The "unofficial" meeting place for intelligent discussions of Divisions I and II Sports of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC).
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Showing posts with label MEAC Football; MEAC Sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MEAC Football; MEAC Sports. Show all posts
Two-time All-American. For Florida A&M University senior LeRoy Vann (Tampa Blake High), it's a sweet sound and the best way to be remembered. Vann, a record-setting return man who garnered national attention this season through ESPN's SportsCenter and on the pages of Sports Illustrated, again made first team on the Walter Camp Football Championship Subdivision All-America team, which was announced Wednesday. "I almost can't believe some of the things that have happened to me playing college football," said Vann, a 5-foot-9, 185-pounder who plays cornerback.
To Vann, one of the most unbelievable things was when former Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard visited the FAMU campus to do a story for ESPN's College GameDay program. "That was crazy," Vann said. "I didn't know until right before it happened that he was coming to talk to me. I felt like a little girl, blushing and everything. I could hardly talk." All modesty aside, Vann's FAMU career was something to talk about.
FAMU's record-setting kick return specialist LeRoy Vann was named to the 2009 Sports Network Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) All-America team on 12/23/09. It was the second straight year that the 5-9, 185-pound fireball from Tampa, Florida was named to the first team, thanks to a memorable senior season which witnessed him take a school record five punts back for touchdowns; tie a single-season NCAA record for TD punt returns, while setting a new single-season return yardage mark for the school and the MEAC. Vann also finished his career as just the fifth player in NCAA FCS history to compile at least 1,000 yards on both punt returns and kickoff returns and he holds the career mark for combined kick returns for touchdown, 11 in the past two years (eight punts, three kickoffs).Vann has been named to four (4) All-American teams in the past two years as a kick returner.
It's hard to believe that Vann actuallyarrived at FAMU as a preferred walk-on player. While at Blake, he had dreams of earning a scholarship to a large school. But college coaches didn't share that vision. "They thought I was too small," Vann said. "I wasn't the average size they were looking for. But I think it's more than size. You've got to have no fear. You've got to play with heart."
As the seconds ticked off the clock on Howard's 14-11 victory over Georgetown at Multi-Sport Field on Saturday afternoon, Bison players Keith Pough and Darrin Christy grabbed a cooler of Gatorade, sneaked up behind Coach Carey Bailey and, when the buzzer sounded, doused their coach. A Gatorade shower may seem a bit over the top for winning the D.C. Cup, but not for Howard, which finally won a game, snapping its nine-game losing streak that dated from last season.
"Oh, man, we needed this win," Howard defensive end Will Croner said. "Just for the team morale, we needed it. After last year's loss [to Georgetown], we had a chip on our shoulder." Between Brandon Sherman catching a 35-yard touchdown pass from Floyd Haigler and Kenneth Austin-Bruce scoring on a five-yard run, Howard (1-2) did just enough to win. "Georgetown did a [heck] of a job, but I thought we had opportunities to score at least three more times that we didn't take advantage of," Bailey said.
Howard 14, Georgetown 11 When the story of the 2009 season is written, a lasting memory will come down Saturday's 14-11 loss to Howard. Not to falling victim to onside kicks, not to three interceptions, and not even to three intentional grounding calls. No, just two yards. Two yards may have separated Georgetown from its first win in 2009, and could be the closest they come to a win for a long time to come.
A restless Homecoming crowd and a steady rain proved to be less than ideal conditions before a full house on the Georgetown side of the spartan Multi-Sport Field and a surprising lack of turnout from the visitors across town. But to its credit, Georgetown started off strong, as freshman QB Isaiah Kempf completed four straight passes in a 12 play, 59 yard drive that ended with a Jose-Pablo Buerba field goal and an 3-0 lead. The weather conditions foretold a close game, but each team had their chances early.
Howard moved into Georgetown territory in its second possession, driving to the GU 27 and missing on a 44 yard field goal. The Hoyas offense reverted to its old habits, gaining five yards in its next two series and setting up the winless Bison at its 44. Aided by 27 yards rushing from Howard RB Charles Brice and 30 yards in Georgetown defensive penalties, the Bison moved 50 yards in five plays for its first touchdown, 7-3. With the Hoyas rattled, Howard picked up an onside kick moments later and drove 60 yards in seven plays, with a 35 yards pass to open the score to 14-3. Whether as a show of dissatisfaction, a retreat to drier climates, or both, a noticeable number of Georgetown students summarily packed up and left the Multi-Sport Field thereafter, leaving a crowd of 800 or so by the second quarter.
One student was asked if he was staying around. "What for?" he responded.
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Attendance: 2,630 at Harbin Field-Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
The University of Akron and Morgan State were the first two teams ever to share the Summa Field turf at InfoCision Stadium. They sure did not share it equally. The Zips had a decided territorial advantage Saturday afternoon in a dominating performance and resultant 41-0 victory over the overmatched Bears. An announced crowd of 27,881 was treated to its initial look at InfoCision Stadium, the new $61.6 million on-campus facility, and were equally treated to the Zips imposing their will on the visitors from start to finish.
The Zips (1-1), bouncing back from a one-sided loss at Penn State last weekend, had a 436-127 advantage in total yards, a 23-3 edge in first downs and a possession of 35 minutes versus 25 minutes. ''It didn't come easy, but I thought our guys executed decently and made the improvements you thought you should make from game one to game two,'' Zips coach J.D. Brookhart said. ''It's great to get a victory.'' The Zips led just 7-0 after the first quarter, failing to capitalize on several early opportunities. But the Zips rolled to a 17-point second quarter to make it 24-0 at the half and ended any possible chance for a Morgan State comeback by scoring midway through the third quarter to make it 31-0.
It was just the kind of new stadium debut the Akron Zips hoped for. Morgan State proved to be the welcome mat for an official full house of 27,881 fans for the first game in InfoCision Stadium as the Zips rolled to a 41-0 victory. It was Akron's first shutout since 1992. A sun-splashed crowd accounted for every seat and witnessed the Zips methodically work over the small-college Bears. The only down side is, after a 31-7 road loss at powerhouse Penn State, and this whitewash over the Bears, it is still unclear just how good, how average, or how bad Akron will be this season. A more revealing test will come next Saturday when Akron (1-1) hosts undefeated Indiana (2-0) in a game that will put the stadium and the crowd to a true environmental test.
University of Akron (Ohio) InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field: The $61.6 million stadium seats 30,000. It has seven levels, 21 restrooms, a good-sized video scoreboard, 38 loge boxes and 522 club seats. It has 17 suites, with the Presidential Suite — complete with fireplace — the jewel. InfoCision has elevators — nice, roomy ones. Some of them will take fans to the FirstMerit Foundation Club Level (the fifth level), which has a spacious area that can be rented out by the public for business meetings and receptions. Some classes will be moved to classrooms in the new stadium. The stadium also will have a full slate of high school games.
Chris Jacquemain passed for 162 yards and three touchdowns, and Deryn Bowser had eight receptions for 86 yards and three touchdowns as Akron opened InfoCision Stadium with a 41-0 rout of Morgan State on Saturday. Akron rolled up 436 total yards and finished the game with 186 passing yards, the most yards Morgan State has given up through the air since surrendering 243 against Towson on Sept. 6, 2008. It was the most points Morgan has allowed since a 41-16 loss to South Carolina State in 2006.
The Bears (0-1), who had a 22-3 disadvantage in first downs, finished with just 41 rushing yards. Morgan All- Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference running back Devan James, who only had one carry in the preseason, was limited to 24 yards on 10 carries. The Zips (1-1) led 24-0 at halftime, as they out-gained the Bears 262-78, forced two fumbles and grabbed an interception. Bowser scored his third touchdown of the day on a fade route midway through the third quarter. Carlton Jackson was 10-for-19 for 87 yards for Morgan State, but he threw two interceptions. The first helped set up the Zips' first scoring drive of the game.
Morgan State defensive back Richard Wilson attempts to intercept a Zip pass.
Awakened by the phone, the Morgan State football coach fumbled to answer it and peered at the clock. It was 1 a.m. This can't be good news, Donald Hill-Eley thought. The caller, his quarterback, was crying. "Coach?" Carlton Jackson asked, voice aquiver. "What's going on, son?" "Thank you for not giving up on me." Hill-Eley yawned, smiled and yawned again. "I always had faith in you," the Morgan coach said. "Now let me go back to sleep."
Since that conversation in June, Jackson - once moody and mercurial - has been a different quarterback. Just how much he has changed, Morgan learns today in its opener at Akron. In practice, at least, the Bears sense a newfound stability in Jackson, a transfer from Akron, of all places. Morgan hopes he has matured in time to tame the Zips, the team against which Jackson has plenty to prove. "It's indescribable, a once-in-a-lifetime deal to play against your old school," said Jackson, 22, a senior in his second year at Morgan. "It'll be a hostile environment - I expect the boos - but it's a chance for me to go in and show that I can play."
WHAT'S AT STAKE: It's a sellout as Akron plays its first game in InfoCision Stadium, a $61 million ballpark with 27,000 seats, a cutting-edge synthetic field and a state-of-the-art scoreboard. Can Morgan ruin the Zips' debut? Akron got pummeled, 31-7, by Penn State last week but promises to bounce back today. The Zips (Mid-American Conference) were 5-7 last season and have won just nine games in the past two years. Morgan split its 12 games in 2008, the Bears' best finish since 2003 under Coach Donald Hill-Eley, who's in his eighth year. Always strong defensively, Morgan has ditched the grind-it-out game and gone to a more vertical offense, which takes pressure off fleet RB Devan James (1,337 yards) and heaps it on the shoulders of QB Carlton Jackson (742 passing yards) and his talented understudy, freshman Donovan Dickerson.
KEY MATCHUP: Jackson, a transfer from Akron, against the Zips' suspect defense. But they know his tendencies, especially S Andre Jones, from Forestville, one of Jackson's best friends. They've been calling and texting each other all week, talking trash.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Akron: QB Chris Jacquemain, a senior who, in 2007, got the nod over Jackson and prompted the latter's transfer. Morgan: James, who was recruited heavily by Akron but who this season has a chance to become the Bears' all-time leading rusher.
Todd Bozeman now has the MEAC's second-highest annual salary.
Todd Bozeman, who delivered Morgan State's first NCAA Division I basketball tournament berth this season, met a Thursday deadline by signing a five-year contract to remain as Bears coach. Attorneys for both sides negotiated most of the day into the early evening before Bozeman, 45, signed a deal that gives him the second-highest annual salary in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. His base salary is $182,000, ranking behind only Delaware State's Greg Jackson at $225,000 in the MEAC.
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a college basketball coach," Bozeman said. "I welcome the opportunity to continue to coach my guys." Dr. Earl S. Richardson, Morgan's president, issued a statement to The Baltimore Sun, saying: "We're pleased. We think we have a contract that works for the university and for Coach Bozeman."
Coach Bozeman results speak well about his value to Morgan State and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Bozeman is the 2009 Hugh Durham Mid-Major Coach of Year; produced consecutive postseason berths for a program that had one winning season in the 26 years before he got there; won the last two regular-season MEAC titles, and gone to the NIT and the NCAA.
At the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament in mid-March, commissioner Dennis Thomas went out of his way to tell the media they needed to give Todd Bozeman and Morgan State more credit for the school's remarkable turnaround in basketball. Better he should have addressed Morgan's president, Dr. Earl Richardson, who seems to conveniently have forgotten March Madness almost as soon as it ended for the Bears. Almost five weeks after Morgan made its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division I tournament, Bozeman still doesn't have a new contract. His original three-year deal, at a university-friendly salary of $135,000 per year, has expired.
Negotiations that started before the season have gone nowhere. Last week they reached a nadir, when the school gave Bozeman an ultimatum: officials told the coach to take their offer or they would pull it off the table. This for the coach who produced consecutive postseason berths for a program that had one winning season in the 26 years before he got here. Bozeman's Bears have won the last two regular-season MEAC titles, and gone to the NIT and the NCAA.
What: First Round NCAA Tournament Game Who: Oklahoma (27-5, Big 12) vs. Morgan State (23-11, MEAC) Where: Kansas City, Missouri When: Thursday, March 19th at 8:40PM CT
Morgan State Starters G Jermaine Bolden (#3) 5'9" 175 Senior G Rogers Barnes (#21) 6'2" 190 Senior G Reggie Holmes (#11) 6'4" 180 Junior G/F Marquise Kately (#32) 6'5" 220 Senior F/C Kevin Thompson (#33) 6'8" 240 Sophomore
Their starters account for about 80% of the minutes on the team, which is about 11% above the Division I average. They have 3 seniors in their starting lineup, and one junior, so their starters will be well seasoned, but their bench players aren't used to playing big minutes, especially in big games. Getting them in foul trouble could help us build a lead quickly.
Keep an eye on Reggie Holmes. He has made more 3-pointers than the rest of the team combined this year. In fact, he has attempted 55 more 3's than 2's (234 to 179) and shoots the 3 at a 37% clip. He is the best free throw shooter on the team (73.5%) and turns the ball over the least. By far, he is the best offensive weapon that they have. Marquise Kately is probably the second best shooter, but he has almost no range. Kevin Thompson shoots an incredibly low percentage for being their post player (43.5%) and can't hit a free throw to save his life (misses about 1 out of every 2). Bolden and Barnes have 3-point shooting ability but don't take as many shots as the other three. Bolden is pretty much a true PG, and seems to be a facilitator.
Brandon Bryant scored 16 points and Florida A&M hit five of six free throws in the final 30 seconds to beat Morgan State yesterday in Tallahassee. Reggie Holmes led the Bears with 16 points, and Jermaine Bolden added 11. Morgan's three-game winning streak ended. The Rattlers (5-10, 3-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference), who won their third straight game, are in a four-way tie atop the conference standings with Morgan (8-9, 3-1), Bethune-Cookman and Hampton.
Holmes' three-pointer with 17.5 seconds left cut the Bears' deficit to one. But Larry Jackson and Bryant each hit two free throws for the Rattlers in the last 17 seconds, and Bolden missed a three-point try. Yannick Crowder had 10 points for Florida A&M.
Three years after their last meeting and three decades since FAMU's stunning victory over the University of Miami, both teams will meet this season at Pro Players Stadium. The Oct. 10 match-up will be the fifth game on the Rattlers' 2009 football schedule, which was announced Wednesday. The Rattlers open the season on Sept. 5 against Delaware State, one of four games they will play at Bragg Stadium. The annual classics against Tennessee State and Bethune-Cookman University are scheduled for Sept. 26 and Nov. 21, respectively.
A specific date for homecoming hasn't been decided, although a Nov. 7 date with North Carolina A&T is most likely. The other option is Oct. 24 against Norfolk State, said sports information director Alvin Hollins. The date will be determined after FSU releases its schedule in order to avoid a potential crunch for hotel rooms. FSU can't announce its schedule until the Atlantic Coast Conference releases it.
"It's frustrating for our fans," Hollins said. The Miami game is the first of a two-year contract between the two schools. The deal, which athletic director Bill Hayes said guarantees FAMU more than $500,000, calls for the teams to meet in consecutive seasons. The back-to-back games are a first since the 1979 and 1980 seasons. FAMU opened that agreement by beating the Hurricanes in Tallahassee, but this time both games will be played in Miami.
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2009 Florida A&M FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Sept. 5 vs. Delaware State Sept. 12 at Winston-Salem State Sept. 19 vs. Howard* Sept. 26 vs. Tennessee State Oct. 10 at Miami Oct. 17 at S.C. State. Oct. 24 vs. Norfolk State* Oct. 31 at Morgan State Nov. 7 vs. N.C. A&T Nov. 14 at Hampton Nov. 21 BCU Nov. 28 - NCAA FCS Playoffs -1st Round Dec 5 - NCAA FCS Playoffs - TBD Dec 12- NCAA FCS Playoffs - TBD
*—Conference games; @—Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic at Georgia Dome in Atlanta; #—Possible homecoming dates; $—Florida Classic at Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando.
Running back Philip Sylvester sat quietly during the post-game press conference, answering just a handful of questions. His three other teammates who faced the media got a lot more on Saturday afternoon. Quite a contrast to his day on the field. Sylvester played a pivotal role in a trick play, threw some timely blocks and scored two touchdowns. His last touchdown would be FAMU's final score in a 45-24 victory over Hampton.
It's been a while since he's had such a day, especially getting into the end zone twice. He scored his first touchdown on a 38-yard run that gave FAMU a commanding 28-10 lead in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, he capped a six-play, 30-yard drive for the final score and for the first time since September, he'd go home with two touchdowns. If he could have gotten more chances, he would have taken them. "We just want to score," he said. "We want to score 31 more points than the other offense. Every time I broke it was because of (the offensive line)."
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Attendance: 9,711 at Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, FL
HAMPTON, Va. - Winston-Salem built a 25-point third-quarter lead and then held off Hampton for a 35-30 victory on Saturday. Jarrett Dunston scored three touchdowns and the Rams (2-6) nearly tripled their scoring average of 12 points to give coach Kermit Blount his 89th win, tying him for most in school history. The Pirates (5-3) lost their second straight game.
David Irizarry returned a missed 50-yard field goal attempt 100 yards for a 14-3 first-quarter lead, then sealed the win with a fourth-quarter interception of Herb Bynes, who threw for 348 yards and two touchdowns. Those two touchdowns, both to Justin Brown, came less than five minutes apart in the fourth quarter as Hampton cut a 25-point deficit to 35-30.
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Attendance: 14,877 (87.5%) @Armstrong Stadium, Hampton, VA (Capacity: 17,000).
(L) William "Bill" Hayes and (R) FAMU president, Dr. James Ammons shares a laugh as part of the three headed monster--Ammons, Hayes and (Joe) Taylor that is giving the rest of the MEAC conference nightmares.
Prediction he would not like administrative work turned out to be wrong
TALLAHASSEE, FL - Many people who move to Florida late in life are often ready to retire. Not Bill Hayes. He's still hard at work. "It's about trying to build another program," Hayes, a former Winston-Salem State football coach and now the athletics director at Florida A&M, said last week as he watched FAMU defeat WSSU 23-0. Hayes, 65, has a soft spot for WSSU, where he coached from 1976 through the end of the 1987 season, and always calls it home when talking about his favorite stop. He made the Rams one of the most powerful programs the CIAA has ever seen, leading them to unbeaten regular seasons in 1977 and 1978 and becoming the school's leader in career coaching victories with 89.
Hayes still holds the record, but one of his former players, Kermit Blount, is two wins away from taking it. Hayes left WSSU in 1987 to take over at N.C. A&T, and eventually became that school's career victories leader, too. He compiled a 195-105-2 record in 27 seasons. Hayes was forced out at A&T after the 2002 season. Instead of pouting or holding a grudge, he made a seamless transition from coaching to administration.
Norfolk State is the one and only FCS school (only one is allowed) on Kentucky's schedule. The Spartans finished last year 7-2 in their conference (Right behind 10-0 Delaware State) and 8-3 overall. Another school in their conference you may have heard of is Hampton, the former home of basketball transfer Matthew Pilgrim. Having lived in the Norfolk/Newport News/Hampton area for several years, I am familiar with all these colleges and their communities.
Norfolk State has traditionally been a cellar-dweller in the MEAC, although they have recently undergone a bit of turnaround in their football program. Last year's 7-2 mark was their best in many years, despite having the second-toughest strength of schedule in their conference, and the toughest among the top two. Their current head coach, Pete Adrian, took over in 2005, and in two short years turned Norfolk State from a doormat into a very competitive football team, and they were ranked for the first time ever in the FCS (#23 at one point last season). Adrian is continuing to bring talent into the program, as his 2007 recruiting class was ranked 6th among Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
The road to Florida A&M had so many twists and turns for Isaac West that another player might have gotten lost. West didn't play football for a year after winning a team MVP award his senior season at Lincoln High School. He wanted badly to follow in the footsteps of his cousin, Ron Dugans, and play at Florida State — until he was told a year of junior college would improve his chances of making it as a walk-on.
A year of waiting was enough, so West enrolled at FAMU last August and made the team as a walk-on. There he found himself in the shadow of senior Willie Hayward. He had to wait for prime time. It might finally be here for the speedy, lanky receiver. Hayward has graduated, and the Rattlers have a new coaching staff that sees talent in West that should make this his breakthrough season.
Former University of Kentucky quarterback great Derrick Ramsey has been named athletic director at Coppin State University, the school announced on July 25. Ramsey, a native of Hastings, Florida, served as AD at Kentucky State from 1999 to 2003. He most recently worked for the Commonwealth of Kentucky as Deputy Secretary of Commerce.
Ramsey played tight end in the NFL from 1978 to 1987 for Oakland, New England and Detroit. He led the Cats to an SEC Championship in 1976 when Kentucky finished with a 10-1 record and #4 ranking in the final AP poll. Ramsey was named first team ALL-SEC and third-team All-American as QB in 1977 and had a long career in the NFL, playing in two Super Bowls.
Ramsey was inducted in the University of Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame charter class of 1988.
Dr. Mary Wanza has been running the administrative side of Coppin's athletic department since June 2006, after Fang Mitchell resigned from the position to focus on his duties as men's basketball coach. Ramsey will be introduced at a news conference on a date to be determined.
Ramsey plans to keep his home in Kentucky and return to the Bluegrass someday.
NORFOLK, VA - It all seemed so familiar at first, to the point where you started to wonder, "Maybe the guy didn't leave after all." Upon entering the ballroom for the MEAC football kickoff news conference, Joe Taylor paused for a moment, then - just as he'd done so many times before - made his way to the Hampton area.
Expect Joe Taylor to have a hall of fame run with the Rattlers over the next five years, surpassing the achievements of another former Rattlers Hall of Famer in Coach William "Billy" Joe.
He hugged Pirates offensive lineman Dennis Conley and embraced defensive end Charles Young before the two players shared small talk with a man both call a father figure. Only this time, Taylor didn't settle in with the other Pirates. He kept moving until he found his new table, the one adorned by an orange helmet with the word "Rattlers" arched along the side.
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2008 Florida A&M Football Schedule
Date Opponent Location Time August 30 ALABAMA STATE HOME 6:00 P.M. September 4 at Delaware State* Dover, DE 7:30 P.M. September 20 at Howard* Washington, D.C. 1:00 P.M. September 27 at Tennessee State Atlanta, GA 3:00 P.M. October 4 SOUTH CAROLINA STATE* HOME 6:00 P.M. October 9 WINSTON-SALEM STATE* HOME 7:30 P.M. October 18 at Southern Baton Rouge, LA 6:00 P.M. CST October 25 at Norfolk State* Norfolk, VA 1:00 P.M. November 1 MORGAN STATE* HOMECOMING 3:00 P.M. November 8 at North Carolina A&T* Greensboro, NC 1:30 P.M. November 15 HAMPTON* HOME 3:00 P.M. November 22 Bethune-Cookman* Orlando, FL 2:00 P.M. *-denotes MEAC games
FAMU Coaching Staff - 2008 Joe Taylor - Head Football Coach Earl Holmes and Tim Edwards - Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach George Small - Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach Juan Vasquez - Special Teams Coach Lawrence Kershaw - Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach Tim Edwards - Outside Linebackers Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Earl Holmes - Inside Linebackers Coach Steven Jerry - Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers Coach Edwin Pata - Offensive Assistant Aaron Taylor - Runningbacks Coach Jimmie Tyson - Defensive Assistant/Safeties Coach Antonio Wallace - Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
HAMPTON, VA — Vernon Bryant, a graduate of Southampton High School and Hampton University, has signed a contract with the National Football League's St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent. Bryant graduated from HAMPTON UNIVERSITY in May with a bachelor's degree in sports management. Even before graduation, he was a member of the St. Louis Rams. He was approached by the Rams after April's NFL draft.
"They contacted me about 10 minutes after the draft. They called and said come on down as a free agent," Bryant said. Bryant has already attended mini-camp to familiarize himself with the plays and has been playing defensive tackle and special teams. The Rams' full training camp opens on July 25.
In 2007, Bryant, a 6-2, 285-pound defensive tackle, played in 11 games and started nine games for HU. He made 47 tackles, including nine in Hampton's final game against Southern Illinois University. During the season he also had nine tackles for a loss, three sacks, and recovered a fumble. He was ranked 45 out of 148 defensive tackles coming out of college this year by www.nfldraftscout.com.
FAMU's record-setting kick return specialist LeRoy Vann was named to the 2009 Sports Network Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) All-America team on 12/23/09. It was the second straight year that the 5-9, 185-pound fireball from Tampa, Florida was named to the first team, thanks to a memorable senior season which witnessed him take a school record five punts back for touchdowns; tie a single-season NCAA record for TD punt returns, while setting a new single-season return yardage mark for the school and the MEAC. Vann also finished his career as just the fifth player in NCAA FCS history to compile at least 1,000 yards on both punt returns and kickoff returns and he holds the career mark for combined kick returns for touchdown, 11 in the past two years (eight punts, three kickoffs). Vann has been named to four (4) All-American teams in the past two years as a kick returner.
