Gold Rush defeat Knights 78-62 for 10th road win

NEW ORLEANS — Virgil Davison scored 23 points Monday, and Rayshawn Mart had 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead NAIA No. 23 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 78-62 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against city rival SUNO at The Castle.
     
The victory was XULA's 10th this season on the road. The Gold Rush won a combined six times on opponents' courts the previous two seasons.
     
Davison, who made four 3-pointers, scored his most points since Dec. 22. Mart, a freshman, produced a career high for points and tied his career best for rebounds. The double-double was Mart's second.


The Gold Rush (19-6, 6-2) led 37-23 at halftime, then pulled away in the final nine minutes after the Knights (3-16, 1-9) got as close as 56-52.
     
Jalen David scored 14 points for XULA, Joseph Williams had nine points and eight rebounds, and Jeff Dixon had seven assists.
     
George Brock had 16 points and five assists for SUNO. Teandre Jones scored 15, and Andre Funches scored 10. Brock entered No. 2 in NAIA Division I with 25.6 points per game, but XULA limited him to 5-of-17 from the floor in 37 minutes.
     
XULA outshot the Knights 51.7 to 36.2 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 43-32.
     
XULA will play host to Dillard at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Convocation Center in the second game of the Crosstown Classic presented by Raising Cane's. The Gold Rush moved ahead of Dillard in the GCAC standings when Dillard lost 92-79 at Tougaloo. Talladega leads the conference at 7-2, with XULA a half-game behind and Dillard (6-3) in third place.

BOX SCORE

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Gold Nuggets earn third consecutive conference victory

NEW ORLEANS — Essence Wells, one of four from Xavier University of Louisiana in double figures, scored 16 points Monday in a 71-59 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against SUNO at The Castle.
     
The Gold Nuggets (10-11, 3-5) won their third straight conference decision after dropping their first five. It was their first victory of the season in a GCAC road game.
     
Mikayla Bates scored 13 points, all in the first half, for XULA, and Gina Smith and DeDe Martinez scored 10 apiece. Smith grabbed nine rebounds, and Maya Trenchhad seven assists.
     
The Lady Knights (4-16, 1-9) also had four double-figure scorers. Briana Upshur had 16 points, Shadejha scored 13, Kascity Martin had 12, and Andriel Moss had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
     
SUNO, which lost its ninth in a row, never led. The Gold Nuggets led the final 38 minutes, including 38-28 at halftime.
     
XULA outshot SUNO 38.1 to 35.1 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Lady Knights 42-37.
     
XULA will play host to Dillard at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Convocation Center in the opening game of the Crosstown Classic presented by Raising Cane's. Dillard clinched a tie for the GCAC regular-season championship with a 98-66 victory at Tougaloo.

BOX SCORE

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
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Nuggets win at No. 9 LSUA for first victory of season

ALEXANDRIA, Louisiana — Freshman Manon Bonada defeated Ariadna Cabezas 7-6 (7-2), 7-5 at No. 4 singles Monday to clinch Xavier University of Louisiana's 6-3 victory against LSU-Alexandria in a matchup of NAIA top-10 women's tennis teams.

The Gold Nuggets (1-5), ranked 10th, gave Alan Green his 199th dual-match victory as coach of the XULA women. It was the season opener for the Generals, who are No. 9 and were a national quarterfinalist in 2017.

XULA never trailed and won despite getting just a half-point from two-time All-American Charlene Goreau. Freshmen accounted for four of the Gold Nuggets' points.

For the second consecutive dual, freshman Mariia Borodi and sophomore Yi Chen Pao were winners in doubles and singles. They teamed for an 8-5 victory against Alba Perny and Laia Charles to give XULA a 2-1 lead heading into singles. Borodii then beat Miljana Milojevic 6-1, 6-0, and Pao came from behind to beat 46th-ranked Laia Charles 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Bonada and Goreau secured the other doubles victory, 8-2 against Cabezas and Claudia van den Brink. At. No. 5 singles, XULA freshman Farah Baklouti earned her first collegiate singles victory by beating van den Brink 6-3, 6-1.

XULA's women and men will visit two-time defending NAIA champion Georgia Gwinnett at 10:30 a.m. EDT Friday in the Grizzly Invitational at Lawrenceville, Ga.

Results

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Hughes, Cash Join Hampton Pirates Football Staff

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Hampton University head football coach Robert Prunty announces his first two staff members today as longtime defensive coach Hank Hughes and former Hampton University quarterback Ataveus Cash will join the staff this coming season.

Hughes will serve as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, while Cash will serve as the quarterback coach and passing game coordinator.

"Hank Hughes brings a wealth of knowledge on the defensive side of the ball to our staff," said Prunty.  "He's been a coordinator at all levels and understands defense and what we want to do.

Hughes joins the Hampton University after a year at Davidson College where he served as the linebacker coach and defensive run game coordinator in 2017.  He was on the staff at Lafayette College in 2016 as the defensive tackles coach. 

With nearly 40 years of coaching experience, Hughes has coached defense on the FBS level from 1993-2015.   In 2015, he served as the defensive line coach at Nebraska where they were ranked in the top 15 in FBS in rushing defense and fourth down defense.

He came to Nebraska after serving as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for Tommy Tuberville at Cincinnati in 2014. The Bearcats' defense made steady improvement throughout the 2014 season, holding five opponents to 17 or fewer points during a seven-game win streak to end the regular season. The late-season surge helped the Bearcats earned a share of the American Athletic Conference title.

Hughes spent the previous 13 seasons as an assistant coach at Connecticut, coaching the defensive line for the Huskies throughout his tenure at the school. Hughes was the defensive coordinator for four of his seasons at UConn and was assistant head coach for eight seasons from 2005 to 2012.

During Hughes' time with the school, Connecticut appeared in five bowl games and won a share of two Big East Championships. The 2010 Huskies earned a spot in a BCS bowl game, taking on Oklahoma in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. The Husky defenses regularly ranked among the nation's top rush defenses, in large part due to the play of Hughes' defensive line, and UConn ranked in the top 10 nationally in total defense in 2006, 2008 and 2012.

Hughes' 2012 defense is regarded as one of the finest in school history with the unit ranking seventh in the country in rush defense, ninth in total defense and 19th in scoring defense. The run defense was also stout in 2011, ranking first in the Big East and fourth nationally.

The Huskies' 2008 defense ranked among the nation's best finishing sixth in the country and first in the Big East in total defense at just 278.0 yards per game. UConn also ranked in the top 25 nationally and top three in the Big East in 2008 in pass efficiency defense, rushing defense and scoring defense.

Hughes' defense helped UConn make a successful transition to the Big East, leading the conference in total defense in each of its first two years in the league in 2006 and 2007. In the Huskies' first season in FBS in 2002, Hughes' defense ranked fifth in the nation in pass defense and the top 20 in total defense and pass efficiency defense.

Hughes also served as the defensive line coach at Memphis from 1998 to 2000, helping the Tigers lead the nation in rush defense in 2000. Hughes' previous college coaching experience includes stints at Harvard, Cincinnati and James Madison among others, and he also spent two seasons in the professional ranks with the Montreal Machine of the World League of American Football. Hughes played linebacker at Springfield College.

Former Hampton University quarterback and NFL player Ataveus Cash joins the new staff this year to serve as the quarterbacks coach.    He will continue to serve as the Assistant Athletics Director for Operations.   Cash had previously served as an assistant coach for the football program in 2013 as a wide receiver coach

Cash was a part of the 1997 Pirates squad that went 10-2 and won the MEAC title and SBN Black College National Championship. Cash was also on the 1998 MEAC championship squad, as well as Pirates track & field squads that won MEAC both the 1999 indoor and outdoor MEAC titles.

After graduating from Hampton in 2001 with a B.S. in therapeutic recreation, Cash signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent. After time with the Jets, Cash played for the New York Giants, and he also spent time during in his NFL career with the Washington Redskins as a wide receiver, kick returner, and punt returner.  He also played for the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe, winning the World Bowl in 2005.

Cash has had a hand in several facets of campus from bringing in the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Division 6A and 5A football championship games for the past two December's, along with the VHSL state basketball quarterfinals and semifinals in March of 2017. 

He is administrator for summer camps at HU and has been the team leader in redesigning Holland Hall, the weight room and on the committee for newly redesigned locker rooms in Armstrong Stadium for women's soccer and men's lacrosse.  Cash has also been the liaison on the clothing deal between athletics and Under Armour.

Cash serves as the CEO and founder of The Ataveus Cash Legacy Foundation (ACLF), an organization which promotes academic excellence and higher education for youth in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and other economically disadvantaged communities nationwide.

"Ataveus Cash understands the quarterback position, and the position at Hampton University having played here," Prunty said.  "He knows the technique, the fundamentals and will do a great job as our quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator."

For more information on Hampton University football, please contact the Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5757 or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

SWAC football title game could move to top team's campus by 2018 season

GRAMBLING, Louisiana – If Grambling State continues its reign over its conference foes during the regular football season, it looks more than likely that it’ll get to host a fifth home game in 2018. That fifth game would be the SWAC Championship Game.

GSU president Rick Gallot confirmed to The News-Star Monday that there have been talks to revive the league’s title game, which the conference announced before last season that it would discontinue the game after the 2017 season, and that allowing the top team in the regular season to host the SWAC title game “was the front-runner” as an option to settling a champion.

“There has been considerable conversation for that being an option going forward,” Gallot said. “What was not going to be an option for the 10 SWAC schools was continuing to have the game in Houston. That was losing money. There’s been change in leadership with the resignation of Duer Sharp as commissioner.

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Bowie State Quarterback Amir Hall Wins Deacon Jones Trophy as The 2017 Black College Football Player of the Year

Amir Hall was also awarded the 2017 SBN Doug Williams Offensive Player of the Year Award on Saturday's BCFHOF Induction Ceremony in Atlanta, Ga.

ATLANTA, Georgia (Feb. 10, 2018) -- Bowie State junior quarterback Amir Hall has been selected as the 2017 recipient of the Black College Football Player of the Year Award. He was presented with the Deacon Jones Trophy, named in honor of the football legend and inaugural Black College Football Hall of Fame inductee.

Black College Football Hall of Fame Trustees Mel Blount, James "Shack" Harris, Art Shell and Doug Williams made the announcement during the 2018 Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Atlanta on Saturday night. The Award recognizes the most outstanding football player from a Historically Black College & University (HBCU) that embodies the rich tradition of BCexcellence and integrity associated with HBCUs.

Hall led the Bulldogs to a 9-2 regular season record and a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs. He threw for 3,519 yards and 41 touchdowns in 11 games. He completed 65 percent of his passes while throwing just four interceptions in 381 attempts, leading the nation’s top Division II offense. Hall threw for at least 300 yards in a game seven times and surpassed 400 yards twice. Perhaps most impressively, he accounted for 294 points between passing and rushing touchdowns.

In just two years as the Bulldogs starting quarterback, Hall is already the all-time school leader in passing yards, touchdowns and passing efficiency. Additionally, he was the 2017 SBN Doug Williams Offensive Player of the Year, which was also awarded Saturday night.

“This was an outstanding group of Finalists this year,” said Harris. “Amir had one of the most prolific seasons for a quarterback in CIAA history, and we congratulate him on winning this prestigious award.”

The Player of the Year was voted on by a five-member Selection Committee, which is composed of Black College Football Hall of Fame Co-Founders James “Shack” Harris and Doug Williams, Sheridan Broadcast Network’s Director of Sports Ty Miller, former USA Today sports writer Roscoe Nance and ESPN College Football Analyst Jay Walker.

Hall is just the second recipient of the Deacon Jones Trophy. The inaugural winner, Tarik Cohen (North Carolina A&T State University), was selected in the 3rd Round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, where he recently completed a standout rookie campaign.



Other Black College Football Player of the Year Award Finalists included RB Trenton Cannon (Virginia State University), QB DeVante Kincade (Grambling State University) and QB Lamar Raynard (North Carolina A&T State University).

About Black College Football Hall of Fame
The Black College Football Hall of Fame was established in October of 2009 by African-American pioneers and quarterbacks, Pro Bowl MVP James "Shack" Harris and Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams, to preserve the history and honor the greatest football players, coaches and contributors from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). There have been 77 Inductees since inception, including Mel Blount, James Harris, Willie Lanier, Art Shell and Doug Williams, who serve as Trustees.

About Deacon Jones
David “Deacon” Jones played defensive end for South Carolina State University and Mississippi Valley State University from 1958 to 1960. Blessed with speed, agility, and quickness, the “Deacon” became one of the finest pass rushers in the business. He won unanimous All-NFL honors six straight years from 1965 through 1970 and was selected to eight Pro Bowls. Jones is an inaugural Black College Football Hall of Fame inductee (2010) and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Legendary CFL Running Back Leo "Lincoln Locomotive" Lewis 2018 Inductee in Black College Football Hall of Fame

www.BlackCollegeFoootballHOF.org

LINCOLN, Missouri -- Leo Lewis, one of the greatest running backs in Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Lincoln University history was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. The Class of 2018 included Harold Carmichael (Southern), Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson (Langston), Leo "Lincoln Locomotive" Lewis (Lincoln), Greg Lloyd (Fort Valley State), Everson Walls (Grambling State) and coach Bill Hayes (Winston-Salem State and North Carolina A&T).

Nicknamed the "Lincoln Locomotive", Lewis rushed for 8,861 yards during a stellar 12-year CFL career. Lewis’s rushing records stood for 41 years before being eclipsed by Charles Roberts in 2007. Lewis' career totals in return yardage, and yards per carry, however, still stand as team records.

Lewis was also a member of four Bombers Grey Cup winning teams: 1958, 1959, 1961 and 1962.  He played in six Grey Cup Championship games during his CFL career.

Born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1933, Lewis attended Lincoln University, where he still holds school records for touchdowns in a season (22), touchdowns in a career (64), rushing yards in a season (1,239) and career rushing yards (4,357).

Lewis signed with the Blue Bombers out of college, and subsequently became a six-time all-star. He was named to the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame in 1973, and inducted into the Bombers Hall of Fame in 1984. In 2005, Lewis was named to the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.

Lewis led the Bombers in rushing in 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962 and 1964 and still remains the Bombers' all-time combined yardage leader with 18,577 yards (8,861 rushing, 4,251 receiving and 5,465 in returns).

"He was a quarterback’s best friend," said former Blue Bomber great Ken Ploen, in a biography of Lewis on the Manitoba Hall of Fame website. "It didn’t matter what you asked him to do, he’d do it to the best of his ability. He was there all the time. He never complained. He was a true professional."

Lewis was considered a hybrid of his era, both powerful and elusive.

BCFHOF NOTEBOOK on LEO  "Lincoln Locomotive" LEWIS

Running Back … Lincoln University (1951-1954) … Started every game and led the Blue Tigers to undefeated seasons in 1952 and 1953 … Still Lincoln’s all-time career leader in 4,457 rushing yards and 64 touchdowns … Selected by the Baltimore Colts in the 1955 NFL Draft, but elected to play in the Canadian Football League … Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1955-1966) … 12 seasons … Six-time All-Pro selection … Canadian Football Hall of Fame … College Football Hall of Fame … Born February 4, 1933 in Des Moines, Iowa … Died August 30, 2013.

Legendary Bomber head coach Bud Grant, who went on to become head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, considered Lewis the best player he ever coached, in either league. Lewis was voted one of the CFL’s top 50 players (#29) in a poll conducted by TSN.

Former Winnipeg Blue Bombers acting CEO Wade Miller added his thoughts on Lewis: "I remember my dad telling me stories of playing with Leo with the Blue Bombers and what an amazing running back he was. He will forever remain one of the best players to ever suit up in Blue and Gold."

After a knee injury finished his career in 1966, Lewis returned to the Lincoln University where he spent more than thirty years coaching and teaching.

"I really enjoyed Winnipeg," Lewis said in his bio. "I enjoyed the people. They made me feel like I was home."

One of Lewis’s three sons, Marc, went on to play for both the Ottawa Rough Riders and the Calgary Stampeders. Another son, Leo Lewis III, played for the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings.



CREDITS: Randy Turner - Winnepeg Free Press, CBC News and BCFHOF.

Former Southern star Harold Carmichael gets his call to the Black College Football Hall of Fame

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- This must have been some week for Harold Carmichael.

In the midst of celebrating a Super Bowl win with his adopted hometown of Philadelphia — the first for the organization for whom he played for more than a dozen years — he will now realize a dream when he gets inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame on Saturday night in Atlanta.

Carmichael will be the fourth Southern player to be enshrined in the Black College Football Hall of Fame, joining Mel Blount (2011), Aeneas Williams (2016) and Isiah Robertson (2017).

www.blackcollegefootballHOF.org

The 6-foot-8 Carmichael walked on at Southern as a three-sport athlete, and left as a seventh-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles as a wide receiver.

He turned that into a 14-year NFL career that saw him make the Pro Bowl four times. He was named to the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade team and this season was made part of Southern’s new ring of honor at A.W. Mumford Stadium.

This will be Carmichael’s third Hall of Fame induction. He was also inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Southwestern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in 2012.

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Lincoln University Signs 30 on NSD

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri -- National Signing Day has arrived! As the newest Blue Tigers sign and turn in their National Letters of Intent, this page will be updated with their information. Also, follow LU football on Twitter at @BlueTigerFball throughout today for photos and video highlights of Lincoln's signees.

Below is some general information on each signee as well as thoughts from head coach Steven Smith and his staff.

High School Signees
The following players have signed NLIs to join the Blue Tigers as true freshmen with four years of eligibility.

Cody Bagby - DE, 6-2, 215 (Wentzville, MO/Timberland)
Cody is a very accomplished DE prospect who was named first team all-district and all-conference. During his senior campaign he totaled 57 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, six sacks, eight QB hurries, and two blocked punts. His father attended Lincoln and played baseball for the Blue Tigers.

Amaud Bates - DT, 6-1, 270 (Caruthersville, MO/Caruthersville)
Amaud is a very athletic defensive lineman, as he played both DL and MLB at Caruthersville High. While there, he was a four-year starter and four-time all-conference honoree. He was twice named the conference Defensive Player of the Year and is a two-time Team Captain who collected 110 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and four sacks during his senior season.

Sidney Gates - DT, 6-1, 275 (Kansas City, MO/Center)
Sidney comes to Lincoln highly accoladed. He was named a finalist for the Bobby Bell Award (Best Defensive Lineman in KC Metro), second team all-state, first team all-conference offense and defense, All-KC Star Football Team, and All-Simone Team. He collected 23 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and one forced fumble his senior year. He works hard in the classroom as well, earning honor roll all four years in high school.

Otis Jackson - WR, 6-5, 180 (Tifton, GA/Tift County)
Otis is a long and athletic WR out of Tift County, Ga. He had 10 catches for 200 yards in a quarterfinal playoff team his senior season. He also plays basketball, and he played on the 2017 State Championship team for Tift County High. He is also the #1 ranked triple and high jumper in class 7A in Georgia.

Ronald Jenkins - TE, 6-4, 230 (Oakland, CA/Skyline)
RJ is a versatile TE who blocked for a 2,000 yard RB in high school, while also having 13 receptions and a TD. As a two year varsity starter he earned all-city honors as a senior. He is also a very good student, earning the Student Athlete Award for a G.P.A over 3.0.

Khristian Johnson - WR, 6-0, 170 (Glenwood, IL/Bloom Township)
Khristian possess excellent speed, hands, and route running ability. He earned all-conference honors his senior season at Bloom Township High and was also named Team Captain. Khristian is also a very well-rounded individual being nominated for the National Society of High School Scholars and winning Homecoming King his senior year.

Jakobi Jones - DB, 6-2, 185 (Stone Mountain, GA/Tucker)
Jakobi is a tall, athletic defensive back prospect. He possess great speed and balance. He suffered a torn ACL during H.S. which cut time from his high school career. He did compete on the varsity squad at Tucker High as a sophomore, and was the first person in his grade to record an interception.

Quenterrious Kennemore - DB, 5-10, 175 (Rome, GA/Rome)
Quenterrious comes to Lincoln as a two-time high school state champion. He helped lead Rome High to back-to-back Georgia state championships his junior and senior seasons. He is also a two-time second team all-region selection. During his senior year, he had 10 pass breakups, three interceptions, and 41 tackles.

Ezekiel Lang - WR, 6-3, 190 (DeSoto, TX/DeSoto)
Ezekiel is a big, physical WR with play-making ability who was named MVP of the 2017 National Pylon 7-on-7 tournament. His junior year he helped his high school team go four rounds deep in the Texas playoffs, DeSoto's longest run in a decade. He is also an excellent blocker and played for mostly run-based offenses in high school.

Thomas Larson - DB, 5-11, 180 (Winfield, MO/Troy)
Thomas comes to Lincoln from the St. Louis area. He is a ball hawk, as indicated by his 14 career interceptions and 230 career tackles. His leadership skills as a three-time Team Captain are impressive. He was also twice named first team all-conference and is a three-time academic all-conference performer.

Garen McKinney - DB, 5-10, 170 (Stone Mountain, GA/Tucker)
Garen led his team in interceptions as a junior, then as a senior, he was not thrown at nearly as much, giving up zero TDs. He was named a DeKalb County All-Star as he helped his team to the semi-finals as a senior.

D'Andre Nutall - OL, 6-7, 280 (St. Louis, MO/Riverview Gardens)
D'Andre is another talented St. Louis-area prospect. He led Riverview Gardens high school as a Team Captain to an 8-4 record his senior season, the most wins by Riverview Gardens in 20 seasons. He was selected first team all-conference as a senior. D'Andre is a balanced individual, serving as the Drama Club Treasurer and Section Leader in Choir at Riverview Gardens.

Tylan Oglesby - DB, 5-10, 180 (Clarkston, GA/Tucker)
Tylan helped his high school team to a 25-4 record over the last two seasons. He is a three-sport athlete competing in football, basketball, and track, and is also a three-time honor roll student who received the National Society of High School Scholars Award.

Fernando Ramirez - K, 5-10, 170 (Omega, GA/Tift County)
Fernando is an excellent kicker out of Tift County, Ga. He was named third team all-american, a Chris Sailer Award Finalist (best kicker in nation), and a 2017 Ray Guy Prokicker.com Top Prospect. He is very consistent, making 15/16 field goals and 52/52 PATs.

Drake Rucker - OL, 6-7, 310 (Moberly, MO/Moberly)
Drake is a long and athletic offensive lineman out of the Central Missouri area. While at Moberly High, he earned all-district and all-conference honors, and was named the team's Most Improved Player as a junior and then Team Captain as a senior. He helped the Moberly Spartans to a final ranking of No. 6 in the state, their highest ever. He is also a thrower on the track team.

Michael Smith - DE, 6-0, 228 (Kansas City, MO/Platte County)
Michael had an excellent high school career at Platte County High as a three-year starter. He won the Bobby Bell Award (Best Defensive Lineman in KC Metro), was twice named all-state, and is a two-time conference Defensive Player of the Year. He was also named to the All-Simone Team. During his senior year he lead the state in sacks with 17.5.

Tre Vaughn - TE, 6-1, 190 (Fulton, MO/Fulton)
Tre is a versatile H-back from Fulton, Mo. He was a three-year starter and two-time all-district and two-time all-conference player. He was also named all-state for his senior season.

Donovan Wright - WR/CB, 5-8, 165 (Albany, GA/Westover)
Donovan is an explosive athlete. During his senior year he returned two punts for TDs, and two kickoffs for TDs. On top of kick returning he can play both sides of the ball as a slot WR or CB. He possess the speed and agility all college coaches covet in recruits.

Mid-Year Transfers
The following players joined the program in January and are already students at Lincoln.

Dakota Cox - OL, 6-6, 330 (Monroe, GA/New Rock Prep Sports Academy)
Dakota earned many honors in high school, including first team all-region and first team all-state his senior season. He also was selected to play in the Southeast Bowl All Star Game in Georgia. While at New Rock Prep he was named a Prep School All-American last season.

Jacobi Cratic - OL, 6-7, 315 (Albany, GA/Georgia Military College)
Jacobi comes to Lincoln out of Westover High in Albany, Ga. He posses great athleticism while standing 6-foot, 7-inches tall. He was highly recruited by NCAA Division I schools for his versatility and size. He was a three sport athlete in high school: football, basketball, and baseball.

Zach Farrow - OL, 6-4, 300 (Louisville, CO/Midwestern Prep Academy)
Zach is a versatile lineman who could play many spots along the front line. He was named first team all-conference his senior year while at Monarch High in Colorado. He also earned one of the most important awards on any football team his senior year of high school, the Steel Worker Award, awarded to the most improved on the team.

Austin Harris - DB, 5-10, 180 (Memphis, TN/Whitehaven)
Austin was a Team Captain playing QB and DB at Whitehaven High in Memphis, Tenn. His team was the Class 6A State Champion in 2017. He also played varsity baseball for two seasons.

Demar Holmes - OL, 6-5, 275 (Chicago, IL/Georgia Military College)
Demar is a very athletic offensive line prospect, with good feet and balance. He is expected to compete for playing time this upcoming season.

Jordan McCoy - OL, 6-3, 300 (Whittier, CA/East Los Angeles College)
Jordan brings a winning resume to Lincoln. While at St. Paul High he was a three-year starter and named captain his senior year. During his senior season he helped St. Paul break a seven-year playoff drought. While at East Los Angeles, Jordan excelled in the classroom, making the Deans List with a 3.56 GPA.

Hasan Muhammad-Rogers - QB, 5-11, 180 (Chicago, IL/Harold L. Richard)
Hasan is an excellent QB prospect. He was a two-time all-state selection and twice named Team Captain. He was also named the conference Player of Year and The Reporter Player of the Year his senior season. During his junior and senior seasons he threw for 5,004 yards and 56 TDs, and he also rushed for 1,110 yards and another 14 TDs.

Eric Robinson - TE, 6-3, 215 (Fort Valley, GA/Midwestern Prep Academy)
Eric is an amazing athlete with the ability to go up and catch the ball. He earned first team all-state as a junior, setting a record with 15 receptions in a game that season. He was in a tragic car accident and missed 11 games his senior season. While at prep school last year he led his team in receptions with 62 while accumulating 545 yards.

Avante Ross - DB, 6-0, 175 (Atlanta, GA/Grady)
Avante is a very explosive defensive back prospect. He brings a nose for the football when tackling, indicated by his 10 forced fumbles his senior season at Grady High. He was also named Defensive MVP and Special Teams MVP for Grady while earing all-state honors in Georgia. He additionally played four years of basketball in high school.

Jonathan Vega - OL, 6-3, 380 (Haines City, FL/Ridge Community)
Jonathan brings not only good size and strength, but also unique skills to the offensive line. He is a certified trainer and a black belt in taekwondo. While in high school he was selected to play in the Marcus Dixon All-American Bowl and the Blue Grey All-American Bowl.

Lincoln Letter Signees
The following players have signed Lincoln Letters declaring their intent to continue their playing careers with the Blue Tigers.

Harrison Brownell - OL, 6-2, 295 (Camdenton, MO/Camdenton)
Harrison is a very dependable offensive center who started for three years and had zero fumbled snaps and zero QB sacks allowed as a senior. He was named Team Captain for Camdenton High and won the "Chuck Miller-Spirit of the Hogs Award". For his performance his senior year, he earned first team all-conference and first team all-district. He is also a State Champion Power Lifter.

Hunter Schroer - DT, 6-6, 230 (Jefferson City, MO/South Callaway)
Hunter is a physically imposing prospect who was named first team all-conference in 2016 and 2017, and all-district in 2017. He was also voted Team Captain his senior season and was selected to play in the 2018 Lions All-Star Game in Missouri. He also participates in track and field at South Callaway.

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY BLUE TIGERS SPORTS INFORMATION

Steelers' Greg Lloyd Among Seven Stars Enshined in Black College Football Hall of Fame

PITTSBURG, Pennsylvania -- Former Steelers linebacker Greg Lloyd was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) as a part of its Class of 2018. Lloyd was among seven inductees who were enshrined on Feb. 10, 2018 at the BCFHOF in Atlanta, Georgia.

The other members of the Class of 2018 include Harold Carmichael (Southern), Raymond Chester (Morgan State), Thomas Henderson (Langston), Leo Lewis (Lincoln), Everson Walls (Grambling State) and Coach Bill Hayes (Winston-Salem State and North Carolina A&T).

Lloyd attended Fort Valley State in Georgia, a Division II school, where he flourished. He was a three-time All-SIAC selection and in his senior season he was named the SIAC Player of the Year.

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“I still felt like coming out of college I got disrespected,” said Lloyd. “Schools where I wanted to go, weren’t interested in me. I was the number two linebacker coming out of high school, but schools thought I was too small. I came in with a chip on my shoulder. I thought other linebackers that came in that year didn’t have anything on me other than they went to Alabama, Georgia, or Florida. Back then I just wanted to play, but still had that chip on my shoulder. People would ask about Fort Valley State College. In practice I would be like, I am going to show them what Fort Valley State is all about.”

Lloyd did just that. He was selected by the Steelers in the sixth-round of the 1988 NFL Draft, and played for them for 10 seasons, a total of 11 seasons in the NFL. He was a five-time Pro Bowl selection, and three-time All-Pro, 1993-95. He was voted the Steelers MVP twice (1991, 1994) and was a member of the Steelers All-Time Team that was named as part of the team’s 75th season in 2007.

Lloyd was a menacing force for the Steelers defense, one who never backed down and held up the legacy of the team’s tough linebackers.

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Morgan State graduate Raymond Chester goes into Black College Football Hall of Fame

Black College Football Hall of Fame 

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- The Black College Football Hall of Fame inducted its Class of 2018 on Saturday, including former Baltimore Colts tight end and Morgan State graduate Raymond Chester. The Cambridge native was part of a class of seven inductees for the BCFHOF's ninth class that was inducted during a ceremony at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

The Class of 2018 also included Harold Carmichael (Southern), Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson (Langston), Leo "Lincoln Locomotive" Lewis (Lincoln), Greg Lloyd (Fort Valley State), Everson Walls (Grambling State) and coach Bill Hayes (Winston-Salem State and North Carolina A&T).

"This class represents three Super Bowl rings, 18 Pro Bowl selections and several Black College Football championships," said BCFHOF co-founder and 2011 inductee Doug Williams. "Take a look at what they've done off the field as well, and each has earned this incredible honor." The inductees will also be recognized at the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta on Dec. 16.

Chester was a member of Morgan State's 1968 undefeated team, scoring the Bears' only touchdown in their historic victory over Grambling at Yankee Stadium. He was also a member of the 1970 College All-Star team and was selected by the Oakland Raiders with the 24th overall pick in the 1970 NFL Draft.

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Langston Lions ‘Hollywood’ Henderson says his Black College Football Hall induction is his proudest achievement

Black College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018 Inductee Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson.

Hollywood Henderson was a linebacker at Langston University (1971-1974) where he started his collegiate career as a walk-on. During that time, he led Langston to 11-2 record and NAIA playoff berth in 1973. After college, he was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with 18th overall pick in the 1975 NFL Draft. He played seven seasons in the NFL for the Cowboys (1975-1979), San Francisco 49ers, Houston Oilers, and the Miami Dolphins. During his career, he was named to the 1978 Pro Bowl, and was a member of the 1977 Super Bowl winning Cowboys.
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He wants players to know football shouldn’t be the most important thing in their lives

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson came to the Black College Football Hall of Fame event last year to meet his friend, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, and while he was standing in the lobby, someone approached and told Henderson that Jones had nominated him for the Hall. In the middle of a room full of people, Henderson started crying. He walked to the restroom, went into a stall, sat down and cried some more.

Henderson had been confused as to why Jones was so adamant that he come to the event, and now he knew.

“One of the board members comes over and says, ‘They were talking about you,’ and they were saying basically that I went to Langston U
niversity in Langston, Oklahoma, and I was a No. 1 draft choice,” he said, “And they go, ‘Now, wait a minute, wait a minute, [how] is it the Black Hall of Fame can’t put a No. 1 draft choice in this Hall?’

“This is huge. My kids are coming, my friends. I’m buying my coaches tickets and rooms. … It’s huge. I’m 64 going on 30, and I might drop dead tomorrow, but I’m good.”

After walking on at Langston University, a historically black university in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, Henderson was a first-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 1975. Three years later, he helped the Cowboys win their second Super Bowl and was selected to his first Pro Bowl. At the turn of the century, Henderson won $28 million in the Texas Lotto, which he used to start a foundation.

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Two former Dallas Cowboys elected to Black College Football Hall of Fame

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ARLINGTON, Texas -- Former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Everson Walls failed in his bid to gain election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame last weekend in Minneapolis.

But Walls is Hall of Fame bound on Saturday in Atlanta.

Walls, from Grambling State University, and former Cowboys linebacker Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson, from Langston University, will be inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

Walls was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018. He played with the Cowboys from 1981-89 after entering the league as an undrafted free agent. He also played with the New York Giants (1990-92) and Cleveland Browns (1992-93). He was a three-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl selection who finished his career with 57 interceptions. He led the NFL in interceptions three times.

Henderson played seven seasons in the NFL, including five with the Cowboys from 1975-79. Henderson, a first-round pick (18th overall) of the Cowboys in 1975, earned Pro Bowl honors in 1978.

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Other members of the Class of 2018 include receiver Harold Carmichael (Southern), tight end Raymond Chester (Morgan State), running back Leo “Lincoln Locomotive” Lewis (Lincoln), linebacker Greg Lloyd (Fort Valley State) and Coach Bill Hayes (Winston-Salem State and North Carolina A&T).

“This class represents three Super Bowl rings, 18 Pro Bowl selections and several Black College Football championships,” said BCFHOF co-founder and 2011 Inductee Doug Williams. “Take a look at what they’ve done off the field as well, and each has earned this incredible honor.”

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Legendary Rams and Aggies Football Coach William "Bill" Hayes Inducted Into Black College Football Hall of Fame

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ATLANTA, Georgia (Feb. 10, 2018) -- Former Winston-Salem State and North Carolina A&T State University head football coach and director of athletics William "Bill" Hayes was honored for a prestigious career as he was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.  The 2018 class of inductees into the Black College Football Hall of Fame were honored at the Ninth Annual Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Presented by the Atlanta Falcons on February 10, 2018 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Coach Hayes was selected from a list of 25 finalists by the BCFHOF Selection Committee.  

The Class of 2018 included Harold Carmichael (Southern), Raymond Chester (Morgan State), Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson (Langston University), Leo “Lincoln Locomotive” Lewis (Lincoln), Greg Lloyd (Fort Valley State), Everson Walls (Grambling State) as player inductees and Coach Bill Hayes (Winston-Salem State and North Carolina A&T).

Hayes earned the honor after stellar career coaching the Winston-Salem State Rams football team. He guided the Rams' football program from 1976-1987. During his tenure with the Rams, Hayes led the team to a #1 ranking in Division II after consecutive undefeated regular seasons in 1977 and 1978. He led the team to four Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Championships and seven division championships and finished his tenure at WSSU with an 89-40-2 record and left WSSU as the school career leader in wins. 

After Winston-Salem State, Hayes was named the head football coach at North Carolina A&T where he guided the Aggies to three Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles and two NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearances and finished with a 106-64-0 record. During his career, Hayes touched the lives of countless young men, including several who went on to have careers not only in the National Football League (NFL), but also in collegiate coaching, and other professional ventures.

Hayes returned to Winston-Salem State to serve as its Director of Athletics in 2010. During his time as athletics director, Hayes led a resurgence in all sports at Winston-Salem State, including back-to-back Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) football championships, three appearances in the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs, including an appearance in the 2012 NCAA Division II Football National Championship game. He also led the revival of the Rams baseball program that won three straight CIAA championships during his time at WSSU along with two CIAA softball championships, three CIAA cross country championships (two women, one men), a CIAA men's basketball championship, a CIAA women's indoor track & field championship, and CIAA championships in both men's and women's tennis. He also made a tremendous impact outside the fields of play with great strides made in fundraising, community service, and academic performances.

Inductees into the Black College Feootball Hall of Fame were voted on by the 12-member Selection Committee which is comprised of prominent journalists, commentators, and historians, as well as former NFL general managers and executives, and from previous BCFHOF inductees. They were also recognized on ESPN at the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia on December 16th, where North Carolina A&T State University (12-0) won their fourth HBCU National Championship by defeating Grambling State (11-2) 21-14. 

Redskins Exec Doug Williams, Grambling State Featured In NFL and HBCU Documentary 'Breaking Ground' on NFL Network

The documentary will re-air on NFL Network on Feb. 23.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Doug Williams and Grambling State University will be featured in an hour-long documentary exploring Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the football foundation provided for HBCU student-athletes to enter the National Football League.

Breaking Ground: A Story of HBCU Football and the NFL includes first-hand interviews with former HBCU players, looking at the "Black Athlete Experience" and the importance of their experiences within the context of America's history and social climate. Every athlete connects his individual stories to the experiences of African Americans as a whole, providing words of inspiration on subjects from breaking stereotypes to surviving and thriving on a playing field that is anything but level. "Breaking Ground" is a Black History Month project on the NFL Network scheduled to air Friday (Feb. 9) at 7 p.m. (Central) and 8 p.m. (Eastern) with reruns to be scheduled.

The documentary includes six parts.

Williams, who is a Grambling State graduate, is one of the featured players. After a successful football career at Grambling State, Williams entered the NFL as the lowest paid starting quarterback in 1978 and rose three decades later to become senior vice president for player personnel of the Washington Redskins, an organization once known for its segregated history. In 1988, he became the first black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl.

Others featured in the documentary are Mississippi Valley State University alum Jerry Rice, a longtime San Francisco 49ers wide receiver, who provides a window into his legendary and unsurpassed work ethic; Southern University graduate Mel Blount, the prolific Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback whose setbacks and triumphs literally altered the rules of football, and the NFL's only current black punter, the Oakland Raiders' Marquette King, a Fort Valley State University graduate, whose willingness to be unique has forever changed the way we see his position.

With its in-depth exploration of the black experience in American life and sport, the story pays moving homage to HBCUs around the country and to the countless athletes they've shaped, the men who in any ways helped create the NFL as we know it today. This film shows how HBCUs are integral to NFL recruiting, though it is not often mentioned. The documentary's purpose is to inspire new generations to look at HBCUs and how they handle their athletes through encouragement and creating a community atmosphere that differs from other larger universities.

“Breaking Ground” is narrated by HBCU alum and actor Chadwick Boseman, who stars in the upcoming Marvel movie “Black Panther” and has portrayed several iconic African-American figures in history – Jackie Robinson, James Brown and Thurgood Marshall.  Boseman was born in 1977 in South Carolina, and went on to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C., graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in directing. He then attended the British American Drama Academy in Oxford, England.



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Smith and Thomas key GSU Tigers past PVAMU Panthers for SWAC First Place Tie

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Ivy Smith, Jr. and Shirmane Thomas combined for 54 of the Grambling State University men's basketball team's 90 points as the Tigers won their ninth straight game with a 90-85 victory over Prairie View A&M in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game on Saturday night at the William J. Nicks Building.

Grambling State (13-12 overall, 9-3 SWAC) trailed at the break, 43-37, which was only the second time in the last six games the Tigers were behind at the half. GSU rallied in the second half and held off a late charge to complete a season sweep of the Panthers.

Smith paced Grambling State with 28 points, six assists, five rebounds and five steals. Thomas added 26 points, including 7-of-7 from the free-throw line, with five boards and one assist. DeVante Jackson registered 15 points and five rebounds, while Anthony Gaston tallied 13 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Gary Blackston led Prairie View A&M with 25 points, including 10-of-12 from the foul line, with seven rebounds, six assists and one steal. Zachary Hamilton chipped in 19 points, with five boards and two assists, while J.D. Wallace led the way on the glass with 11 rebounds and nine points.

Turning Point
Prairie View A&M (9-16, 6-5) raced out to an early 7-2 lead after a pair of Blackston free throws with 18:11 left in the first half, but Grambling State answered with an 8-3 run to tie the game at 10 after a jumper by Gaston with 14:32 remaining.

The Panthers extended the margin to 19-13 after two free throws by Blackston with 11:13 left, but again the Tigers answered and tied the game at 23 after a Nigel Ribeiro 3-pointer with 8:09 remaining.

Prairie View A&M's defense went to work and held Grambling State without a field goal for over four minutes as the Panthers took a 31-25 lead after a Wallace dunk. The Tigers closed the gap to 31-29 after a Thomas layup, but Prairie View A&M answered an quickly extended the advantage to 38-29 after a Jones layup with 2:03 remaining.

The Tigers closed the gap to 38-33 after a Gaston layup, but the Panthers continued to extend the lead, stretching the margin to 43-34 after a Thompson trey. A Thomas 3-pointer with 15 seconds left cut the deficit right before the half to 43-37.

Grambling State fell behind 46-37 after an Ellis free throw with 18:26 left, but the Tigers used a 12-3 run and held the Panthers without a field goal for nearly five minutes to take a 49-48 lead after a bucket by Jackson with 15:07 remaining.

The Tigers took a 63-58 advantage after a Smith three-point play with 10:52 remaining, but Prairie View A&M would not go away quietly and rallied to take a 75-73 lead after a Blackston layup with just under five minutes left.

Grambling State extended the advantage to 83-78 after two free throws by Thomas with 2:30 left, but Prairie View A&M closed the gap to 84-83 after Blackston sank a pair at the foul line with 45 seconds remaining.

That would be as close as the Panthers would get as Smith sank a jumper and four free throws to seal the victory.

Inside The Numbers
· Grambling State shot 45.9 percent (28-of-61) from field and 75.7 percent (28-of-37) from the free-throw line.
· Prairie View A&M was 30-of-61 (49.2 percent) shooting and 18-of-28 (64.3 percent) from the charity stripe.
· The Tigers finished with 39 rebounds, including 12 on the offensive glass.
· The Panthers recorded 35 rebounds, with 25 coming on the defensive end.
· Grambling State scored 26 points in the paint, 20 points off turnovers and eight second-chance points.
· Prairie View A&M finished with 36 points in the paint, 23 bench points, 20 points off turnovers and nine second-chance points.
· There were 12 ties and seven lead changes.

News & Notes
· Getting by with a little help from our friends: Southern defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday, which means Grambling State is now tied for the top spot in the SWAC.
· The Tigers have set a school record for most consecutive wins in the NCAA Division I era with nine.
· Grambling State trailed at the half for just the second time in the last six games.
· Shirmane Thomas finished with 26 points, which was just one shy of tying his career mark of 27, which he recorded against Texas Southern on Jan. 15.
· Grambling State head coach Donte' Jackson remains perfect in the month of February (3-0).
· The Tigers completed the season sweep of Prairie View A&M with the victory on Saturday.
· Tigers head coach was Donte' Jackson will be one of the featured guest speakers at the 2018 Basketball Forum at the MGM Grand in Detroit, Mich. on April 6.

Up Next
Grambling State continues its Texas road swing on Monday in Houston against Texas Southern. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from the Health and Physical Education Arena.

Follow Grambling State Athletics
For complete coverage of Grambling State athletics, please follow the Tigers on social media at @GSU_Tigers (Twitter), /gramblingstateathletics (Facebook), @gramblingathetics01 (Instagram) or visit the official home of Grambling State Athletics at gsutigers.com.

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