A staff report

Dallas linebacker James Houston IV, who played at Jackson State, received the 2026 Black College Football Pro Player Award at the 17th annual Black College Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony recently in Atlanta.

The award was presented by the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). Houston became the 10th player to earn this annual honor presented to a top professional football player who attended a Historically Black College or University (HBCU).

“Being selected as this year’s NFLPA Black College Football Pro Player of the Year means a lot to me,” Houston said. “My time at Jackson State made me into the man and player I am today, and I’m proud to be a part of the legacy that HBCU players have built and will continue to build on and off the field. Thank you to the NFLPA for their support and investment into HBCU programs and players.”

In his fifth NFL season, Houston continued to produce at a notable level, registering 5.5 sacks and 35 total tackles for the Cowboys last season. At Jackson State, Houston was named the first-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and SWAC Newcomer of the Year in 2021. After being selected by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Houston quickly entered the record books as only the third player in NFL history to open his career with a four-game sack streak.

In recognition of Houston’s honor, the NFLPA and its Social Justice Task Force presented a $5,000 donation to Jackson State’s athletic department to support the university’s football program. Houston was also honored alongside this year’s Black College Football Hall of Fame class, which included fellow Jackson State alum Jimmy Smith, Eddie Robinson Jr., Nick Collins, Tyrone Poole, Rudy Hubbard and Steve Wyche.

Since the award’s 2018 inception, the NFLPA has recognized one active NFL player who serves as a positive influence in his community, has ties to his HBCU alma mater, exhibits good character and has performed at a high level during the most recent NFL season.

Past winners of the NFLPA Black College Football Pro Player of the Year*:

2025: Cobie Durant (Los Angeles Rams)

2024: Markquese Bell (Dallas Cowboys)

2023: Tytus Howard (Houston Texans)

2022: Grover Stewart (Indianapolis Colts)

2021: Terron Armstead (New Orleans Saints)

2020: Javon Hargrave (Pittsburgh Steelers)

2019: Darius Leonard (Indianapolis Colts) and Tarik Cohen (Chicago Bears)

2018: Antoine Bethea (Arizona Cardinals)

*Denotes player’s team at the time he was honored