Category: HBCU Sports

Jackson State’s JaCobian Morgan named Phil Steele SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, over a dozen JSU players named to Preseason All-Conference Teams

Staff

Courtesy of Jackson State Athletics: Jackson State had 13 players named to 16 spots on the Phil Steele Preseason All-Conference Team released on Friday, including the offensive player of the year and nine first team positions. JaCobian Morgan was named First Team quarterback and the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year award after earning Offensive Most Valuable Player at the Cricket Celebration Bowl last season. The graduate student finished last season with 2,051 yards through the air on 150-of-234 passing, finishing the season 10-1 as a starter, including 10 consecutive wins.…

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Toriano Morgan Reportedly Had No Plans to Leave Edward Waters

Brandon King

Former Edward Waters head coach Toriano Morgan will be in his familiar space on the sideline on Saturday afternoon.  Coach Morgan, who in a stunning development earlier this week, abruptly resigned from his role at Edward Waters, will return to his alma mater, Tennessee State and accept a position on Reggie Barlow’s staff.  However, as much as this is a home run addition to TSU’s coaching ranks, leaving EWU may not have been in Morgan’s immediate plans.  According to Rocky Miller and Johnnie Cole of HBCU Coaches Corner, they spoke…

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Nolan Smith named Tennessee State head coach men’s basketball coach

Brandon King

Friday Tennessee State announced that the school named Nolan Smith its new men’s head basketball coach.  “Nolan Smith is a championship-caliber leader with elite playing experience, high basketball IQ, and a proven track record of developing NBA talent,” said TSU Director of Athletics Dr. Mikki Allen.  “He brings top-tier recruiting connections, a player-first approach, and a deeply authentic bond with today’s student-athletes. Shaped by some of the game’s best, Nolan will lead our program with integrity and impact on the court and in the community. Our future is in great…

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Tennessee State Places Six on Conference Watch Lists Ahead of 2025 Season

Brandon King

The OVC-Big South Football Association released its preseason watch lists for offense and defense. Amongst the student athletes to make the cut were six Tigers. Tight end Jason Hoath, who has been key in blocking and has shown ability in the passing game was named to the Association’s offensive players to watch list.  Joining him is offensive lineman Anthony Smith. He brings championship experience to a largely new offensive line whose performance will have a sizable impact on the direction of the Tigers’ season.  Junior wide receiver Delanie “Juice” Majors…

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Shannon Harris on the way to Tennessee State? 

Brandon King

According to James Larson of Pro Football Newsroom, D.C. Defenders head coach Shannon Harris is now listed as the Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach at Tennessee State University.  A trip to the football coaches page on the Tennessee State athletics website does reveal that Harris is indeed listed as the Tigers’ Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach. However, Larson adds that there has been nothing official has been indicated from either party.  Joining Coach Reggie Barlow at Tennessee State would be a return to familiar territory. Harris played quarterback for the Tigers from…

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Tennessee State Finalizing Deal to Name Nolan Smith Head Men’s Basketball Coach

Brandon King

According to college basketball insider and CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, Tennessee State is working on finalizing a deal with University of Memphis assistant coach Nolan Smith for its vacant men’s basketball position following the departure of Brian “Penny” Collins for a coaching job with the Memphis Grizzlies. Although the sides are working towards an agreement, nothing has been finalized yet, adds Rothstein.  Following a decorated collegiate career at Duke that included helping the Blue Devils take home the 2010 national championship, earning the Most Outstanding Player at the Houston Regional…

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SWAC Reveals 2025 Football TV Lineup on ESPN Platforms

Brandon King

The Southwestern Athletic Conference has unveiled their slate of games that will appear on ESPN’s linear and digital platform for the 2025 football season.  The 14-game docket kicks off with North Carolina taking on Southern in the 2025 Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge on Saturday, August 23. Other high-profile matchups that will appear on the platform includes Howard v Florida A&M in the Invesco QQQ Orange Blossom Classic ( August 30), the BoomBox Classic which features Jackson State taking on Southern (September 27), Alabama State and Alabama A&M locking horns in the…

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Norfolk State’s Tyrel Bladen inks deal with Czech basketball team 

Brandon King

Former Norfolk State basketball player TyrelBladen is continuing to ply his trade across the pond, signing a deal with SK Slavia Praha this week.  Founded in 1892, the Prague-based team competes in the National Basketball League-the Czech Republic’s most prestigious professional basketball.  Bladen began his collegiate basketball career at Rider, where he appeared in 74 games ( he missed the 2021-22 season due to injury), averaging 2.7 points and 2.2 rebounds per contest. He spent the next two seasons at Norfolk State, where the Coatesville, PA native participated in 65…

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SWAC unveils 2025 Football Preseason Honors

Brandon King

As their football media day quickly approaches, the Southwestern Athletic Conference has released its preseason honors.  Jackson State’s Jacobian Morgan was tabbed as the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year. The Syracuse transfer led the Tigers led his team to the SWAC and HBCU National Championships last season and was named Offensive MVP of the Celebration Bowl. He completed 150-234 passes in 13 games for 2,051 yards and also tossed 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, compiling a 10-1 record as a starter.  Southern defensive lineman Ckelby Given was named SWAC…

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Tennessee State Postpones Launch of Historic Hockey Program to 2026

Brandon King

In 2023 Tennessee State announced that it was planning to offer ice hockey, making TSU the first HBCU to feature the sport. Tiger hockey was initially set to drop the puck in the 2025-26 season, however, the historic inaugural season has now been pushed back to 2026-27. From Tennessee State Athletics: Tennessee State University announced today that the launch of its historic men’s hockey program will shift to the 2026-27 season. The decision, made in collaboration with the National Hockey League (NHL), the Nashville Predators, and College Hockey Inc., underscores…

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