Haney Earns Preseason National Attention

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Alcorn Football defensive back Tayvion Haney was named to the Aeneas Williams Award 2026 Preseason Watch List announced Wednesday, August 19, from their home offices in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The announcement came on behalf of the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.
 
The preseason watch list includes 16 of the nation's best defensive backs in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Division I college football. The preseason watch list is selected by a screening committee in partnership with DraftHBCUPlayers and the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. This list is not final, and players who have outstanding seasons may be added to the semifinalists and finalists lists as the season progresses.
 
Tayvion Haney, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior from Little Rock, Arkansas, signed with Alcorn in December 2022, out of Parkview High School.
 
Haney was tabbed a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Preseason all-conference second team defensive back announced during the league's annual media day event in July. Last season, Haney finished with 29 tackles (23 solo), adding a team second-most six pass deflections in the process. That allowed him to finish ninth on the team in total tackles for the Braves.
 
The Aeneas Williams Award is presented by the Chickasaw Nation and awarded to the best defensive back in HBCU Division I college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character.
 
This award was established in 2022 and serves as the first of its kind in HBCU history in honor of its namesake, Southern University walk-on and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Aeneas Williams. The contribution of HBCUs to the landscape of college football and the NFL has forever left an impact on the game. HBCUs hold an incredibly rich athletic tradition, tied to the game of football, which continues to exemplify the culture of these schools for over the past century.
 
The official presentation of the Aeneas Williams Award takes place in Oklahoma City, in conjunction with the annual Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet. The current winner and former winners are invited each year to celebrate. Over 600 supporters attend this joint award banquet each year, including many celebrities and dignitaries.
 
Alcorn begins the season Saturday, Aug. 29, as the Braves welcome Miles to Jack Spinks – Marino Casem Stadium for a 6 p.m. kickoff.
 
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