Savannah State Announces 2012 Football Recruiting Class

SAVANNAH, Ga.- Eighteen student-athletes have signed letters of intent to play football at Savannah State University, head coach Steve Davenport announced at a February 1, press conference in the Tiger Arena multipurpose room.

The incoming class is balanced with nine offensive players and nine defensive players.

Four of the offensive players are linemen. SSU inked a pair of quarterbacks and running backs and one wide receiver. On the defensive side of the ball, three players are linemen and three are linebackers, two are cornerbacks and one is a safety.

Ten of the signees come from the high school ranks while six are junior college players and two are transferring from FBS programs.

The newest Tigers hail from ten states as far north as New York, as far south as Florida and as far west as Louisiana. Five come from the Peach state while four are from Alabama, two from Florida and New York, Texas, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Maryland and Louisiana have one each.

SSU 2012 Football Recruiting Class

Darius Allison LB 6-1 205 Brentwood, N.Y./Nassau CC
JUCO: All Conference 1st team North East Conference (Nassau CC) Two-time Conference player of the week. H.S.: All-City Long Island, New York Brentwood High school, Old Spice Player of the Year 2010.
Allison Highlights (VIDEO)

Trevion Ashford LB 6-0 190 Acworth, Ga./Etowah HS
HS: 1st team All-County, 59 tackles, 12 tfls, 2 sacks, 5 QB hurries, 1 forced fumble, 1 INT

Will Broadbent DL 6-1 295 San Antonio, Tex./EarlWarren HS
HS: 48 tackles, 15 tfls, 1 forced fumble, 1 sack. Two-Time 1st Team All-District.
Broadbent Highlights (VIDEO)

Caleb Freeman OL 6-3 300 Arlington, Ga./Georgia Military
JUCO: Two-year starter

Percy Griffin OL 6-3 300 Tallahassee, Fla./Godby HS
HS: Recorded 25 pancake blocks his senior season. He was selected to play in the Georgia/Florida Border Wars All-Star game. Griffin Highlights (VIDEO) (VIDEO 2)

Roosevelt “Tre” Isom WR 6-4 210 Augusta, Ga./Westside HS
HS: Named 2010 Team Offensive Player of the Year. Led the team in receptions… Was the recipient of the Scholar-Athlete of the Week award. Lettered in track, basketball, and football. Member of the National Honor Society. Isom Highlights (VIDEO)

Ronald Johnson DL 6-3 310 Detroit, Mich./Fond Du Lac CC
JUCO: All-State, All Conference, All-Region, 73 tackles, 30 tfls, 4 forced fumbles, nine sacks, and 3 FG blocks. HS: All-State Offensive Lineman

Chris Jones DL 6-5 330 Jacksonville, Fla./Univ. of Illinois
COLL: Most Improved Linemen 2011

Javon Moore CB 6-2 170 Union, N.J./Globe CC
JUCO: All-State, 10 interceptions, 20 tackles, 1 fumble recovery for a touchdown. Third in the State in interceptions (New York). HS: All-State, First Team All-Conference, Most Valuable Player.
Moore Highlights (VIDEO)

Isaiah Nearor RB 5-9 190 Cincinnati, Ohio/Wyoming HS
COLL: Redshirted at University of Cincinnati. HS: rushed for 1067 yards and recorded 17 touchdowns. First Team Southwest Ohio, Second Team District on Defense.

Leon Prunty QB 6-4 220 Stockbridge, Ga./Stockbridge HS
HS: Played in the Georgia East/West All-Star Game. Prunty Highlights (VIDEO)

Keimon Sanders OL 6-4 300 Ronoake, Ala./Handley HS

Marquis Smith LB 6-4 220 Indian Head, MD/Henry E. Lackey HS
HS: All-County 1st Team, Defensive Player of the Year…137 tackles…Led the State of Maryland in tackles, 4 INTs, 2 PBU’s, 4 fumble recoveries, 3 forced fumbles. Received offer from Old Dominion University.

Somali Smith CB 5-10 180 Birmingham, Ala./Iowa Central CC
HS: 15 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PBU, 1 INT. All-Metro Birmingham, 68 tackles, 9 INT
Smith Highlights (VIDEO)

Dominique Stallworth OL 6-5 290 Brunswick, Ga./Brunswick HS

Jacob Thomas S 6-1 185 Birmingham, Ala./Jackson-Olin HS

HS: 78 Tackles, 4 Interceptions, 14 Pass Deflections....61 Punts 2722 Yards, 44.6 Yard Average

Thomas Highlights (VIDEO).

Hunter Vaughn QB 6-2 185 Robertsdale, Ala./Robertsdale HS

HS: Finished his senior season with 1761 passing yards and 15 passing touchdowns… Rushed for 403 yards and five touchdowns… Named to the AB Honor Roll. Vaughn Highlights (VIDEO).

Johnell Wortham RB 6-2 220 Saint Rose, La.
JUCO: Was named NJCAA Player of the Week for the week ending Oct. 19 2011 we he recorded 14 carries for 294 yards, and seven catches for 95 yards. Wortham Highlights (VIDEO).

Courtesy: Savannah State University Sports Information

Second Half Run Gives TSU 75-72 Victory over SEMO

g

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Missouri - Tennessee State overcame an eight point second half deficit and outscored Southeast Missouri by 10 points in the second half to seal a 75-72 victory over the Redhawks at the Show Me Center.

Trailing by eight early in the second half, The Tigers (15-10, 8-4 Ohio Valley) battled back with a 10-5 run to tie the game. From there, SEMO (12-11, 7-4 OVC) took brief leads, but TSU used a strong run in the final seven minutes to seal their fifth consecutive win.

The 15th victory was the most under third-year head Coach John Cooper. TSU is now just one win away from securing a winning season for the first time since 1995-96.

Offensively, TSU shot 42 percent (25-of-59) from the field, despite being out-rebounded 49-to-35. The Tigers managed 10 steals and forced 17 turnovers. TSU had only five miscues and dished out seven assists.

Robert Covington pulled in his 17th career double-double with a game-best 23 points and 13 rebounds. The junior from Bellwood, Ill., picked up four steals and shot 9-of-17 from the field in 31 minutes. Covington has now scored double-figure points in 24 straight games.

Kellen Thornton tied a season-high knocking down 15 points and pulling in six rebounds in 25 minutes. Kenny Moore reached 11 points with two rebounds.

Jordan Cyphers inked nine points, making all five free throw attempts. M.J. Rhett and Patrick Miller each added six points. Rhett pulled in six rebounds and a career-high three blocks. Miller dished out three assists alongside teammate Wil Peters.

Tennessee State trailed 35-30 at the halftime intermission. The Tigers were out-rebounded 29-to-15 and shot just 38 percent (12-of-32) from the field. Kenny Moore led TSU with nine points, while Covington had six points. SEMO's Corey Wilford led the team with 10 points.

To start the game the two teams went back and forth at nine points. Covington notched a basket and Moore hit two consecutive treys to give the Tigers a 19-9 lead with 10:59 remaining in the first half.

The Tigers stretched their lead to 25-16 when Southeast Missouri then proceeded on a 19-to-5 run to close the half. For the final 3:47, Tennessee State was held scoreless.

In the second half, Tennessee State started an 11-to-5 run and took a 41-40 lead with 15:51 on the clock. However, the Redhawks used a 12-6 run to stretch the advantage to 52-47.

Tennessee State tied the game at 58 with Covington free throw at 6:51. TSU then added four points to take a 62-58 lead at 5:07.

A Covington dunk at 3:20 extended TSU's lead to 66-58. SEMO answered with a Corey Wilford triple, his fourth of the game, to make it a 66-61 contest.

The Tigers stretched a lead to 69-61, but Lucas Nutt hit a basket with less than a minute to pull within three.

On the very next possession, Rhett made a layup and connected on the and-one to put TSU up 72-66. From there, it was another three free throws for TSU that sealed the win 75-72.

Tennessee State visits No. 9/10 Murray State in a one versus two battle on Thursday, Feb. 9. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. at the CFSB Center in Murray, Ky.

Courtesy: Tennessee State University Sports Information

Strong First Half Leads Howard to 13-point Win Over UMES

CHEYENNE CURLEY-PAYNE
5'-5" GUARD, JUNIOR
CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA
EASTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland -- The Howard Women's basketball team forced Maryland-Eastern Shore into 25 turnovers as the Lady Bison rolled passed the Hawks 49-36. With the win, HU improves to an overall 16-7 mark including 8-2 in MEAC play.

Zykia Brown and Saadia Doyle combined for 22 out of 32 first half points. Doyle finished with 12 points, 11 boards, and five steals. Tamoria Holmes tallied 12 points. Cheyenne Curley-Payne had a solid game with six rebounds, five assists, and three steals in 27 minutes of action.

To start the first half, UMES instantly took a 7-0 lead within the first three minutes of regulation. Doyle ended the Hawk's run with a shot at the charity stripe.

From there, HU went on a 6-0 run to cut it to 7-6 at the 15:38 mark.

Curley-Payne came down in transition and scored a layup at the 12:36 mark to give the Lady Bison their first advantage of the night at 11-9. HU picked up the intensity and proceeded to go on a 15-7 run to spread its advantage to eight by the 3:55 mark.

Howard took its largest spread of the half, 32-21, off a pair at the line by Doyle with just over a minute left in the first 20 minutes. HU went into the lockerroom ahead 32-23.

Coming back from halftime break, Curley-Payne hit a bucket in the paint that gave HU an 11 point spread, 34-23. Howard continued to attack, as Holmes instantly hit a jumper in the lane to push the advantage, 36-23.

By the 10:37 mark, HU captured its widest margin of the match at 17 points, 42-25. Howard managed to hold UMES to just two points in a seven-plus minute span.

It was no coming back for the Eagles as the Bison maintained their comfortable lead to complete the contest with a 49-36 victory.

Chelsea Sanders recorded a team-best for UMES with 11 points and six rebounds in 28 minutes of action. Shanyce Stewart pitched in with a team-best eight off the glass.

Howard will return to the hardwood to face Morgan State in Baltimore, Md. on Mon, Feb 6. The contest is slated for 5:30 p.m.

Follow Coach G's fan page on facebook to get a behind the scenes look at the team as they make their push toward the Big Dance: www.facebook.com/NikiGeckeler.

BOX SCORE

Written by: Julee O'Neal, W. Basketball, Broadcast Journalism '13

Jamilah Corbitt, Assistant Director of Sports Information
VISIT: HOWARD-BISON
VISIT: HOWARD UNIVERSITY

Texas Southern Tigers Sign 14 Players

HOUSTON, Texas - Texas Southern’s new football head coach has signed his first class as a Tiger.  Head coach Darrell Asberry signed 14 players so far, and he says they will be expected to play now.

“We are bringing in a good group of kids both academically and athletically,” said Asberry. “We believe they will fit in with the nucleus of players we already have. These are not red-shirt players; they will be expected to contribute right now.”



Here is a breakdown of the new Tigers. Eight of the 14 recruits are from Texas. Four are from the Houston area. We have 10 offensive players and three defensive players.

We will update this list as more recruits become available.

Texas Southern 2012 Football Signees

Rudofo “Rudy” Alonzo 5-9 185 RB Corpus King H.S. (TX)
Zach Bamijoko 6-0 247 LB Elkins H.S. (TX)
Darius Callies 5-11 180 WR Edna H.S. (TX)
Brandon Charles 6-3 290 OL Lake Dallas H.S. (TX)
Zachary Faires 6-3 220 TE Edinburg H.S. (TX)
Justice Jones 6-0 185 QB Patterson H.S. (LA)
Elston Lane Jr. 6-0 190 WR Miami Northwestern (FL)
Derrick McWilliams 6-3 260 DE New Mexico Military Institute (NM) / Houston, TX)
Jarius Moore 5-11 220 LB Northshore H.S. (TX)
Jaquaa Peters 5-10 180 WR Pearl River CC (MS)
Frederick Plummer 6-0 190 WR Coahoma CC (MS)
Billy Rosenberg 6-5 230 TE Memphis Raleigh Egypt H.S. (TN)
Darius Taylor 6-3 290 OL Northshore H.S. (TX)
Daryl Jones, Jr 5-9 185 RB Callaway HS (MS)

Texas Southern University Tentative 2012 Football Schedule (.pdf)

TSU/Houston Dynamo BBVA Compass Stadium LIVE Webcam

Texas Southern Football Assistant Coaches

Carl Roberts – Asst. head coach/Offensive line
Greg Johnson – Assoc. head coach/Co-Defensive coord. & Cornerbacks
Kevin Ramsey- Co-Defensive coordinator
David Geralds - Defensive line
Greg Ruffin - Tight Ends/Recruiting coordinator
Grailyn Pratt - Quarterbacks
TC Taylor - Wide receivers
Lewis Tillman - Running backs
TBA - Linebackers

Courtesy: Texas Southern University Sports Information
VISIT: TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
VISIT: TEXASSOUTHERNTIGERS

Southern alum Williams says Hall of Fame vote ‘truly humbling’

ST. LOUIS, Missouri - On most Sundays, you can find former Southern defensive back Aeneas Williams standing behind the podium of The Spirit Church in St. Louis, where he has been its pastor since its inception. If the votes go his way on Saturday, Williams will find himself standing behind another podium in August. In Canton, Ohio.

Williams is one of 12 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2012. It is significant on a couple of fronts. He is a testament to hard work and a rock-solid faith, both of which he credits for having a 14-year career with the Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams.

And if Williams makes the Hall he will represent an ever dwindling pool of players from the Southwestern Athletic Conference who have gone to the NFL and had standout careers. For the foreseeable future, it is Williams and former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan -- a Texas Southern alumnus -- who should be a first-ballot hall of famer.



READ MORE

Xavier Gold Rush beat Privateers 6-3 for first victory against UNO

ZACH TAYLOR

NEW ORLEANS -- Zach Taylor rallied for a three-set victory against Hossam Meligy to clinch Xavier University of Louisiana's 6-3 men's victory Friday against the University of New Orleans at City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center.

It was the first victory ever for the Gold Rush (1-1), ranked ninth in the NAIA, against the Privateers (0-1).

UNO's women defeated Xavier 9-0.

Taylor defeated Meligy 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 singles to give the Gold Rush a 5-2 lead. Loic Didavi, Steffen Giles-Osborn and Amir Rahbar also won in singles for Xavier.  



LOIC DIDAVI

"This was a great win for our guys," XU coach Alan Green said. "I was proud of the way they fought and competed. It's good to beat UNO after all these years of losing to them as a coach and as a player."

Didavi and Taylor scored the first point of the dual with their 8-4 victory at No. 1 singles against Meligy and Yoshikazu Ysa. Giles-Osborn and Sean Richardson gave the Rush a 2-1 lead with an 8-6 victory at No. 3 doubles against Dominik Kardell and Rohit Chivukula. 



UNO's women (1-0) won every match against Xavier (0-2) for the second straight year. The Gold Nuggets' best shot at a point came at No. 1 singles, but the Privateers' Marta Sans rallied for a 1-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-4) victory against Kourtney Howell. XU's Amanda Materre lost 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) to Juliet Labarthe at No. 3, but no other XU singles player won more than one game.

KOURTNEY HOWELL

"Our women still have some work to do," Green said. "They've got to keep fighting. I saw some improvement in doubles, but we still have to get a lot better."

The Gold Nuggets will travel to South Alabama for an 11 a.m. Saturday dual. The next Gold Rush match will start at 3 p.m. next Friday at Prairie View A&M.

Results: Men Women

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

Nationally-Ranked Players Lift Xavier Past UNO in Men's Tennis Dual

NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans men's tennis team dropped their season opener on Friday evening, falling 6-3 to crosstown foe Xavier at City Park.

STEFFEN GILES-OSBORN

Nationally-ranked singles' and doubles' players made their mark throughout the lineup for XULA (1-1), accounting for five of the squad's six victories on the day for a Gold Rush program that produced its first-ever victory over UNO.

XULA started off play by claiming 2 of 3 doubles' matches against the three debuting UNO doubles tandems.

At the No. 1 position, No. 46 ranked Loic Didavi and Zach Taylor fended off UNO's Yoshikazu Ysa and Hossam Meligy 8-4. The No. 21 duo of Sean Richardson and Steffen Giles-Osborn held on for an 8-6 win over Dominik Kardell and Rohit Chivukula at No. 3.

The lone Privateer victory in doubles' play came at the No. 2 position where Ricardo Campos and David Malmgren downed unranked Viktor Svoboda and Corey Huggins 8-6.

Trailing 2-1 with six singles' matches slated, UNO got a win at the No. 3 position as Ysa claimed a 6-3, 6-0 result over Huggins to knot the team score at 2-all.

XULA broke the tie over the next few minutes with wins by a pair of top 15 NAIA singles' players. The No. 7 ranked Didavi bested Campos 6-2, 6-4 at the No. 1 court with No. 13 Giles-Osborn defeating Kardell 7-6 (4), 6-3 at No. 5.

UNO would have its chances to win the dual as the remaining three matches reached a third set.

READ MORE

Alcorn Braves' Riley has no regrets on college move

Former Provine coach won big in high school but now dealing with growing pains in Lorman

LORMAN, Mississippi  -  Luther Riley traded the bright-city lights and a powerhouse high school basketball program for the dark country roads and a struggling Southwestern Athletic Conference squad. So, 10 months in, how's the former Provine and current Alcorn State coach feel about that decision?

"I enjoy it. I love it and I wouldn't trade it for the world," he said.  Well then.

Riley returns to Jackson today, when his Braves (4-16, 2-7 SWAC) meet Jackson State (5-16, 3-6) at 5:30 p.m. in the Athletics and Assembly Center. Two struggling teams will battle to remain out of the league cellar. After all, nobody wants those dreaded No. 7 or 8 seeds in the SWAC Tournament.

But the real story line is Riley, the 39-year-old who won four state championships in his dozen years at Provine. He won 290 games with the Rams - or 24 a year. He led Provine to seven title games in his last nine years.

READ MORE

An unlikely journey: Howard Bison Tracy White started out in St. Stephen and ended up at the Super Bowl

#58 TRACY WHITE,
LINEBACKER, 6'- 0" 230
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
HOWARD UNIVERSITY BISON

CHARLESTON, South Carolina - During Super Bowl media day this week, Tracy White was interviewed by somebody named "Pick Boy", a character on the kids' TV network Nicktoons.

"It's my first time," White said of the wild scene at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. "It's kind of crazy."



Crazy is one word to describe the NFL career of White, a nine-year veteran who has played for five different teams. Despite making the playoffs in seven of his nine seasons, White will make his Super Bowl debut on Sunday when the Patriots face the New York Giants.

Not bad for a kid who grew up in St. Stephen, starred in football and wrestling at Timberland High School and nearly joined the Army before his one scholarship offer -- from Howard University -- came through. 

READ MORE

Henry to join old teammates at South Carolina State University

MANNING, South Carolina – The South Carolina State Bulldogs have had a healthy pipeline coming from Manning High School in recent years – picking up commitments from Daniel Green, Marcus Lloyd and Brandon Miller at one point all during the last three years. That familiarity is part of the reason why recruit No. 4 is on his way as well.

Monarchs defensive back Phillip Henry chose the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Bulldogs over fellow FCS schools Presbyterian and Coastal Carolina and over Division II Newberry on Wednesday during National Signing Day.

"I'm excited to get this opportunity," Henry said. "I just want to compete, win championships and get a chance to play at a higher (level)."  Already knowing a few of his teammates helped as well, he said.  "A lot of my friends are there and it just felt like the best place for me," Henry said. "I liked the campus. I liked the coaches and everyone there treated me well.

READ MORE



SC State Signs 23 Football Prospects

ORANGEBURG, SC – South Carolina State, Wednesday, announced the signing of twenty-three (23) football prospects to national letters. The list includes three mid-year signees. Fifteen of the prospects are from the Palmetto State, along with four each from North Carolina and Georgia. Five are Shrine Bowlers and four participated in the North-South All-Star Game.

The 2012 class is made up of five defensive backs (three safeties) and defensive linemen each, four offensive linemen, three linebackers, two quarterbacks and fullbacks each, one athlete and one wide receiver.

SC State head coach Buddy Pough, who is beginning his 11th season as Bulldog head coach, said this year's class was similar those of recent years and appeared to address the team's needs, primarily at quarterback, fullback and the middle of the defense (LB and safety).

“We try to stay as high up the recruiting chain we possibly can, that is to get the very best available,” Pough said. “Both of the quarterbacks (Gaffney's Joey Copeland and Spartanburg's Adrian Kollock) we signed are very close to ready as we've signed here during my tenure. They did similar things for their high school teams, appear to be mature and possess a good understanding of the game.

READ MORE



2012 Football Signees

Name                          Pos.     Ht.       Wt.      High School                Hometown      Honors/Facts
Shaquan Brock         DB      6'0       183      Camden County          St. Mary's, GARegion III 5A All Region,                                                                                                                                         All Coastal Region. GAAC All-     
                                                                                                                                    Star

Dondre Brown          FB       6'1       236      Wade Hampton           Varnville, SC  Offensive MVP, All Region,                                                                                                                                     3-time All-Region, 2 time                                                                                                                                           Offensive POTY

Javonte Brown          DL       6'0       250      Calhoun County          Cameron, SC   Shrine Bowl, All-State,                                                                                                                                               Region Defensive POTY,                                                                                                                                           T & D All-Area

Joey Copeland           QB      6'0       205      Gaffney                       Gaffney, SC    Shrine Bowl, All-State, All-
                                                                                                                                    Region, Offensive POTY, SI                                                                                                                                     All-American Honorable, Max                                                                                                                                     Prep All-American, HSSR                                                                                                                                          Offensive POTY,                                                                                                                                                        Spartanburg Herald-Journal                                                                                                                                        Offensive POTY

Antoine Crouch         DL       6'0       286      Richmond County      Ellerbe, NC     Shrine Bowl


Eric Dickerson           OL       6'4       265      Stratford                     Goose Creek, SC North/South All-Star Game,                                                                                                                                     HSSR All-State*Javon Hargrave       DL       6'2       295      North Rowan             Salisbury, NC  2-time All-State, 4 time All-
                                                                                                                                    Conference, 2-time Defensive
                                                                                                                                    POTY

Phillip Henry             DB      6'0       170      Manning                      Manning, SC   North/South All-Star Game,                                                                                                                                       HSSR All-State

Clyde Johnson           OL       6'3       315      Calhoun County          Orangeburg, SC All-State, All Region,T&D                                                                                                                                                 All-Area
Marquise Jones         DB      6'1       172      Eau Claire                   Columbia, SC  HSSR Top 100 Prospects


Adrian Kollock          QB      6'2       194      Spartanburg                 Spartanburg, SC HS MVP, HSSR All-State,                                                                                                                                      Spartanburg Herald-Journal                                                                                                                                         All-Area TeamNikeem Ladson         DL       6'3       265      Wade Hampton           Greenville, SC North/South All-State,
                                                                                                                                    All-County, HSSR All-State

Jetavius Marshall      DE       6'1       225      Lincolnton County      Lincolnton, GA All-State, All-CSRA, All-                                                                                                                                         Region, 2-time HS Defensive                                                                                                                                     Lineman of the Year

Javarius Leamon       OL       6-6       290      Woodruff                    Woodruff, SC Shrine Bowl, 2A Upper State
                                                                                                                                    Lineman of the Year,         
                                                                                                                                   Spartanburg Herald-Journal
                                                                                                                                    All-Area Team

Kimario McFadden   DB      5'11     197      Atlanta Sports Acad.  Riverdale, GA


Reggie Owens            LB       6'2       216      Statesboro                   Statesboro, GA 4A All-State, All-Region

Jake Scott                   OL       6'3       245      Calhoun County          Swansea, SC   All-State, All-Region, T & D                                                                                                                                     All-Area

Virgil Smalls              FB       6'0       260      Goose Creek               Goose Creek, SC Shrine Bowl, 4A Lower                                                                                                                                          State Back of the Year, HSSR                                                                                                                                     All-State, HSSR Division 2                                                                                                                                        4A POTY, HSSR All-State

Tyler Smith                DB      6'1       182      Keenan                        Columbia, SC  All-Region

*Alkeem Thomas      LB       6'0       205      Gray Military Acad.    Durham, NC   2-time Wilson Time All-Area,                                                                                                                                     All Big East 3A Conference

*Deion Walker          ATH    5'10     190      Butler                         Charlotte, NC 2-time NC 4AA State                                                                                                                                                             Champion

Taquan West             WR      6'4       210      Lexington                    Lexington, SC HSSR Top 100 Prospects

Michael Wilson          LB       5'11     200      Timberland                  St. Stephen, SC 2-A Division I State                                                                                                                                                   Champion
*mid-year signee

Courtesy: South Carolina State University Sports Information

Wiggins enters her 21st season as FAMU Rattlers' head coach

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - The warm-up exercise to start practice Thursday afternoon was moving at a pace that seemed just fine to a curious visitor. But when a player missed a step in the routine, coach Veronica Wiggins didn't hesitate to let her know.

"I push my players," she said. "They will tell you that."

They would also tell you that as much as Wiggins is a stickler when it comes to the details of preparing for a game, she has a side that goes beyond what they do inside the chalked lines. They refer to her as a godmother and mentor who takes as much time to teach life lesson as she does making sure they understand the fundamentals of the game.

READ MORE

West Rowan receiver Morgan to Winston-Salem State

MOUNT ULLA, North Carolina — West Rowan football coach Scott Young found it hard to believe he didn’t have a player inking on National Signing Day. Jarvis Morgan took care of that detail one day later. With his parents by his side, the 6-foot-3 wide receiver signed with Winston-Salem State of the CIAA on Thursday morning.

The all-conference and all-county star becomes the sixth Ram recruit for head coach Connell Maynor and the second wide receiver. Rodney Quick, a 5-9, 170-pound end, signed out of Chapel Hill.

“They expressed interest in him about two, three weeks ago,” Young said. “I think this is a program that Jarvis had his eye on from the beginning. I’m really pleased.”

WSSU liked what they saw on film and why not? In 2011, Morgan helped the Falcons to a 13-3 record. He caught 48 passes for 1,015 yards and 11 touchdowns. He had a four-touchdown game in a 54-7 trouncing of East Rowan.

READ MORE



WSSU Football Signees 2012 on NLI Day

Below is the most up to date list of of signees from the 2012 National Signing Day, and are the newest members of the WSSU Ram Family!

1) Keith Tanksley, 6-4, 304, Defensive Line, Greensboro, NC/Ragsdale HS

2) Chaunsee Bess, 6-0, 180, Corner Back, Columbia, SC/Ridgeview HS

3) Takhare Donalson, 5-11, 180, Defensive Back, Charlotte, NC/Mallard Creek HS

4) Rodney Quick, 5-9, 170, Wide Receiver, Chapel Hill, NC/Chapel Hill HS

5) Demeeko Jones, 6-3, 245, Tight End, Fayetteville, NC/Douglas Byrd HS

6) Isaiah Towns, 6-3, 285, Offensive Line, Greensboro, NC/Page HS

7) Jarvis Morgan, 6-4, 200, Wide Receiver, Salisbury, NC/West Rowan HS

Courtesy: Winston Salem State Sports Information

Xavier's Kenner will take his talents to medical school

"My family has been motivational.

They’ve believed I could become

a doctor more than I’ve believed.
And I've always believed
I could do this."


— Jamaan Kenner

NEW ORLEANS — In a ninth-grade biology class at Jesuit High School, Jamaan Kenner made a discovery. He wanted to attend medical school.

"It was my first biology class. It was a college-level class," said Kenner, a 6-foot-4 senior guard on the Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball team. "We were studying the body. I was intrigued."

Eight years later his journey continues. Kenner, a biology/pre-medical major, has been accepted to the School of Medicine of LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport. Three other applications are pending, but it's nice to have one in the bag.

Kenner is a starter for the Gold Rush — a defensive and 3-point-shooting specialist — and has helped Xavier win 17-of-23 games this season and earn a No. 25 ranking in this week's NAIA Division I coaches poll. With one semester to complete, his cumulative grade-point average at Xavier is 3.62. He survived organic chemistry, the MCAT and his first interview for medical school.

"I was nervous at first at the interview. But I didn't get any hard questions," Kenner said. "They just wanted to know who you are."

No doubt about it — these are good times for Kenner. He's earned them.

"When I think of Jamaan, I think of sacrifice," XU head coach Dannton Jackson said. "Other students are probably having more fun than he is. Jamaan has been playing college basketball and going through a strenuous curriculum at a tough university to prepare for medical school. But he has displayed the character, the work ethic and the discipline to do both. And he's just as good a person as he is a student and a basketball player. He's balanced."

As a child Kenner pursued good grades "because I was scared of getting in trouble with my dad." But as he got older, his rationale changed. He wanted to better himself. Fears turned into something positive.

"When I started getting good grades, I did'’t want to slack off," Kenner said. "My family has been motivational. They've believed I could become a doctor more than I've believed. And I've always believed I could do this."

Kenner didn't remain at Jesuit. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, he enrolled at East St. John High School in his hometown, LaPlace, La., and didn't miss a beat. At ESJ he was a member of an eight-student team which received second place in the Junior Engineering Technical Society's Test of Engineering, Aptitude, Mathematics and Science Competition.

He chose Xavier over city rival Loyola and NCAA Division I member William & Mary. "Xavier was the best fit for me," Kenner said. "The sciences are great here, it was close to home, and Coach Jackson was always nice to me. He's always understood that school comes first."

The past two summers Kenner participated in breast cancer research in XU's College of Pharmacy under the guidance of Dr. KiTani Parker-Johnson.

"Jamaan was a joy to have in the lab. He did so well the first summer that we brought him back the next summer," Parker-Johnson said. "That doesn't happen often. I was impressed with his work ethic, his tenacity and his focus. He has good hands, which is important in bench research. He was able to tweak an experiement and get the results he was looking for."

Kenner plans to concentrate on sports medicine — "I haven’t decided yet on primary care or surgery," he said — and if he has his way, he'll be back in New Orleans to stay.

"My goal is to be the team doctor for one of the local teams," Kenner said. "The Saints or the Hornets — that would be perfect."

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

VISIT: GCACSPORTS