For the third year, this HBCU classic will be played in Birmingham on Saturday, October 7 th, at Legion Field. Game time is set for 7:00 pm and will be broadcasted on ESPN+. The Morehouse Tuskegee Classic is one of the oldest NCAA Division II football classics in the country. This football classic began in 1902 as an entertainment event for the African - American civilian community and U.S. Army soldiers in the Columbus-Fort Benning, Ga., and Phenix City, Ala. area. Today, its primary purpose is to help raise funds for scholarships to help young men and women attend college.
MAYOR’S WELCOME LETTER
CITY OF BIRMINGHAM MAYOR RANDALL L. WOODFIN
October 7, 2023
Greetings Morehouse Tuskegee Classic Fans,
I’m so proud to welcome you to Birmingham for the Morehouse Tuskegee Classic, the next installment of the incredible rivalry between the Maroon and Golden Tigers.
And once again, we’re ready to make history.
The Morehouse Tuskegee Classic is the longest-running NCAA Division II classic. But perhaps most importantly it upholds our status as the premier destination for Historically Black College and University celebrations. Alabama is home to the most HBCUs in the nation. That means, no matter which school comes to our red clay, they’re on home turf. Whether you’re here for Morehouse or celebrating Tuskegee, know that you’re among family. During your time in Birmingham, please explore all that the city has to offer. Take a moment to stroll our green spaces downtown and experience amenities like City Walk. Be sure to indulge in our award-winning restaurants and, as we celebrate 60 years of the civil rights movement, take a moment to explore our rich history, too. The Morehouse Tuskegee Classic is a reflection of our deep honor and love of HBCU culture. Thank you for joining us to experience it firsthand.
Enjoy the game!
Mayor Randall L. Woodfin
710 NORTH 20TH ST. BIRMINGHAM, AL 35203 (205) 254-2771
WWW.BIRMINGHAMAL.GOV
MOREHOUSE WELCOME LETTER
Dear Friends: Morehouse College welcomes our alumni and supporters to the 85th Tuskegee Morehouse Classic. We could not be more pleased to be in Birmingham, home to incredible history, influential culture, and im- pactful Morehouse alumni, including Mayor Randall Woodfin, class of 2003— the youngest Birmingham mayor in more than a century. The transformative contributions of our alumni in this city and state, espe- cially during a time of social challenge, are why we continue to work as hard today to prepare men for lives of leadership and service as we did when we played the first game of this classic 115 years ago. When Morehouse alumnus Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. came to Birmingham to lead protests against seg- regation, he was beaten and jailed at the behest of a racist mayor. While he would undoubtedly be pleased that a fellow Morehouse Man would one day be elected to lead the same city in which he was placed in sol- itary confinement, King’s calls for an urgent response to injustice ring just as true today as they did when he wrote his famous, “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” In today’s climate of division, distrust, and distrac- tion from the truth, let our presence in Birmingham this weekend remind us that we each have a responsi- bility to be change agents of consequence. There is a heightened level of excitement around Morehouse athletics as we welcome back two former scholar athletes and classmates (1992) to top positions, football coach, Gerard Wilcher, and athletic direc- tor, Harold Ellis. Expectations are high and we look forward to the challenges ahead with building a top notch program that will compete for championships not only on the gridiron, but any court or field, where Morehouse men choose to participate. Our resolve to maintain high standards of global impact is strong; and with each contest, we will continue to grow. Our Maroon Tigers will continue to bear the torch of leadership and service and those who take the field this weekend will show how committed we are to the task. Birmingham, Tuskegee University, I hope you are ready for the Morehouse Maroon Tigers because we are ready for you. We look forward to a weekend of fun, football, and fellowship. Let’s go! Sincerely, David A. Thomas, Ph.D. President
TUSKEGEE WELCOME LETTER
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE
Prominent Morehouse alumni include: Martin Luther King Jr., Nobel Peace Prize Laureate; Dr. David Satcher, former U.S. Surgeon General; Shelton “Spike” Lee, Acad- emy Award-winning American filmmaker; Maynard H. Jackson, the first African American mayor of Atlanta; Jeh Johnson, former U.S. Secretary of Home¬land Secu- rity; Louis W. Sullivan, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services; Bakari Sellers, attorney and CNN political analyst; Randall Woodfin, elected as the young- est mayor of Birmingham in 120 years; and U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, Georgia’s first Black U.S. senator from Georgia. Our Vision The premier liberal arts college in the world attracting and educating Black men and other men who share the values of Morehouse College. Our Mission The mission of Morehouse College is to develop men with disciplined minds who will lead lives of leadership and services. Our Values To respect and honor the holistic development of trust- worthy young men, who act with compassion, honesty, and integrity as they build community, holding them- selves and each other accountable to ensure a spiritual path that reflects the necessity of civility within this abid- ing brotherhood.
Morehouse College is the largest men’s college in the United States and the only college with a mission to edu- cate Black men. A private, liberal arts institution founded in 1867, More- house is the nation’s top producer of Black men who go on to receive doctorates, the top producer of Rhodes Schol- ars among HBCUs, and was named to the list of U.S. in- stitutions that produced the most Fulbright Scholars in 2019-2020. Morehouse has the top-rated core curriculum of any HBCU nationwide, according to the American Coun¬cil of Trustees and Alumni, and Academic Influ- ence named Morehouse one of the two most influential HBCUs of the 21st century. Morehouse is one of the top five HBCUs nationally, ac- cording to U.S. News and World Report, which also ranked the College among the top 20 liberal arts col- leges nationally in terms of social mobility and the top 50 nationally in terms of innovation. Morehouse is the #1 producer of Black male graduates in Georgia in biology, business, engineering, English, foreign languag-es, his- tory, mathematics, performing arts, philosophy, physical sciences, religion, and visual arts, according to Diverse Issues in Higher Education. As the epicenter for thought leadership on civil rights, Morehouse is committed to helping the nation address the inequities caused by insti- tutional racism, which has created social and economic disparities for people of African descent.
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE PRESIDENT
An award-winning author and contemporary thought leader in organizational management and executive devel- opment, Thomas co-wrote three books: Race, Work, and Leadership: New Perspectives on the Black Experience; Breaking Through: The Making of Minority Executives in Corporate America; and Leading for Equity: The Pursuit of Excellence in Montgomery County. He has written or co-written almost eighty book chapters, cases, and teach- ing notes, along with more than two dozen scholarly arti- cles, including Getting Serious About Diversity: Enough Already with the Business Case, which won the 2020 HBR McKinsey Award as the best Harvard Business Review ar- ticle of the year. Atlanta Magazine named him one of “At- lanta’s 500 Most Powerful Leaders.” He is the recipient of Washington Business Journal’s “Minority Business Leader of the Year” award and the National Executive Forum’s 2020 Beacon Award, among other honors. He serves on the boards of DTE Energy, Commonfund, Vanguard, and Yale Corporation, where he is the alumni fellow. He is also a senior advisor for Grain Management. Dr. Thomas earned a Ph.D. in organizational behavior studies and a Master of Philosophy in organizational be- havior, both from Yale University. He also earned a Mas- ter of Organizational Psychology from Columbia Univer- sity and a Bachelor of Administrative Sciences from Yale College.
David A. Thomas, Ph.D., is the 12th president of More- house College. Since his installment in January 2018, he has led dynamic, purpose-driven advancement in More- house’s strategic and operational effectiveness, program- matic reach, and pedagogical innovation. Among other transformational successes, Dr. Thomas has overseen a fundraising acceleration which has generated approxi- mately $190 million since his arrival a giving total during his tenure that is higher than during any other presiden- tial tenure in the history of the college. Under his leader- ship, Morehouse has extended its reach by launching its first online degree programs and has amplified its posi- tioning as a center of intellectual discourse and social en- gagement in ar-eas such as global leadership, professional equity, social justice, and innovation. Dr. Thomas is internationally recognized for his exper- tise in organizational management and higher education leadership. Before becoming president of Morehouse, he served as the H. Naylor Fitzhugh Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, as dean and William R. Berkley Chair at Georgetown University’s Mc- Donough School of Business, and as an assistant profes- sor at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. While at McDonough, Dr. Thomas led a successful $130 million capital campaign, a redesign of the MBA curriculum, and the launch of the school’s first online degree program. He has consulted on issues relat- ing to organizational change, diversity, and inclusion for 100 of the Fortune 500 companies.
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE ATHLETIC DIR.
team. Ellis has also served as the general manager and head coach of the World Basketball Association’s Rome Gladiators, guiding them to two consecutive league titles and earning “Coach of the Year” honors. Ellis continued his successful journey, serving in various roles with the Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, and Orlando Magic. In 2018, he became the Director of Player Personnel for the New York Knicks before eventually joining basketball op- erations for the Detroit Pistons. “I am deeply humbled and honored to return to my alma mater as the Athletic Director,” says Ellis. “It feels like a full circle moment for me, returning to where my passion for sports was nurtured and where I laid the foundation for my career. I am excited to give back to this remark- able Institution and to inspire a new generation of stu- dent-athletes to dream big and achieve greatness.”
Morehouse College announced the appointment of Harold Ellis ‘92, former NBA player and standout More- house College guard, as the new Athletic Director. With an acclaimed basketball career and a wealth of coaching and management experience at the professional league level, Ellis is set to lead the Maroon Tiger’s athletic de- partment with a fresh vision to take the College’s program to the next level. Ellis is the only Morehouse athlete to have his jersey num- ber retired after a collegiate basketball career averaging more than 24 points per game in four years and leading Morehouse to the 1989-90 NCAA Division II Final Four. After graduating from Morehouse College in 1992, Ellis began a successful three-season NBA career, playing for the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets. Morehouse College president, Dr. David A. Thomas, ex- pressed his confidence in Ellis’s appointment, stating, “Ellis’s knowledge, expertise, and passion for both sports and the Institution has undoubtedly prepared him to lead Morehouse College’s athletic program. As athletic direc- tor, we believe he will be a strong role model for our stu- dent-athletes, empowering them to excel in academics and athletics while instilling the values of sportsmanship, teamwork, and community service.” Ellis has demonstrated his prowess in basketball coach- ing and management, starting as an assistant coach in Roanoke, Virginia, in the NBA’s Developmental League. His talents were recognized by the Portland Trail Blazers, who then selected him to help lead their summer league
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE HEAD COACH
Wilcher and wife Ayanna are parents to three children. A son, Xavier, a graduate from Delaware State who works for Deloitte, and daughters Jalen, who also graduated from Delaware State and works for MD Anderson, and Jehlani, who is a junior at Sam Houston St University and a member of the Air Force Reserves.
Alumni Gerard Wilcher begins his first year as head foot- ball coach of the Maroon Tigers football team. The former Rice University defensive backs coach began his coaching career at Morehouse over 30 years ago and now brings a breadth of experience to his home team, including his time as co-defensive coordinator at Lehigh University, where he won four Patriot League Champion- ships and had three NCAA Playoff Appearances during his ten-year tenure. Wilcher has also worked with the Denver Broncos, Chi- cago Bears, Arizona Cardinals, and Philadelphia Eagles. Collegiately, he has also coached at Delaware State Uni- versity, Seton Hill University, Cornell University, Uni- versity of Massachusetts-Amherst (where he won the 1998 FCS National Championship), Boston College, and Cheyney University. A four-year football letter winner at Morehouse College football team, Wilcher earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the school in 1992. In May of 2019, he was honored by the City Council of Missouri City, Texas with an Award of Exemplary Action for his role in rescuing a young boy from drowning at a local swimming pool in the summer of 2018.
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE ASST. COACHES
GEORGE COPELAND Asst. Head Coach Linebackers
ADRIAN BILLINGSLEA Defensive Line
JOHN JEFFERSON Cornerbacks
COREY RUSS Wide Receivers Academics
CHARLES ALEXANDER Defensive Coordinator
KEVIN JONES Defensive Analyst
DAVID CLOWNEY IV Quarterbacks
STAN CLAYTON Offensive Coordinator Offensive Line
WILLIAM JOHNSON Asst. Offensive Line
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE ROSTER
No. Name Hometown/Previous School 0 Carols Dunovant SO DB 6’2” 180lb Cusseta, GA/Chattahoochee HS 1 Marqueiz Pride SR WR 6’0” 189lb Sebring, FL/Sebring HS 2 Kamrin Brunson SO WR 5’9” 165lb Grayson, GA/Grayson HS 3 Joel Girtman Jr SR DB 5’10” 190lb College Park, GA/Mercer University 4 Tyler Davis SO DB 6’1” 180lb College Park, GA/Banneker HS 5 Derrach West SR QB 6’2” 185lb Long Beach, CA/Long Beach CC 5D Amar Patalinghug FR CB 6’1” 165lb Chicago, IL/De La Salle Institute 6 Taylor Harris SR DB 5’10” 185lb Woodbridge, VA Western Illinois 7 Jaylon West SR QB 6’2” 185lb Statesboro, GA/West Point/USMA 7D Tyrese Stanley FR DB 6’2” 170lb Baltimore, MD/Baltimore Polytechnic 8 Brogan Korta SO WR 6’1” 180lb East Point, GA/Mercer University 9 Ajani Williams SO WR 6’0” 175lb Fayetteville, GA/Sandy Creek 10 Dallas Johnson SO RB 6’0” 180lb Covington, GA/Eastside HS 11 Garrison Hand JR TE 6’4” 225lb Atlanta, GA/Tuskegee 12 Donovan Logan FR WR 5’8” 156lb Atlanta, GA/Riverwood International 14 Miles Scott FR QB 6’0” 173lb Laurel, MD/Atholton HS Cl Pos Ht Wt 15 Roney Howard II SR WR 6’3” 210lb Atlanta, GA/Sandy Creek HS 15DHouston Brookshire FRDB 6’2” 170lb Milwaukee, WI/Frisco Heritage 16 Taj Gregory SO QB 6’8” 225lb Houston, TX/Yates HS 17 Dewan Wright JR DL 6’5” 242lb Atlanta, GA/Grady HS 17DJacques LeAndre FR QB 6’1” 175lb Rosedale, NY/Long Island Lutheran 18 Delvin Olawumi Jr SR RB 6’0” 195lb Atlanta, GA/Western Carolina 19 Satchel Parker SR QB 6’0” 205lb Bowle, MD/Maret School 19DKhamar Carlisle SO QB 6’4” 185lb Atlanta, GA/Therrell HS 20 Zion Bouie SO RB 5’7” 165lb Bainbridge, GA/Bainbridge HS 21 Donovan Parks JR DB 5’7” 140lb Los Angeles, CA Santa Monica HS 22 Cameron Selders JR DB 5’10” 165lb Savannah, GA/Calvary Day HS 23 Joel Jones SO DB 5’9” 160lb Columbus, GA/Brookstone School 24 James Thorpe SO RB 6’3” 250lb Atlanta, GA/Tennessee State 25 Jaiden Downing SR DB 5’7” 152lb Fayetteville, GA Sandy Creek HS 26 Charles Daniels IV JR RB 5’7” 177lb Detroit, MI/River Rouge 27 Mark Swain JR CB 6’1” 175lb Smyrna, GA/Campbell HS 28 Chase Heard JR CB 5’5” 152lb Atlanta, GA/Millsaps College 29 Ronald Davis III JR DB 5’10” 190lb Federal Way, WA/Federal Way HS 30 Jaiden Jones FR RB 5’9” 190lb Bluffton, SC/May River HS 31 Nicholas Lemons FR ILB 6’1” 230lb McDonough, GA/Eagles Landing CA 32 Jayden Gibson FR DB 6’0” 175lb Houston, TX/Langham Creek 33 Didier Attipou SR LB 5’10” 245lb Brooklyn Park, MN/Osseo HS 33A Jordan Bennett SO RB 5’7” 160lb Cleveland, OH/John Hay 34 Chase DeVaughn FR RB 5’9” 165lb Houston, TX/James Madison HS 35 Isaiah Wimbush SO DB 5’11” 180lb Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Rancho CHS 35A Andre Spence FR RB 5’8” 165lb Manor, TX/Manor New Tech HS 36 Darius Pace JR S 5’11” 180lb Kennesaw, GA/North Cobb 37 Seve Spruill II FR K 5’11” 165lb Conshohocken, PA/ Plymouth Whitemarsh 37DTavin Lewis FR OLB 5’11” 190lb Austin, TX/Lake Travis HS 38 Nelson Gordon FR OLB 5’11” 187lb Livonia, MI/Livonia Stevenson 39 Danny Elrod FR K 5’10” 185lb Rockdale, GA/Brookwood HS 39DJalen Birdsong FR DE 6’1” 210lb Pasadena, CA/John Muir HS 40 Anthony Ammons Jr FR DB 6’1” 170lb Lithonia, GA/Tucker HS 41 Daylon Land SR LB 6’0” 209lb Bryant, AR/Bryant HS 42 Caleb Grant JR LB 5’7” 195lb Greenville, SC/Parkview HS 43 Keshwan Amor SO LB/LS 6’0” 220lb Douglasville, GA/Douglas County HS 44 Bradley Johnson JR DL 6’0” 220lb Las Vegas, NV/Bishop Gorman 45 Xavier McKinney SR LB 6’0” 220lb Homewood, IL/ Homewood-Flossmoor 45A Omari Gordon SO WR 5’7” 180lb Bermuda/Georgia State 46 Quintaevious Clay SR LB 5’10” 208lb Athens, GA/Athens Academy 47 Cai Teague SO TE 6’1” 225lb Spring Hill, FL/Nature Coast Tech 47ASebastian Gordon SR LB 5’10” 190lb Washington, DC/DC International 48 Maurie Veney FR OL 6’4” 265lb Philadelphia, PA/Roman Catholic HS 48A Garrison Keith SO DB 5’8” 165lb Jesup, GA/Wayne County 49 Jalen Brown SO DB 5’8” 155lb Missouri City, TX/Dulles HS 51 Kelvin Dennis SR OL 6’4” 250lb Atlanta, GA/Mays HS 51A Lawrence Nalls III FR DE 6’2” 230lb Chicago, IL/Brooks College Prep 52 Joshua Maye FR DB 5’8” 190lb Montgomery, AL/Carver HS 53 Eric Cowling FR SAF 5’11” 204lb Columbus, GA/Northside HS 55 Eryan Thompson SR OL 6’4” 329lb Atlanta, GA/Hutchinson CC 55A Kelsey Caldwell FR ILB 5’11” 227lb Dallas, TX/Bishop Lynch HS 56 Kyle Warmack SR OL 6’2” 290lb Duluth, GA/Northview HS 56A Jacob Robinson FR OLB 6’0” 212lb Queens, NY/Paramus Catholic
No. Name
Cl Pos Ht
Wt
Hometown/Previous School
57 Sean Johnson FR SAF 5’10” 195lb Newnan, GA/Newnan HS 57ACharles Prescott III FR OL 6’0” 325lb Waynesboro, GA/Heritage 58 Cameron Dumas SO OL 6’0” 270lb Decatur, GA/Columbia HS 59 Zaire Carter SO LB 5’8” 200lb Waldorf, MD/St Mary’s Ryken 60 Jeremiah Johnson JR OL 6’1” 310lb Jacksonville, FL/Trinity Christian 61 Reginhard Pierre-Nau FR OL 6’2” 274lb Jonesboro, GA/Mundy’s Mill HS 62 Logan Daye SO OL 6’0” 315lb Bethlehem, GA/South Pointe 67 Adrian Evans SO OL 6’2” 305lb Marietta, GA/Kaiserslautern HS 68 Isaiah Jackson JR OL 6’4” 300lb Tampa, FL/Thomas Jefferson HS 70 Logan Favors JR OL 6’3” 290lb Atlanta, GA/Wakefield HS 71 Kamden Dobbs SR OL 6’3” 315lb Atlanta, GA/Mays HS 73 Micah Cole FR OL 6’2” 300lb Tallassee, AL/Tallassee HS 75 Derrick Mills II FR OL 6’4” 260lb Alpharetta, GA/Chattahoochee 77 Price Aristilde SO OL 5’10” 360lb Snellville, GA/South Gwinnett HS 78 Malik Moore-Summers FR DE 6’1” 230lb Galloway, NJ/Cedar Creek 79 Etienne Jackson FR OL 6’3” 265lb Atlanta, GA/Tri-Cities 80 Curtis Mayes V SO WR 6’0” 185lb Saint Louis, MO/De Smet Jesuit 81 Corey Pendergrass SO WR 6’0” 202lb Tucker, GA/Tucker HS 82 Nicholas Sartin SO WR 6’1” 175lb Macon, GA/Mt. DevSales Academy 83 Michael Coleman II FR WR 5’11” 175lb Los Angeles, CA Brentwood School 84 Carl Allen II SO WR 6’1” 17llb Columbus, OH/Saginaw Valley State 85 Donovan Calhoun FR WR 6’0” 205lb Bowie, MD/Maret School 86 Colby Bell SO TE 6’3” 235lb Santa Monica, CA Santa Monica 87 Colby Whigham JR WR 5’7” 145lb Accokeek, MD/Bishop McNamara 88 Malcolm Jones SR WR 6’3” 190lb Detroit, MI/Earlham College 90 Ikenna Ojiegbe SO DE 6’7” 245lb Bowie, MD/Montgomery College 91 Unique Smith JR DL 6’4” 265lb Morrow, GA/Mt. Zion HS 92 Stephen Singleton JR DL 6’2” 310lb Houston, TX/Jackson State 93 Zack Underwood FR DE 6’2” 220lb Montgomery, AL/ Montgomery Catholic 94 Dylan Brookins SR DL 5’9” 274lb Columbus, OH/Georgia Military 95 Isaiah Reaves FR DE 6’3” 220lb Decatur, GA/Southwest Dekalb 96 Maxwell Martin SO DL 6’3” 315lb Dublin, OH/Dublin Scioto 97 Donovan Moody FR DT 6’0” 255lb Grosse Pointe Park, MI/Grosse Pointe 98 Bryce Nelms JR DE 6’6” 255lb Atlanta, GA/Pittsburgh College 99 Kaleb Stokes JR DL 5’10” 385lb Montgomery, AL/Stanhope Elmore Matthew Kassa JR DB 5’9” 170lb St. Louis, MO/Iowa Western
Pronunciations 18: Delvin Ah-luh-womi
33: DDA Ah-tee-poo
61: Reginhard Pierre-Nau (NO) 77: Price Air-uh-stil-dle 90: E-ken-nuh Oh-gib-way
66: Seve (Suh-vay)Spruill
79: Etienne (Et-ah-ne) Jackson
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE DEPTH CHART
OFFENSE X:
DEFENSE LE:
#9 Ajani Williams (6-0, 180 lbs., SO) #15 Ronie Howard II (6-3, 200 lbs., SR) #1 Marqueiz Pride (6-0. 180 lbs., SR) #2 Kamrin Brunson (5-10, 165 lbs., SO)
#33 Dider Attipou (6-0, 250 lbs., SR) #98 Bryce Nelms (6-6, 260 lbs., JR) #92 Stephen Singleton (6-2, 295 lbs., JR) #96 Maxwell Martin (6-3, 315 lbs., R- FR)
Y:
NT:
RT: #55 Eryan Thompson (6-4, 330 lbs., SR) #79 Etienne Jackson (6-4, 275 lbs., FR) RG: #71 Kamden Dobbs (6-4, 320 lbs., JR) #68 Isaiah Jackson (6-2, 315 lbs., SO) C: #60 Jeremiah Johnson (6-0, 305 lbs., JR) #62 Logan Daye (6-0, 297 lbs., SO) LG: #56 Kyle Warmack (6-3, 295 lbs., JR) #58 Cameron Dumas (6-1, 280 lbs., R-FR) LT: #51 Kelvin Dennis (6-4, 300 lbs., SR) #70 Logan Favors (6-4, 280 lbs., JR)
DT: #17 Dewan Wright (6-5, 265 lbs., SR) #44 Bradley Johnson (6-1, 255 lbs., JR) OLB: #29 Ronald Davis (5-10, 190 lbs., SO) #93 Zach Underwood (6-2, 220 lbs., FR) MLB: #41 Daylon Land (6-1, 215 lbs., SR) #46 Quantavious Clay (5-10, 218 lbs., SR) WLB: #42 Caleb Grant (5-11, 200 lbs., JR) #57 Sean Johnson (5-11, 200 lbs., FR) ROV: #3 Joel Girtman (5-10, 190 lbs., SR) #28 Chase Heard (5-7, 160 lbs., JR) SS: #6 Taylor Harris (5-11, 180 lbs., SR) #18 Devlin Oluwami (5-11, 200 lbs., SR) FS: #23 Tyler Davis (6’2, 185 lbs., SO) #35 Isaiah Wimbush (6-1, 180 lbs., FR) RCB: #22 Cameron Selders (6-0, 175 lbs., SO) #49 Jalen Brown (5-8, 165 lbs., SR) LCB: #0 Carlos Dunovant (6-1, 190 lbs., R-SO) #23 Jaiden Downing (5’8, 165 lbs., JR) RETURN SPECIALISTS PR: #1 Marqueiz Pride (6-0. 180 lbs., SR) #9 Ajani Williams (6-1, 190 lbs., JR)
TE:
#11 Garrison Hand (6-5, 230 lbs., JR) #86 Colby Bell (6-4, 240 lbs., JR)
Z: #8 Brogan Korta (6-0, 190 lbs., JR) #88 Malcolm Jones (6-3, 180 lbs., SR) HB: #26 Charles Daniels (5-8. 200 lbs., SO) #20 Zion Bouie (5-7, 172 lbs., R-FR) QB: #5 Derrach West (6-2, 190 lbs., SR) #7 Jaylon West (6-1, 205 lbs., JR) SPECIALISTS P:
#37 Seve Spruill (5-11 180 lbs., FR) #39 Danny Elrod (5’9 185 lbs., FR) #43 Keshwan Amor (6-0, 200 lbs., SO) #53 Eric Cowling (5-11, 210 lbs., FR) #65 Danny Elrod (5’9 185 lbs., FR) #39 Seve Spruill (5-11 180 lbs., FR) #7 Jaylon West (6-1. 205 lbs., JR)
LS:
KR:
#10 Dallas Johnson (6-0. 180 lbs., SO) #8 Brogan Korta (6-0, 190 lbs., JR)
K:
H:
TUSKEGEE UNIV. DEPTH CHART
OFFENSE LT
DEFENSE DE
#65 Shaun Stitten (6-5, 360, Jr.) # 64 Paul Adetona (6-3, 330, Fr.) #69 Damion Clark (6-3, 295, So.) # 71 Brendon Arrington (6-3, 285, Fr.) #68 Jalen Franks (6-0, 280, Jr.) # 60 Jamel Stanley (6-2, 295, So.) #77 Chancellor Holloman (6-5, 340, R-Fr.) # 70 Jaylin Walton (6-2, 330, Fr.)
#35 Jayden Barfield (6-2, 225, Gr.) # 55 Lance Watkins (6-2, 275, Fr.) #98 Terence Maize (6-3, 240, Fr.) # 99 Trevor Vines (6-3, 290, R-So.) #56 Jay Culberth (6-1, 235, So.) # 93 Caleb Harrell (6-2, 300, So.) #26 Javieon Miller (6-0, 230, Fr.) # 31 Anthony Scott (6-3, 225, Sr.)
LG
DT
C
NG
RG
DE
-or- # 40 Tyler Wells (6-1, 235, Jr.) MIKE #1 Vincent Hill (5-10, 215, So.) # 24 Cedric Paymon (6-1, 220, Jr.) STAR #20 Zelly Aldridge (5-11, 175, Jr.) # 49 Noah Holton (6-3, 195, Fr.) WILL #3 Malik Moore (6-1, 200, Jr.) # 35 Kaquan Kimber (5-11, 205, Fr.) CB #5 Mikael King (5-10, 175, So.) # 25 Jude Servius (5-10, 170, So.)
RT
#58 Elliott Howell (6-3, 275, R-Jr.) # 79 Jamal Bryant (6-3, 285, So.) #88 Latrevien O’Neal (6-1, 225, Sr.) # 89 Johnny Gilbert (6-4, 253, Jr.) #2 Bryson Williams (6-3, 195, Sr.) # 16 Malik Davis (6-3, 195, Sr.) #23 Zina Mulba (5-11, 200, Fr.) # 21 Chase Sellers (5-9, 180, So.) #12 Corey Petty II (5-11, 187, So.) # 85 Malik Thomas (6-3, 200, R-So.) #0 Noah Hart (5-9, 170, Sr.) # 14 Rodricus Magee (5-9, 165, Jr.) #15 Antonio Meeks (6-2, 190, So.) # 14 Grantis Poole (5-9, 165, R-Sr.)
TE
QB
RB
X
FS
#18 Christian Ramsey (5-9, 175 Jr.) # 19 Rossie Grimes (6-2, 180 Fr.) #19 Rossie Grimes (6-2, 180, Fr.) # 30 Kiesen Lindsey (6-1, 185, Fr.) #29 Tyler Smith (6-0, 185, Fr.) # 10 Jeffrey Carter (6-1, 180, Jr.)
Y
SS
Z
CB
SPECIALISTS K
#45 Lorcan Ryans (5-9, 210, Fr.) #17 Ryan Duff (6-0, 185, Sr.) #48 Josiah Fuentes (5-11, 195, Fr.) 17 Ryan Duff (6-0, 185, Sr.)
P
LS H
TUSKEGEE UNIV. ROSTER
No. Name
Pos Ht WR 5-9 LB 6-2 QB 6-3 LB 6-1 QB 6-4
Wt Cl Hometown/Previous School 170 Sr. Montgomery, Ala. /Sidney Lanier 215 So. Fairburn, Ga. /Creekside HS 193 Sr. Lithonia, Ga. /Arabia Mountain HS 200 So. Tallahassee, Fla. /Gadsden County 205 R-Jr. Evergreen, Ala. /Alabama State
No. Name
Pos Ht
Wt Cl Hometown/Previous School 340 R-Fr.Atlanta, Ga. /Westlake HS
0 Noah Hart 1 Vincent Hill
77 Chancellor Holloman OL 6-5
78 Justin Bryant
OL 6-2
295 Fr.
2 Bryson Williams 3 Malik Moore 4 Ryan Nettles
80 Jonathan Montrevil WR 6-0
175 Jr. Miami, Fla. / Miami Edison HS 200 So. Hoover, Ala./Alabama A&M 210 Sr. LaGrange, Ga. /LaGrange, HS 180 R-Jr. Lithonia, Ga. /Arabia Mountain HS
81 Malik Thomas 82 Jordan Ogletree 83 Keynon Webb 84 Gregory King Jr. 84 Justin Stith 85 Rashad Sager 86 Reggie Brigman
WR 6-3 WR 6-4 WR 6-0 TE 6-4 WR 6-3 WR 6-2
5 Mikael King
DB 5-10 175 So. Tuskegee, Ala. / Booker T. Washington
6 DeJuan McGhee WR 5-10 175 Fr. Adamsville, Ala. /Minor HS 7 Karon Taylor RB 5-9 175 So. Claxton, Ga./Kentucky Christian 9 Christopher Roberson QB 6-0 175 Jr. McComb, Miss. /SW Mississippi CC 10 Drelon Monroe QB 6-2 205 R-Jr. Prairieville, La. /SUSLA CC 11 Stanley LivingstoneDB 6-0 180 Sr. Carson, Calif. /San Jose State 12 Corey Petty WR 5-11 187 So. Warner Robins, Ga./Warner Robins 13 Deondre Harvey TE 6-1 235 Gr. Douglasville, Ga. /Miles 14 Grantis Poole WR 5-8 175 R-Sr.Hollywood, Fla./Alabama State 15 Antonio Meeks WR 6-2 190 So. Lilburn, Ga. / Shiloh High School 16 Malik Davis QB 6-0 200 Sr. Apopka, Fla./Gardner-Webb 17 Ryan Duff P 6-0 185 Sr. Mobile, Ala. / Spanish Fort HS 18 Christian Ramsey DB 5-9 175 Jr. Carrolton, Ga. / Carrolton HS 19 Rossie Grimes DB 6-2 180 Fr. Stockbridge, Ga. / Stockbridge HS 20 Zelly Aldridge DB 6-0 180 So. Gallion, Ala. /North Alabama 21 Chase Sellers RB 5-9 180 So. Lawrenceville, Ga. / Archer HS 22 Marcus Lodge WR 6-2 170 Gr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / Miles 23 Zina Mulbah RB 5-10 200 Fr. Atlanta, Ga. / Westlake HS 24 Cedric Paymon LB 6-1 220 Sr. Montgomery, Ala. /Samford 25 Jude Servius DB 5-10 170 So. Miami, FL / Immaculata La Salle HS 26 Javieon Miller LB 6-0 230 Fr. Fairburn, Ga. / Creekside HS 27 Johnny Morris RB 5-9 190 So. Spanish Fort, Ala. / Spanish Fort HS 28 Tykoyo Barnett DB 5-9 160 Fr. Mobile, Ala. / Murphy HS 29 Tyler Smith DB 6-0 175 Fr. Dallas, Ga. / Paulding County HS 30 Keisen Lindsey DB 6-1 185 Fr. Lineville, Ala. / Clay Central HS 31 Anthony Scott LB 6-3 225 Sr. Montgomery, Ala./Alabama State 32 Kaquan Kimber LB 5-11 205 Fr. Fairburn, Ga. / Creekside HS 33 Masiah Wells DL 6-1 230 So. Jacksonville, Fla. / Lee HS 34 Kristian Graham DB 5-9 165 Fr. Dallas, Ga. / Allatoonna HS 35 Jayden Barfield DL 6-2 225 Gr. New Orleans, La. /Alcorn State 36 Jaden Campbell DB 6-0 175 Fr. Mobile, Ala. / Baker HS 37 Desmond LeveretteRB Fr. 38 Jovin Hunter DB 6-0 195 Jr. Eufaula, Ala. / Eufaula HS 39 Jeray Mott Jr. DB 6-0 165 Fr. Portland, Ore. / Jefferson HS 39 Will Stokes RB 5-9 165 R-Fr.Madison, Ala./Alabama State 40 Tyler Wells DL 6-1 235 Jr. Clinton, MI / Chippewa Valley HS 41 Jeffrey Kimochu RB 6-0 215 Fr. Alabaster, Ala. / Thompson HS 42 Kameron GatewoodRB6-0 195 Fr. Athens, Ala. / Athens HS 43 Octavious Gay LB 6-0 215 Fr. Opelika, Ala. / Opelika HS 44 Jeremy Dees DL 6-1 250 R-Sr.Evergreen, Ala./Kennesaw State 45 Lorcan Ryans K 5-9 210 So. Limerick, Ireland /Stroud College 46 Shawn Cross II LB 5-11 205 R-Jr. Birmingham, Ala. /Ramsay HS 47 Antonio Knight Jr. DB 6-0 180 So. Madison, Miss. /East Mississippi CC 48 Josiah Fuentes LS 5-11 195 Fr. Oxnard, Calif. /Oxnard HS 49 Noah Holton DB 6-3 190 Fr. Snellville, Ga. /Brookwood HS 52 Jaylen Williams DL Fr. 53 Joshua Lee LB 6-1 200 Fr. Phenix City, Ala. / Cent Phenix City 54 LaShun Mays LB 6-0 210 Fr. Jacksonville, Fla. / Parker HS / 55 Lance Watkins DL 6-2 275 Fr. Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern HS 56 Jarell Culberth DL 6-2 295 Jr. Atlanta, Ga. /West Florida 57 Cameron Watkins LB 6-1 230 Fr. Harvest, Ala. /Sparkman HS 58 Elliott Howell OL 6-3 275 Jr. Atlanta, Ga. /Arabia Mountain HS 59 William Johnson DL 6-3 225 Fr. Tucker, Ga. /Tucker HS 60 Jamel Stanley OL 6-2 290 So. Quincy, Fla. /Gadsden HS 63 Luis Bodden OL 6-1 305 So. Miami, Fla. /LaSalle HS 64 Paul Adetona OL 6-3 330 Fr. Marietta, Ga. /Wheeler HS 65 Shaun Stitten OL 6-5 360 Jr. Birmingham, Ala. /Ramsay HS 66 Lebron Merriweather OL 6-2 305 Fr. Montgomery, Ala. /Carver HS 68 Jalen Franks OL 6-0 280 Jr. Mendehall, Miss. /Pearl River CC 69 Damion Clark OL 6-3 295 So. Snellville, Ga./South Gwinnett HS 70 Jaylin Walton OL 6-2 330 Fr. Carrollton, Ga. / Carrollton HS 71 Brendon Arrington OL 6-3 285 Fr. Montgomery, Ala. /Pike Road HS 72 Grant Smith OL Fr. 74 Yvontae McKitchen OL 6-4 320 Fr. Montgomery, Ala. / Robert E. Lee HS
250 Jr. Trenton, N.J. /Nassau CC
WR 5-10 165 Fr. Orlando, Fla. / Dr. Phillip HS
195 Fr. Birmingham, Ala./Jackson-Olin HS
175 Fr. Kennesaw, Ga. /Harrison HS 87 Brennan Maye-Jordan WR 5-10 175 R-Fr.Prichard, Ala. /Vigor HS 87 Gabriel Shell TE 6-2 241 Jr. Abbeville, Ala. /Abbeville HS 88 Latrevien O’Neal TE 6-1 225 Sr. Notasulga, Ala. / Reeltown HS 89 Johnny Gilbert TE 6-4 253 Jr. Atlanta, Ga. /Mars Hill 90 Terence Maize DL 6-0 295 So. Detroit, Mich. /MLK HS 93 Caleb Harrell DT 6-2 300 So. Gardendale, Ala. /Southern 94 Kameron Stokes DL 6-3 265 Fr. Millbrook, Ala. / Stanhope-Elmore HS 95 Elijah Miranda DL 6-1 260 R-Jr. Dorchester, Mass. /Rhode Island 97 Deondre Chatmon DL 6-3 240 Fr. Albany, Ga. / Westover HS / 98 Tydarrious Wells LB 6-2 225 Fr. Evergreen, Ala. / Hillcrest-Evergreen 99 Trevor Vines DL 6-3 290 So. Lafayette, Ala. /Alcorn State
TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY
Tuskegee University near the University Chapel. Robert R. Moton was president of Tuskegee from 1915 to 1935. Under his leadership, the Tuskegee Veteran’s Administration Hospital was created on land donated by the Institute. The Tuskegee V.A. Hospital, opened in 1923, was the first and only staffed by Black professionals. Dr. Moton was succeeded in 1935 by Dr. Frederick D. Patter- son. Dr. Patterson oversaw the establishment of the School of Veterinary Medicine at Tuskegee. Today, nearly 75 percent of Black veterinarians in America are Tuskegee graduates. Dr. Patterson also brought the Tuskegee Air¬men flight training program to the Insti- tute. The all-Black squadrons of Tuskegee Airmen were highly decorated World War II combat veterans and forerunners of the modern day Civil Rights Movement. Dr. Patterson is also credited with founding the United Negro College Fund, which to date has raised more than $1 billion for student aid. Dr. Luther H. Foster became president of Tuskegee Institute in 1953. Dr. Foster led Tuskegee through the transfor¬mational years of the Civil Rights Move- ment. Student action, symbolized by student martyr and SNCC member Sammy Younge, as well as legal action represented by Gomillion v. Lightfoot (1960), attests to Tuskegee ’s involvement in The Movement. The fifth president, Dr. Benjamin F. Payton, began his tenure in 1981. Under his lead- ership, the Tuskegee University National Center for Bioethics in Re¬search and Health Care and the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site were launched. The General Daniel “Chappie” James Center for Aerospace Science and Health Education was con- structed - the largest athletic arena in the SIAC at the time. The Kellogg Conference Center, one of 12 worldwide, was com¬pleted as a renovation and expansion of his- toric Dorothy Hall. Tuskegee attained University status in 1985 and has since begun offering its first doc- toral programs in integrative biosciences and materials science and engineering. The College of Business and Information Sciences was established and professionally ac- credited, and the College of Engineering, Architecture and Physical Sciences was ex- panded to include the only Aerospace Engineer¬ing department at an HBCU at the time. On August 1, 2010, Dr. Charlotte P. Morris assumed the role of Interim Pres¬ident of the University. She is the first female to serve at the helm of Tuskegee University, and became the second Interim President for the institution. On November 1, 2010, Dr. Gilbert L. Rochon became the sixth president of Tuskegee University. On October 19, 2013, Dr. Matthew Jenkins was named as the Acting President of Tuskegee University. On June 15, 2014, Dr. Brian L. Johnson became the 7th Tuskegee University President and served until June 30, 2017. Dr. Charlotte P. Morris again served as Interim Presi- dent from July 1, 2017 until June 30, 2018. On July 1, 2018, Dr. Lily D. McNair took the helm as the 8th President of Tuskegee University. Dr. Charlotte P. Morris was selected to serve as the ninth president of Tuskegee University. The Tuskegee University Board of Trustees proudly made the announcement that interim President Dr. Charlotte P. Morris was elected the ninth president of Tuskegee University, effective August 1, 2021. Dr. Charlotte P. Morris will be the second-ever female President of the University, fol- lowing her predecessor Dr. Lily McNair. At the time of Washington’s death, there were 1,500 students, a $2 million endowment, 40 trades, (we would call them majors today), 100 fully-equipped buildings, and about 200 faculty. From 30 adult students in a one room shanty, we have today grown to more than 3,000 students on a campus (the main campus, farm and forest land) that includes some 5,000 acres and more than 70 buildings. Dedicated in 1922, the Booker T. Washington Monument, called “Lifting the Veil,” stands at the center of campus. The inscription at its base reads, “He lifted the veil of ignorance from his people and pointed the way to progress through education and industry.” For Tuskegee, the process of unveiling is continuous and lifelong.
Welcome to Tuskegee University- “the pride of the swift, growing south.” Founded in a one room shanty, near Butler Chapel AME Zion Church, thirty adults represented the first class - Dr. Booker T. Washington the first teacher. The founding date was July 4, 1881, authorized by House Bill 165. We should give credit to George Campbell, a former slave owner, and Lewis Adams, a former slave, tinsmith and community leader, for their roles in the founding of the University. Adams had not had a day of formal education but could read and write. In addition to being a tinsmith, he was also a shoemaker and harness-maker. And he could well have been experienced in other trades. W. F. Foster was a candidate for re-election to the Alabama Senate and approached Lewis Adams about the support of African-Americans in Macon County. What would Adams want, Foster asked, in exchange for his (Adams) securing the black vote for him (Foster). Adams could well have asked for money, secured the support of blacks voters and life would have gone on as usual. But he didn’t. Instead, Adams told Foster he wanted an educational institution - a school - for his people. Col. Foster carried out his promise and with the assistance of his colleague in the House of Repre- sentatives, Arthur L. Brooks, legislation was passed for the establishment of a “Negro Normal School in Tuskegee.” A $2,000 appropriation, for teachers’ salaries, was authorized by the legisla¬tion. Lewis Adams, Thomas Dryer, and M. B. Swanson formed the board of commissioners to get the school organized. There was no land, no buildings, no teachers only State legisla- tion authorizing the school. George W. Campbell subsequently replaced Dryer as a commissioner. And it was Campbell, through his nephew, who sent word to Hampton Institute in Virginia looking for a teacher. Booker T. Washington got the nod and he made the Lewis Adams dream hap¬pen. He was principal of the school from July 4, 1881, until his death in 1915. He was not 60 years old when he died. Initial space and building for the school was provided by Butler Chapel AME Zion Church not far from this present site. Not long after the founding, however, the campus was moved to “a 100 acre abandoned plantation” which became the nucleus of the present site. Tuskegee rose to national prominence under the leadership of its founder, Dr. Wash- ington, who headed the institution from 1881 until his death at age 59 in 1915. During his tenure, institutional independence was gained in 1892, again through legislation, when Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute was granted authority to act indepen- dent of the state of Alabama. Dr. Washington, a highly skilled organizer and fund-raiser, was counsel to American Presidents, a strong advocate of Negro business, and instrumental in the development of educational institutions throughout the South. He maintained a lifelong devotion to his institution and to his home - the South. Dr. Washington is buried on the campus of
TUSKEGEE UNIV. PRESIDENT
Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges as a visit- ing peer review team member. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Southern Education Foundation and the Ala¬bama School of Cyber Technology and Engi- neering. A native of Kosciusko, Missis¬sippi, Morris completed a bach¬elor’s degree in business educa¬tion at Jackson State University, a master’s degree in business administration and manage¬ment at Delta State University, and a Ph.D. degree in educa¬tion and business management from Kansas State University. She has completed additional graduate-level coursework at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education’s Institute for Educational Management, higher education administration coursework at Southern Illinois University-Carbon¬dale, and summer institutes in curric- ulum develop¬ment in higher education. A resident of Montgomery, Alabama, since 1983, Morris is a Golden Life Member of the Montgomery Alumnae Chap- ter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a member and for- mer president of the Agnes J. Lewis Women’s Club, and a member of the Lilly Missionary Baptist Church, where she serves on the usher board, as a Sunday School teacher, and as a member of the missions’ circle. She also holds mem- bership in the Tuskegee Chapter of The Links, Inc. Addi- tionally, she holds/has held membership in the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society in Business, the Golden Key National Honor Society, the National Council of Negro Women, and the American Council on Education. Among Morris’ accolades are membership in Leader¬ship Montgomery’s Class XXIX, Tuskegee Universi¬ty’s Distin- guished Administrative Staff Achievement Award, Bush Foundation Fellow, Service Award from the Charles Stew- art Mott Foundation, and inclusion in the 1992 edition of Who’s Who Worldwide. Upon completion of undergradu- ate studies, she received the “I Dare You” Award for leader- ship qualities. Morris was married to the late Dr. William R. Morris and is the parent of one adult son.
Dr. Charlotte P. Morris began her current tenure as Tus- kegee University’s 9th president on August 1, 2021. Her 30-plus-year tenure at Tuskegee has included numerous leadership and faculty appointments at the college and uni- versity levels. Her most recent prior appoint¬ment on No- vember 1, 2020, as interim president was her third appoint- ment to the university’s top post— the first having been in 2010 following the retire¬ment of President Benjamin F. Payton. Morris began her tenure at Tuskegee University in 1984 as a faculty member of the now Andrew F. Brim¬mer College of Business and Information Science. In 1987, she began serving as executive associate/chief of staff to the university president and secretary to the university’s Board of Trust- ees — duties she faithfully performed for 23 years. During the last eight years in that position, she also served as the director of the uni¬versity’s Title III program and as chair of the universi¬ty’s Convocations and Special Events Com- mittee. After concluding her first appointment as interim president, Morris returned to the Brimmer College, where she served as associate dean and professor of management — until appointed as the college’s interim dean in 2016 upon the retirement of Dean Tejinder Sara. Morris’ early career experience includes teaching appoint- ments at Trenholm State Community College and Kansas State University. Other higher education experience in- cludes serving as program associate for planning, manage- ment, and evaluation at Mississippi Valley State University. In 2011, she was appointed by the Southern Association of
TUSKEGEE UNIV. ATHLETIC DIR.
“We are excited to see the return of Reginald Ruffin to Tuskegee,” said President Charlotte P. Morris. “He has proven himself a leader in SIAC football, and we look forward to him taking our program to the next level.” Ruffin returns to Tuskegee after completing one of the most success- ful decades in the history of Miles College and the Southern Intercol- legiate Athletic Conference. In nine seasons at the helm of the Gold- en Bears, Ruffin has led the program to four SIAC championships and an additional SIAC Championship game appearance. The school has also made two NCAA postseason appearances. Over nine seasons, Ruffin has won more than 60 percent of his games, going 59-39 over- all, and was named SIAC Coach of the Year three times. Ruffin spent five seasons at Tuskegee as the defensive coordinator and linebacker coach from 2006-2010. As defensive coordinator at Tus- kegee, Ruffin had the SIAC (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Con- ference) top scoring, pass, and rushing defense in 2007. His team’s defense finished second in scoring and among the leaders in most de- fensive categories in 2008 and posted the league’s top defense in 2009. Before his first stint with the Golden Tigers in 2002- 2003, he served as athletic director and head football coach at Choctaw County High School in Butler, Alabama. Other stops included times at West Geor- gia, his alma mater, North Alabama, and Jackson High School in Jackson, Alabama. Ruffin is a 1998 graduate of the University of North Alabama and holds a Master’s degree in Education Administration from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. During his playing days at the UNA, he became the Lions’ second three-time All-Ameri¬can and is the only Lion to be named All-America at two different positions: a defen¬sive end in 1995 and 1996 and a lineback- er in 1997. A four-year starter, he established a school record with 34 career sacks and the school single-season sack record with 11 in 1994. During his career, the Lions went 43-9 and won two Division II National Championships. In 2020, he was inducted into the UNA Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1994, Ruffin was selected Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year. In 1995, he was selected first-team All-Gulf South Conference, first-team CoSIDA NCAA Division II All-South Region, third-team Co¬SIDA NCAA Division II All- American, third-team C. M. Frank All-American, and honorable mention Foot¬ball Gazette All-Amer- ican in 1996. Ruffin was selected second-team All-American in 1996 by the Associated Press, CoSIDA, Football Gazette, and All-Gulf South Conference and first-team CoSIDA All-South Region. In 1997, he was selected first-team All-American by the Associated Press, Football Gazette, American Foot¬ball Coaches Association, and sec- ond-team All-Ameri¬can pick by Daktronics as a linebacker. Ruffin is married to the former Eleanor McCollum, is the father of one son, Gabriel and one daughter Eleiona Key.
Reginald Ruffin, who has more than two decades of experience as a coach and administrator in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, was named the Director of Athletics at Tuskegee Uni- versity on Dec. 21, 2021. He later stepped down from coaching after the 2022 season to focus solely on administration. Ruffin spent the previous 10 years at Miles, most recently as the athletic director and head football coach. Ruffin hit the ground running in his role as Tuskegee’s athletic direc- tor and head coach as he immediately resurrected the football pro- gram, leading the Golden Tigers to an 8-3 record, eclipsing the 700 all-time win mark for the program, and reaching the SIAC Cham- pionship Game in his lone year at the helm. Ultimately, he named Tuskegee graduate Aaron James as the 18th head football coach in January of 2023. Throughout Cohen’s first 15 months at Tuskegee, 11 of 12 reached conference postseason play, while three programs advanced to their respective national tournaments, highlighted by both men and wom- en’s basketball making the NCAA South Regional Tournament, and softball also going to the South Regional Tournament for the second straight year. Men’s basketball advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tour- nament for the third time in the last four postseasons, and baseball hosted back-to-back regionals for the first time in program history. Also notably, Ruffin has played a major role in the facility upgrade and advancement project, which began in 2022, that included work on the Cleve Abbott Memorial Alumni Stadium, Daniel “Chappie” James Arena, Pepsico Tennis Courts, TU Softball Field and Wash- ington Field. Ruffin’s appointment comes at a crucial time as the athletics depart- ment prepares for the upcoming football recruiting season. Ruffin’s leadership will allow Tuskegee to get off to a quick start this spring.
TUSKEGEE UNIV. HEAD COACH
in 2016. His final year at Miles, the offense averaged better than 28 points per game in 2019 while going 9-3 en route to a conference championship and D2 playoff berth. James brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the coaching staff, after serving as former quarterbacks coach at Lane College. His career also includes a stay at Clark Atlanta as their quarterback coach and a graduate assis- tant at his alma mater, Tuskegee, and an assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Bullock County High School. James was a star quarterback for Tuskegee from 1998- 2001, where he compiled an impressive record of 42-5 as a starter. He has the most wins of any signal-caller in Golden Tigers history. He won three SIAC championships during his career, led the Golden Tigers to a 12-0 sea- son and HBCU National Championship in 2000, was an All-Conference selection after the 2001 season and played professionally for the Alabama Lighting of the NAFL in 2004, where he led the league in passing yards and touch- downs. His 91-yard touchdown run record from scrim- mage is atop the Golden Tigers list. James is a native of Pritchard, Alabama and a graduate of Tuskegee, where he holds a Bachelor’s degree in History. He is married to Rosie James and he has two daughters, Erin Morrissette and Layla James.
Aaron James was named the 18th head football coach in Tuskegee program history in January of 2023. A 2022 participant in the NFL Coaching Academy, James returns to his alma mater after a year as the offensive coor- dinator at Bethune-Cookman. With the Wildcats, James coached tight end standout Kemari Averett, who earned All-SWAC First Team, AFCA/FCS Coaches All-Ameri- can First Team, Stats Perform FCS All-American Second Team, and HERO All-American Second Team honors. Prior to his stop in the SWAC, James spent nine years at SIAC conference member Miles where he served as the offensive coordinator, a role he was in for three years with the Golden Bears before serving as the quarterback coach for eight of the nine seasons, along with seving as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator previously. During his time with the Golden Bears, James coached 24 players who earned All-SIAC honors in his nine seasons, including 12 First Team and 12 Second Team honorees. Running back Justin Hardy highlighted the honorees by winning SIAC MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and earning First Team honors in 2017. James has also been a part of four SIAC championship squads, in 2011, 2015, 2018, and 2019, while also coaching on the 2012 team that made Miles’ first-ever Division II playoff appearance. He was instrumental in helping quar- terback David Whipple earn First Team All-SIAC honors
TUSKEGEE UNIV. ASST. COACHES
KELVIN POWELL Asst. Head Coach Linebackers
RASHAD WATSON Defensive Coordinator Safeties
LAWRENCE SAMUELS Tight Ends
FRED ELLIS Offensive Line
CLINTON SMITH JR. Wide Receivers Dir. of Football Ops
JAMES THOMPSON Runnings Backs Recruiting Coordinator
TRAVIS CARSWELL Quarterbacks
DeMARCO McNEIL Defensive Line
KEN WATSON Cornerbacks
the siac
current Ravens wide receiver/kick returner Jacoby Jones, who scored two touchdowns in the game. Jones highlights an impressive roster of former SIAC student-athletes playing in the league. Overall, the conference has produced more than 300 NFL players. The SIAC is also home to football coaching legends Alonzo “Jake” Gaither and Cleveland Leigh “Major” Abbott. Gaither posted a 203-36-4 record (.835) and guided Florida A&M to six black college national championships, coupled with 22 SIAC titles during his 25-year tenure as head coach. Cleve Abbott coached all sports at Tuskegee during his 32 years at the school from 1923-1955. During this time, he won 11 SIAC football championships and seven black college national championships. Abbott’s teams were frontrunners in the conference during the 1920’s, posting six undefeated seasons while winning 46 consecutive games. From 1936-56, Abbott coached track and field, winning 25 of the 36 national AAU Championships in which his Tigers teams participated. The SIAC’s renowned history extends to the hardwood, as two of the first four blacks selected to play in the NBA were from the conference. Some of the former stars, who have enjoyed success in the NBA include: Florida A&M’s Nate “Sweetwater” Clifton and Clemon Johnson, in addition to the Jones brothers - Caldwell, Charles, Major and Wilbert of Albany State. The late Ed Adams was a member of the 1934 Tuskegee squad that won the inaugural SIAC basketball tournament championship. Adams would later became a coach, spending 23 sea- sons leading Tuskegee to 645 wins, posting an .811 winning percentage while becoming the first black basketball coach to win 500 games. Former Temple University head coach John Chaney began his basketball career at Bethune-Cookman, where he scored more than 3,500 points and led the Wildcats to an SIAC Championship in the late 1950’s. Long-time Fort Valley State women’s basketball head coach Lonnie Bartley became the all-time winningest black college women’s basket¬ball coach in 2012 after 28 seasons at the helm. Both Chaney and Bartley are 2014 SIAC Hall of Fame inductees. The SIAC has also made significant footprints on a global scale in track and field. In 1948, Alice Coachman became the first black woman to win a gold medal as she captured the gold in the high jump at the London Games. At the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, Tus¬kegee graduate Barbara Jacket, was an Olympic coach with the track and field team. In 1996, Ben- edict College graduate Dr. Leroy T. Walker became the first African-American appointed President of the United States Olympic committee. Other Olympic notables are: Catherine Hardy of Fort Valley State (1st place in the 400 meter relay in 1952); Mildred McDaniel of Tuskegee (1st place in the high jump in 1956); Bob Hayes of Florida A&M (1st place in the 100 meter dash in 1964); Jearl Miles-Clark of Alabama A&M (1st Place 4x400 meter in 1996 and 2000), Dannette Young (1st place in the 400 meter relay in 1998) and Edwin Moses of Morehouse (1st place in the 400 meter hurdles in 1976 and 1984) who went 10 years without a loss in hurdle competition. One of the greatest tennis players of All-Time, Althea Gibson of Florida A&M, competed in the SIAC. In 1957, Gibson became the first black to win a singles title at Wimbledon and is now a member of the National Tennis Hall of Fame. The conference has also achieved a level of success in baseball, which includes a World Series MVP. Donn Clendenon, an alumnus of Morehouse, was named the MVP of the 1969 World Series as a member of the New York Mets. Florida A&M’s Andre Dawson, formerly of the Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs, became the first player from the con¬ference inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Both Clendenon and Dawson are 2014 SIAC Hall of Fame inductees. Others making history in baseball include Bill Lucas, another alumni of Florida A&M, who became MLB’s first black general manager with the Atlanta Braves in 1978 after his playing career. The SIAC concluded a banner year in 1993 as member institutions competed for NCAA Di- vision II Championships in eight different sports. Albany State made its first trip to the play- offs after posting an 11-0 season; Alabama A&M’s women’s outdoor track and field team won their second consecutive National Championship, while their men’s outdoor team finished 10th in the nation; A&M’s men’s and women’s indoor track and field team both finished in the top five in the country while their cross country team won the southeastern regional title and finished eighth at nationals; A&M’s men’s and women’s basketball squads each made the playoff appearances. The SIAC is also home to both the longest running rivalry and the winningest team in black college football. Morehouse and Tuskegee have met 117 times since their inaugural contest in 1902. Tuskegee’s football program has recorded more than 650 victories - first among Historically Black Colleges and Universities All SIAC member institutions have a rich athletic history. They rely heavily on past leader- ship to help them face today’s challenges as they continue their quest to excel in collegiate athletics.
The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) was founded in 1913 and today, more than 100 years later, the conference remains one of the nation’s most viable forces in intercollegiate athletics. On December 30, 1913, representatives of the following institutions met at Morehouse College to consider the regulations of intercollegiate athletics among black colleges in the southeast: Alabama State University, Atlanta University, Clark College, Fisk University, Jack- son College, Morehouse Col¬lege, Morris Brown College, Talladega College and Tuskegee Institute. The representatives formed a permanent organization (The Southeastern Intercol- legiate Athletic Conference) which has had a continuous history to the present. In 1929, they changed the name of this organization to The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Two institutions have held continuous membership in the conference: Clark College (now Clark Atlanta University) and Tuskegee University. Other institutions which have held mem- bership are Alabama A&M University, Allen University, Benedict College, Bethune-Cook- man University, Edward Waters College, Fisk University, Florida A&M University, Jackson State University, Knoxville College, Morris Brown College, Rust College, Savannah State University, South Carolina State University, Tennessee State Uni¬versity and Xavier Univer- sity. In 2019-2020 season, the league will add Savannah State University as their fourteenth official member. The present membership is composed of fifteen different institutions in seven states (Ala- bama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, South Carolina and Tennessee): Albany State Uni- versity, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta Universi- ty, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University. The SIAC is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and partic- ipates on the Division II level. Annually, the SIAC sponsors seven men’s champion¬ships (baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, outdoor track & field and tennis) and six women’s championships (basketball, cross country, outdoor track & field, softball, tennis and volleyball). As the second oldest historically black college and university athletic conference, the SIAC has one of the most storied histories in all of the NCAA. Many of the conference’s former athletes and coaches have transcended to larger-than-life characters that continue to be monumental in the world of sports. Furthermore, the chronicles of many SIAC programs are have been vital to the foundation of American society. SIAC schools are known for being staunch competitors, where many have flourished to the realms of national and global celebrity. As a whole, the conference has staked its claim to more than 50 team and individual national championships. In 1978, Florida A&M became the first black college to win a NCAA Football National Championship on any level when they defeat Massachusetts, 35-28, in the inaugural NCAA I-AA Champion¬ship Game. The SIAC has a rich history on the gridiron, as some of the biggest names in college and professional sports began their careers in the conference. Headlining the list are Pro Football Hall of Famers “Bullet” Bob Hayes (Florida A&M), David “Deacon” Jones (South Carolina State), Larry Little (Bethune-Cookman), Shannon Sharpe (Savannah State), John Stallworth (Alabama A&M) and Rayfield Wright (Fort Valley State). Former Tuskegee legend Ben Stevenson, legendary Florida A&M football coach Jake Gaither, Fort Valley State’s all-time winningest head football coach Douglass Porter, Florida A&M’s Tyrone McGriff and Willie “Gallopin Gall” Gailmore are enshrined in the College Foot¬ball Hall of Fame. Fort Valley State alums Greg Lloyd, a former All-Pro for the Pittsburgh Steelers and recent inductee into the SIAC Hall of Fame, along with Tyrone Poole, a two-time Super Bowl Champion for the New England Patriots, are members of the NCAA Division II Football Hall of Fame. Former Morehouse All-SIAC quarterback Jerome Boger has established himself as a top tier NFL official, recently serving as the head official for Superbowl XLVII between the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers. Playing a key role in that same contest was Lane alum and
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software