Prairie View A&M Football Signs 12 Recruits For 2012 Class

Malcolm Ajayi	DB	5-10	195	Jr.	Sacramento, Calif. (Contra Costa College)	Video
Edward Brown	DE	6-3	220	Fr.	New Iberia, La. (Westgate)	Video
James Burch III	WR	5-7	170	Fr.	Houston, Texas (Cy Ridge)	Video
Donald Drisdom	WR	6-1	190	Jr.	Los Angeles, Calif. (West LA CC)	Video
Josiah Freeman	OL	6-4	280	Jr.	Baton Rouge, La. (Scotlandville)
Trey Green	QB	6-2	190	Fr.	Beaumont, Texas (Ozen)	Video
Johnta Hebert	ATH	5-10	195	Fr.	Baton Rouge, La. (Glen Oaks)	Video
Darrien Patterson	DE	6-3	240	Jr.	Culver City, Calif. (West LA CC)	Video
Chris Rose	OL	6-3	290	Fr.	Houston, Texas (Madison)
Christian Rousseau	QB	6-2	185	Fr.	Miami, Fla. (Hialeah)	Video
Cleveland Sims	OT	6-5	280	Fr.	Houston, Texas (Madison)
Archiel Townsend	OG	6-2	280	Fr.	Clute, Texas (Brazoswood)

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Malcolm Ajayi DB 5-10 195 So. Sacramento, Calif. (Contra Costa College)
Logged 25 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and one interception…ranked sixth amongst Northern California JUCO leaders with 12 pass breakups…also forced a fumble.

Edward Brown DE 6-3 220 Fr. New Iberia, La. (Westgate)
Named to the District 7-5A First Team…named The Daily Iberian's Best of the Teche Football Team…finished his senior year with 82 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.

James Burch III WR 5-7 170 Fr. Houston, Texas (Cy Ridge)
Led District 17-5A in receiving yards (871) and ranked second in receptions with 42…averaged 26.4 yards per catch and caught seven touchdowns…earned District 17-5A First team honors.

Donald Drisdom WR 6-1 190 Jr. Los Angeles, Calif. (West LA CC)
Earned Southern California Football Association American Division Second Team honors...finished his final season in the junior college ranks with a team-high 778 receiving yards and 29 receptions…caught nine touchdowns…helped lead team to its best record since 2004...finished 15th in the state of California in receiving yards and 16th in touchdowns…had a season-high 125 receiving yards at Santa Monica College and an 85-yard reception against Citrus College.

Josiah Freeman OL 6-4 280 Jr. Baton Rouge, La. (Scotlandville)
Named to the District 4-5A Second Team…participated in the 2011 Max Emfinger's All-American Bowl Game…helped lead team to the 2011 LHSAA 5A Playoffs.

Trey Green QB 6-2 190 Fr. Beaumont, Texas (Ozen)
One of the top players in the Golden Triangle…guided team to the third round of the Class 4A playoffs…selected to the District 20-4A First Team…threw for 1,958 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior…passed for 2,000 yards as a junior…also plays basketball for Ozen.

Johnta Hebert RB/ATH 5-10 195 Fr. Baton Rouge, La. (Glen Oaks)
Selected to the District 6-3A First Team as an athlete…has the ability to play several positions on offense and will help in the return games on special teams…combined to rush for nearly 2,000 yards during his junior and senior campaigns

Darrien Patterson DE 6-3 240 Jr. Culver City, Calif. (West LA CC)
Tallied 40 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks in his final junior college season…recovered a fumble for 38 yards…finished with 33 tackles and six tackles for loss as a freshman…junior college teammate of fellow signee Donald Drisdom.

Chris Rose OL 6-3 290 Fr. Houston, Texas (Madison)
Earned District 20-5A First Team honors…blocked for an offensive unit which rushed for over 2,000 yards in 2011…high school teammate of fellow signee Cleveland Sims.

Christian Rousseau QB 6-2 185 Fr. Miami, Fla. (Hialeah)
Earned the Leadership MVP Award from the 2011 National Underclassmen Camp…passed for 1,887 yards as a senior...led team to the Class 8-A High School football playoffs.

Cleveland Sims OT 6-5 280 Fr. Houston, Texas (Madison)
Earned District 20-5A Second Team honors…blocked for an offensive unit which rushed for over 2,000 yards in 2011…high school teammate of fellow signee Chris Rose…named a top 50 offensive lineman by Dave Campbell's Texas Football.

Archiel Townsend OG 6-2 280 Fr. Clute, Texas (Brazoswood)
Earned District 20-5A Honors…named to the 2011 Region III Super List by 5aTexasFootball.com.

Courtesy: Prairie View A&M University Sports Information

Grambling Tigers Ink 21 On Day One

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- The Grambling State University Tigers' Football team welcomes the 2012 signing class. The G-Men are the defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champs. Day one saw a lot of excitement taking place as everyone watches to see who is going to be filling out the roster for the Tigers.

Joining the Legacy of Grambling are:

1.Joshua Alexander - DB, 5-10, 175 (Houston, Texas/Sharpstown HS)
2.Dwight Bazilee II - OL, 6-2, 285 (Channelview, Texas/Northshore HS)
3.Marlon Brown - OL, 6-2, 230 (Dallas, Texas/Skyline HS)
4.Brandon Byrdsong - TE, 6-2, 225 (Fayetteville, Ga./Sandy Creek HS)
5.William Cowan - OL, 6-2, 300 (Alexandria, La./Peabody HS)
6.Ka'Jandre Domino - ATH, 5-10, 170 (Baton Rouge, La./Scotlandville HS)
7.Shawheem Dowdy - ATH, 6-2, 220 (Owings, Md./New Town HS)
8.Ernest Echols-DT, 6-3, 330 (Stone Mountain, Ga./Martin Luther King HS)
9.Centerio Ford - DT, 6-3, 320 (Marion, La./Farmerville HS)
10.Justin Fortson - ATH, 5-8, 165 (Shreveport, La./Fair Park HS)
11.Vickey Gilbert II - LB, 6-2, 220 (Rogersville, Ala./Lauderdale Co. HS)
12.Trevion Goins - OL, 6-1, 280 (Monroe, La./Richwood HS)
13.Akil Hawkins - OL, 6-4, 285 (Fayetteville, Ga./Fayette Co. HS)

14.Dominique Leake - WR, 5-10, 165 (Memphis, Tenn./Southwind HS)

15.Justin Miller - OL, 6-3, 301 (Simsboro, La./Ruston HS)

16.Tyler Olivier - DB, 5-10, 180 (New Iberia, La./Catholic HS)

17.Nicholas Peoples - DB, 5-10, 185 (Shreveport, La./Byrd HS)

18.Travondre Rabon - WR, 6-2, 190 (Dallas, Texas/Skyline HS)

19.Samuel Reese - DE, 6-2, 236 (Center Point, Ala./Center Point HS)

20.Curtis Stapleton - DT, 6-1, 250 (Ozark, Ala./Carroll HS)

21. Henry Taylor - LB, 6-1, 205 (Baton Rouge, La./Scotlandville HS)

These are the signees at the close of business on day one; stay tuned to see who will join the G-Men next.

Courtesy: Grambling State University Sports Information

New Town QB Signs with Grambling State

OWINGS MILL, Maryland - As Dari-Lee Barnes began to co-sign a National Letter of Intent for her son to play football at Grambling State University, the pen New Town quarterback Shawheem Dowdy used moments earlier abruptly ran out of ink.

“Uh oh,” said Dowdy, playfully pretending to be worried. “Do we have a back-up pen?” Brief technical malfunctions weren’t about to bring Dowdy down on a morning that otherwise could not have gone much better for Dowdy and his mother.

After three-and-a-half years of hard work at New Town High School—both in the classroom and on the football field—Dowdy agreed to attend Division I-AA Grambling State in the fall, on a full football scholarship.

“The first thing that comes to mind is no tuition,” said Barnes, who couldn’t help but smile through much of the morning as her 17-year-old son put pen to paper on National Signing Day, which was aired on the high school’s morning announcements Wednesday.

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Blount pleased with his first recruiting class at Delaware State

DOVER, Delaware - Kermit Blount was hired Feb. 4, 2011, so the Delaware State University football coach arrived in Dover too late to introduce a new recruiting class. But on Tuesday, Blount got a chance to welcome 18 student-athletes into the DSU fold on National Signing Day.

Blount, who coached Delaware State to a 3-8 record last season, was pleased about his first recruiting class at the school. "We're a class behind," Blount said. "I wanted to wait to get the staff in place and then have the opportunity to really recruit the right kids."

Blount's class includes the usual staple of players from Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, but also defensive end Tarique Anderson from Toronto, defensive back Willie Bolden IV from Brunswick, Ga., and defensive lineman Jeff Gay from Jacksonville, Fla.

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COACH KERMIT BLOUNT

HORNETS ANNOUNCE 18 NATIONAL SIGNING DAY ADDITIONS

DOVER, Delaware  -  Delaware State University head football coach Kermit Blount has announced that 18 recruits have signed the National Letter of Intent to attend DSU and join the Hornets for the 2012 season.

The list includes five offensive linemen, four running backs and a highly regarded quarterback.

"I'm extremely pleased with the quality of young men we have added to the program so," said Blount. "We were able to address some needs we have along the interior lines and in the running game, in addition to adding more speed to our roster."

The Hornet head coach also cited the off-the-field qualities of his 2012 newcomers.

"I was equally impressed with the character and academic credentials of these young men. Each should be a good fit for the university as well as the team."

Among the Hornet newcomers to the offensive line is New Jersey standout Keon Williams (fr., 6-2, 275), who helped lead St. Anthony's Prep to a 33-12 record and four state playoff appearances the last four seasons.

Also signing to attend DSU is Pennsylvania all-star offensive lineman Clark McCready (fr., 6-3, 275), who earned All Western Pa., honors at Hollidaysburg High School.

The Delaware State offensive line will also be bolstered by the addition of Keevon Prather (fr., 6-3, 270, Temple Hills, Md.), Dimitri Hill (fr., 6-3, 300, Waldorf, Md.) and Xaiver Jones (fr., 6-3, 300, Burlington, N.J.).

"You need strong line play to succeed at this level, and each of these newcomers has the potential to have an impact for us the next several years," Blount said.

The Hornets have also taken steps to bolster its running game.

Newcomer Dae-Hon Cheung rushed for 1902 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior at Coatesville (Pa.) High School in 2011, while DSU signee Trey Allen Hall was the third player to top the 4000-yard rushing mark at Beaver Falls (Pa.) High School.

The Hornets have also inked running back Rashaad Williams, who rushed for 1400 yards and 12 touchdowns at Valley Forge Military Academy last season.

Esayah Obado of Hamilton, N.J., has signed been signed as a quarterback by the Hornets. Obado (fr., 6-2, 190) passed for nearly 3700 yards and 42 touchdowns, while rushing for 615 yards and 11 scores at Nottingham High School.

Delaware State will also welcome Florida high school record-setting receiver James Boone to the team. Boone was a standout at St. Cloud High School before signing with Colorado State University. He recorded back-to-back 1000-yard seasons and scored 30 touchdowns during his scholastic career.

The Hornets expect to return more than 40 letter winners from their 2011 squad, which posted a 3-8 overall record, including a 1-7 mark in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY 2012 FOOTBALL SIGNEES

DE Tarique Anderson 6-5/250 Toronto, Ont./Fork Union M.A./Pickering HS

SS Rashawn Barrett 6-2/205 Montclair, N.J./Montclair HS

DB Willie Bolden IV 6-1/195 Brunswick, Ga./Brunswick HS

RB Dae-Hon Cheung 5-9/170 Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville Area Senior HS

DL Jeff Gay 6-1/265 Jacksonville, Fla./Atlantic Coast HS

RB Trey Allen Hall 5-11/200 Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver Falls HS

OL Dimitri Hill 6-3/300 Waldorf, Md./Westlake HS

OL Xavier Jones 6-3/300 Burlington, N.J./Burlington Twp. HS

OL Clark McCready 6-3/275 Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area Sr. HS

QB Esayah Obado 6-2/190 Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham HS
TE Nate Ortiz 6-4/235 Jersey City, N.J./St. Anthony
FB Justin Peterson 6-2/240 Atlanta, Ga./Martin Luther King HS
OL Keevon Prather 6-3/270 Temple Hills, Md./Crossland HS
Ath Gabe Sherrod 6-4/210 Perryville, Md./Perryville HS
OL Keon Williams 6-2/275 Jersey City, N.J./St. Peter's Prep
ILB Legrant Williams 6-1/195 Norfolk, Va./Norview HS/Fork Union M.A.
RB Rashaad Williams 5-9/180 Phila., Pa./Valley Forge Military Academy

DELAWARE STATE 2012 FOOTBALL SIGNEES-BIO BRIEFS

DE Tarique Anderson 6-5/250 Toronto, Ontario/Fork Union M.A./Pickering HS
Competed in nine games (seven starts) at Fork Union Military Academy ... helped lead Fork Union to 8-1 record in 2011 ... selected as Most Improved Defensive Player as a sophomore and senior at Pickering HS ... recorded 19 tackles (eight solo) and three sacks as a senior at Pickering ... son of Raymond and Claudette Anderson ... four-year Honor Roll student ... played for head coach Cameron Lee at Pickering HS ... plans to major in business; minor in psychology at DSU

SS Rashawn Barrett 6-2/205 Montclair, N.J./Montclair HS
2011 Essex Conference First Team and All-State Second Team selection ... helped lead Montclair to 11-1 record and state championship game appearance ... played for head football coach John Fiore ... son of Michelle Barrett ... also lettered in track & field.

DB Willie Bolden IV 6-1/195 Brunswick, Ga./Brunswick HS
Two-way standout at Brunswick High ... 2011 All-Area and All-State Honorable Mention ... recorded 70 tackles, 1100 all-purpose yards and 12 TDs during 2011 season ... 2010 All-Region selection ... helped lead Brunswick to two regional championships (2010-11) .. team was sixth in final 2010 Associated Press poll ... son of Willie and Sheila Bolden played for head football coach Victor Floyd at Brunswick HS ... plans to major in sports management at DSU

WR James Boone 6-1/190 St. Cloud, Fla./St. Cloud HS

Originally signed with Colorado State University ... No. 6 wide receiver and No. 29 overall prospect on the Orlando Sentinel's all-Central Florida Top 100 ... four-year letterman at St. Cloud High School, he established the Osceola County records for receptions in a career and season...played quarterback, running back, cornerback and safety, but excelled as a wide out, authoring back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons to close his prep career...earned three consecutive first-team all-Orange Belt Conference and all-Osceola County selections (2007-09), and two straight offensive team MVP awards, for a Bulldogs squad that went 16-7 from 2008-09...combined as a junior and senior, had 115 catches for 2,227 yards (19.4 avg.) and 15 TDs, including four of 80-or-more yards...scored nearly 30 career touchdowns, 11 on the ground...county Offensive Player of the Year (Osceola News-Gazette) as a senior, also earned first-team all-state, first-team all-Central Florida (Orlando Sentinel), and Pinellas County/Florida Athletic Coaches Association first-team all-district honors, helping St. Cloud to a runner-up finish in its district.

RB Dae-Hon Cheung 5-9/170 Coatesville, Pa./Coatseville Area Senior HS

2011 All-Southeast Pennsylvania, All-Area and All-Chesmont National Division First Team selection ... Chesmont Conference Offensive Back-of- the-Year ... rushed for 1902 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior ... ran for more than 3000 yards and 35 touchdowns during scholastic career ... played for head Coach Matt Ortega at Coatesville.

DL Jeff Gay 6-1/265 Jacksonville, Fla./Atlantic Coast HS
2011 Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-District First Team and All-First Coast Second Team selection ... recorded 18 tackles-for-loss, including 10 sacks in 2011 ... helped lead Atlantic Coast HS to 6-4 record in its first season of varsity competition ... competed at nose guard and defensive end ... played for head coach Kevin Sullivan at Atlantic Coast HS ... also considered South Alabama, Richmond and Middle Tennessee.

RB Trey Allen Hall 5-11/200 Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver Falls HS
2011 Western Penn. Top 22 and All-State Honorable Mention ... third player in Beaver Falls HS history to rush for more than 4,000 yards ... helped lead team to state playoff semifinals in 2011 and a 2010 playoff berth ... played for head football coach Ryan Matsook at Beaver Falls ... son of Meredith Hall ... born 4/29/93 in Beaver Falls, Pa. uncle Larry Bradley played football at Vanderbilt University.

OL Clark McCready 6-3/275 Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area Sr. HS

2011 All-WPIAL, All-County and All-Area First Team selection ... 2011 Team Most Valuable Player ... selected to compete in Pennsylvania East/West All-Star Game ... 2010 All-WPIAL Second Team ... helped lead Hollidaysburg to 2010 state playoffs ... son of Terry and Nancy McCready ... played for head coach John Barton at Hollidaysburg ... also lettered in track & field, and wrestling ... born 3/21/94 in Columbia, Md. ... plans to major in secondary/special education at DSU.

QB Esayah Obado 6-2/190 Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham HS

Passed for 3,690 yards and 42 touchdowns, while rushing for 615 yards and 11 scores during his scholastic career ... named to 2010 12th Man TD Club, WJFL/CVC and All-Area First Team after passing for 2075 yards and 24 touchdowns during junior season ... also named to 2010 Super 100 Junior Football Players in New Jersey by the N.J. Football Coaches Association ... was third player in Mercer County history to pass for more than 2000 yards in a season ... passed for 1545 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior ... completed school-record 62.4% of his passes during 2011 season ... also rushed for 525 yards and eight scores in 2011 ... All-Area and All-County First Team selection during senior year ... played for head football coach John Adams at Nottingham HS ... also lettered in track & field.

TE Nate Ortiz 6-4/235 Jersey City, N.J./St. Anthony

Two-way standout at St. Anthony's (TE/DE) ... 2011 All-Hudson County and All-State (non-public) First Team selection ... 2011 North vs. South All-Star Game finalist ... 2010 All-Hudson County First Team ... played for head football coach Sean Fallon at St. Anthony's ... also considered Rutgers, Youngstown State and New Hampshire ... son of Nate Turner and Marybeth Hartwig ...

Ath Gabe Sherrod 6-4/210 Perryville, Md./Perryville HS
Competed at quarterback and on defense at Perryville ... 2011 First Team All-Cecil County and All-Conference selection ... accounted for more than 2200 yards to rank fifth in total offense in Maryland ... passed for 20 touchdowns during senior season ... also 1000 point basketball scorer.

OL Keon Williams 6-2/275 Jersey City, N.J./St. Peter's Prep

2011 All-Hudson County, All-Non Public and All-Area selection ... helped lead St. Peter's to four consecutive conference championships and state playoff appearances ... team advanced to state playoff one championship game and three other semifinal appearances ... St. Peter's finished in the New Jersey Top 10 in three of his four seasons and was preseason national No. 15 prior to junior year ... All-Hudson County Second Team as a junior ... helped lead team to 33-12 record during his scholastic career ... played for head coach Rich Hansen at St. Peter's ... son of Keith and Minnie Williams ... born 7/6/94 in Jersey City, N.J. ... bench pressed 415 lbs. and 765 squat (3x) as a senior ... also competes as a boxer ... has 6-0 record in the ring.

RB Rashard Williams 5-9/180 Phila., Pa./Valley Forge Military Academy
Rushed for 1400 yards and 12 touchdowns in six games for Valley Forge Military in 2011.

Blount says he expects to add to the list of 2012 newcomers in the weeks ahead, including several players with prior collegiate experience.

Courtesy: DSU Athletic Media Relations

Grambling State University hires new athletic director

DR. PERCY "CHICO" CALDWELL

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  -  After interviewing seven finalists recommended by a search committee, President Frank G. Pogue announced this week that Dr. Percy “Chico” Caldwell will assume the position of Athletic Director at Grambling State University, pending approval by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors. More than 50 applications were received.

“One of the difficult decisions was narrowing this extensive highly qualified pool of candidates to one individual,” says Dr. Pogue. “Dr. Caldwell’s experience and professional preparation will empower Grambling’s athletics to the next level of excellence and bridge the gap between Grambling’s historic achievements and success in athletics and the academic mission of the University. He will bring significant strength to the athletic administration including planning, research, marketing and financial management.”

Dr. Caldwell, a former student athlete, received his doctorate from Iowa State University and earned certification as an Administrative Leadership Evaluator. He received a master’s degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from the University of Alabama and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology/Psychology from Miles College in Birmingham, Alabama.

Dr. Caldwell has held several athletic positions over the course of his career. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1989, named Coach of the Year in 1990 and Athletic Director of the Year in 1991 for the West Virginia Conference. He also served in the United States Army, Military Police Corps.

“To be afforded the employment opportunity at Grambling State University with rich athletics history drawing national attention a great academic institution is special and very exciting. The rich athletics history separates Grambling State University from any other university. The stage is already set, my job will be to start from here assisting Dr. Progue and his administration continue to operationalize the mission and vision at GSU, says Dr. Caldwell. To be working with Dr. Frank Pogue and the GSU athletics staff will be an amazing opportunity. I am excited to get started.”

Grambling State University has 15 sports program: men’s football, basketball, baseball, cross country, track and field/outdoor; women’s basketball, bowling, track and field indoor/outdoor, cross country, tennis, soccer, softball and volleyball.

Courtesy: Grambling State University Press Release

Xavier basketball: The Times-Picayune covers 175 years of New Orleans history

NEW ORLEANS  -  Xavier University has had success in most sports, but basketball is where it has soared above the competition.  The Gold Rush first played basketball in 1928-29, but school records for those seasons are incomplete. From 1928 to ’32, records show that the team finished with a combined record of 14-10 with no known coach and didn’t play again until the 1934-35 season.

In 1934, Theodore “Ted” Wright took over the men’s basketball program and led the squad to an 11-4 record. Wright’s teams went 43-11 over the next two seasons before winning the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship with a 35-4 mark in the 1937-38 season.

The following season, Xavier repeated as champions with a new coach — Ted’s brother, Giles, who would also lead the Gold Rush to its only undefeated season: 29-0 in his third season as coach.

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Norfolk State pulls in 15 recruits

NORFOLK, Virginia - Norfolk State football coach Pete Adrian promised the Spartans won't struggle to convert in short-yardage situations next season.  Running back R.J. Robinson, 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, looks likely to make Adrian a man of his word.

The Spartans got letters of intent from 11 players Wednesday, putting together a group that includes four players given stars by Rivals, a popular scouting service. Robinson's resume stands out from the rest, and he could fix one of the few flaws from last year's MEAC champions.

"We're bringing in a big guy," Adrian said. "The last time we had a guy like that was Daryl Jones. When you're in those situations, you have to have a guy that can push the pile."

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Adrian Announces Addition of 15 to Spartan Football Program

NORFOLK, Va. —Norfolk State head football coach Pete Adrian announced Wednesday the addition of 15 recruits who will join the Spartans in 2012.  Included among the 15 are four players who are currently enrolled at NSU for the spring 2011 semester. Three of the four originally signed with Division I FBS programs.

“We knew we had to add some quality depth on defense since we lost a number of good players there and since we play so many in our rotation,” Adrian said. “I definitely think we accomplished that with the early enrollees.”

Of the 11 players who signed national letters of intent Wednesday, three are junior college transfers and eight are high school recruits. The three JC players include two quarterbacks and one running back, while the high school class consists of three offensive linemen, two defensive backs, one fullback, one tight end and one defensive lineman.

“Overall, we feel that we were able to address our key needs,” Adrian said. “We feel that each of these players will be a great fit for our program, and we look forward to them wearing the green and gold.”

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Southern University's Mitchell: This class his most important

SU COACH STUMP MITCHELL

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Wednesday night, before Stump Mitchell pulled a shocker on the football-loving crowd at Southern University by unveiling the new white helmet his team will wear this season, the third-year coach reeled off his latest list of signees.

This, after all, was National Signing Day. Inside the Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union, the new recruits were the main attraction. And this group of 15 players, Mitchell said, is full with young men who can play in the Southwestern Athletic Conference — not as fifth-year seniors, not somewhere down the road. Many of the signees, Mitchell said, will play immediately.

“It’s my third class. It’s the most important class,” Mitchell said. “Our second class last year was better than our first, and I think this class is definitely better than the first two. We addressed the needs we needed, in order to be better than next year, and I’m excited about it.”

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SOUTHERN 2012 FOOTBALL SIGNEES

Jackson State University Football Signing Day 2012

Ivy hopes to remain at the controls

EAST ST. LOUIS, Illinois - With the bright lights and lure of playing on the national stage on Saturday afternoons during the next few years there for him to grab, East St. Louis senior Lamontiez Ivy has instead followed his heart. The premier quarterback in the Southwestern Conference for the past two years, Ivy will remain a quarterback after signing an NCAA Division I National Letter of Intent on Wednesday to attend Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss.

Ivy, who transferred to East St. Louis from Cahokia following his sophomore season, had several schools including Kansas and Illinois interested because of his athletic ability. But unlike Illinois, which was recruiting the 6-foot, 3-inch, 225-pound Ivy as a linebacker or tight end, Jackson State has offered him a chance to play quarterback at the Division I level.

"That was the deciding factor. My dream has always been to play quarterback at the Division I level. Kansas was in the picture for a minute, but really it came down to Jackson State and Illinois," Ivy said. "Illinois wanted me as a linebacker, Jackson State as a quarterback. I chose Jackson State.

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JACKSON, Mississippi - Below are the Tigers' newest crop of signees.

1. Lamontiez Ivy (Photo/Stats), QB, 6-2, 225, East St. Louis, IL (East St. Louis HS)

2. Preston Hughes, DB, 6-0, 185, Daphne, AL (Daphne HS)

3. Jabari Payton, TE, 6-4, 225, Carthage, MS (Carthage HS)

4. Coleman Johnson, DL, 6-2, 285, Pensacola, FL (Pensacola HS)

5. &Teddrick Terrell, LB, 6-2, 230, Jackson, MS (Lanier HS)

6. & Mike Johnson, LB, 5-11, 189, Tuskegee, AL (B.T. Washington HS)

& denotes prop student athlete.

Courtesy: JSU Office of Sports Media

JSU Signing Day Extravaganza

This is our running blog post updating you with Jackson State’s latest news on this day-long event that they call National Signing Day.

Keep checking back for updates. You can check this post’s headline for updates. We’ll update the signee count in parenthesis as we know of new signees.

Update (1 p.m.)

It appears that Jackson State may sign just the four today.

READ THE JSU BLOG 

Tennessee State Signs 18 on National Signing Day

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -  Tennessee State University head football coach Rod Reed announced on Wednesday that 18 student-athletes signed their National Letter of Intent to join the football program in 2012.

Overall, TSU had five student-athletes enroll during the spring semester and are currently attending classes. Meanwhile, 13 others will join the program this summer.

The student-athletes are from five different states. The Tigers reached deep intro Florida this year, signing nine from the Sunshine State. TSU then inked two from Tennessee and Illinois, while adding one from Alabama and another from Georgia.

Four corner backs and linebackers were signed on the defensive side, while adding a linebacker to that group. On offense, the Big Blue added four linemen, three wide receivers and a quarterback.

"We are really excited about this signing class," said Coach Reed after completing his third recruiting class. "The class we've got is one of the better classes we've had."

The Tigers had three Nashville area signees with Maurice Box, Jr. (Gallatin High School), Anotino 'Tre' Haynes (Gallatin High School) and Darius Turner (McGavock High School).

"The only disappointing part is that we didn't sign more local area kids," noted Reed. "We targeted six or seven kids in the Nashville area, but a few of them decided to go to other Division I FCS programs or to smaller FBS schools."

2012 Mid-Semester Enrollees:

The following student-athletes have already enrolled at Tennessee State and are attending class during the Spring of 2012.

Greg Barksdale III - LB 6-2, 210

Northern Illinois/Crete Monee HS (University Park, Ill.)

Played in 15 games for Northern Illinois, primarily on the kickoff coverage squad...Recorded 12 total tackles, five solo, in two seasons...A three-year starter for Coach Jerry Verde at Crete-Monee, helped lead the Warriors to a 10-2 record and a trip to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs in 2009...An Illinois High School Football Coaches Association (IHSFCA) 6A first team All-State honoree in 2009...Recorded 90 tackles, 65 solo, three sacks, two interceptions, caused two fumbles and recovered two fumbles at linebacker his senior year...2009 Chicago Tribune second team All-State selection and Chicago Sun-Times All-Area special mention... Son of Tony Sleming and Gregory Barksdale Jr....Intends to major in criminal justice.

Chris James, Jr. - CB 6-2, 195

Atlanta Sports Academy/Dunbar HS (Fort Myers, Fla.)

Made 15 solo tackles and seven assisted tackles in ten games at Atlanta Sports Academy...Had four breakups, two interceptions and one fumble recovery in lone season at ASA...Selected as MVP a senior for Dunbar High and Coach Phil Vogt...Notched 28 solo tackles with 26 assisted tackles over ten games in final season...Had seven tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and one interception...Plans to seek a career in Business Management...Son of Chris James.

Joe Johnson - FS 5-11, 200     Marshall/ New Smyrna Beach HS (New Smyrna Beach, Fla.)

Red-shirted as a freshman at Marshall...A standout performer for Coach Rocky Yocam at New Smyrna Beach High School...Credited with 85 tackles, six interceptions and 19 pass break-ups during his senior season...Rated as one of the top safety prospects in the country by several recruiting services...Rated three stars by Rivals...Also recruited by South Florida and Western Michigan among others...Son of Rosa Johnson...Lists his late father, Julius Johnson, as his biggest role model.

Demetrius Rhaney - OL 6-3, 300

Ellsworth CC/ Stranahan HS (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.)

Competed two seasons for Coach Mike Virden at Ellsworth CC and was named All-Region as a freshman...Ranked as the No. 9 offensive guard in the country by 247Sports...Named to the Midwest Football All-Conference team as a sophomore...Garnered interest from several schools including Minnesota, USF and Kansas...Played for Joe Redmond at Stranahan High...Won the shot put event at the Florida High School 3A District 15 championships...Son of Ronnie Rhaney.

Darius Turner - CB 6-2, 200

Arkansas State/ McGavock HS (Nashville, Tenn.)

Orginally signed NLI in 2011-12 at Arkansas State, but did not play football in the fall semester...Four-year varsity letterman who holds McGavock's school record for all-purpose yards...Competed in the 2010 Tennessee East vs. West All-Star game...All-Metro and all-Conference choice as a senior...Helped lead McGavock to the state playoffs in 2009...2-star recruit by Rivals.com...Competed in track and field and baseball as well...Also recruited by Middle Tennessee, Kansas, Western Kentucky and Memphis...Son of Carmen and Wendell Turner.

Class of 2012 Signees - FINAL LIST - Listed in Order Received:

Willie Allen - WR 6-4, 190

Hales Franciscan HS (Chicago, Ill.)

A first team All-State and All-Conference wide receiver selection for Hales Franciscan High School out of Chicago...Played under Spartans head coach Randall Towensel...Rated a three star recruit from Scout.com and ranked the 135th best wideout prospect in the country...Earned a Tom Lemming Top 25 national prospect from MaxPreps.com...Has great size, strong hands and excellent speed...Lemming expects Allen to be a physical blocker and tough to bring down... Received several looks from Big 10 programs...Son of Denise Westbrook...Went to same high school as TSU men's basketball sophomore guard Patrick

Maurice Box, Jr. - LB 6-2, 220

Gallatin HS (Gallatin, Tenn.)

Three year All-District selection at Gallatin High School...Played for Gallatin legendary Coach Robert Lassiter...Scouts rate Box as a tough and physical linebacker...Was the team leading rusher for the Green Wave, playing on both sides of the ball...Rivals.com mentioned Box as one of the top high school linebackers in the state of Tennessee...Participated in the Tennessee All-Star Classic...Interest from Murray State, Tennessee Tech, and Kentucky. Plans to major in Criminal Justice at TSU... Son of LaToya Holcomb.

Ricky Foster, Jr. - WR 6-2, 180
Brighton HS (Brighton, Tenn.)
Three time All-District honoree in 13-AAA...Named All-Region and All-Shelby Metro in 2011...Earned the Harrison Simonton Football Scholarship in 2009...Set Brighton High School record with 52 receptions for 1,079 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2011...Helped the Cardinals to a 9-2 record and an appearance in the second round of the TSSAA Class 6-A playoffs...Played for head coach Will Wolf...Offered by defending Sun Belt Champion Arkansas State, Murray State, and Central Arkansas...Son of Ricky and Gennette Foster...Numerous family members played collegiate athletics including cousin Willie Foster for Jackson State men's basketball from 1981 to 1983.

Antonio 'Tre' Haynes - OL 6-4, 350
Gallatin HS (Gallatin, Tenn.)
Played for Coach Robert Lassiter and helped Gallatin High to a 10-2 mark...A two-way player as an offensive lineman and defensive tackle...Recorded 44 tackles as a senior...Considered as one of the Mid-States top offensive linemen...Offered by Alcorn State, Texas Southern and Tennessee Tech...Drew interest from Auburn and Tennessee.

Antonio Justice, Jr. - LB 6-1, 212
St. Jude Educational Institute (Montgomery, Ala.)
Helped St. Jude to an 8-2 record as a senior...Averaged 16.4 tackles per game and recorded six sacks...A two-time selection to the Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State team...Named as a Max Preps Player of the Week on 10-2-11...Garnered the rating of a 2-star recruit...Offered by Arkansas State, UAB, Alabama St. and Troy.

Jeremy Manning - CB 6-1, 190

Bartow HS (Bartow, Fla.)

Versatile athlete from Bartow High School...Played for Yellow Jackets head coach Brett Biggs...Earned all Florida Athletic Coaches Association first team and All-Polk County honors... Collected 59 tackles, picking up six interceptions, forcing three fumbles and picking up two recoveries...Caught 13 passes for 190 yards with one reception touchdown...Son of Laurie and Jeremiah Manning...Brother Jeremiah 'Joey' Manning played four seasons (2007-2010) of baseball at Vanderbilt University under head coach Tim Corbin.

Kevin Kenton - OL 6-3, 275
Palm Beach Lakes HS (West Palm Beach, Fla.)
An All-Star Team selection for Coach Alonzo Jefferson...Registered 35 Pancakes while playing center and left tackle...Had three sacks and 52 tackles as a defensive tackle...Recorded five tackles in Senior All-Star game...Qualified for regionals in the discuss as a junior...Son of Sephlin Kenton and Sylvester Kenton...Plans on majoring in Civil Engineering...Recruited by Marshall, Bethune-Cookman, and FIU.

Montrell Wood - OL 6-7, 325
Academy of Richmond County HS (Augusta, Ga.)
Played for Coach Chris Hughes at Academy of Richmond County...Selected to play in the Georgia Senior Bowl...Named to the Honor Roll...Son of Amanda Hudson and Elliott Wood...Intends to study in the field of Physical Therapy.

Kilu Fontaine-Ellis - OL 6-4, 270

Tampa Bay Tech HS (Tampa, Fla.)

A catalyst in helping Coach Jayson Roberts and Tampa Bay Tech to an 8-4 record...Key part of offensive line for a rushing attack that averaged 215 yards per game as a senior...Played for the south squad in the Blue-Grey National All-Star Classic...Named FCAC All-District and All-Hillsborough County...Honored as the Most Valuable offensive linemen as a senior...2-star recruit by Rivals.com...Received the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award...Had offers from Bethune-Cookman, Eastern Illinois, Florida A&M, Jacksonville State and North Carolina Central...Interested in pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice...Son of Delores Ellis.

Marquaveus Jackson - DE 6-4, 250
Merced Community College (CA)/Seabereeze High School (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
Garnered first team All-Gate Conference honors at Merced Community College under head coach Bob Casey...Second on the team with 53 tackles and led Merced with 17.0 tackles-for-loss and 9.5 sacks...Also recorded two blocks and two forced fumbles in 10 games...Considered one of the top defensive linemen in the junior college ranks...Played high school football at Seabreeze High School in Daytona Beach, Fla...Had offers from Middle Tennessee, Nevada and Texas State...Son of Alberta and Christopher Wilson.

Lavatiae Kelly - WR 6-1, 175
McArthur HS (Hollywood, Fla.)
Led the McArthur Mustangs with 72 receptions for 1,458 yards, an average of 20.25 yards per catch...Notched 15 touchdowns in 10 games...According to MaxPreps.com, ranked 13th nationally and the first in the Sunshine state among high school wide receivers in yards per game (145.8)...Named first team All-State for the Class 7A . Rivals.com and Scout.com both noted Kelly as one of the most underrated wide receivers in the state of Florida...Offered by Akron.



Jarvis Mott - LB 5-11, 225
Mainland HS (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
Earned first team All-State for Class 6-A at Mainland High School...First team All-Area selection in 2010 and 2011...Led Daytona Beach area with an astounding 182 tackles...Had 21.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks during his senior campaign...Part of a defense that allowed 161 yards per game in 2011. Offered by UT-Chattanooga and Murray State.

Ronald Butler - QB 6-2, 185
Lincoln HS (Tallahassee, Fla).
Ranked as the 89th best quarterback by Scout.com...Had offers from Jacksonville State, UNLV and Southern Miss...Named team offensive MVP for Tallahassee's Lincoln High School...Helped Coach Yusuf Shakir's and the Trojans to a Class 4-A State Championship title in 2010...Threw 27 touchdowns and only five interceptions his senior season...Named All-Florida honorable mention for the 2011 season. Son of Ronald Butler and Daphne Williams.



Courtesy: Tennessee State University Sports Information

Gold Rush rally past Privateers 75-69 for season sweep

NEW ORLEANS -- Senior point guard Chris Iles scored 15 points on a career-best five 3-pointers Wednesday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 75-69 men's basketball victory against the University of New Orleans at The Barn.

The Gold Rush (17-6), ranked 25th in NAIA Division I, completed a two-game season sweep of the Privateers (13-11).

Cordell Hadnot scored 13 points, Kevin Miller 12 and Denzell Erves 11 for Xavier. Brandon Canady scored a career-high 17 points for UNO, and Lovell Cook scored 16. Brandon Knight had nine assists, and Antonio Wertz grabbed nine rebounds for the Privateers.

UNO led 32-30 at halftime. There were 10 second-half lead changes before Iles passed to Hadnot for a layup with 5:37 remaining, putting Xavier ahead to stay at 61-59. Erves added a 3-point play at 5:03, and Hadnot scored on a pass from Wanto Joseph to make it 66-59 and cap a 7-0 Gold Rush run.

With Xavier leading 66-63, the Privateers' Max Banchy missed a 3-pointer, and the Gold Rush controlled the rebound. Xavier made 5-of-6 free throws in the final minute to clinch its 11th victory in 13 games and its seventh straight at home.

Xavier outshot the Privateers 50 to 41.1 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 35-25. Erves grabbed seven rebounds and Anthony Simmons six for the Gold Rush.

Xavier's next game will start at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and city rival SUNO. The Knights are 7-2 in the conference, a half-game behind leader Tougaloo (7-1) and a half-game ahead of Xavier (6-2).

NOTES: Xavier's other victory against UNO this season was 79-70 on Jan. 4 . . . Xavier has extended its school record of consecutive winning seasons to 12 . . . XU also is assured of its 21st consecutive season at .500 or better. The last losing season was in 1989-90 . . . UNO is an NCAA Division I independent which is transitioning to Division II.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

Bethune-Cookman Releases 2012 Football Schedule

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  -  Returns to the MEAC/SWAC Challenge and FBS stalwart Miami along with a home game against a traditionally strong HBCU program highlight the 2012 Bethune-Cookman University football schedule released Wednesday.

For the second straight season, B-CU will open the season in Orlando, this year on September 2, 2012 against a SWAC opponent Alabama State University Hornets.  The Wildcats defeated Prairie View A&M 63-14 in 2011 in a game broadcasted on ESPN.

Two weeks later on September 15, the Wildcats will tangle with the Hurricanes again in Sun Life Stadium. B-CU had an early 7-0 lead on Miami last year and was within 21-14 in the third quarter before the national power pulled away in the final 15 minutes.



"We're extremely excited to continue these two dates over from last year," B-CU Athletic Director Lynn W. Thompson said. "The fan support was fantastic and the games generated a lot of interest in our football program."

The only new wrinkle to the schedule is the addition of Tennessee State, one of the most respected programs in all of Black College Football. The Tigers, with former B-CU assistant Rod Reed as Head Coach and former B-CU star Jeff Parker serving as passing game co-ordinator, will come to Daytona Beach on September 22 for the Wildcats' home opener, which will also serve as Hall of Fame Weekend.

B-CU will play at Tennessee State next season under the two-year contract.

2012-2013 SCHEDULE (html)

Date Opponent / Event Location Time /

09/02/12 TBD (MEAC/SWAC Challenge) Orlando, Fla. 
09/08/12 at South Carolina State * Orangeburg, S.C. 
09/15/12 at Miami Miami Gardens, Fla.
09/22/12 vs. Tennessee State (Hall of Fame Game) Daytona Beach, Fla. 
09/29/12 at Hampton University * Hampton, Va. TBA
10/06/12 vs. North Carolina A&T (Homecoming) * Daytona Beach, Fla.. 
10/20/12 vs. Norfolk State (Biker Classic) * Daytona Beach, Fla. 
10/27/12 vs. North Carolina Central (Senior Day) * Daytona Beach, Fla. TBA
11/03/12 at Morgan State * Baltimore, Md. TBA
11/10/12 at Savannah State * Savannah, Ga. TBA
11/17/12 vs. Florida A&M(Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Florida Classic) * Orlando, Fla. TBA

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Courtesy: Bethune-Cookman University Sports Information 

Alabama A&M football: 2012 Bulldogs' travels limited

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - A first-ever game against a Southeastern Conference opponent, the 71st annual Magic City Classic against in-state rival Alabama State and four home games highlight Alabama A&M's 2012 football schedule.

The Bulldogs will visit Auburn on Nov. 17, take on the Hornets in Birmingham on Oct. 27 and host Prairie View, Grambling, Alcorn State and Southern at Louis Crews Stadium.

"This schedule is historic for us," A&M coach Anthony Jones said. "We only have four home games; however, we play seven games in the state of Alabama and for the first time since I've been here, we play in or near the four major cities in the state.

"We open in Mobile, we play the Magic City Classic in Birmingham and we play Auburn outside of Montgomery. We have big games in all four of our major cities and since we're trying to recruit the state of Alabama, that will only help us."

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Rison Returns to Central Michigan as Receivers Coach

Mose Rison, former NCCU head coach, will coach
 the Chippewas' receivers in 2012.
(Photo Courtesy: CMU Athletic Communications)

MOUNT PLEASANT, Michigan - Mose Rison, a member of Central Michigan's 1974 Division II national championship team and former assistant coach, has returned to CMU to coach the Chippewas' receivers, CMU head coach Dan Enos announced today.

"We are thrilled to welcome Mose back to CMU," Enos said. "His passion for Central Michigan University and expertise coaching the offensive skill positions will make him an invaluable part of our coaching staff."

A native of Flint, Mich., Rison was a four-year letterman (1974-77) who still ranks 10th in school history with 2,838 career rushing yards. He was CMU's Most Valuable Player and an All-Mid-American Conference first team selection after rushing for 1,241 yards and scoring 12 touchdowns (11 rushing, one kickoff return) in 1977.

He earned his bachelor's degree from CMU in 1978 and master's degree in 1983.

Rison's coaching career began at CMU, where he coached receivers and directed the special teams from 1981-88. He spent two seasons at Navy (1989-90) and five at Rutgers (1991-95) before a six-year run at Stanford (1996-2001) that included a Pac-10 Conference championship in 1999 and trip to the Rose Bowl. At Stanford, he worked directly with 1999 Biletnikoff Award winner Troy Walters.

Rison spent two seasons in the National Football League, coaching the New York Jets' receivers in 2001 and 2002. He was part of a staff that helped lead the Jets to the AFC Wild Card in 2001 and an AFC East championship in 2002. Rison also completed four summer internships with NFL teams during the early portion of his coaching career, gaining experience with the Detroit Lions (1988), New York Jets (1993), Chicago Bears (1999) and Baltimore Ravens (2000).

Following the 2002 season, Rison returned to the collegiate ranks where he served as receivers coach and passing game coordinator at Arizona (2003), offensive coordinator at Livingstone College (2004) and quarterbacks coach, receivers coach and passing game coordinator at Davidson College (2005).

In 2006, Rison was named assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at North Carolina Central. While mentoring a freshman quarterback, he helped install a new offensive system that produced a school-record 30.9 points per game as the Eagles finished 11-1 and won the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association title.

Rison was named head coach in 2007 and led NCCU's transition from NCAA Division II to the Football Championship Subdivision level. He was 16-22 in three and a half seasons as NCCU's head coach, including a 6-4 mark in 2007, the Eagles' first season as a member of the FCS.

Courtesy: Scott Rex/CMU Athletics

North Carolina Central Covers Eleven States with 2012 Class

DURHAM, North Carolina - NCCU head football coach Henry Frazier III chats with play-by-play voice of the NCCU Sports Network Chris Hooks about his 2012 signing class. The Eagles had 27 student-athletes sign on the dotted line to become members of the NCCU football program.

Check http://www.nccueaglepride.com/ for more detailed information about the 2012 signing class.



VIEW LIST OF SIGNEES AND THEIR VIDEO HERE

N.C. Central scores big in Central Region

RICHMOND, Virginia - The North Carolina Central football team isn't talked about much in the Richmond area. The Durham, N.C., school just completed its first season as a full member of Division I and doesn't have a player from Richmond on its roster.

But that will change today when four players from the Central Region sign letters of intent with the Eagles: Malcolm Bell of Henrico, Tony Tate of Varina, Darius Spruill of Thomas Dale and Tim Thaniel of Clover Hill.

In charge of recruiting the area for N.C. Central is assistant Mike McGlinchey. He's been at NCCU for three seasons, but he was given the territory just this year. He has plenty of familiarity with Richmond, as he recruited it when he was with Towson for eight seasons.

McGlinchey decided he'd hit Richmond hard, and the initial results have been positive.

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