WACO, Texas —
Fort Valley State University defensive back
Darnell Stephens has been named a 2025 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) First Team All-American.
Stephens was the lone representative from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) selected to the AFCA All-American teams.
The honor adds to an already stellar 2025 campaign for Stephens, who finished the season as the NCAA Division II national leader in pass breakups with 19. He also recorded 33 tackles and three interceptions, anchoring a standout defensive year.
Throughout the postseason, Stephens has amassed multiple accolades, including All-SIAC First Team Cornerback honors, an invitation to the HBCU Legacy Bowl, BOXTOROW All-American recognition, and a selection to the D2CCA All-Region team.
FOLLOW THE SIAC
Stay connected by following the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference on Facebook, Instagram and X @TheSIAC.
SIAC NEWS
Sign up for SIAC News to be among the first to receive media releases, updates and more!
ABOUT THE SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SIAC)
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors nine men's and seven women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit
www.thesiac.com.