ORANGEBURG, SC (August 1, 2023) — Bulldog graduate defensive end Patrick Godbolt and redshirt junior punter Dyson Roberts were named to The 2023 HBCU college football Preseason All-America team presented by BOXTOROW.
GODBOLT (6-3 ,245, DE, Gr.) a native of Blythewood, SC finished the top the conference with 13.5 tackles for loss for 49-yards, along with 49 tackles,(33 solo) for 45-yards and 4.5 sacks for 23-yards. Godbolt was recently named to the All-MEAC First Team.
ROBERTS (5-11, 187, P/K-r, Jr.) a native of Sumter SC and All-MEAC performer led the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in punting with 37 punts for 1,605-yards with 10 inside he 20, 12 with 50+or more yards and a long of 61-yards and only one block. His punting average ranks among the best in the nation at 43.4 yards per punt.
Of NCCU’s five selections, two Eagles were featured on last year’s team. Defensive back Khalil Baker was part of the 2022 team and quarterback Davius Richard was last season’s BOXTOROW Impact Player of the Year. Baker is the reigning MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and finished second in the MEAC in interceptions (4), returned one for a touchdown, broke up five passes, and recorded 61 tackles (41 solo). Richard finished fifth in FCS in points responsible for per game (20.4), was responsible for 40 touchdowns (25 passing, 15 rushing), led the MEAC in passing yards (2,661), passing touchdowns (25), efficiency (155.3, 12th in FCS), completed 63 percent of his passes, and carried the ball 130 times for 788 yards.
Florida AM finished with four selections, the second most, led by returning offensive lineman Jalen Goss. In total, 18 programs are represented of the 29 selections. North Carolina A&T and South Carolina State have two selections each.
BOXTOROW has named All-America teams since 2007 based on voting by national media who cover HBCU football.
The 2023 HBCU college football Preseason All-America team
OFFENSE
QB: Davius Richard, North Carolina Central, Sr., Belle Grade, Fla.
RB: Jada Byers, Virginia Union, Jr., Hammonton, N.J.
RB: Jarveon Howard, Alcorn State, r-Sr., Columbia, Miss.
OL: Jalen Goss, Florida A&M, Gr., Valdosta, Ga.
OL: Cameron Covin, Florida A&M, Gr., Albany, Ga.
OL: Torricelli Simpkins III, North Carolina Central, Jr., Charlotte, N.C.
OL: Tairiq Stewart, North Carolina A&T, Gr., Cleveland, Ohio
OL: Jonathan Williams, Alabama A&M, r-Soph., Mobile, Ala.
TE: D.J. Stevens, Jackson State, Sr., Ridgeland, Texas
WR: Devin Smith, North Carolina Central, Jr., Durham, N.C.
WR: Jacquez Jones, Lane, r-Jr., Orlando, Fla.
DEFENSE
DL: Loobert Denelus, Benedict, Sr., Naples, Fla.
DL: Sundiata Anderson, Grambling State, Sr., College Park, Ga.
DL: Patrick Godbolt, South Carolina State, Gr., Blythewood, S.C.
DL: Elijah Williams, Morgan State, Jr., Jersey City, N.J.
LB: Colton Adams, Alabama State, r-Jr., Wetumpka, Ala.
LB: Isaiah Major, Florida A&M, Sr., Oklahoma City, Ok.
LB: Jalil Lenore, Central State, r-Soph., Chicago, Ill.
DB: Khalil Baker, North Carolina Central, Sr., Winston-Salem, N.C.
DB: Kenny Gallop, Howard, Sr., Portsmouth, Va.
DB: Karon Prunty, North Carolina A&T, r-Jr., Portsmouth, Va.
DB: Kendall Bohler, Florida A&M, r-Jr., Orlando, Fla.*
DB: Omari Hill-Robinson, Bethune-Cookman, Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.*
SPECIALISTS
P: Ryan Duff, Tuskegee, Sr., Mobile, Ala.*
P: Dyson Roberts, South Carolina State, Jr., Sumter, S.C.*
PK: Adrian Olivo, North Carolina Central, Sr., Plant City, Fla.
PR: Hakeem Ellington, Fort Valley State, Sr., Summerville, S.C.
KR: Keith Jenkins, Jr., Morgan State, Soph., Gainesville, Va.
RS: Hakeem Ellington, Fort Valley State, Sr., Summerville, S.C.
*Tie