NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State defensive backs
Nasir Bashir and
Stephon Hall have been named to the 2026 Aeneas Williams Award Preseason Watch List, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame announced Wednesday.
The award, presented by the Chickasaw Nation, is given annually to the best defensive back in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Division I college football based on on-field performance, athletic ability and character. Now in its fifth year, the watch list features 16 of the nation's top HBCU defensive backs, selected by a screening committee in partnership with DraftHBCUPlayers and the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.
Norfolk State is one of just three programs — along with Jackson State and South Carolina State — with two players on the preseason list.
Bashir, a graduate senior cornerback from Atlanta, Georgia, arrived in Norfolk ahead of the 2025 season after three years at UAB and quickly established himself as a playmaker on the back end. He appeared in eight games and totaled 21 tackles, including nine solo stops, and added a half tackle for loss. Bashir's two interceptions both came in the same afternoon against Howard, and he returned them for a combined 45 yards, including a 45-yard return that stood as the Spartans' longest of the season. He posted a season-high five tackles against Wofford and recorded at least three stops in four contests.
Hall, a graduate senior safety from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, returns to the Spartan secondary after an injury-shortened debut season. He appeared in four games in 2025 before suffering a season-ending injury against Sacred Heart, finishing with 12 tackles, including a season-high six against Towson and four against Virginia State. At 6-foot-2 and 193 pounds, Hall brings extensive experience to the position, having recorded 48 tackles (32 solo) in 11 games at Youngstown State in 2024 following two seasons at Pittsburgh, where he was named to the All-ACC Academic Football Team in 2022.
South Carolina State's Jarod Washington captured the 2025 Aeneas Williams Award after being named MEAC Defensive Player of the Year. The award was established in 2022 as the first of its kind in HBCU history, honoring Southern University walk-on and Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Aeneas Williams.
The watch list is not final, and players who post standout seasons may be added to the semifinalist and finalist lists as the year progresses. Semifinalists will be announced Tuesday, Nov. 3, with finalists revealed Tuesday, Dec. 1, and the winner named Thursday, Dec. 10. The 2026 recipient will be honored at the Aeneas Williams Award Banquet on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2027, in Oklahoma City, held in conjunction with the annual Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet.
Norfolk State will open its highly anticipated 2026 season on Saturday, Aug. 29 against Winston-Salem State at William "Dick" Price Stadium in Norfolk. Get your tickets now to catch the Spartans in action as Coach Vick leads Norfolk State into the season. Season tickets and single-game tickets are available at nsuspartanstickets.universitytickets.com.
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About Norfolk State University Athletics
Norfolk State University is a Division I member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and a proud Historically Black College and University, sponsoring 17 varsity sports. The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is committed to competitive excellence, academic achievement, and building a culture that wins beyond the scoreboard. Behold the green and gold.
