JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Every time Shelby Towkach steps onto the field for Edward Waters University Football, she has an opportunity to put points on the scoreboard. At the same time, she continues to add another chapter to HBCU football history.
Towkach has emerged as a dependable member of the Tigers' special teams unit during their historic 2026 season, serving as Edward Waters' regular extra-point kicker. Through six games, she has scored 30 points, including seven during EWU's 61-42 victory over nationally ranked Kentucky State on October 3.
Her success has established a new scoring standard for female HBCU football players, building upon the history made by Jackson State's Leilani Armenta, who became the first woman to score in an HBCU football game in 2023.
Head coach Brian Jenkins told HBCU Gameday that Towkach earned his confidence through her work ethic and her ability to deliver when given the opportunity. Towkach has embraced the demands of being a college football player, participating alongside her teammates in the weight room, conditioning, and other aspects of the program.
Her accomplishments extend beyond the football field. Towkach maintains a 4.0 GPA while pursuing a degree in criminal justice, and HBCU Gameday reports that she plans to attend law school with aspirations of becoming an animal rights attorney. She is also raising her three-year-old son while balancing the responsibilities of academics and college athletics.
Towkach's historic season has coincided with a memorable start for Edward Waters Football. The Tigers are 5-1 overall and 4-0 in SIAC play, sitting atop the conference standings after their comeback victory over Kentucky State. EWU is averaging 42.3 points and 440.3 yards of total offense per game, providing Towkach with plenty of opportunities to contribute to one of the conference's most explosive scoring attacks.
But the numbers tell only part of Towkach's story. From earning the trust of her coaches and teammates to balancing football, academics and motherhood, her journey has made each successful kick mean a little more.
And with Edward Waters in the midst of a historic season, every extra point and field goal Towkach puts through the uprights gives her another opportunity to extend her place in HBCU football history.
Read Vaughn Wilson's full feature on Towkach, including comments from Towkach and Coach Jenkins, at HBCU Gameday: https://hbcugameday.com/2026/10/06/female-hbcu-kicker-shelby-towkach-history/
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