Jada Byers, a record-setting rusher at Virginia Union University, was recently named Black College Football Player of the Year by the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

Byers led the CIAA in 2024, rushing for 1,497 yards and totaling 1,712 all-purpose yards while scoring 23 touchdowns. His outstanding performance earned him the CIAA Offensive Player of the Year Award.

  

Byers made history as the first player to win two CIAA Offensive Player of the Year awards since former Bowie State quarterback Amir Hall.

Additionally, Byers became the first Division II player to win the Deacon Jones Trophy since Hall received the honor in 2018.

Over his four-year career at Virginia Union, Byers set the Panthers’ all-time records for rushing yards (5,311) and touchdowns (70). One of his most memorable performances came against Bowie State, where he rushed for 324 yards and scored six touchdowns.