Tag: Tennessee state football

Tennessee State football finds spot in postseason rankings

Brandon King

title image via SI The FCS Stats Perform Postseason Poll Rankings were announced and Tennessee State finished 19th.  Tennessee State also landed on the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) rankings, placing 19th in the polls.  In Coach Eddie George’s fourth season at the helm, Tennessee State went 9-4 this season and won a share of the Big Sputh-OVC crown, a feat the program has not achieved since L.C. Cope led the Tigers to the conference-promised land in 1999. In addition, TSU also earned a berth in the FCS Playoffs for the first time since 2013 when Rod Reed guided the program…

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Tennessee State lands former Arizona quarterback Damante

Brandon King

Tennessee State secured a commitment from former Arizona quarterback Adam Damante. After a prolific senior season in which he threw for 4,769 yards and 59 touchdowns, leading American Leadership Academy Gilbert North to the 4A State Championship game. The Gilbert, AZ native was also named a finalist for the Ed Doherty Award, which is given to the best high school football player in Arizona., committed to Northern Arizona.  As a true freshman at NAU, Damante appeared in 7 games, starting 5, completing 116 of his 168 pass attempts for 1,146…

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Tennessee State’s Draylen Ellis earns invite to NFL HBCU Combine

Brandon King

Tennessee State quarterback Draylen Ellis has been invited to the 2025 NFL HBCU Combine.  After splitting time last season in a rotation with Daveon Bryant, in which both quarterbacks were deprived of a chance to get in a rhythm, Ellis seized the quarterback position before the season started and it became evident very quickly that the work Ellis said he put in during the offseason was paying dividends. Showing poise, a command of the offense, and a consistent level of play not previously displayed in his time at Tennessee State,…

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Tennessee State’s Sanders Ellis enters the transfer portal 

Brandon King

According to Matt Zenitz and Chris Hummer of 247 Sports, Tennessee State true freshman linebacker, Sanders Ellis has entered the transfer portal. Following Micah Gay’s unfortunate season-ending elbow injury, Ellis was moved into the starting lineup and it paid immediate dividends for the Tennessee State defense. Ellis recorded 81 tackles a mark only outpaced on the team by Ahmad Nelson’s 94. Ellis also added 14 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and 3 fumble recoveries. His play this season earned Ellis a multitude of accolades, including being named Big South -OVC…

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Tennessee State’s Sanders Ellis named FCS Football Central Freshman All-American

Brandon King

For his gridiron exploits this season Tennessee State linebacker Sanders Ellis was named an FCS Football Central Freshman All-Amwrican. Thrust into a starting role when Micah Gay was sidelined for the season with an elbow injury, the Nashville, TN was an immediate impact player.  The true freshman appeared in 14 contests, recording 86 total tackles (59 solo, 27 assisted), 15.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries and 2 passes defended. Ellis was named Big South-OVC Freshman of Week 5 times on the season, with the fifth coming after…

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Trio Tennessee State players named to BOXTOROW All-American Team

Brandon King

title image via Tennessee State Football For their gridiron exploits this season, three Tennessee State players were named to the BOXTOROW All-American Team- defensive back Boogie Trotter, offensive lineman Connor Meadows, and running back and return specialist CJ Evans.  Boogie Trotter | Junior | Defensive Back The Nashville native built upon a sophomore season in which he appeared in 9 games and recorded 11 tackles (7 solo) and 1 pass defensed, by exceeding his previous production in every statistical category. Trotter appeared in 14 games this season and recorded 66…

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Tennessee State falls short in playoff matchup with Montana, 41-27

Brandon King

title image via Tennessee State Athletics Ill-timed miscues proved to be Tennessee State’s undoing as they came up short in a hard-fought 41-27 defeat to Montana in the first round of FCS Playoffs.  Montana struck first when Ty Morrison kicked a 39-yard field goal, giving the Grizzlies a 3-0 lead. Later in the quarter, Tennessee State responded with a James Lowery field goal, tying the game at 3 as time expired in the period. Montana then scored the first touchdown of the evening with a 7-yard run by Eli Gillman,…

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Tennessee State was named the HBCU+National Team of the Week

Brandon King

title image via Tennessee State Athletics Eddie George and the Tennessee State Tigers were named the HBCU+ FCS National Team of the Week. In their most recent and most important game of the season, TSU defeated Big South-OVC leader Southeast Missouri to earn a share of the conference crown. It marked the first time since 1999 that Tennessee State hoisted conference hardware.  The 9-3 overall record is the best finish to a regular season since 2013.  The win also helped vault the Tigers into the FCS Playoffs, a feat not…

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Tennessee State’s Jalen McClendon named to HBCU+ Player of the Year Watchlist

Brandon King

Tennessee State defensive back Jalen McClendon was named to the HBCU+ Player of the Year Watchlist. The award will bestowed upon the most outstanding player from the nation’s 21 Division I HBCU programs.  Providing steady, and many times stellar play in the TSU secondary, McClendon has recorded 53 tackles (45 solo) , 12 pass breakups and 1 interception in 12 games this season, several of which he has played with a broken hand.  The winner will be announced December 9 and will be invited to the Stats Perform FCS National…

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Tennessee State’s Jalen McClendon named finalist for Buck Buchanan Award

Staff

Courtesy of Tennessee State Athletics  Tennessee State senior defensive back Jalen McClendon has been named one of 35 finalists for the 2024 Buck Buchanan Award, presented to the national defensive player of the year in Division I FCS football. The award, celebrating its 30th anniversary, was announced by Stats Perform. The honor is named after legendary defensive lineman Junious “Buck” Buchanan, who starred at Grambling State during his Hall of Fame career. Past recipients include Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen, and Arthur Moats. McClendon, playing this season despite an upper-body injury…

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