Between now and Monday, Feb. 10 — when we'll reveal our overall FCS team (Top 50) and individual recruiting rankings (Top 300) — we're going to begin to release some of our thoughts about each class here, conference by conference and position by position. Today we release our feelings about the HBCU ranks –and where things stand for those schools.
Also … remember, this is a ranking of HIGH SCHOOL commitments … this is only one way our FCS rankings differentiate us from 247Sports and Rivals etc. Also … we don't pay any attention to the star rating, this ranking is based solely on how each athlete is coveted, who wanted him … and how many wanted him. That's it. Film evaluation is something I will leave up to the coaches, as they have their jobs on the line with that. I figure if their jobs are on the line, they're probably doing a pretty good job of figuring out who they want to offer a spot on their teams. And they are certainly better than I am at making that determination.
[divider]More FCS Recruiting:
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Quick rankings explanation:
- Only high school recruits are taken into account. Transfers are separate and will be evaluated much later this spring.
- The system is based on school offers, NOT 247Sports or Rivals. Every level of D-1 (P5, G5, FCS) has a particular tiered point total.
- When it comes to team rankings, it's the value of all of its Dec. signees and current commitments' point totals combined. Every kid counts.
- I respect PWOs — preferred walk-ons. They get credit too. The FCS is the perfect level for walk-ons. They matter to these schools.
- The final national rankings for Top 50 teams and Top 300 individuals will publish Monday, Feb. 10[divider]
All FCS Conference & Position Recruiting Rankings
TOP HBCU TEAMS
(This top list is based on teams that have already secured at least five recruits – full conference breakdown comes later)
| RK | TEAM |
| 1 | FAMU |
| 2 | Tennessee St. |
| 3 | Alabama State |
| 4 | Southern U |
| 5 | Morgan State |
| 6 | Alcorn State |
| 7 | Alabama A&M |
| 8 | Hampton |
| 9 | Grambling |
| 10 | NC Central |
[divider]TOP HBCU RECRUITS
(NOTE: PWO means preferred walk-on offer; Only high school commits/recruits are considered here – transfers come later)
| RK | FCS TEAM | POS | FCS RECRUIT | HOMETOWN | OTHER D-1 OPTIONS |
| 1 | FAMU | DB | Benjamin Onwuzo | Hollywood, FL | Minnesota decommit – 12 Power Five offers, 10 G5s |
| 2 | SOUTHERN U. | OL | Antonio Smith | Ocala, FL | Miami (FL) decommit – 5 Power Five offers, 11 G5 offers |
| 3 | MORGAN STATE | RB | De'Andre Bulley | River Rouge, MI | Akron decommit – 6 Power Five offers, 7 G5s |
| 4 | FAMU | DB | Jalil Core | Seffner, FL | Florida State, Iowa, 13 G5 offers |
| 5 | FAMU | OL | Evan Webster | Wauchula, FL | Florida State., Iowa State, Louisville, Virginia, 9 G5 |
| 6 | TENNESSEE STATE | DB | Jeshon Ingraham | West Palm Beach, FL | B.C., Minnesota, Mizzou, 8 FBS, 2 FCS |
| 7 | TENNESSEE STATE | WR | Gerand Turner | Miami, FL | Syracuse, 11 G5 offers, 3 FCS offers |
| 8 | ALABAMA STATE | WR | Rishard Densmore | Bessemer, AL | 4 Power Five offers, 10 G5s |
| 9 | PRAIRIE VIEW A&M | DL | Jordon Williams | Metairie, LA | Louisville, 5 G5 offers, 12 FCS offers |
| 10 | TENNESSEE STATE | OL | Jai'mari Herbert | Hollywood, FL | Kentucky, Pitt, Syracuse, 6 G5 offers |
| 11 | ALABAMA STATE | LB | DeMarkus Cunningham | Bessemer, AL | UAB decommit – 12 Group of Five offers |
| 12 | TENNESSEE STATE | OL | Jeremiah Mawali | West Palm Beach, FL | Rutgers, Maryland, Purdue, 5 G5 offers |
| 13 | FAMU | DB | Tevin Griffey | Orlando, FL | Michigan, Toledo, Arizona, Illinois and Oregon |
| 14 | TENNESSEE STATE | QB | Edwin Rhodes | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Vandy, 3 FBS, 5 FCS |
| 15 | ALCORN STATE | RB | Javonta Leatherwood | Tuscaloosa, AL | Ole Miss, 6 G5 offers |
| 16 | ALCORN STATE | TE | KaDarius Wells | Brookhaven, MS | Ole Miss, Vandy, 7 G5 |
| 17 | HAMPTON | DB | Corey Wilson | Hampton, VA | ODU, Army, Navy, UTSA, 6 FCS offers |
| 18 | TENNESSEE STATE | DL | Jaylon Jones | Valdosta, GA | Boston College, 4 G5, 3 FCS |
| 19 | TENNESSEE STATE | WR | Zaire Thornton | Atlanta, GA | 5 FBS, 5 FCS offers |
| 20 | FAMU | WR | Trevon Sanders | Homestead, FL | Rhody decommit – 5 FBS offers, 4 FCS |
| 21 | ALABAMA STATE | LB | Cameron Fortson | Atlanta, GA | WKU, Charlotte, Navy, Akron, 6 FCS offers |
| 22 | HAMPTON | RB | Elijah Burris | Mount Holly, NC | North Carolina decommit – WestVa, Charlotte, Coastal Car. |
| 23 | DELAWARE STATE | WR | Ed Core | Fort Washington, MD | Rutgers, Boston College, 5 G5 offers |
| 24 | ALABAMA A&M | CB | James Davis | Belle Glades, FL | Kentucky, Syracuse, Iowa State |
| 25 | GRAMBLING | WR | Trenton Grow | Edgard, LA | 5 FBS offers, 3 FCS |
| 26 | MORGAN STATE | QB | Raequan Beal | Detroit, MI | 4 G5 offers, 4 FCS offers |
| 27 | NORFOLK STATE | WR | Kevin Gayles | Richmond, VA | Tennessee, Ole Dominion, Elon, BCU, Air Force, DelSt. |
| 28 | ALABAMA A&M | DL | Tre'von Allen | Miami, Fla. | 5 G5 offers |
| 29 | PRAIRIE VIEW A&M | LB | Jessie Evans | Houston, TX | Texas A&M, Memphis, Colo. St., McNeese, Lamar |
| 30 | ALCORN STATE | QB | Kole Williams | Montgomery, AL | So. Alab., CMU, Lib., Alab St., AA&M |
| 31 | BETH-COOKMAN | QB | Tony Bartalo | Tampa, FL | Kent St., 7 FCS offers |
| 32 | N.C. CENTRAL | LB | Solomon Sutton | Charlotte, NC | North Carolina, Coastal Car., Umass |
| 33 | SOUTHERN U. | DL | Tikey Reese | Monroe, VA | UCA decommit – La-Monroe, 7 FCS offers |
| 34 | HOWARD | QB | Asa Williams | Waldorf, MD | Navy, 6 FCS offers |
| 35 | FAMU | WR | Aquil Muhammad | Decatur, GA | Army, Georgia Southern, Kent State, EKU |
| 36 | GRAMBLING | DL | Javon Carter | Gonzalez, LA | La-Mon., La-Laf., McNeese, Nicholls, SE La. |
| 37 | GRAMBLING | LB | Josh Darling | Gordo, AL | UAB, Troy, Southern Miss, Jville State |
| 38 | SOUTHERN U. | LB | Jadyn Landrum | Grand Prairie, TX | UAB, Navy, McNeese, Tenn St., TexSo. |
| 39 | NORTH CAROLINA A&T | OL | Matthew Cairns | Cary, NC | Old Dominion, VMI, NC Central, AAMU |
| 40 | FAMU | WR | Tre'ven Smith | Blountstown, FL | Southern Miss, ETSU, AAMU, BCU, Tenn St. |
[divider]Listen to the latest episodes of B-Mac and Herd's FCS Podcast, which is also available on Apple Podcasts, iTunes, Spotify, iHeart, Stitcher and Spreaker.
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