Tag: Tennessee state football

Tennessee State’s Draylen Ellis named BOXTOROW HBCU Player of the Week

Brandon King

Tennessee State quarterback Draylen Ellis was named BOXTOROW HBCU Player of the Week. In the Tigers’ 41-28 win over Arkansas Pine Bluff in the35rg Southern Heritage Classic. Ellis completed 20 of 33 passes for 226 yards along with 3 touchdowns. Ellis’ performance garnered him the Southern Heritage Classic MVP. On the season, the reigning Big South-OVC Co-Offensive Player of the Week has completed 58 of 91 passes for 712 yards, 6 touchdowns and just a single interception.

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Tennessee State’s Ellis and Ellis earn Big South-OVC Weekly Honors

Brandon King

The Big South-OVC Football Association named its weekly honorees and a pair of Tennessee State Tigers, quarterback Draylen Ellis, and linebacker Sanders Ellis were among the recognized players. Co-Offensive Player of the Week- Draylen Ellis | Quarterback | Tennessee State  Ellis put together his second strong outing of the season. In the Tigers’ 41-28 win over Arkansas Pine Bluff in the Southern Heritage Classic, Ellis completed 20 of his 33 pass attempts for 226 yards, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions, while also running for 25 yards on 3 carries and…

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Tennessee State wins 35th Southern Heritage Classic 41-28 over UAPB

Brandon King

In front of a crowd of 27,584, The 35th Southern Heritage Classic played out very similar to the 34th iteration of the game. Tennessee State, this time powered by special teams and strong quarterback play, built a big lead early only to have to withstand a furious UAPB comeback attempt to hang on and win. Tennessee State enjoyed a 38-14 lead early in the third quarter, appearing on the path to transforming the second half into extended garage time. However, the large deficit seemed to activate UAPB’s comeback gene, as…

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Three TSU takeaways from the 25th John A. Merritt Classic

Brandon King

The Tennessee State Tigers opened the season for the first time in the Eddie George era with a victory, defeating Mississippi Valley in the 25th John A. Merritt Classic 41-21. Saturday night. As the Tigers prepare for a major step up in competition, facing the Bison of North Dakota State this Saturday, here are a few takeaways from Saturday evening. TSU appears to have their QB1 Last season Coach Eddie George and the Tigers implemented a two-quarterback system. The oscillating between signal callers Daveon Bryant and Draylen Ellis swayed back and…

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Tennessee State’s Draylen Ellis and James Lowery earn BigSout-OVC Weekly honors

Brandon King

The Big South-OVC announced their weekly football honors and two Tennessee State players garnered the weekly accolades. Quarterback Draylen Ellis was named Offensive Player of the Week and kicker James Lowery was named Special Teams Player of the Week.  Draylen Ellis | Quarterback | Tennessee State | Grad In the Tigers’ 41-21 season-opening win over Mississippi Valley in the John Merritt Classis, Ellis completed 21-of-31 passes for a career-high 356 yards and three touchdowns. In helping the Tigers surge to a 31-0 halftime lead over the Delta Devils, Ellis was…

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FAMU rallies late to down South Carolina State 22-17

Brandon King

Title image via Florida A&M football Despite being down double digits in the fourth quarter, Florida A&M rallied for two scores in the period to pull out a 22-17 home win.  South Carolina State drew first blood near the end of the first quarter, scoring on a Kyle Gallegos 35-yard field, that put the Bulldogs up 3-0. Florida A&M responded with an 11-play, 80-yard drive that ended when Daniel Richardson connected with Koby Goss on a 29-yard pass that pulled the Rattlers in front 7-3.  A missed Cameron Gillis field…

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Tennessee State defeats Mississippi Valley 41-21 in John Merritt Classic

Brandon King

title image via Tennessee State Football Tennessee State and Mississippi Valley State renewed football pleasantries in the 25th John Merritt Classic. The two schools last met in the 2019 Classic, with Tennessee State claiming a 26-20 victory. In a largely dominant, but uneven performance, as they gave up 21 points in the fourth quarter, Tennessee State was able to bring home the 25th edition of the John Merritt Classic, 41-21 over the Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State. Big plays were the order of the day for Tennessee State with…

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25th John Merritt Classic: Preview and Prediction

Brandon King

Saturday the Tigers of Tennessee State and the Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State will clash in the 25th John Merritt Classic. This will be the first meeting between the schools since the 21st John Merritt Classic, matchup that TSU won 26-20.  Mississippi Valley State Coach Kendrick Wade’s Mississippi Valley State team is coming off a 1-10 season, with their lone victory being a 42-17 thrashing of fellow SWAC cellar dweller, Arkansas Pine Bluff. Last season the Delta Devils ranked at the bottom of the Southwestern Athletic Conference in points…

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Tennessee State football places 6 on Big South-OVC Defensive Players to Watch List

Brandon King

The Big South-OVC released the 2024 Defensive Players to Watch List and six Tennessee State players were named to the list. Eriq George | Defensive Lineman| Spohomore George put together a freshman campaign in which he recorded 25 total tackles ( 13 solos, 12 assisted) 6.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. The Nashville native’s play garnered him Freshman All-America and he was also named Big South-OVC Freshman of the Year. Ahmad Nelson | Linebacker | Senior The fifth-year linebacker has appeared in 37 career games for the Tigers, appearing…

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Tennessee State lands seven on Big South-OVC Offensive Players to Watch list

Brandon King

The Big South-OVC Football Alliance named its offensive players to watch this season, and amongst that prestigious list were seven Tennessee State players. Draylen Ellis | Quarterback | Grad The 2022 Preseason All-OVC selection appeared in 11 games, making 6 starts. He threw for 1,075 yards and 5 touchdowns, completing 53% ( 103-196) of his passes, throwing for a season-high 236 yards against Lindenwood. Jordan Gant | Running Back| Redshirt Sophomore The redshirt sophomore back was the Tigers’ leading rusher last season, tallying 553 yards on 144 attempts. His season-best…

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