🏆 Celebrating the best players, teams and performances across North Carolina’s small-college football landscape
NC Football News created a series of Small-College Football Awards in 2025 to recognize the players, teams and moments that define each season across our state’s FCS, Division II and Division III landscape.
Throughout the 2026 season, we’ll track standout players and performances, culminating with our Small-College Player of the Year, divisional honors and All-State teams following the season.
Our goal is simple: recognize the players, teams and moments that make North Carolina’s small-college football one of the Old North State’s great sports stories.
⭐ North Carolina Small-College Player of the Year
Our newest player award will honor the one player who had the most impact and best defined the 2026 small-college football season in our state. Offense, defense and special teams all will be eligible.
The award will celebrate the one North Carolina player whose performance, leadership, consistency and impact most influenced his team while creating unforgettable moments throughout the season.
📋 How Winners Are Selected
NC Football News evaluates candidates throughout the season based on several factors, including:
✓ Individual performance
✓ Consistency throughout the season
✓ Impact on team success
✓ Strength of competition
✓ Historic accomplishments
✓ Leadership and defining moments
🏆 2026 Award: To be announced in December 2026/January 2027.
🤝 Become the Presenting Sponsor
The NC Football News Small-College Football Awards celebrate the players, teams and moments that define each football season across North Carolina’s 25 FCS, Division II and Division III programs.
We’re seeking one exclusive presenting sponsor to partner with us throughout the 2026 season as we recognize the state’s top performers each week and crown our annual Small-College Player of the Year.
Interested in partnering with us?
📧 Eric Lusk
eric@ncfootballnews.com
🏆 2025 Rewind: Small-College Season Award Winners
Here are the players who earned our 2025 Small-College Football end-of-season awards:
North Carolina FCS Awards
🏆 Offensive Player of the Year: Taron Dickens (Western Carolina)
🛡️ Defensive Player of the Year: Kahmari Brown (Elon)
🏟️ Special Teams Player of the Year: Andrew Brown (North Carolina A&T)
FCS All-State Team: Read the full story, including our complete FCS “All-State” honors list
North Carolina D2 Awards
🏆 Offensive Player of the Year: Jaylen Himes (Wingate)
🛡️ Defensive Player of the Year: Kenyon Garner (Livingstone)
🏟️ Special Teams Player of the Year: Tye Roberson (Lenoir-Rhyne)
D2 All-State Team: Read the full story, including our complete D2 “All-State” honors list
North Carolina D3 Awards
🏆 Offensive Player of the Year: Nahjiir Seagraves (North Carolina Wesleyan)
🛡️ Defensive Player of the Year: Travis Burton (Guilford)
🏟️ Special Teams Player of the Year: Jeremyah Lane (Brevard)
D3 All-State Team: Read the full story, including our complete D3 “All-State” honors list
