Friday, July 29, 2011

Indianapolis Colts signs Delaware State's WR Larrone Moore

Indianapolis, IN - The Indianapolis Colts Friday officially announced the signing of Delaware State University free agent wide-receiver Larrone Moore.

Moore totaled 102 receptions for 1,236 yards and five touchdowns in 43 career games at Delaware State. In 2009 as a junior, he ranked second on the team with 33 catches and 315 yards while posting the third-highest kickoff return-yard average (25.6) in the MEAC. As a freshman in 2007, Moore led the squad with 431 kickoff return yards.

The 6'-0", 196 pound wideout and kick returner is noted for his speed, clocking a 4.38 40 yard dash at DSU's Pro Day. The Prince George's County (Hyattsville, MD) native played high school football at Northwestern High School.



Moore was the top sprinter on Delaware State’s indoor and outdoor track and field teams … qualified for 2009 NCAA Outdoor East Regional championships in the 100-meter dash (10.39) and 200-meter dash (20.75) … member of Delaware State’s NCAA championship qualifying 1600-meter relay team, which posted a school-record time of 3:05.21 at national championships … captured 2009 MEAC indoor 200-meter championship with time of 21.50 seconds … qualified for 2008 NCAA East Regional in 100 & 200 … also competed in long jump (top leap: 6.84 meters).

In other words, Larrone Moore has an excellent opportunity to become a deep threat kick returner in the NFL, as he can outright fly.

VISIT: DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY
VISIT: DSUHORNETS

Hampton's Brandon Peguese signed by Philadelphia Eagles

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Philadelphia Eagles have signed former Hampton University defensive standout Brandon Peguese, the team announced on Tuesday.

Peguese (Greensboro, N.C.) was a Sports Network FCS All-American and First Team All-MEAC selection last season, after finishing third on the team in tackles with 85 (38 solo, 47 assisted). He also finished third in the MEAC with 8.0 sacks in 2010, while also ranking second in the conference in tackles for loss with 23.5 for a total of 94 yards.

For his career at Hampton, Peguese tallied 179 tackles and 18 sacks. In 2009, Peguese was named Second Team All-MEAC after leading the conference with 7.5 sacks.

Peguese was one of nine rookie free agents signed by the team.

Peguese is the second Pirate to be picked up by an NFL team this season; defensive lineman Kenrick Ellis was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft back in April by the New York Jets.

By Hampton University Athletics

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South Carolina State's Harrison signs with Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers signee Josh Harrison
(Photo courtesy S.C. State Athletics)
Lake City, S.C. - Josh Harrison finally got the phone call he wanted.

On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed the former Lake City and South Carolina State offensive lineman to a free-agent contract. “I was so excited about it. I can’t put it into words,” Harrison said. “It’s been a dream of mine to play pro football and I’m excited to get the opportunity.”

Harrison will report to the Steelers’ facility Wednesday and then be with the club when it opens training camp Thursday in Latrobe, Pa. Harrison, like other undrafted free agents, has been in limbo since April until the NFL lockout ended Monday. Tuesday was the first day teams were able to sign undrafted free agents.

Harrison said he has stayed in shape by working out in Orangeburg, where he has been taking classes to finish up his degree in mechanical engineering, and at the YMCA in Florence.

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VISIT: SCSUATHLETICS

New football coaches meet ahead of MEAC Media Day

NORFOLK, Va. — The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference will have five new football coaches on the sidelines this season and two of them are already creating a bit of a buzz around the league because of their reputation of winning championships.

Henry Frazier, who spent the last seven seasons at Prairie View, comes into the league as head coach at North Carolina Central. Rod Broadway left Grambling State University to take over the head coaching job at North Carolina A&T.

Frazier is taking the Eagles from Division II to their first season at the Football Championship Subdivision, while Broadway's mission is to turn around an Aggies program that hasn't had a winning season under their last two coaches.

They spent Thursday in meetings with the conference's nine other coaches and commissioner Dennis Thomas. They will meet the media today and they could expect to field plenty of questions about how soon they'll make their programs winners. The same will be asked of the three other new coaches — Kermit Blount of Delaware State University, Garry Harrell of Howard University and Savannah State's Steve Davenport.

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Saint Augustine's Walter Sanders signs with Baltimore Ravens

"This is a dream come true,” Sanders said. “I proved to the non-believers I can make it happen.  I accomplished my goal - I am in the NFL from Division II."

Baltimore, MD - At about 11 a.m., Walter Sanders was watching the NFL Network in his East Baltimore home with his 2-year-old daughter, Makenzii, when his agent, Jason Sklar, called. That’s when the Baltimore native learned the Ravens planned to sign him.

“It’s a tremendous honor to sign with the Baltimore Ravens,” Sanders said. “It’s been my dream all my life to play in the National Football League, but not only the National Football League, but, in particular, with the Baltimore Ravens.“  “What more can you ask for than to play for your hometown team?”



At Mervo High, Sanders excelled in basketball and football and became a regional champion in the hurdles during spring track. The 5’10’, 227-pound back decided to continue his football career at Saint Augustine’s College in Raleigh, N.C.

Despite the Division-II level of competition he faced, the blazing back, who most recently clocked a 40 time of 4.39 seconds, still managed to attract attention from NFL scouts. Last year, Sanders finished his senior campaign with the first 1,000-yard rushing season for the Falcons in the modern era of college football.

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Virginia Union's David Mims Signs with the Kansas City Chiefs

Richmond, VA - Virginia Union University's David Mims has signed with the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League, Mims announced on July 26. Mims announced the signing via his Twitter account.

"Happy to say that I am officially a Kansas City Chief" Mims tweeted on the morning of July 26.

Mims, a 6-8 offensive lineman from Charlotte, N.C., anchored a VUU offensive line which allowed Panther runners to rush for 1,884 yards in 2010 and set a school-record 490 rushing yards against Virginia State University in 2009.

Mims becomes the first Virginia Union football player to sign with an NFL team since Jerome Leslie signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004.

VISIT: VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY
VISIT: VUUSPORTS

Former FAMU Rattlers Sylvester signs with Atlanta Falcons

Marianna, FL - Former Marianna Bulldogs football star Philip Sylvester has signed a contract with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, and will participate in the team’s training camp in hopes of making the final 53-man roster.

Sylvester, who spent the last four seasons playing for the FAMU Rattlers, wasn’t selected in the April NFL Draft, but was offered a free agent contract by the Falcons on Monday, and then left for Atlanta on Tuesday.

Efforts to contact Sylvester were unsuccessful, but the speedy running back’s former high school coach Don Dowling said he couldn’t be happier to see the mild-mannered former Bulldog get his shot.

“It’s a big deal. Someone mentioned to me that he was my first former player to sign an NFL contract, which I thought was pretty cool,” said Dowling, now the head coach at Sneads. “He’s one of those kids who deserve it. He has worked hard his entire career, and he’s a great kid. Back at Marianna, you wouldn’t have even known he was some big-time running back in the hallways. He’s just a regular kid.

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