HBCU Football Division II Rankings, Superlatives | 2023
The HBCU Football Division II final team rankings, and superlatives by HBCU Legends.
The HBCU Football Division II final team rankings, and superlatives by HBCU Legends.
2023 HBCU Football Division II Final Ranking
- Benedict College, 11-0
- Virginia Union, 10-1
- Fayetteville State, 8-3
- Virginia State, 8-2
- Albany State, 6-4
- Miles, 6-4
- Tuskegee, 7-3
- Allen, 7-3
- Johnson C. Smith, 7-3
- Fort Valley State, 7-3
2023 HBCU Football Division II National Champions
- Benedict College Tigers
2023 HBCU Football Coach of the Year
- Chennis Berry, Benedict College: 11-0, 2nd-consecutive season to win the conference championship, coach of the year, and go undefeated in the regular season.

Virginia Union running back Jada Byers breaks the tackle of Morehouse's Cameron Selders as he runs for a first-half touchdown in the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023, in Canton. Credit: © Kevin Whitlock / Massillon Independent / USA TODAY NETWORK
2023 HBCU Football Division II Offensive Player of the Year
- Jada Byers, VA Union: Byers had another season being the CIAA's leading rusher. In 2023, he had 1,085 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 120.6 yards per contest. Byers is just a junior and hasn't declared for the NFL Draft.
2023 HBCU Football Division II Defensive Player of the Year
- Loobert Denelus, Benedict College: The defensive lineman/edge rusher had NFL scouting departments visiting the Tigers throughout the season. He finished the year as the back-to-back SIAC Defensive Player of the Year. He's also a Campbell Trophy candidate.