Hammond, Nalls Land on National Player of the Year Watch List

August 15, 2018

Virginia Union University’s Sterling Hammond and Shamdu Nalls have landed on the Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) 2018 Watch List for the Black College Football Player of the Year Award.

The Award is presented annually to the most outstanding football player from a Historically Black College & University. Former North Carolina A&T, and current Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Award in 2016; and Bowie State sophomore quarterback Amir Hall was the 2017 recipient.

Hammond, a 6-1 junior defensive back from Caret, Va., was the CIAA Defensive Player of the Year last season while leading VUU with 70 tackles.  Hammond also returned a block punt for a touchdown and was a Lindy's Pre-Season All-American this past summer.

Nalls, a 6-4 senior offensive lineman from Baltimore, Md., anchored a Maroon & Steel offensive line which allowed Panther runners to rush for 1,590 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

The winner of the 2018 Black College Football Player of the Year Award will be honored with the Deacon Jones Trophy during the Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which takes place on February 16, 2019 in Atlanta. Four finalists will be unveiled on November 29.

“HBCU football has outstanding talent, as evidenced in this year’s NFL Draft,” said Super Bowl MVP quarterback Doug Williams, a BCFHOF co-founder and 2011 inductee. “This Award is a way that the Black College Football Hall of Fame is able to recognize these talented student-athletes.”

“The Deacon Jones Trophy is the most prestigious football award for HBCUs,” said BCFHOF co-founder and 2012 inductee James Harris. “Deacon Jones was a pioneer and an icon, and still to this day represents the very best of Black College Football.”

The Watch List candidates have been selected based on past performance and future potential. Additions to the list may be made as the 2018 season progresses. The finalists and the winner will be chosen by a Selection Committee.

Virginia Union kicks off the 2018 season against Seton Hill University at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 1, at Hovey Field in Richmond, Va.