Tarik Cohen (N.C. A&T) selected for Pro Bowl

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- RB | Chicago Bears: The 5-6, 180-pound Cohen accepted his only scholarship offer at N.C. A&T and rewrote the program’s record books, leaving as the Aggies’ all-time leading rusher – a title he also owns for the MEAC.

The path: Despite his standout career at A&T, questions about Cohen’s size persisted as he prepared for the NFL Draft. Those concerns were put to rest when he went to the NFL Scouting Combine and posted the fastest time in the 40-yard dash, running it in 4.42 seconds. He was chosen by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round.

This season: Cohen doesn’t really have a position; he’s just a football player. Listed at running back, Cohen has been just as dangerous lined up at receiver, catching 45 passes for 327 yards while rushing for 348 yards on 82 carries. Cohen has also been dangerous in the return game, taking a punt for a touchdown and even threw for a score on Oct. 15.



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Southern Jaguars finds the length it was looking for in 10-man signing class

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern had a roadmap for how it wanted Wednesday’s early signing period to transpire, and by the time the day was over, coach Dawson Odums was pleased with the direction his program took.

“We stick to needs,” Odums said. “We don’t deviate. We set a plan in place and we stick to that plan, and that plan was to try to find length.”

That mission was accomplished. The Jaguars signed 10 players Wednesday, and almost all of them fit the profile Odums and the Southern coaching staff were looking for.



The first four players to fax signed letters of intent to Southern epitomized what the program was seeking; all stood 6-foot-1 or taller, and all are skill position players.

Southern landed signatures from 6-3 receiver Kobe Hartman of Ellender Memorial in Houma, 6-3 tight end Reggie Wilson of Reagan High School in San Antonio, 6-3 defensive back Damien Crawford of Green Oaks High School in Shreveport and 6-1 receiver Jamel Byrd of Hahnville High.

Odums thought the two big receivers were particularly crucial to ...

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Texas Southern's Demontrae Jefferson is the best pound-for-pound player in the country

HOUSTON, Texas -- Diehard hoops heads have known about Demontrae Jefferson since his high school days. 

The Texas Southern sophomore was once a three-star recruit and rated as one of the top 100 players in the country by 247 Sports back in 2015. A YouTube sensation, Jefferson's game engenders thoughts of Aquille Carr, a diminutive dynamo that never played a game at Seton Hall after setting the Internet ablaze more than a half decade ago. One mixtape highlighting the work Jefferson put in on the summer travel circuit three years ago has garnered nearly four million views. Those who scour box scores following blowouts might've noticed the 27-point performance he put up in his college debut, a 31-point defeat at the hands of then 11th-ranked Louisville last season on his way to earning Southwestern Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year honors. 

To say his play through 12 games in 2017-18, averaging 23.4 points per game (No. 7 in the nation), has been the Milwaukee native's coming out party would be a gross overstatement. To label Jefferson, who stands just 5-7 and tips the scale at a feathery 150 pounds, the best pound-for-pound player in America would be deftly accurate.

Plain and simple, Jefferson has been terrorizing opposing defenses all winter as the Tigers Mac Daddy and Daddy Mac (Kriss Kross) the country playing the nation's toughest schedule. In his last three games against No. 21 Baylor, Wyoming and No. 15 TCU, he's put up 26.6 points on 50 percent shooting from the field and behind the 3-point line. 



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Prairie View A&M To Introduce New Head Football Coach Friday

PRARIE VIEW, Texas --Prairie View A&M University will introduce the 33^rd head football coach in the program's history Friday at 11 a.m. CST in the William J. "Billy" Nicks Building.
 
The media and public are invited to attend the press conference and the reception that will follow inside the Panther Room in the Athletic Administration Building. The event will also be video streamed live at pvpanthers.com/sportsnetwork.
 
The conference will include comments by President Dr. Ruth Simmons, Vice President/Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson, and the new head football coach.

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Hampton Pirates Annouces First Three Signees for 2018

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Hampton University head football coach Robert Prunty announced his first three signees during the early signing period on Wednesday.

"To get the three players we targeted in our short time being here I am extremely pleased," said Prunty. "For us to get a signee from the 757 in the first signing period, is very good. We have visited every school in the 757 since coming on board and we hope to get some more in February,"

Hampton's December signees are:

Evan Lomax
5-11, 170 lb., K/P
Nansemond River High School/Suffolk, Va.
A four-year starter at Nansemond River, Lomax was a three-year first team All-District, a four-year All-757 selection by the Virginian Pilot, first team All-Virginia Group 5A and All-Tidewater.

Prunty on Lomax
"He was the first guy I targeted and offered after taking this job. Evan had offers from Army and several walk-on BCS schools so to keep him in the 757 is a big get for us. He will help address a need that I saw on film in the kicking game."



Dallas Hall
6-4, 200 lb., QB
Northeastern High School/Elizabeth City, N.C
As a senior he threw for 2,004 yards and 23 touchdowns while completing just under 60% of his passes. As a two-year starter he threw for 3,191 yards and 35 touchdowns. He also made headway as a runner as he amassed 1,254 yards this year with seven games of over 100 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns. He was Conference Player of the Year this year and also played basketball along with running track throughout his high school career.

Prunty on Hall
"Dallas is a phenomenal athlete as he also runs the 100 and 200 meters in track. A cerebral quarterback, who has a great upside which I am excited about. To get a quarterback who threw for 2,000 yards and also ran for 1,000 is a nice get for us."


QB Dallas Hall, #9 White Uniforms

Ja'Cori Shaw
6-4, 270 lb., T/DT
Northeastern High School/Elizabeth City, N.C
Was a key member of a Northeastern High School program that advanced to five straight conference championships and was 48-6 in the last four years. Helped lead a defense that produced four shutouts in 2017. In 14 games this year, he had 83 tackles and a pair of fumble recoveries. He was a three-time Defensive Lineman of the Year, three-time First Team All-Area, three-time First Team All-Conference, three-time First Team All-Region and two-time All-State selection.

Prunty on Shaw
"We were very fortunate to get him early. He's long, rangy and a physical player who will boost the lines for us. He ran a sub 4.8 40-yard dash at 275 pounds and was MVP at the ECU Big Man Camp this summer."

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

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Monster First Half Run Leads Hampton Over Appalachian State

HAMPTON, Virginia -- A blistering 27-4 run over the final 11 minutes of the first half helped propel Hampton to an 86-53 win over Appalachian State on Wednesday night at the HU Convocation Center.

Another chilly start for Hampton saw the Pirates trail 18-12 at the 10:49 mark of the first half on a jumper from Ronshad Shabazz. The Pirates started their run with a Jermaine Marrow steal and layup and tied the game on a jumper from Akim Mitchell with 8:41 left at 18-all.

The Mountaineers tied the game at 20-all on a pair of Isaac Johnson free throws with 7:28 remaining and that was their last points for the next 6:29 as a Marrow layup put Hampton (5-8) ahead 34-20 with 1:16 left. A triple from Greg Heckstall and a putback by Charles Wilson-Fisher at the horn helped push Hampton to a 39-22 advantage.

In the second half, Hampton broke the game open on the heels of a 25-7 run in the final 7:18 as a Trey Houston jumper in the final minute put Hampton up 86-53.

Malique Trent-Street paced the Pirates with 21 points, while Marrow chipped in with 18 points, a career-high 10 rebounds and six assists. Hampton hit 51.7% from the field (31-60) and was 20-of-24 from the foul line (83.3%). The Pirates outrebounded Appalachian State 45-32 and forced 24 turnovers to go with a season-best 15 steals.

???????Shabazz topped Appalachian State (5-8) with 17 points, while Justin Forrest added 12 and Johnson scored 10 with seven rebounds. The Mountaineers were 17-of-59 from the floor (28.8%), 8-of-30 from 3-point land (26.7%) and 11-of-20 from the foul line (55%).

Hampton returns to action on Friday night heading to #13 Virginia for a 7pm tip at John Paul Jones Arena.

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

BOX SCORE

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North Penn H.S. Khan Jamal Delaware State Bound

H.S. Position: FB/MLB, 5'-10"/205 lbs

LANSDALE, Pennsylvania -- Khan Jamal will be continuing his football career at Delaware State University after a last minute offer from the school.

“I was in a different situation than these guys. I didn’t really have any other offers on the table,” said Khan Jamal, “[When] Delaware State came, the coach and I just hit it off. We had a good relationship and kept talking.”

“The Khan Jamal thing came in last second. I got a phone call Monday from the coach, and they said that they were going to offer. I was super excited. The coach was really impressed. I think what helped Khan, besides the fact that he’s a helluva player, was that he is very strong academically. He has a good balance of being a good player and a good student,” said Beck.

Jamal, who transferred from Plymouth Whitemarsh this year, is thankful for his experiences on both of the teams he has played for during his high school seasons.

“Being able to have two great coaching staffs was a blessing,” said Jamal.

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