug. 29). All three of his touchdown receptions were in separate games.
Jeremiah Williams was the lone defensive selection for the Tigers after recording 58 total tackles, including 22 solo stops. He also recorded 7.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. Williams recorded a season-high nine tackles against Florida A&M (Oct. 19), and seven tackles against Grambling State (Sept. 21) and Alabama A&M (Oct. 5). He recorded at least one tackle in 13 of the 14 games last season, and recorded four quarterback hurries.
Travis Terrell Jr. was named was named as the punt returner and kick returner on the preseason team. Last season, he was named Third Team FCS Football Central All-American, FCS All-American, FCS Football Central All-American, and honorable mention by the Associated Press. He was also named the Freshman of the Year by the SWAC and Phil Steele last season, and was named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List (freshman of the year). He was ranked among the best in the nation in returns, leading the nation in kick returns for touchdowns with two. He also ranked in the top five nationally in three other categories, including third in punt returns (16.7), fourth in combined kick returns (851), fifth in kickoff returns (30.6), and 36th in all-purpose yards (108.08). The sophomore also ran the ball 459 yards on 75 carries with four touchdowns, and also caught 15 passes for 95 yards on the offensive side of the ball.
He was joined on the special teams by Gerardo Baeza who earned Honorable Mention All-American honors from the Associated Press. He ranked seventh in the country in field goals per game (1.57), ninth in scoring (8.9), 40th in field goal percentage (0.733), and 42nd in points responsible for per game (8.9). He set three single-season school records last year in field goals (22), extra points (58), and most consecutive extra points in a season (48).
Joanes Fortilien was selected as Honorable Mention Preseason All-American after he played in 13 games last season. He finished the season with 37 receptions for 565 yards, including 11 touchdowns. The redshirt junior recorded a catch in all 13 games that he played, recording three or more receptions eight times, including a season-high six against Alabama A&M (Oct. 5) in the Port City Classic. He recorded six receptions against South Carolina State (Dec. 14) with a pair of touchdowns at the Cricket Celebration Bowl.
Jackson State opens the season at home against Hampton on Aug. 30.
