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LANGSTON, Oklahoma -- Langston University was voted as the top team in the 2015 Central States Football League (CSFL) preseason poll, which marks the third consecutive season the Lions have been favored as the No. 1 team in the league's preseason poll. Langston received a total of 60 votes, including 12 first place votes. The poll is comprised of the league's coaches and sports information directors.
Langston was eight points ahead of second-ranked Southwestern Assemblies of God University (Tex.), who received 52 total points and a pair of first place votes. Bacone College sewed up third place with 37 points, as only one point separated Arizona Christian University and Wayland Baptist University (Tex.), who finished in fourth and fifth place, respectively. Lyon College (Ark.) received 19 points to rank them in the sixth spot and Texas College rounded out the poll as the number seven team with 17 points.
During the 2015 season, seven teams will compete for the CSFL title, including three teams from Texas, two schools from Oklahoma and one University out of Arizona. The CSFL is comprised of Arizona Christian University, Bacone College, Langston University, Lyon College (Ark.), Southwestern Assemblies of God University (Tex.), Wayland Baptist University (Tex.), and Texas College.
The 2015 season is the inaugural season for both Arizona Christian University and Lyon College.
Rank School Points (1st place votes)
1. Langston University 60 (12)
2. Southwestern Assemblies of God (Tex.) 52 (2)
3. Bacone College 37
4. Arizona Christian University 34
5. Wayland Baptist University (Tex.) 33
6. Lyon College (Ark.) 19
7. Texas College 17
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Until the end of last football season, Keonte Cash spent his career at Florida A&M blocking for an unpredictable quarterback.
Cash, a junior on FAMU’s offensive line, said sometimes he felt like he needed eyes in the back of his head to keep up with Damien Fleming, who frequently made plays with his legs instead of throwing the ball.
It’s a different time at FAMU now. Redshirt junior quarterback Carson Royal, primarily a pocket passer, is the signal caller for the Rattlers’ offense, and Cash said there’s been an adjustment period for the offensive line.
“It’s completely different,” Cash said, shaking his head and smiling while remembering trying to keep up with Fleming.
“Blocking for Damien, you just never knew where he was going to be. He made plays, so it was OK. It’s different having Carson there. You know where he’s going to be – he’s going to be behind you. It’s just different.”
ORANGEBURG, South Caroliina — Head coach Buddy Pough gathered his South Carolina State University football team at mid-field at Oliver C. Dawson Bulldog Stadium on Friday and marveled at merciful clouds that hovered over two hours of get-acquainted intensity.
“I don’t know what it is about Orangeburg,” Pough told the kneeling players, “but the man above always seems to take care of the weather on the first day of practice.”
If only the offseason had been so mild. Other college football teams have taken the field this August focused on playbook tweaks, position battles and schedule hurdles. S.C. State players have all that to worry about, plus program survival and the school’s collective psyche.
After years of scrutiny, investigations, infighting, deficits and political wrangling, S.C. State on June 30 approved a balanced budget heavy with cuts, early retirements, layoffs and furloughs. Nine campus buildings are closing.
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- South Carolina State conducted its second of 27 scheduled preseason practices Saturday in preparation for their Sept. 6 showdown with SWAC foe Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the 11th Annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Orlando, FL.
The Bulldogs worked on individual and team style drills in a two-hour workout in shorts and helmets during the morning session at O. C. Dawson Stadium.
“We are still working on our installation process at the moment,” said S.C. State head coach Buddy Pough. “I am surprised at the way the freshmen and new guys are coming along. It seems like they are really picking up on the process rather quickly, which gives us a chance to keep things moving forward.”
Pough added that the quarterbacks are grasping different techniques well, along with a few more skilled guys.
The Bulldogs will conduct a third practice Sunday (Aug. 9) in a morning session at 9:30 a.m. in helmets and shells, followed by a Monday (Aug. 10) morning workout before suiting up in full gear on Tuesday (Aug. 11).
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State football will renew its series with the Troy Trojans in a 2017 contest announced today.
The Hornets will play at Troy on Saturday, Sept. 9 at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The kickoff time is to be determined in the first football meeting between the schools since 2006.
ASU football opens fall camp under first-year head coach Brian Jenkins today with a 3:15 p.m. practice at Hornet Stadium. Alabama State will open the 2015 season at Tennessee State on Sunday, Sept. 6, with the home opener Saturday Sept. 12 vs. Alcorn State.
Season and single game tickets are on sale now online at bamastatesports.com/tickets, via phone by calling 334.229.4551, or in person at the ASU Stadium Ticket Office Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M’s football practices have been more intense under an almost entirely new coaching staff, and quarterback Carson Royal said the demands of the coaches are helping the team improve after a disappointing 2014 campaign.
The Rattlers reported to fall camp on Monday and have been fitting in practices between torrential downpours. The team will have practice in full pads on Monday, but FAMU has been working on plays since walkthroughs began on Tuesday.
“All the coaches have been great in the past,” Royal said.
“I’ve had a lot of different viewpoints, but (offensive coordinator) Coach (Marty) Spieler and (head coach) Coach (Alex) Wood come with a lot of intensity and a lot of flavor with the offense. I really enjoy the offense and they’ve explained it really well. They make sure you understand every responsibility you have.”
"Either we rise together or we fall together…the choice is ours." – Milton Overton, A.D.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Football team went through over two hours of morning practice Saturday as the first week of training camp for the 2015 season wraps up.
Head coach Alex Wood and his staff, put the Rattler hopefuls through a fast paced work schedule Saturday morning in helmets, shoulder pads and shorts, with a one hour walk through scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
So far, the first week of work has been hampered a bit by thunderstorms, which threw off the outdoor schedule on Tuesday and Wednesday, but an early morning practice on Thursday (5:30) helped get the schedule back on track.
The Rattlers have had some 11-on-11 drills the past two days, but no contact, which will not begin until Monday, when the team starts two weeks of alternating two-a-day sessions (8 a.m, 3 p.m.. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays), with solo practices (3 p.m.) Tuesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. Saturdays).
Sunday, the Rattlers will practice at 2:00 p.m. after morning church services, their final scheduled workout before contact drills begin Monday.
COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
JACKSON, Tennessee -- With Derrick Burroughs in charge again after a one-year absence, the 2015 theme for Lane football might be best described as Back to the Future.
The Dragons had slowly progressed to six wins in 2013 before plummeting to one last year. The question now is how long it takes Burroughs and his staff to get the DeLorean back up to 88 miles per hour.
At the team’s Media Day session Friday morning, Burroughs gave a mixed review of his recruiting success this past offseason. The combination of newcomers and returnees must approach the year differently following an ugly finish to last season.
“We like to think that we’ve got the kind of kids that can face adversity well, but you never know until they do, right?” Burroughs said. “ ... It’ll be interesting to know who can address it well and who can’t.
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- LaQuanda Barksdale Quick carries around a hefty resume thanks to her outstanding prep, college and pro career.
Quick, 35, took a leap of faith in ending a successful run as a high school girls’ basketball coach to take a job at Winston-Salem State as an assistant women’s coach. It’s something that’s been done before by other coaches, so it’s not unusual.
“Somebody reached out to me and called and said the job was going to be open,” said Quick, a former player and coach at West Forsyth. “And really, this was the first time I wasn’t looking to go anywhere.”
As proof that Quick was happy with her job at West Forsyth was the fact that she and her husband, Willie, had recently sold their house not far from WSSU’s campus.
“We moved to be closer to West Forsyth, and then…” Quick said with a laugh.
Now, she’ll commute from their home on the western side of Winston-Salem, and she is looking forward to the challenge.
NORFOLK, Virginia -- Greg Hankerson didn't have to win the starting quarterback job at Norfolk State, but he's willing to keep fighting for it anyway.
A junior transfer from Florida Atlantic, Hankerson was named the starter Thursday after incumbent sophomore Terrance Ervin announced he was leaving the program for what the school described as "personal reasons."
As the Spartans opened fall camp in Friday afternoon's rain at Norview High, Hankerson said he's ready to take on the role.
"I came here expecting to compete," he said. "I'm still going to compete. Just because he left doesn't mean that my effort and my work goes down. I still have to get better."
NSU, which went 4-8 last season while averaging fewer than 12 points per game, will welcome the help. Hankerson - at least initially - will operate first-year coach Latrell Scott's West Coast offense, which demands timing, accuracy and quick thinking.
PISCATAWAY, New Jersey -- In 2012, Kyle Flood entered his first training camp as Rutgers head coach knowing that a road game with Tulane awaited.
A trip to Fresno State was the first game on the 2013 docket.
And last season the Scarlet Knights had another cross-country trek as they traveled to Washington State to start their campaign.
After opening on the road against quality Football Bowl Subdivision competition in each of the past three years, the Scarlet Knights will play host to Football Championship Subdivision (Division I-AA)-foe Norfolk State on Sept. 5.
Rutgers has outscored Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) foes, 376-39, in nine games since 2006. Included in that ledger are three shutout wins over Norfolk State by a combined 128-0 score.
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- If it was physically possible and OK with the NCAA, South Carolina State head football coach Buddy Pough would have had Friday morning’s first preseason practice last all day, as he opened camp for his 14th season at the helm.
He made sure to mention that he was “the happiest guy” there, and so glad to be moving on from an off-season of budget cuts and program adjustments, and moving into football season preparations.
Those preparations were in action, in helmets and shorts at least, on Willie E. Jeffries Field inside Oliver C. Dawson Stadium all morning. Right at 95 players were involved in workouts for the two-hour session, the first of 27 practices the Bulldogs will have this preseason.
At the top of the to-do list for Pough and his staff — find out who is close to being ready to play major roles this season, and find depth at the quarterback position.
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Amongst the whistles, coaches’ yells, and other sounds from the first day of camp, Jackson State defensive end Javancy Jones provided some of the most constant noise.
“We fittin’ to get this work,” Jones shouted throughout practice.
“That’s my motto now,” he said. “If you out here, you’re going to hear me (say that) no matter what throughout the season until we get to Atlanta.”
On Dec. 19, the SWAC champion will face the MEAC champion in the inaugural Celebration Bowl in Atlanta. The Tigers have plenty of work to do in order to reach that game, and they clocked their first shift of the season when fall camp kicked off on Friday afternoon.
JSU players donned helmets, jerseys and shorts as they worked on offensive and defensive fundamentals and special teams throughout the nearly two-and-a-half-hour practice session.
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern has indefinitely closed preseason football practice to the public because of excessive heat that is forecast for the next few days.
Temperatures are forecast to reach at least 100 degrees daily into early next week.
The Jaguars will conduct the first of three two-a-day practices, but won’t scrimmage as originally planned Saturday at Louisiana Leadership Institute.
Preseason camp continues through Aug. 15 and classes begin two days later.
Fall Fan Fest is Aug. 15
Southern will hold its annual Fall Fan Fest on Aug. 15 in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.
The festivities will begin with a tailgate party before the team’s arrival at 1:45 p.m. Doors open at 1 p.m. after the team’s final preseason scrimmage, which begins at 9:15 a.m.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- It was an emotional homecoming for Florida A&M alumna and sports anchor Pam Oliver. She’s set to keynote FAMU’s Summer graduation ceremony this weekend.
Board of Trustees Chairman Rufus Montgomery calls Oliver a “Super Rattler” and she spoke to the board briefly Thursday shortly after a tour of the campus.
“It’s just beautiful. I appreciate everything everyone has been doing…I am so proud to be from Florida A&M…so proud," she said.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Milton Overton Jr.’s third day as Florida A&M’s athletic director began a lot like the university’s home football games.
“When dark clouds gather on the horizon…”
Overton and the entire athletic department recited the Rattler Charge — usually delivered by FAMU’s president before home games and the Florida Classic — to kick off the new athletic director’s first department meeting that took place on Wednesday.
Track coach Darlene Moore, who has been at FAMU since 2009, said it was a refreshing start, and more evidence Overton is right for the job as FAMU’s athletic director.
“With the Rattler Charge, it was very encouraging and motivating,” Moore said.
GREENSBORO, North Carolina — Though still standing on the edge of a slippery slope, Rod Broadway feels like he’s finally found his footing.
Now all he has to do is convince a football team and a nation of Aggies to take a deep breath.
Thursday afternoon, as storm clouds hovered in the distance, Broadway stood on the edge of a practice field and watched another season begin to form. It started with a shrill whistle. Where it will end is anyone’s guess.
A lot of people believe this season will end with N.C. A&T holding the MEAC title again, this time without help from its friends.
Broadway knew this season was out there somewhere when he first arrived, but he had to convince his players that it would indeed one day get here. And he had to convince the Aggie faithful that it wouldn’t come quickly or easily.
BALTIMORE, Maryland -- The Morgan State football team's unanticipated rise to the top of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference hasn't earned the program much respect from its peers..
A season after going from being picked to finish last to capturing a share of the MEAC championship for the first time since 1979 and representing the league in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, the Bears were predicted to finish fifth in the MEAC this season.
The slight didn't escape the attention of players like junior running back Herb Walker Jr.
"It's insulting, but I really try not to think about it," he said during Thursday's Morgan State football media day at Hughes Stadium in Baltimore. "I really try to focus on our brotherhood and getting the team better. I try not to focus on that, but that got a chip on our shoulders and makes us want to work even harder."
GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- Despite tying for the MEAC conference championship in his first season, N.C. Central coach Jerry Mack didn’t get much love from the coaches and sports information directors at last Friday’s MEAC Football Luncheon.
The Eagles were picked to finished fourth in the conference behind archrival N.C. A&T at No. 1, South Carolina State and Bethune-Cookman.
“How about that?” asked Aggies coach Rod Broadway, a former NCCU head coach and UNC-Chapel Hill assistant, noting NCA&T hadn’t been picked for No. 1 in 10 previous preseason meetings.
PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland – Today, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Men’s Basketball team unveiled their 2015-16 basketball schedule, featuring five Power Five foes from the ACC, the Big 10, the Big 12, and the SEC. Furthermore, the club takes on 10 postseason participants from a year ago, including ESPN Preseason No.1 Maryland.
“We’re eager to get onto the court,” said UMES Men’s Basketball head coach Bobby Collins. “We want to build on last year’s success and continue to make an impact in the conference.”
For the second consecutive season, the Hawks will compete in another major tournament as they will take part in the CBE Hall of Fame Classic. On Nov. 13, the squad opens the season in Manhattan, Kan. where the Kansas State Wildcats await. Two days later, the Hawks travel to Columbia, Mo. to face the Missouri Tigers from the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
On Nov. 21, the club heads down to Spartanburg, S.C. to meet Wofford, who fell to nationally-ranked Arkansas in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament Second Round a year ago. Two days before Thanksgiving, UMES comes home to take on Fairfield in their season home opener.
On Nov. 27, the Saint Francis (Pa.) Red Flash arrives in Princess Anne for a non-conference matchup.
On Dec. 1, UMES travels across the bridge into our National’s Capital to square off against Georgetown. Maryland Eastern Shore’s road trip continues in North Carolina where they will face Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Regular Season Champion North Carolina Central in their conference opener. Two days later, the Hawks next stop is Greensboro, N.C. to take on North Carolina A&T.
On Dec. 9, the squad goes to East Lansing, Mich. where they will face NCAA Final Four participant Michigan State. On Dec. 12, the squad goes to College Park where the Maryland Terrapins await. On Dec. 18, the club goes down to Norfolk, Va. to meet National Invitation Tournament (NIT) Final Four participant Old Dominion for the second consecutive season.
On Dec. 20, Maryland Eastern Shore returns to Washington, D.C. to take on American. Two days later, the squad returns home to face Central Pennsylvania. On Dec. 29, UMES battles the Saint Joseph Hawks in Philadelphia, Pa. where the Atlantic 10 foe finished 10-5 at home.
On New Year’s Eve, the Hawks travel to Baltimore to meet UMBC. On Jan. 2, Maryland Eastern Shore opens the New Year against the Pittsburgh Panthers. UMES wraps up non-conference play in the Big Apple, New York City, as they will meet Columbia.
2015-2016 SCHEDULE
Date
Opponent / Event
Location
Time / Result
11/13/15
at Kansas State
Manhattan, Kan.
TBA
11/15/15
at Missouri
Columbia, Mo.
TBA
11/21/15
at Wofford
Spartanburg, S.C.
TBA
11/24/15
vs. Fairfield
Princess Anne, Md.
TBA
11/27/15
vs. Saint Francis (PA)
Princess Anne, Md.
TBA
12/01/15
at Georgetown
Washington, D.C.
7:00 p.m. ET
12/05/15
at North Carolina Central *
Durham, N.C.
4:00 p.m. ET
12/07/15
at North Carolina A&T *
Greensboro, N.C.
7:30 p.m. ET
12/09/15
at Michigan State
East Lansing, Mich.
TBA
12/12/15
at Maryland
College Park, Md.
TBA
12/18/15
at Old Dominion
Norfolk, Va.
TBA
12/20/15
at American
Washington, D.C.
1:00 p.m. ET
12/22/15
vs. Central Penn
Princess Anne, Md.
4:00 p.m. ET
12/29/15
at Saint Joseph's
Philadelphia, Pa.
TBA
12/31/15
at UMBC
Baltimore, Md.
TBA
01/02/16
at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pa.
TBA
01/06/16
at Columbia
New York, N.Y.
7:00 p.m. ET
01/11/16
vs. Morgan State *
Princess Anne, Md.
7:30 p.m. ET
01/16/16
at Savannah State *
Savannah, Ga.
4:00 p.m. ET
01/18/16
at South Carolina State *
Orangeburg, S.C.
7:30 p.m. ET
01/23/16
vs. Bethune Cookman *
Princess Anne, Md.
4:00 p.m. ET
01/25/16
vs. Florida A&M *
Princess Anne, Md.
7:30 p.m. ET
01/30/16
at Coppin State *
Baltimore, Md.
4:00 p.m. ET
02/01/16
vs. Howard *
Princess Anne, Md.
7:30 p.m. ET
02/06/16
vs. Hampton *
Princess Anne, Md.
4:00 p.m. ET
02/08/16
vs. Norfolk State *
Princess Anne, Md.
7:30 p.m. ET
02/13/16
at Delaware State *
Dover, Del.
4:00 p.m. ET
02/15/16
at Howard *
Washington, D.C.
7:30 p.m. ET
02/20/16
vs. South Carolina State *
Princess Anne, Md.
7:30 p.m. ET
02/27/16
vs. Delaware State *
Princess Anne, Md.
4:00 p.m. ET
03/04/16
at Morgan State *
Baltimore, Md.
7:30 p.m. ET
MEAC Championships
03/07/16
MEAC Championships
Norfolk, Va.
TBA
03/08/16
MEAC Championships
Norfolk, Va.
TBA
03/09/16
MEAC Championships
Norfolk, Va.
TBA
03/10/16
MEAC Championships
Norfolk, Va.
TBA
03/11/16
MEAC Championships
Norfolk, Va.
TBA
03/12/16
MEAC Championships
Norfolk, Va.
TBA
On Jan. 11, the Hawks return to the Hytche as they resume conference play against Morgan State. Five days later, Maryland Eastern Shore hits the road to Savannah, Ga. to take on Savannah State.
On Jan. 18, Maryland Eastern Shore goes to Orangeburg, S.C. where South Carolina State awaits. On Jan. 23, the team returns home to square off against Bethune-Cookman.
On Jan. 25, the Florida A&M Rattlers come to town. Then, UMES travels back to Baltimore to meet in-state rival Coppin State on Jan. 30.
On Feb. 1, UMES hosts the Howard Bison inside the Htyche Center. Next, the Hawks seek revenge against MEAC Tournament Champion Hampton on Feb. 6 as the Pirates upset Maryland Eastern Shore in the MEAC Tournament Quarterfinals a year ago.
On Feb. 8, the Norfolk State Spartans come calling as they visit Princess Anne. Five days later, UMES travels on route 13 to Dover, Del. to take on Delaware State.
On Feb. 15, Maryland Eastern Shore goes to our Nation’s Capital for a third time to meet Howard in a re-match. For Homecoming, the Hawks host South Carolina State on Feb. 20. A week later, Delaware State comes down for Senior Day. UMES makes a third trip to Baltimore to take on Morgan State on March 3.
Four days later, Maryland Eastern Shore travels to Norfolk to compete in the MEAC Tournament inside the Norfolk Scope Arena. The six-day event concludes Saturday, March 12. The winner receives an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- What a difference a year has made for Southern redshirt junior Lenard Tillery. Throughout fall camp in 2014, the majority of the questions directed his way were inquiries about all of the new running backs that would likely move ahead of him on the depth chart. Transfers like the hard-running Malcom Crockett, shifty Tyre Bracken and versatile Jamarcus Jarvis.
Now just five days into 2015 fall camp, there’s no question that Tillery is the man in the running back room. When injury set in with the rest of the backfield and SWAC play began last year, Tillery took the lead and never gave it back.
The McKinley product rushed for 1,267 yards and nine touchdowns. He was far and away the team leader in those categories as well as carries, proving how reliable he could be when the offense needed him to take the weight of the game off of their young quarterbacks.
NORFOLK, Virginia -- Thursday Norfolk State head coach Latrell Scott announced rising sophomore quarterback Terrance Ervin, an L.C. Bird graduate, has decided to leave the football program for personal reasons.
In press release from the school, Latrell Scott wished Ervin the best in the Richmond natives next chapter.
“We’re sorry that Terrance has decided to leave the program, but we understand that he has other matters to tend to that are more important than football,” Scott said. “We wish him nothing but the best of luck and thank him for his contributions to the program.”
Ervin started nine games for the Spartans, appearing in all 12 games of the 2014 season as true freshman under center.
ANN ARBOR, Michigan -- Former Prairie View A&M volleyball standout Bruna Menezes has taken her talents from the volleyball courts to the world of engineering as she's pursuing her doctorate in chemical engineering at the University of Michigan.
A native of Carapicuiba, Brazil, Menezes was a two-year letterwinner for the Lady Panthers as she played during the 2011 and 2012 campaigns after transferring from San Jacinto College. As a Lady Panther student-athlete, Menezes helped PVAMU win back-to-back SWAC Western Division Championships while earning multiple SWAC Weekly Honors ranging from SWAC Offensive Player and Newcomer of the Weeks.
Once her playing career came to a close, Menezes became heavily involved with the Roy G. Perry College of Engineering on the PVAMU campus. Menezes served as an undergraduate researcher in department as she handled water and ethanol soluble extractives while also doing research on fermentation. During the past two summers, she expanded her horizons further as an undergraduate researcher at Indiana University in 2013 and a process engineering intern at the engineering firm Stoller Africa in 2014. In the summer of 2015, Menezes added to her travels as she spent six weeks in China at the Xi'an International Studies University with the PVAMU Honors College. While in China, Menezes studied the language of Mandarin Chinese in addition to classes in Calligraphy (Chinese Art) and Taiji, which is an ancient Chinese philosophy about the natural world and is one of the central elements of traditional Chinese culture.
Menezes recently completed her studies at PVAMU in the spring of 2015 as a Summa cum laude (4.0 GPA) graduate in chemical engineering. She was also active in the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society in addition to serving as secretary of PVAMU's American Institute of Chemical Engineers chapter. She was also named the Most Outstanding Student of the Roy G. Perry College of Engineering this past academic year.
COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Seven former Tennessee State football players are starting NFL Camps including 2015 draftees Robert Myers and Anthony Morris.
Myers opens camp with the Baltimore Ravens after being selected with the 176th pick by the Baltimore Ravens. Myers will be joined in Ravens camp by former Tiger Anthony Levine who is entering his sixth season in the NFL.
Morris, the 218th selection by the Oakland Raiders, enters his first camp following his career with the Big Blue. Morris, like Myers, is looked upon by their teams to compete for a spot on the active rosters and potential playing time.
The 2015 draft marked the second consecutive year two Tigers were taken in the draft. In 2014, Kadeem Edwards and Demetrius Rhaney were selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the St. Louis Rams, respectively. The duo will battle for spots on their respected offensive lines.
De’Ante “Pop” Saunders will be joining the 2015 draftees heading to their first camps. Saunders was a two-time All-American for the Tigers and signed a free-agent contract with the Cleveland Browns.
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie begins his second season with the New York Giants and his eighth in the NFL. DRC was a First Round pick, 16th overall, for the Arizona Cardinals in the 2008 draft.
In addition to the seven players in the NFL, six other Tigers are currently competing in professional football. A.C. Leonard (B.C. Lions) and Devin Wilson (Saskatchewan Roughriders) are in their first seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL), while four others are in the Arena Football League (AFL).
Cornelius Lewis and Joe Hills are members of the Jacksonville Sharks, Sherman Carter is with the Arizona Rattlers and Rodney Fritz is a part of the San Jose Sabercats.
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Second year Howard swimming & diving head coach Nicholas Askew has announced the signing of 11 new recruits for the 2015-16 season. These incoming freshmen will look to fill the void of the 10 seniors the program lost last year.
"Overall, this is an extremely strong class of student-athletes," Askew said of the newcomers. "Each one of them come in accomplished academically and athletically so I'm excited to see their transition to the collegiate ranks. They say 'the reward for hard work is more hard work' - we've embraced this in our program and this group is ready to elevate the program to new heights."
Below is a list of the 11 recruits, along with a highlight of their recruitment to Howard:
BISON RECRUITS (6)
- ALEXANDER BARNES / Rockledge, FL / Rockledge HS / Brevard Virtual Secondary School
The Florida native originally wanted to stay in the Sunshine State but decided on Howard after a relative spoke highly on Howard's academic reputation
- FARION COOPER / Nassau, Bahamas / Queens College
One of two Caribbean recruits in this class; choose Howard because of team chemistry and leadership
- MENSA EGGLESTON / Greenbelt, MD / Eleanor Roosevelt HS
Name means "one who follows the sage;" bonded quickly with upperclassmen swimmers during the process
- NICHOLAS HAUGHTON / Kingston, Jamaica / Campion College
One of two Caribbean recruits in the class; looks forward to having an immediate impact on the up-and-coming,Howard team
- JONATHAN HILL / Vero Beach, FL / Sebastian River HS
Looking forward to becoming a part of a strong, close-knit family
- MARK MCCLUSKEY / Hope, ME / Camden Hills Regional HS
Is appreciative for the chance to swim on the Division I level
LADY BISON RECRUITS (5)
- AKEYLA HOLLEY / Fort Washington, MD / Elizabeth Seton HS
Pursuing her collegiate swimming career after considering not doing so and being pushed by her high school coach
- KASANDRA KAPLAN / Detroit, MI / Lakeview HS
Her comfortable level with and the positive atmosphere around the Howard program helped her choose the Bison
- MARINA MARKOUS / Stevensville, MD / Kent Island HS
Instantly felt connected to the program upon meeting the upperclassmen; is a fluent Russian speaker
- LATROYA PINA / Seekonk, MA / Seekonk HS
Feels confident that swimming at Howard sets her up to achieve her academic and athletic goals
- SUSANNA REESE / Flossmoor, IL / Homewood-Flossmoor HS
Decided on Howard after noticing the team dynamic resembled her club team in Chicago
Howard Swimming's new recruits and the returning Bison embark on the 2015-16 season on October 17 against George Washington at home in the Burr Gymnasium Pool.
Before official competitions begin, the program will host a pair of exhibition events - the Bison Swim-A-Thon on September 12 at 1 p.m. and the Swimming Alumni Meet on October 2 beginning at 6 p.m. - all are invited to attend.
ABOUT THE CCSA (www.TheCCSA.com)
Founded in 2007, the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (CCSA) was originally developed by four regional Division I conferences -- the Atlantic Sun Conference, Big South Conference, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC)and the Southern Conference, to create a centralized home for their members with swimming and diving programs. Now in its ninth season, the CCSA boasts a total a 11 members from six states and the District of Columbia, becoming one of the largest Division I conferences in the country sponsoring swimming and diving. CCSA members represent the District of Columbia (Howard University), Florida (Florida Atlantic, North Florida, Florida Gulf Coast), Georiga (Georgia Southern), Maryland (UMBC), New Jersey (NJIT), North Carolina (Campbell, Gardner-Webb, UNC Asheville, North Carolina A&T), Texas (Incarnate Word) and Virginia (Liberty, Old Dominion, VMI).
COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY BISON SPORTS INFORMATION
LANGSTON, Oklahoma -- Langston University was voted as the top team in the 2015 Central States Football League (CSFL) preseason poll, which marks the third consecutive season the Lions have been favored as the No. 1 team in the league's preseason poll. Langston received a total of 60 votes, including 12 first place votes. The poll is comprised of the league's coaches and sports information directors.
