Battle of the Real HU: Hampton Pirates vs. Howard Bison

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
& MSUTTON PHOTO.COM

LADY PIRATES

HAMPTON, Virginia – The Hampton University women's basketball team will return to the HU Convocation Center on Saturday following a four-game road swing, and the Lady Pirates will square off against rival Howard at 4 p.m.

The Lady Pirates (18-4, 9-0 MEAC) picked up their eighth straight win on Monday, dismantling Morgan State 90-46 in Baltimore, Md. behind a game-high 22 points from senior forward Alyssa Bennett (Hampton, Va.), who also grabbed eight rebounds.

Bennett is 46 points shy of breaking the 1,000-point mark for her career; she would be the 25th player in program history to reach that milestone.

Freshman guard Malia Tate-DeFreitas (Harrisburg, Pa.) and senior guard Nicole Hamilton (Hampton, Va.) each added 17 points and nine rebounds, while junior guard Kenia Cole (Silver Spring, Md.) scored 15 points for her eighth double-digit scoring effort in the last 10 games.

Redshirt-sophomore forward Brielle Ward (Baltimore, Md.) added seven points and nine rebounds.

The Lady Bison (9-12, 5-3 MEAC) were picked to finish fifth in the MEAC this season, and Howard had a two-game winning streak snapped with a 69-48 loss to North Carolina A&T on Monday. Howard, in its first season under head coach Tennille S. Adams, is led by redshirt-freshman guard Te'Shya Heslip, who is averaging a team-best 13.5 points per game.

The Lady Pirates are 26-20 all-time against Howard, and the Lady Pirates have won each of the last 10 meetings — including all three last season (which included a 59-38 win in the championship game of the MEAC Tournament). Howard last defeated Hampton on Dec. 5, 2009 in Washington, D.C., and the Lady Pirates are 12-6 against Howard at home.

Hampton is 304-138 against teams currently in the MEAC — including a 26-20 mark against Howard — and the Lady Pirates have won six MEAC regular-season titles to go along with seven tournament titles, including each of the last four.

Overall, the Lady Pirates have won their last 39 games against MEAC foes, including conference tournament games. Their 33-game MEAC regular-season winning streak is currently tied for the longest in the nation, along with Albany.

The Lady Pirates were a perfect 11-0 at home last season, and in their four-plus years under head coach David Six, they are 45-7 in the HU Convocation Center. Hampton had not lost at home since Jan. 28, 2012, falling to Coppin State in overtime, prior to a loss to American back on Dec. 4. Hampton is 8-1 at home this season after defeating Morgan State 99-45 on Jan. 20, and the Lady Pirates have won their last 15 home MEAC games.



PIRATES

Coming off a road trip in which it went 3-1, the Hampton University men's basketball team will return to the HU Convocation Center on Saturday to square off against rival Howard at 6 p.m.

The Pirates (11-11, 6-3 MEAC) dropped their first MEAC road game of the season on Monday, falling in double overtime to Morgan State 94-92. Senior forward Du'Vaughn Maxwell (Manhattan, N.Y.), the reigning MEAC Defensive Player of the Week, led the Pirates with 25 points and 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.

Sophomore guard Deron Powers (Williamsburg, Va.) added 15 points, while sophomore guard Brian Darden (Hampton, Va.) chipped in 11 points. Sophomore forward Jervon Pressley (Charlotte, N.C.) added nine points and six rebounds for the Pirates.

Hampton is 31-5 all-time against Howard, and the Pirates have won each of the last seven meetings between the two teams. In fact, Nickelberry has yet to defeat his former team in six match-ups. Howard's last win over the Pirates came in the 2009 Big Apple Classic in New York, when Howard won 56-54.

The Pirates are 13-1 against Howard at home since moving up to Div. I in 1995.

Hampton is 214-129 all-time as a Div. I program (since 1995) against teams currently in the MEAC, including an 11-5 mark in the conference last season. The Pirates are 6-3 in the MEAC this season after falling to Morgan State in double overtime on Monday.

The Pirates won their first conference home game of the season on Dec. 7, beating Florida A&M 72-62, before beating Bethune-Cookman 85-52 on Dec. 9. Hampton also won home games on Dec. 29 and Jan. 4, a double-overtime 101-95 victory over Winthrop and an 87-60 win over Radford, before falling 71-68 to Coppin State on Jan. 18 and 80-71 to Morgan State on Jan. 20.

Hampton is 2-2 in conference home games so far this season.

For more information on Hampton University basketball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.



COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

XU Nuggets, Rush record 9-0 home victories vs. Wolf Pack

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana dropped a collective seven games Friday in 9-0 women's and men's victories against city rival Loyola at XU Tennis Center.

It was the first dual match of the spring semester for the Gold Nuggets, who are ranked third in the NAIA, and the home opener for the sixth-ranked Gold Rush (1-1).

Xavier did not lose a game in 10-of-16 matches. The Gold Nuggets won 6-0, 6-0 in 5-of-6 singles matches. Loyola defaulted two men's matches because it had five available players.

Winning 6-0, 6-0 in singles for the Gold Rush were Vincenzo Ciccone and Adam Albrecht. The Nuggets' 6-0, 6-0 winners were Nour Abbes, Brion Flowers, Amber Brown, Brandi Nelson and Sha'Nel Bruins. Albrecht, Abbes, Nelson and Bruins are freshmen, and it was the collegiate debut of Abbes.

"It was really good to finally get the women out in a match and let them get any jitters out of the way," 11th-year XU coach Alan Green said. "Everybody was excited and ready to play.

"Neither one of our teams gave up many games, but we have to realize it's not always going to be like that because of the tough schedules we'll play."

Kyle Montrel and Nikita Soifer defeated Federico Mercado and David Mayhall 8-1 at men's No. 1 doubles, then Montrel won 6-0, 3-0 at No. 1 singles when Mercado retired because of injury. Montrel has won 11 of his last 12 singles matches and 11 of his last 12 doubles matches. Soifer has won 21 of his last 23 in doubles.

Both Loyola teams are 1-2.

The Gold Nuggets will play another city rival, Tulane, at 4 p.m. Sunday at City Park Tennis Center. Start time has been pushed up two hours. The next Gold Rush dual will start at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Louisiana-Lafayette.

Results:  Men    Women
Facebook photos:  Men    Women

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com/xulagold

FAMU approves contract for new president

Dr. Elmira Mangum

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- FAMU trustees approved Friday a three-year contract for new President Elmira Mangum that comes with an annual base salary of $425,000.

Trustees at Florida A&M University spent nearly three and a half hours debating how much Mangum should be paid and what other sorts of financial compensation she should receive during and after her tenure as the university's first female president.

Early last month, the board of trustees chose Mangum, a vice president at Cornell University, to replace former President James Ammons. Ammons was pushed out in 2012 amid a growing scandal over the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion and other problems.

On Friday, the board made several changes to a contract that Mangum already had agreed to. While many changes were minor, the board deleted a $1,000-a-month car allowance and slashed the amount of money she would receive if she decided to teach at FAMU after leaving the presidency.

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Kate Morris' Late Three-Run Bomb Lifts TSU Tigers Over ETSU

KATE MORRIS DELIVERS!!
Photo Courtesy of Sam Jordan / TSU Athletics

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Kate Morris delivered a three-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to lead the Tigers to victory to open the 2014 season. Tennessee State secured a 3-2 win over East Tennessee State at the Music City Classic on a frigid Friday afternoon.

 

The temperature sat at 28 degrees as both teams took the field at Draper Field at Smith Stadium.  ETSU took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning with an unearned run off of TSU starter Olivia Gamache. The senior pitcher tried to hold ETSU at bay, but was charged with a second run in the fourth inning.

 

The Tigers struggled to get anything going against ETSU freshman pitcher Taylor Carter. Kate Morris collected the lone Tiger hit off Carter, a double to left center, in the second until the sixth inning. Carter would fan the first batters she faced in the sixth, before TSU mounted a two-out rally.

 

Ashley Haynes hit a ball back up the middle that Carter tried to backhand. The ball glanced off the tip of her outstretched glove and directed the ball away from shortstop Latosha Rectenwald. Lindsey Burgess followed with a line drive single to centerfield pushing Haynes to second and setting up the clutch at bat by Morris. The junior stepped up and drove a 2-0 pitch high over the wall in left center to clear the bases and give TSU the 3-2 advantage.

 

The Tigers then relied on Kate’s twin sister, Shea Morris, and the defense to close out ETSU. The pitching Morris entered the game in relief of Gamache in the fourth inning and shut down the Bucs over the final 3.2 innings to earn the win. Morris (1-0) earned the win as she surrendered one hit on her way to striking out six.

 

Gamache allowed five hits and no earned runs, while fanning three in her 3.1 innings of work.

 

Carter (0-1) suffered the loss, striking out five and giving up five hits.

 

Kate Morris finished the game 2-for-3 with a run, a double, a homerun and three runs batted in.

 

Haynes, Burgess and freshman Courtney Gearlds each finished 1-for-3 on the day.

 

The Tigers will face #32 Virginia Tech at 12:30pm and Lipscomb at 5:30pm. Both games will be played at Lipscomb and can be heard live on TSUTigers.com.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Texas Southern to Host 6 Football Games for the 2014 Season

HOUSTON, Texas -- The Texas Southern Tigers' football schedule is set for the 2014 season.

TSU will start its third season at the 22,000 seat BBVA Compass stadium with six home games.

Texas Southern will host Texas College on Thursday, September 4th as the first home game of 2014.

"We added Texas College to complete our six home games for the season," said Dr. Charles McClelland, TSU athletics director. "We originally scheduled another FCS team but had to make adjustments because of scheduling conflicts. We appreciate Texas College agreeing to play at this late hour."

The rest of TSU's home schedule includes Alabama A&M on September 20th, Mississippi Valley on October 4th, then Arkansas-Pine Bluff for homecoming on October 25th, Grambling State on November 1st and we end the season with Jackson State on November 15th.

"I believe we have put together a schedule that benefits our season card holders and gives our fans plenty of opportunities to come out and support the Tigers football program and the university," Dr. McClelland said.

The first game of the season is the Labor Day Classic against Prairie View A&M. This season the game will be played on Sunday, August 31st in Reliant Stadium.

"Prairie View game is big for us," said TSU football head coach Darrell Asberry. "We understand the magnitude of this match-up and we will be ready."

The Tigers will play their second non-conference game against Central State (Ohio) on September 13 on the road. TSU also travels to Alabama State, Alcorn and Southern.

"We are really excited about the six home games, and the opportunity to show-off our talent in front of our fans," Asberry said. "We believe our 2014 recruits along with our previous two classes will put us in position to experience greater success."

Texas Southern's home games will again be broadcasted live on KHOU-TV Digital channel 11.2 the Bounce and taped delayed on Comcast SportsNet.

For information on season tickets for the 2014 football season, please call (713) 313-4355 or email us at tsustadium@tsu.edu.



By Rodney Bush TSU Sports Information Director
COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

VUU Football Signs 22 to National Letters of Intent

RICHMOND, Virginia  -- Virginia Union University head football coach, Mark James, has signed 22 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to play for VUU on the 2014 National Signing Day on Wednesday, February 5.

James' first signing class includes two Richmond-area players, Kyron Hoskie from Hermitage High School and Maurice Watkins out of Thomas Jefferson High School.

The signees also include six players from Saint Francis Academy in Baltimore, Md., two from Honolulu, Hi., three from Florida and two from prep powerhouse DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Md.

Also among the signees is a transfer from the University of Kansas.  Jamal Brown was a member of the 2013 Jayhawk squad and is the son of Gilbert Brown, who played 10 seasons for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League.

THE COMPLETE LIST OF SIGNEES:

NAME	POSITION	HEIGHT/WEIGHT	HOMETOWN	HIGH SCHOOL
MASON SEMISI	OL	6'4/ 295	HONOLULU, HI	FARINGTON HIGH
RAHEEM LOPEZ	DB	6'1/190	BIRMINGHAM, AL	RESTORATION ACADEMY
TAMONIE CHAMBLISS	WR	6'1 /180	WASHINGTON, DC	H.D WOODSON
JOSHUA ROBINSON	LB	6'4 / 210	HOLLYWOOD, FL	HALLANDALE HIGH
MARK JOHNSON	OL	6'4 / 290	DOVER, DE	HASSON JC
TYRONE GLANTON	LB	6'1 / 235	MIAMI, FL	MIAMI NORTHWESTERN
HAKEEM HOLLAND	ATH	5'9 / 175	BALTIMORE, MD	ST. FRANCIS
KHALIL STANFIELD	ATH	6'1 /  190	BALTIMORE, MD	ST. FRANCIS
MARK VALASQUEZ	RB	6'2 /  205	BALTIMORE, MD	ST. FRANCIS
SHAMDU NALLS	OL	6'5 /  285	BALTIMORE, MD	ST. FRANCIS
QUANTAYE BATTLE	QB	6'3 /  205	BALTIMORE, MD	ST. FRANCIS
MALIK BRIDGES	LB	5'11 /  215	BALTIMORE, MD	ST. FRANCIS
JAVAONTE DURDEN	DL	6'2 /  255	OCALA, FL	VANGUARD HIGH
DEVONTAE FOX	DL	6'2  /  355	WASHINGTON, DC	DEMATHA HIGH
JOHNATHAN SACKEY-ADDO	DL/OL	6'3  / 340	WASHINGTON, DC	DEMATHA HIGH
JAMAL BROWN	OL	6'2 / 324	UNIV. OF KANSAS TRANS.	LAWRENCE HIGH
JALEN WHEELER	QB	6'1 / 190	HACKENSAK, NJ	HACKENSAK HIGH
JAMES ALSTON	OL	6'7  / 285	HACKENSAK, NJ	HACKENSAK HIGH
KYRON HOSKEY	LB	5'11 /  225	RICHMOND, VA	HERMITAGE HIGH
DEONTE JACKSON	LB	5'11 /  240	WASHINGTON, DC	H.D WOODSON
MAURICE WATKINS	DB	5'10 / 170	RICHMOND, VA	THOMAS JEFFERSON
PETER SAGAPOLUTELE	DL	6'1 /  255	HONOLULU, HI	ST. LOUIS HIGH

OOURTESY VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

WSSU Rams Sign 15 on National Signing Day

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  The Winston-Salem State University Department of Athletics is excited to announce 15 signings of national letters of intent to play football at Winston-Salem State university in the fall of 2014.

This class, the first under new head football coach, Kienus Boulware, addressed needs  on both sides of the ball, after the Rams, 10-2 last season, lost 20+ seniors  at the end of the 2013 campaign.

"I am very excited about the prospects that we signed", says Kienus Boulware. "I am just as excited about this class as any other big program in the country."

"Our success has been up front in the past few seasons, both on the offensive and defensive front
, with a few athletes on the back end. So we tried to address some of those needs to make sure we have enough beef up font on both sides of the ball", added Boulware.

We still have one or two more high school kids that we want to target, but we honestly have to see who didn't get signed by the larger programs before we can make that assessment", says Boulware.

Below is the list of the fifteen 2014 signees, along with a link to video highlights of each student-athlete.
 
1.       Kyrell Williamson –(ILB, 6-1, 220,  A.L. BROWN HS/Kannapolis, NC)
Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/o/1730286/highlights/102734378
 
2.       Lucas Brim – (DL, 6-2, 245, Carver HS/Winston Salem, NC)
Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3200422/lucas-brim#
 
3.       Trey Foggie – (TE, 6-3, 220, Vance HS/Charlotte, NC)
Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2763860/trey-foggie#
 
4.       Aschod Meeks -Ewing – (RB, 6-0, 200, South East Raleigh/Raleigh, N.C.)
Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/o/1581789/highlights/102899379
 
5.       De'Quavis Allen – (OL, 6-3, 285, Monroe HS/Monroe, N.C.)
Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMzyDSywtsE
 
6.       Jamarcus Glenn – (DE, 6-3, 225, Monroe HS/Monroe, N.C.)
Highlights: http://www.highschoolcube.com/students/jamarcus-glenn
 
7.       Travish Hicks – (OL, 6-3, 290, West Forsyth HS/Clemmons, (N.C)
Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/o/188341/highlights/65587392
 
8.       Timothy Samuels – (OL, 6-2, 240, Mallard Creek HS/Charlotte, N.C.)
Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdxxMdcZtWo
 
9.       Tarik Blount – (OL, 6-3, 280, Plymouth HS/Plymouth, N.C.)
Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/o/3654003/highlights/124103382
 
10.   Akeem Barringer – (DB, 5-11, 185, Hough HS/Cornelius, NC)
Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1550270/#
 
11.   Brandon Armstrong – (OL, 6-4, 275, Rocky River HS/Charlotte, NC)
Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/o/1159557/highlights/110404377
 
12.   Albert Mclean – (DT, 6-0, 285, Dudley HS/Greensboro, N.C.)                                  
Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/o/3347628/highlights/92738375
 
13.   Brandyn Thompson – (DE, 6-3, 225, Spring Valley HS/Columbia, S.C.)
Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2151891/brandyn-thompson#
 
14.   Rome Murphy – (WR, 6-3, 215, New Hanover HS/Wilmington, N.C.)
Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2785578/rome-murphy#
 
15.   Bryan Mckenzie – (OL, 6-5, 290, Carver HS/Winston Salem, N.C.)
Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/o/3315090/highlights/105851389
 
Position breakdown
LB: 1
DB: 1
RB: 1
OL: 7
TE: 1
WR: 1
DE: 2
DT: 2

COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Graves and Porter sign with Prairie View A&M University near Houston

BOGALUSA, Louisiana -- Bogalusa defensive football players Jalen Graves and Cederic Porter celebrated Wednesday’s National Signing Day by inking with Prairie View A&M.

Graves, a 6-foot-2, 280-pound defensive tackle, was the District 8-3A defensive Most Valuable Player this season and was named a Class 3A all-state honorable mention player.

Graves said the decision was tough, but felt at home at Prairie View and had a good connection with the coach.

Graves said his big-gest strength is his power.

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Jackson State waits on Terry running back prospect

JACKSON, Mississippi -- The fax machine is still warm in the Jackson State football office.

One of the letters of intent it hopes to come through is Robert Johnson IV, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound running back from Terry. JSU signed 12 players on Wednesday, totaling 17 who make up the 2014 class so far.

The Tigers are losing starter Tommy Gooden, who was 81 yards shy of breaching the 1,000-yard rushing mark last season. They are returning Rakeem Sims, who exploded in the scene in 2012 but had a quiet 2013 season. And former Terry star Jarius Moore is expected to handle some carries next season.

Moore and Terry linebacker Jonathan Burnett, a Jackson State signee, may give the Tigers some edge for Johnson, who had visits with West Point and the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

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Alabama State - Hornets go over 'limit' with 25 on signing day: Barlow says it has worked its way out through attrition

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Reggie Barlow’s signing day news conference didn’t start at 4 p.m. as expected, but the Alabama State football coach wasn’t complaining.

He was waiting to put the finishing touches on his recruiting class, announcing that Auburn High twins Selwyn and Delwyn Tolbert had signed letters of intent moments earlier to boost the Hornets’ recruiting class to 25 players, well above the limit of 15 he had imposed on his staff two months ago.

“In seven years, it has worked out,” Barlow said. “You end up getting more spots, and there is always going to be an (academic) casualty (among the incoming freshmen).”

With 12 seniors, Barlow didn’t want to sign more than 15 players, but that senior class didn’t include tailback Isaiah Crowell and receiver Jamel Johnson, who both left early for the NFL, nor two players who left the team for personal reasons.

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Former Alabama State RB Isaiah Crowell receives NFL Combine invite

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Three years ago, Isaiah Crowell was on one the of country's most sought-after prospects.

And after a year at Georgia and two at Alabama State, where he transferred in 2012, he still is.

Crowell is one of 300-plus former college players to receive an invite to the NFL's annual pre-draft scouting combine which begins Feb. 19th in Indianapolis.

The former five-star recruit became a National Signing Day media darling when he pulled out a puppy to at a ceremony during which he rendered his John Hancock on a scholarship offer from the Georgia Bulldogs.

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Alabama A&M signees: Finding ammo for the Pistol offense was critical for Spady and staff (analysis, gallery)

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - To load the Pistol is no easy task. Particularly when it's being done in a narrow time frame, with a short-handed staff new to the program and, in some cases, relatively new to the process of recruiting.

But James Spady, the new Alabama A&M football coach, was positively giddy on Wednesday night once the Bulldogs had completed their 2014 signing class. Spady had commanded his staff to find players suitable for the Pistol offense that he'll be installing, and to fit a defensive philosophy built on speed and aggressiveness.

On paper, that happened. But much remains to be seen about the transition at Alabama A&M, which begins on the field with the Aug. 31 MEAC/SWAC Challenge game against North Carolina A&T in Orlando.First, how many of the players Spady inherited can adapt to the scheme? Some of that will be revealed during spring practice, which won't start until April 2, with the spring game set April 26.

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Alabama A&M adds offensive coordinator, others to football staff; Andy Fuller promoted

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - New Alabama A&M coach James Spady continues to add to his coaching staff, announcing Friday his new offensive coordinator, plus a promotion for the lone holdover from the previous staff.

Phil Dorn, a head coach at the high school and college level as well as former assistant at the University of Cincinnati, will be the Bulldogs' offensive coordinator and offensive line coach.

Andy Fuller, the Huntsville native who had served as running backs coach on the staff of Anthony Jones, will continue as running backs coach and has been promoted to assistant head coach.

Also announced Friday, Matt Sanders, the former special teams coach and an assistant secondary coach at UAB, will be the defensive secondary coach and recruiting coordinator.

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Southern fills holes across the board

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Even though Southern lost 19 seniors from its Southwestern Athletic Conference championship team, the Jaguars didn’t go into National Signing Day on Wednesday in desperate need of new blood at any one position.

The biggest area of need was linebacker, which was reflected in that position featuring the most signees: four. But the 18-member class included players at nearly every position.

In addition to the quartet of linebackers, the new Jaguars included three defensive backs, two running backs, two tight ends, two offensive linemen, two quarterbacks, one defensive end, a wide receiver and an “athlete.”

Each of the defensive backs is listed as a ...

FAMU Signing Day Recap: Holmes pleased with new recruits!

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M’s Head football coach, Earl Holmes, announced his team’s 14-man recruiting class on Wednesday, which consists of eight offensive lineman. Yes, eight big fellas, but it’s not surprising considering FAMU’s o-line was the team’s Achilles’ heel last season.

The 2,330-pound O-line class will look to booster a Rattler offensive line that has given up 23 sacks and only paved the way for 10 rushing touchdowns last season.

Holmes indicated how the offensive line struggles of last season needed to be corrected with this recruiting class.



“We really wanted to concentrate on the offensive line,” Holmes said. We really paid close attention to what we need to be successful in the 2014 season.”

Joshua Addison, who led his Miami Central team to a 2013 6A state championship, recorded 70 pancake blocks during his senior season, and he’s only given up two sacks the last two seasons. Despite being graded as a two-star athlete by rivals.com Addison is considered to be the best player in FAMU’s freshman class.

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Deltona's Calabro excited to join FAMU football

DELTONA, Florida -- Surrounded by his parents and coaches at a table inside the media center, Deltona's Josh Calabro signed a letter of intent with the Florida A&M football program drawing a round of applause from friends and teammates on Wednesday morning.

“I'm excited, excited about the upcoming experience,” said Calabro, dressed in an orange shirt and green tie, Rattlers' colors. “I'll work hard and do my best with the program.”

Asked if he could help the Rattlers football team right away, Calabro said, “Yes, I'm going to try to my best.”

FAMU, located in Tallahassee, has been wooing the 6-3, 270-pound offensive tackle since last spring.

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VIDEO: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/o/1397363/highlights/87633383
 

SWAC: National Signing Day Summary

ALABAMA A&M PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO Danny Johnson  QB 6-2  185 Huntsville, Ala. Johnson  LINK Devon Johnson WR 6-1 180 Huntsville, Ala. Johnson LINK Jay Rogers RB 5-11 210 Madison, Ala. Bob Jones LINK Kailan Jackson DE 6-2 245 Huntsville, Ala. Johnson LINK Vernon Moland LB 6-1 215 Birmingham, Ala. Minor LINK Dominique Goodwin DB 5-11 175 Birmingham, Ala. Minor LINK Charles Buchannon RB 5-11 190 Pleasant Grove, Ala. Pleasant Grove LINK Patrick Burroughs DE 6-4 230 Pleasant Grove, Ala. Pleasant Grove LINK Roderick Randolph WR 6-1 210 Madison, Ala. Bob Jones LINK Daveon Dillard LB 5-10 205 Cedar Hills, Texas Cedar Hills LINK Jalon Douglas LB 5-11 200 Bellaire, Texas Bellaire LINK LaDarion Heath WR 6-4 195 Phenix City, Ala. Smiths Station LINK Aviree Giles DL 6-2 320 Lilburn, Ga. Berkmar LINK Taivon Thompson TE 6-5 240 Hampton, Ga. Dutchtown LINK Justin Brown DB 5-11 195 Odenville, Ala. St. Clair LINK Jordan Strong DE 6-2 235 Phenix City, Ala. Central LINK Dequan Young DB 5-11 175 Pensacola, Fla. West Florida Tech LINK Deonte Nicholson DB 5-11 175 Pensacola, Fla. Tate LINK Octayvius Miles WR 5-10 180 Mesquite, Texas Mesquite LINK Damion May QB 6-1 190 Biloxi, Miss. Biloxi LINK Cody Lui-Yuen QB 6-3 225 Honolulu, Hawai'i Radford LINK Chandler Campbell TE 6-5 250 Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Fort Lauderdale LINK Devonte Simon ATH 5-11 170 Reform, Ala. Pickens County LINK Kenneth Davis LB 6-0 210 Pensacola, Fla. West Florida Tech LINK ALABAMA STATE PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO  Thomas Bartley III OL 6'3  280 Seffnar, Fla. Armwood LINK  Davian Brantley DB 5'10 170 Selma, Ala. Selma LINK Jaderryc Brown OL 6'3 265 Montgomery, Ala. Lee LINK Preston Clark K 6'1 175 Jacksonville, Fla. University Christian LINK Cordelral Cook QB 6'0 205 Stone Mountain, Ga. Stone Mountain LINK Joshua Davis WR 6'1 185 Tallahassee, Fla. Florida State High LINK Khalige Flegar RB/S 6'0 200 Augusta, Ga. Glenn Hills LINK Hyriam Frederick DE 6'1 240 Seffnar, Fla. Armwood LINK Damont Gamble OL 6'6 270 Slocumb, Ala. Slocumb LINK Brandon Harris LB 6'5 205 Conyers, Ga. Rockdale LINK Darius Holmes DB 5'11 175 Columbus, Ga. Northside LINK William Kelly ATH 5'8 185 Tallahassee, Fla. Rickards LINK Shakym Peters DB 6'0 170 Conyers, Ga. Rockdale LINK Kyle Thies OL 6'4 260 Royal Palm Beach, Fla. Royal Palm Beach LINK Joe Williams IV WR 6'2 175 Ft. Myers, Fla. Dunbar LINK Andre Wilson DT 6'1 295 Savannah, Ga. Calvary Day LINK ALCORN STATE PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO Michael Brooks  DE  6-3  205  Brandon, Miss. Brandon  LINK Brandon Campbell DL 6-4 255 Delray Beach, Fla. American Heritage LINK Cameron Carter LB 6-0 210 Prentiss, Miss. Prentiss LINK Daniel Franklin DB 5-10 160 Memphis, Tenn. Memphis East LINK Ashton Hall RB 6-0 205 Jacksonville, Fla. First Coast LINK Tavares Johnson QB 6-1 170 Vickburg, Miss. Vicksburg LINK Jeremy Jordan DE 6-3 265 Madison, Miss. Germantown LINK Kris Lingo OL 6-7 260 Tallahassee, Fla. Leon LINK Christopher McCrea OL 6-5 280 St. Petersburg, Fla. St. Petersburg LINK Darryan Ragsdale RB 6-0 198 Brandon, Miss. Hinds CC LINK Frederick Ross LB 6-1 205 Madison, Miss. Madison Central LINK Lamar Scott DB 6-0 180 Germantown, Miss. Germantown LINK Sterling Shippy DT 6-2 265 Miami, Fla. Coral Reef LINK Eric Snow OL 6-4 292 Moorhead, Miss. Mississippi Delta CC LINK GRAMBLING STATE PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO Ryan Moore OL 6-1 270 New Orleans, La. St. Augustine  LINK DeVante Brown OL 6-3 270 New Iberia, La. Westgate  LINK Devohn Lindsey WR 6-3 200 North Little Rock, Ark. North Little Rock  LINK Charlie Payne DE 6-1 265 LaPlace, La. East St. John  LINK De'Vante Davis WR 6-3 190 Maurice, La. Kaplan  LINK Marcus Perkins WR 5-9 165 Garland, Texas Naaman Forest  LINK Raymond Richardson DL 6-3 230 Birmingham, Ala. Wenonah  LINK Marc Orozcon P/K 5-9 190 Denton, Texas Ryan  LINK Deangelo Gaston DE 6-2 222 Farmville, La. Union Parish  LINK Jordan Powell WR 6-3 190 Shreveport, La. C.E. Boyd   Eugene Wells ATH 5-9 190 Kenner, La. East Jefferson   JACKSON STATE PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO Frank Carter OL/DL  6-3  330 Tampa, Fla. Hillsborough  LINK Shawn Bishop DE/LB 6-0 235 Jackson, Miss. Callaway  LINK Christian Jacqueim K 5-11 180 Miami, Fla. Coral Reef  LINK Brent Lyles II QB 6-2 175 Indianapolis, Ind. Pike  LINK Rodney Shorter II DE/LB 6-1 230 Long Beach, Fla. Poly  LINK Asam Obi OG 6-2 310 Baton Rouge, La. McKinley  LINK Quatez Harris S 6-0 215 Greenwod, Miss. Greenwood  LINK Jonathan Burnett LB 6-4 220 Terry, Miss. Terry  LINK Keontre Anderson DE 6-4 230 Canton, Miss. Canton  LINK Vincent Davis QB 6-2 205 Tuscaloosa, Ala. Central  LINK Joshua Edet DB 6-0 180 Smyrna, Ga. Hargrave Military   Duante Fisher OG 6-3 345 Houston, Texas Yates   MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO Ben Lyda OL  6-1  250 Tallahassee, Fla. Godby LINK Tavis James WR 5-11 180 Tallahassee, Fla. Godby LINK Javon O'Neal WR/DB 6-1 185 Tallahassee, Fla. Godby LINK Nelson Hale DT 6-1 265 Pensacola, Fla. Pensacola Catholic LINK PRAIRIE VIEW A&M  PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO Josh Bighems S  5-10   170 Dothan, Ala. Northview   TyQuan Fields LB/SS 6-0 190 Pompano Beach, Fla. Ely   Jalen Graves DT 6-2 265 Bogalusa, La. Bogalusa   Willie Green DE 6-4 230 Birmingham, Ala. Huffman   James Harper DT 6-0 300 Waco, Texas Waco   Damond Jackson S 6-0 195 New Orleans, La. Landry-Walker   Joshua Johnson QB 6-2 185 New Orleans, La. Warren Easton   Gus Lopez OL 6-3 320 Rosenberg, Texas Lamar Consolidated   Desmond Mitchell DT 6-3 247 Pembroke Pines, Fla. Flanagan   Anthony Okray WR 6-2 185 Los Angeles, Calif. Santa Monica   Yzerrick Oliver WR 5-10 160 Houston, Texas Worthing   Cederic Porter DB 6-4 170 Bogalusa, La. Bogalusa   Don Rittenhouse LB 6-0 225 Baytown, Texas Memorial   William Stanley WR 5-10 170 Mequite, Texas West Mesquite   Johnathan Taylor DE 6-4 220 San Antonio, Texas Roosevelt   Dominique Weaver DB 5-10 165 Dallas, Texas Dallas Christian   Tyrone Williams RB 6-1 210 Denton, Texas Ryan   SOUTHERN PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO Eddie Nickles  OL  6'3  280 Missouri City, Texas Hightower LINK Lemar Martin LB 5'10 200 New Orleans, La. Edna Karr LINK Bryan Anderson S 6'1 195 New Orleans, La. Edna Karr LINK Kentavious Preston LB 6'1 240 Conyers, Ga. Rockdale County LINK Simeon Houston OL 6'3 230 Houston, Texas Westbury LINK Danny Johnson ATH 5'11 175 Jackson, La. East Feliciana LINK Jordan Taylor LB 6'0 210 Kentwood, La. Kentwood LINK TEXAS SOUTHERN PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO Keyshawn Parrish DT 6-2 290 Lithonia, Ga. Martin Luther King   Caleb Jenkins DT 6-1 300 Clemmons, N.C. Mount Tabor   Darius Stephens DE 6-1 250 Union, N.J. Milford Academy   Travis Hutchinson LB 6-0 220 Jacksonville, Fla. Atlantic Coast   Archie Rice DB 6-0 190 Avondale, Ariz. Riverview   Willie Hobdy DB 6-1 185 Garland, Texas North Garland   Jahil Mathis-Ellis OL 6-3 315 Fairburn, Ga. Langston Hughes   Terrence Williams OL 6-3 320 Rosedale, Miss. Coahoma CC   Kaelin Cooksey OL 6-3 320 Manville, Texas Manville   CJ Edison RB 5-10 190 Odessa, Texas Odessa   Joe Robinson WR 6-5 195 Aliceville, Ala. Aliceville   Trayvion Harris WR 6-4 200 Plain Dealing, La. Plain Dealing   ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO Kavin Alexander DB  5-10  190 North Little Rock, Ark. North Little Rock   Lawrence Berry WR 5-1 170 Little Rock, Ark. Parkview   Isaiah Briggs OL 6-4 315 Baton Rouge, La. Southern Lab   Kyron Lawson OL 6-6 230 Little Rock, Ark. Mills   Lawrence Mosley S 6-2 195 Memphis, Tenn. Craigmont   Kaleb McDonald DL 6-2 280 Arlington, Texas Sam Houston   LaEarl Patterson QB 6-1 175 Memphis, Tenn. Melrose   Eric Reid DL 6-5 240 Nashville, Tenn. Pearl-Cohn   Patrick Rowland WR 5-10 165 Little Rock, Ark. Parkview

COURTESY SWAC.ORG

Late-arriving coaches pushed for quality over quantity for JSU

JACKSON, Mississippi  -- Jackson State is just getting started. It had 12 players sign Wednesday, but the coaching staff said it could have signed 25 guys.

“We wanted to take our time, hand-select our guys, strategically pick them, even though if somebody else liked them,” recruiting coordinator Antonio Knight said. “We wanted to get the guys that fit our program and what we do.”

The Tigers signed players mostly on the defensive line, secondary and offensive line — the biggest needs after losing key players from last year’s team. There’s reason to believe they are not finished signing players. Not by a long shot. With this being about half of the 2014 signing class, more signings should be on the way in the coming days.



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