RICHMOND, VA (Nov. 21, 2023) … Three Hampton football players were named to the All-Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) post-season team in a vote of the conference coaches, it was announced.
 
Graduate Qwahsin Townsel, Hampton's leading tackler for the second consecutive year, earned second-team All-CAA recognition at linebacker. Senior Brandon Hardy, a stalwart along Hampton's improved offensive line, was named to the league's second-team on offense. Elijah Burris, Hampton's leading rusher this season, was named third-team all-league. 

A native of Egg Harbor, N.J., Townsel earned All-CAA honors last season after making a team-leading 100 tackles. He achieved his career-high in tackles with 18 against Campbell on Oct. 7. He finished the 2023 season as the conference's second-leading tackler with 104 stops (9.45 per game). Townsel was named to the Black College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List. The winner earns the prestigious Deacon Jones Trophy. Townsel has been invited to play in the 2024 Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl. The game features the best HBCU players and will be played on Feb. 24, 2024 in New Orleans. The game will be televised on the NFL Network. 

A senior, Hardy played a major role in the improvement of Hampton's running attack in 2023. The Pirates were second in the CAA in rushing, averaging 216.4 yards per game. That is a dramatic improvement of 49.6 yards per outing from 2022's 166.8 yards per game on the ground. A native of Vanceboro, N.C., Hardy helped create holes for running backs Burris (803 rushing yards in eight games) and Darran Butts (670 yards in nine contests). 

A junior, Burris blossomed this season for the Pirates. After rushing for 331 yards and two touchdowns last season, Burris more than doubled his 2022 production and finished 2023 with 803 yards and six touchdowns. The Gastonia, N.C. native, was named CAA Player of the Week on Nov. 4 against Maine when he rushed for a career-high 174 yards and four touchdowns. He earned HBCU National Player of the Week on Sept. 16 against Howard when he had seven carries for 136 yards including a 93-yard TD run in a win over the Black Bears.