Division Champions Wiley, Talladega capture Week 10 HBCUAC Men's Soccer Honors
NEW ORLEANS - November 4, 2025 - After locking up the East and West Divisions, Wiley University forward Jayce Graves wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Offensive Player of the Week. Daniel Rojas earns Defensive Player of the Week. Talladega College's Jared Smeins garners Freshman of the Week. Dujon Brown brings home Newcomer of the Week. The men were honored for their performance between October 27-November 2, the conference announced on Tuesday.
Graves scored both goals to lift the Wildcats to a 2-0 victory over Huston-Tillotson University and a 3-0-1 conference record. His goals give him six on the season and ties him for the conference lead.
Rojas posted his third solo shutout and contributed to his fourth this season. He made two crucial saves in the second half to preserve the lead. One of them was on a penalty kick that could have tied the match. Rojas leads the conference with a 0.43 goals against average.
Smeins scored the match-winning goal against Oakwood University on Wednesday that clinched the East for the Tornadoes. He put up two shots.
Brown played a key role on defense and helped disrupt Oakwood's offense by winning 90 percent of tackles. He put one shot on goal.
Additional men's soccer weekly nominees: Tariq Singh (Talladega), Christopher Syms (Talladega)
2025 HBCUAC Men's Soccer Players of the Week
|
Date |
Offensive |
Defensive |
Freshman |
Newcomer |
|
August 25-31 |
Anthony Ulloa, Wiley |
Kevin Nievas, Wiley |
Kevin Nievas, Wiley |
N/A |
|
Sept. 1-7 |
Manuel Guevara, Huston-Tillotson |
Kevin Nievas, Wiley |
Manuel Guevara, Huston-Tillotson |
Ian Hernandez, Wiley |
|
Sept. 8-14 |
Anthony Ulloa, Wiley |
Daniel Rojas, Wiley |
Kevin Nievas, Wiley |
Tariq Singh, Talladega |
|
Sept. 15-21 |
Omar Ponce, Huston-Tillotson |
Juan Acosta, Huston-Tillotson |
Omar Ponce, Huston-Tillotson |
Bienvenie Bisimwa, Paul Quinn |
|
Sept. 22-28 |
Helix Owusu, Tougaloo |
Daniel Rojas, Wiley |
Alvaro Guerrero, Wiley |
N/A |
|
Sept. 29-Oct. 5 |
Alejandro Barcena, Wiley |
Kevin Nievas, Wiley |
Alejandro Barcena, Wiley |
Ian Hernandez, Wiley |
|
Oct. 6-12 |
Malachi Daniel, Talladega |
Juan Cayasso, Wiley |
Jared Smeins, Talladega |
Tariq Singh, Talladega |
|
Oct. 13-19 |
Anthony Ulloa, Wiley |
Daniel Rojas, Wiley |
Alejandro Cruz, Huston-Tillotson |
N/A |
|
Oct. 20-26 |
Anthony Ulloa, Wiley |
Eduardo Bicca, Paul Quinn |
N/A |
Eduardo Bicca, Paul Quinn |
|
Oct. 27-Nov. 2 |
Jayce Graves, Wiley |
Daniel Rojas, Wiley |
Jared Smeins, Talladega |
Dujon Brown, Talladega |
About the HBCU Athletic Conference
The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Huston-Tillotson University (TX), Oakwood University (AL), Paul Quinn College (TX), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's track and field, women's volleyball, softball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org.
