Up Next
HBCUs snag top three-star athletes on national football signing day
Southern, Howard, Grambling and Alcorn State bringing in lots of talent

College football national signing day is done, and players, coaches and schools hope the signings will usher in a new regime of top-ranked historically black college and university (HBCU) athletes who will leave their mark on the football field.
Southwestern Athletic Conference
Southern University
Southern led the pack for the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), signing seven three-star athletes.
It looks to be part of a strategy for coach Dawson Odums, who hopes to get the Jaguars back in the SWAC title game in 2019, to go after transfers who had previously signed with NCAA Power 5 schools.
- 6-foot-3-inch wide receiver Kiaeem Green, of Warren Easton Charter High School in New Orleans.
Welcome the newest Jag!!! WR Kiaeem Green @kiaeemg_13, from New Orleans, LA @easton_football #NSD #GoJagshttps://t.co/nSsc7IdQYW pic.twitter.com/ieOaQgUbXt
— Steve Adams (@CoachSteveAdams) February 6, 2019
- 5-foot-11-inch cornerback Tyruss Gayden of West Jefferson High School in Harvey, Louisiana.
Welcome the newest Jag!!! CB Tyruss Gayen @tyrusss1, from West Jefferson High School @WestJeff_FB #NSD #GoJagshttps://t.co/evZTUwVDNZ pic.twitter.com/p5B6tU9FOK
— Steve Adams (@CoachSteveAdams) December 19, 2018
- 5-foot-10-inch running back Craig Nelson, a transfer from Indiana University.
Welcome the newest Jag!!! RB Craig Nelson @craignelson_, from Miami, FL / Indiana University #NSD #GoJagshttps://t.co/S7RCVs67LH pic.twitter.com/kWwCFizeyr
— Steve Adams (@CoachSteveAdams) February 6, 2019
- 5-foot-10-inch defensive back OJ Tucker, a transfer from Iowa State University.
Welcome the newest Jag!!! DB OJ Tucker @DatDude_Tuckk, from Ocala, FL / Iowa State University #NSD #GoJagshttps://t.co/x6WDdKvqso pic.twitter.com/8qzSnriOz6
— Steve Adams (@CoachSteveAdams) February 6, 2019
5-foot-11-inch wide receiver Corey Williams of Episcopal High School in Bellaire, Texas.
Welcome the newest Jag!!! WR Corey Williams Jr @CoreyWilliams_5, from Bellaire, TX Episcopal High School #NDS #GoJagshttps://t.co/RoE63NdJcO pic.twitter.com/axmpPBV6NJ
— Steve Adams (@CoachSteveAdams) February 6, 2019
- 6-foot safety Bertrand Carrell, of Madison Prep Academy in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Welcome the newest Jag!!! Safety Bertrand Carrell @rackedduppbert, from Baton Rouge, LA Madison Prep Academy #NSD #GoJagshttps://t.co/w6c3QzaqXt pic.twitter.com/72waxzV6Bb
— Steve Adams (@CoachSteveAdams) February 6, 2019
- 6-foot-5-inch defensive end Chazmyn Turner, a transfer from Purdue University.
Donal Ware, host of From the Press Box To Press Row on SiriusXM, believes that three-star athletes taking an interest in HBCUs is important and piques interest, but he’s looking for more consistency to confirm progress.
“You’ve had teams that have signed three-star players. A team that comes to mind like South Carolina State, who some years ago signed quite a few, and Tennessee State regularly signs three-star players. I don’t know if it’s a trend, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction,” Ware said.
Alcorn State
Alcorn State, SWAC’s defending champs, signed three three-stars in their class.
- 5-foot-10-inch running back Niko Duffey of Jefferson High School in Tampa, Florida.
SIGNED! Niko Duffey #FearTheBrave pic.twitter.com/Il6459tE1x
— Alcorn Sports (@BRAVESSPORTS) February 6, 2019
- 6-foot-1-inch quarterback Tevarrius Adams of Meridian High School in Meridian, Mississippi.
SIGNED! Tevarrius Adams #FearTheBrave pic.twitter.com/hspe16IA0j
— Alcorn Sports (@BRAVESSPORTS) February 6, 2019
- 6-foot-3-inch wide receiver Isaiah McKissic of Beauregard High School in Opelika, Alabama.
SIGNED! Isaiah McKissic #FearTheBrave pic.twitter.com/mwMCXy3gYv
— Alcorn Sports (@BRAVESSPORTS) February 6, 2019
Grambling State
Grambling had 13 recruits sign, including three-star wide receiver Kash Foley of Riverside Academy in Reserve, Louisiana, and 6-foot-6-inch tight end Jaye Patrick, a junior college product from College of the Desert in Palm Desert, California.
Let’s welcome to the #gramfam Wide Receiver @KashFoley #RespectTheG #grambling #gramblingstate #gramblingstateuniversity #WhyNotGrambling #gramblingiseverything #nsd19 pic.twitter.com/ShKGbUGjVl
— GSU Athletics (@GSU_TIGERS) February 6, 2019
Let’s welcome to the #gramfam Tight End @nml_jp #RespectTheG #grambling #gramblingstate #gramblingstateuniversity #WhyNotGrambling #gramblingiseverything #nsd19 pic.twitter.com/DwWZOn1cBx
— GSU Athletics (@GSU_TIGERS) February 6, 2019
Mid-eastern Athletic Conference
Howard University
Under the stewardship of new head coach Ron Prince, Howard signed 19 recruits, including four three-star prospects.
- 6-foot-1-inch cornerback Elijah Coleman of Rockwall High School in Rockwall, Texas.
Welcome to the Mecca, ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Cover Cornerback
Elijah Coleman! @Coleman21elijah #BisonBoyz |#HUuKNOW |#NSD19 🐃 pic.twitter.com/L99DDGbGnJ— HOWARD FOOTBALL (@HUBISONFOOTBALL) December 19, 2018
- 6-foot-1-inch cornerback CaSaan Dixon of I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia.
Welcome to the Mecca,
⭐⭐⭐ CB from the 757!
Casaan Dixon @iamcasaan#BisonBoyz|#HUuKNOW|#NSD19 pic.twitter.com/eDpHWlByt0— HOWARD FOOTBALL (@HUBISONFOOTBALL) December 20, 2018
- 6-foot-4-inch quarterback Quinton Williams of Dr. Henry Wise High School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
Welcome to the Mecca, ⭐️⭐️⭐️QB
Quinton Williams! @TheReal1Two #BisonBoyz |#HUuKNOW |#NSD19 🐃 pic.twitter.com/nRCp8LH9Oz— HOWARD FOOTBALL (@HUBISONFOOTBALL) December 19, 2018
- 6-foot-5-inch defensive end Deion Harry of Crete-Monee High School in Crete, Illinois.
North Carolina A&T
The Celebration Bowl champion North Carolina A&T Aggies had 15 signees, one of whom is three-star athlete and wide receiver Israel Spivey of Cedar Grove High School in Ellenwood, Georgia.
Michael Branch, DL, 6 feet, 2 inches, 300 pounds, Greensboro, North Carolina (Presbyterian College transfer/Southeast Guilford High School)
TeVaughn Higgins, TE, 6 feet, 2 inches, 225 pounds, Columbia, South Carolina. (Lower Richland High School)
KeAndre Jones, LB, 6 feet, 240 pounds, Columbia, South Carolina. (Spring Valley High School)
Lawrence Lagrone, OL, 6 feet, 3 inches, 330 pounds, Douglasville, Georgia. (Douglas County High School)
Jah-Maine Martin, RB, 5 feet, 11 inches, 210 pounds, Conway, South Carolina. (Coastal Carolina transfer/Conway High School)
Justin Nwachukwu, DL, 6 feet, 1 inch, 290 pounds, Wake Forest, North Carolina. (Northern Illinois transfer/Heritage High School)
Chance Pride, WR, 5 feet, 8 inches, 165 pounds, Taylors, South Carolina. (Eastside High School)
Michael Rivers, PK/P, 6 feet, 165 pounds, Wilmington, North Carolina. (North Brunswick High School)
Zareik Rush, OLB, 6 feet, 2 inches, 205 pounds, Greensboro, North Carolina. (Dudley High School)
Miles Simon, DB, 6 feet, 190 pounds, Lenoir, North Carolina. (Hibriten High School)
Israel Spivey, WR, 5 feet, 9 inches, 165 pounds, Ellenwood, Georgia. (Cedar Grove High School)
Joseph Stuckey, OLB, 6 feet, 210 pounds, Hillside, New Jersey. (Milford Academy/Hillside High School)
Wizdom Vaughn, WR, 5 feet, 10 inches, 170 pounds, Wilmington, North Carolina. (New Hanover High School)
Chris Williams, LB, 6 feet, 1 inch, 225 pounds, Laurinburg, North Carolina. (Scotland High School)
Tim Williams, OL, 6 feet, 3 inches, 300 pounds, Laurinburg, North Carolina. (Scotland High School)
Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M
The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats and the Florida A&M Rattlers each brought in high-profile Florida athletes in 6-foot-1 cornerback Gelique Williams of First Coast High School in Jacksonville and 6-foot linebacker Omari Fiffer of Ed White High School in Jacksonville.
Gelique Williams joins the New Breed
Jacksonville, FL ➡️ The World’s Most Famous Beach#NewBreed19 | #PreyTogether pic.twitter.com/bzkAxK9FeS
— 🏈 Bethune-Cookman FB (@BCUGridiron) February 6, 2019
Welcome to #STRIKE19 Omari Fiffer. #FANGUP #FALLIN pic.twitter.com/GCFskoDICw
— FAMU Athletics (@FAMUAthletics) February 6, 2019
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Bowie State
Bowie State head coach Damon Wilson is looking forward to the Bulldogs’ future, especially in players “like James Ballanger and Mekhi Williams,” Wilson said. Bowie signed a number of athletes and some players who have good size.
- 6-foot-5-inch tight end Jordan Griffin of Paint Branch High School in Burtonsville, Maryland.
- 6-foot-4-inch defensive end Tyshawn Blow of Deep Creek High School in Chesapeake, Virginia.
- 6-foot-4 offensive lineman Calil Brown of C.H. Flowers High School in Springdale, Maryland.
SIGNED! #BULLDOGNATION help us welcome DL James Ballanger to the family! #BSU #BULLDOGNATION #GOLDPRIDE #BITEDOWN #UNLEASH19 #HOMEGROWN pic.twitter.com/GuLlO9wWpi
— BSU Dawg Pound (@BowieStFootball) February 6, 2019
SIGNED! #BULLDOGNATION help us welcome TE Jordan Griffin to the family! #BSU #BULLDOGNATION #GOLDPRIDE #BITEDOWN #UNLEASH19 #HOMEGROWN pic.twitter.com/l8qe5bDqLy
— BSU Dawg Pound (@BowieStFootball) February 6, 2019
SIGNED! #BULLDOGNATION help us welcome DB Mekhi Williams to the family! #BSU #BULLDOGNATION #GOLDPRIDE #BITEDOWN #UNLEASH19 #HOMEGROWN pic.twitter.com/VC8HNwXue6
— BSU Dawg Pound (@BowieStFootball) February 6, 2019