OKLAHOMA CITY – Bethune-Cookman safety Naim Lassiter has been announced as one of 10 semifinalists for the prestigious Aeneas Williams Award, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame announced Tuesday.

The list includes some of the nation's best defensive backs in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Division I college football. The 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 semifinalists are selected by a screening committee in partnership with DraftHBCUPlayers and the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. This list is not final, and unlisted players who continually have outstanding performances as the season progresses may be recognized as one of the three finalists.

The finalists for the award will be announced on December 1st at noon EST.

Lassiter, a redshirt senior out of Tampa, has been one of the leaders on an excellent Bethune-Cookman defense. He currently ranks second on the team with 49.0 total tackles, including a team-high 28 solo stops. He has also recorded 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and three pass breakups.

Against Jackson State, Lassiter finished with six tackles, including one tackle for loss, while helping the Wildcats hold JSU to just 0.9 yards per carry in the narrow home victory.

Bethune-Cookman will hope Lassiter continues his excellent play as they enter the home stretch of 2026 regular season. The Wildcats have another important matchup this week on the road against Southern, which is set to kickoff Saturday at 3 p.m. EST.

 
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