Tag: Tennessee state football

Tennessee State football adds Matt Leone as Offensive Coordinator

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Courtesy of Tennessee State Athletics NASHVILLE — Matt Leone has joined the Tennessee State football coaching staff as offensive coordinator for the 2026 season, bringing a proven track record of developing high-powered offenses at the FCS and NAIA levels. Leone comes to TSU after serving as offensive coordinator at North Carolina Central University, where he helped engineer one of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s most productive offenses. During the 2025 campaign, the Eagles averaged 33.75 points and 420.9 total yards per game, scoring 30 or more points in eight contests. Quarterback Walker Harris flourished…

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The rivalry is back: Tennessee State and Jackson State to get it on in the John A. Merritt Classic 

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Tennessee State and Jackson State will renew football pleasantries in the 2026 John A. Merritt Classic on Saturday, August 29 at Nissan Stadium.  The Week 0 , matchup will mark the first time the TSU and JSU have met in the Merritt Classic. The two-storied program has been getting it on since 1949, but since 1990 has primarily met in the Southern Heritage Classic, taking part in 29 of the 36 games, with the last such matchup taking place on September 10, 2022, a 16-3 win for Jackson State. Tennessee…

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Tennessee State lands former 3-star running back in transfer portal

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Former Minnesota running back Trey Berry has committed to Tennessee State, according to his social media.  Berry was a 3-star prospect coming out of Lanier High School (Montgomery, AL), where he ran for 1,962 yards and 19 touchdowns in 23 games. He was ranked the 55th-best prospect in the state of Alabama and the 127th-best running back in the country, per 247Sports.  He received offers from multiple schools including Middle Tennessee, Jacksonville State, UAB, Marshall, James Madison, Alabama State, Alcorn State, Georgia State, Jackson State, Western Illinois, Illinois State, Arkansas…

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Micah Gay headed to Jackson State

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Next season Former Tennessee State linebacker will be terrorizing offenses in the Southwestern Athletic Conference as he announced Friday afternoon he was committing to Jackson State. Gay put it on wax via a post on X that was captioned “Respect my decision” and featured a short video.  For Gay, 2025 was a breakout season that saw him record 61 total tackles (34 solo, 27 assisted), 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 2 passes defensed, and a fumble recovery.  Following this season the redshirt junior entered the transfer portal and drew…

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Tennessee State adds 9 to the fold during early signing period

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Courtesy of Nick Guerriero, Assistant AD – Communications & Broadcasting  Story Links NASHVILLE — Tennessee State football head coach Reggie Barlow signed nine student-athletes during the three-day early signing period from Dec. 3–5, adding key pieces on both sides of the ball. The Tigers brought in six offensive players and three defensive specialists as they continue to build depth and versatility across the roster. The offensive class is anchored by three linemen in junior transfer Slater Adams (6-foot-3, 325 pounds) from Quitman, Miss.; Kennedy Jackson (6-3, 290) from Murfreesboro, Tenn.; and LaRodney McQueen…

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Tennessee State’s Micah Gay enters the transfer portal 

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Tennessee State linebacker Micah Gay has hopped into the transfer portal according to his representatives Michael Salvo and Tristan Kuhn of Nilson Sports.  The redshirt junior was second in the team with 61 tackles (34 solo, 27 assisted), while also adding 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, and a fumble recovery.  The Atlanta, GA native has appeared in 28 games for Tennessee State, recording 78 total tackles ( 44 solo, 34 assisted) 4 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 2 passes defensed and 2 fumble recoveries. The October 20 Big South-OVC…

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Tennessee State’s James Stewart garners All-OVC Big South First Team honors , Veguer Jean-Juneau , Kendric Rhymes earn honorable mention

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Title image via Tennessee State Athletics Courtesy of TSU Athletics Tennessee State linebacker James Stewart has been selected to the All-OVC Big South First Team, the league announced Tuesday, capping a breakout 2025 season in which he emerged as one of the conference’s premier defensive playmakers.  Stewart finished the year with 68 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 65 TFL yards, 6 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 4 pass breakups, placing him among the conference’s top defensive performers. He ranked eighth in sacks, fifth in TFL yards, fifth in total TFLs, second…

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Tennessee State ends season with 7-6 loss at Charleston Southern

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image via Tennessee State Athletics Despite the defense holding the opponent under ten points and forcing multiple turnovers, as has been the case for the majority of the season, the Tennessee State offense was unable to capitalize on those aspects and the Tigers ended the season on a sour note, losing 7-6 to Charleston Southern.  Neither team was able to score in the first quarter, Charleston Southern came the closest to lighting up the scoreboard but was unable to convert a 37-yard field goal. It was Tennessee State who struck…

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Tennessee State falls short to Gardner-Webb 30-14

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Turnovers and a lackluster offensive performance proved to be Tennessee State’s undoing as TSU fell at home to Gardner-Webb 30-14. The Tigers stifled their winning aspirations with four turnovers and were once again unable to generate 300 yards of total offense, recording just 268 on the afternoon.  For Tennessee State, the game got off to an inauspicious start, as GWU’s Anthony Lowe returned the opening kickoff 52 yards to the TSU 45-yard line. Webb got to the Tennessee State 10-yard line but the Tigers’ defense stiffened, forcing GWU to settle…

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Tennessee State falls to UT Martin, 26-7

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title image via Tennessee State Athletics Unable to generate their own offense or stop the rushing attack of UT Martin, Tennessee State was defeated 26-7.  The Skyhawks racked up 292 yards on the ground on 53 attempts, with a pair of ball carriers each topping the 100-yard mark- Tommy Ansley ( 17-1118) and Chris Franklin ( 18-111 and 1 TD). As has been the case for the majority of the season for Tennessee State, they struggled mightily on offense, generating just 153 yards of production, including -12 yards rushing and…

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