Statistically speaking, Johnson C. Smith had the stingiest defense in all of Division II football in 2023.
The Golden Bulls allowed a mere 224.2 yards of offense against them over 11 games, a big reason the program enjoyed its best overall season in a decade. Opponents only managed 79 yards per game on the ground, stonewalled by the JCSU stopping unity.
Linebacker Benari Black, a standout from nearby West Charlotte High, often served as the centerpiece of the Bulls’ defense. NC Football News turns its D2 Player Spotlight today on Black, who started his college career at UNC Pembroke but returned home to play for JCSU in 2022.
Black, named to the CIAA’s preseason all-conference lineup a few weeks ago, made first-team all-league as a linebacker in 2023. He led the conference in solo tackles (55) and total hits (82), averaging 9.1 tackles per game. He was fifth in tackles-for-loss with 14.5.
Black served notice in the season opener last September, wracking up 16 tackles — all solo (!) according to the box score — as well as three tackles for loss in a game at West Virginia Wesleyan.
Johnson C. Smith has been picked fourth in this year’s preseason coaches poll, one of its highest predicted order of finish in quite some time.
Before the CIAA campaign starts, Black and the Golden Bulls begin their ’24 campaign in front of a nationally televised ESPNU audience on Sunday, Sept. 1. Johnson C. Smith will face Tuskegee in the annual Red Tails Classic in Montgomery, Ala.
#3 Benari Black
- Position: Linebacker
- Height: 6-2
- Weight: 215
- Class: Senior
- Hometown: Charlotte
- High School (Previous School): West Charlotte HS (UNC Pembroke)
2023 Highlights: Had four games with at least 10 tackles, including 16 against West Virginia Wesleyan, 14 against Elizabeth City State on Sept. 30 to spoil the Vikings’ homecoming and 11 against Livingstone in the season finale … Finished with 13.0 tackles-for-loss (minus 42 yards) for the season … Blocked a kick against Livingstone.
2022 Highlights: Recorded 70 tackles, including 39 solo hits, in his first season at Johnson C. Smith. Finished with seven tackles for loss … Had 11 tackles in the conference opener against Lincoln and 10 the next week against Elizabeth City State. Finished with 11 stops at Winston-Salem State late in the season … Had a 23-yard rush against Shaw, his lone offensive touch.
2021 Highlights: Played in six games for UNC Pembroke, recording 26 total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss … Had a nine-tackle game against Notre Dame College (Ohio).
High School Highlights: Logged 123 tackles, including 66 solo stops, as a senior at West Charlotte … Had a monster 22-tackle game against Vance … Maintained a GPA of 3.2.
