The spotlight is already shining on North Carolina’s top FCS football players heading into the 2025 college season.
Standouts from Western Carolina, North Carolina Central, Elon and Davidson have landed on multiple preseason All-America teams and/or earned spots on national award watch lists heading into the fall.
This tracker will keep an updated list of every preseason All-America selection and award watch list honor for North Carolina FCS players as they are announced throughout July and August. Bookmark and check back often for updates as the accolades continue to roll in.
🔄 Updated: July 31, 2025 | 11 p.m.
🏈 North Carolina FCS Football Honors
🏆 National Award Watch Lists
- Malcolm Reed (DB, NCCU) – Buck Buchanan Award (National Defensive Player of the Year), Stats Perform HBCU Player of the Year
- Mari Adams (RB, Davidson) – Walter Payton Award (National Offensive Player of the Year)
- Taron Dickens (QB, Western Carolina) – Walter Payton Award (National Offensive Player of the Year)
- Walker Harris (QB, NCCU) – Stats Perform HBCU Player of the Year
- Trevon Humphrey (OL, NCCU) – Stats Perform HBCU Player of the Year
⭐ 2025 FCS Football Central Preseason All-American Team
- 1st Team – Jeff Yurk, P, Elon
- 2nd Team – Malcolm Reed, DB, NCCU
- 3rd Team – Mari Adams, RB, Davidson
⭐ 2025 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team
- 1st Team – Jeff Yurk, P, Elon
- 1st Team – Malcolm Reed, DB, NCCU
- 2nd Team – Taron Dickens, QB, WCU
- 3rd Team – Mari Adams, RB, Davidson
⭐ Lindy’s Sports 2025 All-FCS Team
- 1st Team – Jeff Yurk, P, Elon
- 1st Team – Trevon Humphrey, OL, NCCU
- 2nd Team – AJ Colombo, WR, WCU
- 2nd Team – Mari Adams, RB, Davidson
🏈 North Carolina FCS Football | Preseason All-Conference
✅ 2025 Preseason All-MEAC
North Carolina Central
- QB Walker Harris (1st team)
- TE Luke Bracey (1st team)
- C Noah McKinney (1st team)
- OL Trevon Humphrey (1st team)
- OL AC McMoore (1st team)
- LB Max U’Ren (1st team)
- DB Malcolm Reed (1st team)
- DB Jelani Vassell (1st team)
- WR Chance Peterson (2nd team)
- DL Christian Smith (2nd team)
- K Kaleb Robison (2nd team)
✅ 2025 Southern Conference Preseason All-Conference Team
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: QB Taron Dickens, Western Carolina
Western Carolina
- QB Taron Dickens (1st team offense)
- RB Branson Adams (1st team offense)
- OL Zach Watson (1st team offense)
- DL Caleb Fisher (1st team defense)
- LB Hayward McQueen Jr. (1st team defense)
- DB Ken Moore Jr. (1st team defense)
- WR Malik Knight (2nd team offense)
- OL Aaron Sanez (2nd team offense)
- DL Micah Nelson (2nd team defense)
- LB Blue Monroe (2nd team defense)
- DB Samaurie Dukes (2nd team defense)
✅ 2025 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team
North Carolina A&T
- OL Korion Sharpe (1st team)
- KR Aaron Harris (honorable mention)
Elon
- P Jeff Yurk (1st team)
- FB/HB Dylan Magazu (honorable mention)
DL Kahmari Brown (honorable mention)
Campbell
- CB Brandon Guzman (honorable mention)
✅ 2025 OVC-Big South Football Association Preseason Watch List
Gardner-Webb
- WR/KR/PR/AP Anthony Lowe (offense, special teams)
- RB Quasean Holmes (offense)
- TE Cole Schneider (offense)
- OL Andrew Threatt (offense)
- DL Antonio O’Berry (defense)
- LB Jackson Marshall (defense)
- DB Wendall McClain (defense)
✅ 2025 Preseason All-Pioneer Football League
Davidson
- Mari Adams (RB)
- Mason Sheron (RB)
- Kyler Herring (OL)
