• Complete HBCU+ National Player of the Year Release

Tennessee State senior defensive lineman James Stewart is one of 10 finalists for HBCU National Player of the Year Award, which will be presented by Stats Perform to the outstanding player from 21 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in FCS college football.

All positions are eligible for the award. The recipient, to be selected by an eight-voter panel involved in HBCU FCS coverage, will be announced on December 8 and honored at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show on January 3 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Stewart ranked eighth nationally in tackles for loss (1.46/game) and 15th in forced fumbles (0.25/game) this season. In 12 games he tallied a team-best 68 tackles (32 solo) to go along with his 17.5 tackles for loss (for -65 yards), 6.0 sacks (for -34 yards), four pass breakups, seven quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles. Stewart had a season-best 3.5 tackles for loss against UT Martin (in a game he had a season-high nine tackles) and added 3.0 at Eastern Illinois. Only once during the season did he have fewer than four tackles in a game.

Also this season, the Walter Payton Award (FCS Offensive Player of the Year), Buck Buchanan Award (FCS Defensive Player of the Year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS Freshman Player of the Year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS Coach of the Year) and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be presented at the awards banquet.

2025 HBCU National Player of the Year Finalists
Andrew Body, Alabama State, QB, R-Jr., 6-0, 205 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
Marquis Gillis, Delaware State, RB, Grad, 6-0, 210 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Walker Harris, North Carolina Central, QB, R-Sr., 6-1, 195 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Erick Hunter, Morgan State, LB, Sr., 6-4, 220 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) 
Quincy Ivory, Jackson State, DE, Sr., 6-3, 239 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
Thomas Johnson, North Carolina Central, DE, R-Jr., 6-3, 255 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) 
Harold O’Neal III, Hampton, LB, Grad, 6-1, 215 (CAA Football)
Kennedy Parker, Prairie View A&M, LB, Grad, 6-1, 210 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
James Stewart, Tennessee State, DE, R-Sr., 6-3, 248 (OVC-Big South Football Association)
Jarod Washington, South Carolina State, DB, Sr., 6-2, 188 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)