Randall Barnes Articles - Page 14

Former South Carolina State University standout and decorated NFL veteran Shaquille Leonard returned to his alma mater on Sunday to share his insights and expertise with the current Bulldogs football team. His visit aims to inspire a new generation of players as the team gears up to defend its MEAC Conference championship in a bid […]

Former Southern University and Prairie View A&M head coach Eric Dooley is generating buzz after his recent appearance at an Edward Waters University football practice, sparking speculation about a potential role with the team. Dooley’s presence comes on the heels of a staff shakeup at the university following the departure of former head coach Toriano […]

As the college football season gets underway, Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson are set to return to the city that embraced them before they embark on their HBCU coaching journey. The former teammates, now head coaches in the MEAC, will host a press conference following the Super Bowl champions’ practice on Tuesday, August 12th. The […]

The highly anticipated football game between the North Carolina Central Eagles and the reigning MEAC Champions, the South Carolina State Bulldogs, has been moved to a national ESPN broadcast. This shift is a major development for both programs and the conference as a whole, giving the storied rivalry a significant national spotlight. The two conference […]

Shedeur Sanders had a stellar NFL debut for the Cleveland Browns after months of chatter about his shocking draft positioning and future with the team. He completed the game with 138 passing yards, two touchdowns, and a 14/23 completion rate. Shedeur Sanders on his NFL debut “I feel like today I did some good some […]

Tennessee State University has found its new president in a familiar face. Current interim president Dwayne Tucker has been officially announced as president of the institution, per a release by the university. “I thank the Board of Trustees, students, faculty, staff, and our alumni for their support as we continue this journey,” Tucker said. “My […]

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders showed off his speed early in the first quarter in the team’s first preseason game against the Carolina Panthers. While he’s not known as a runner, the former Jackson State and Colorado star certainly knows how to use his legs to extend a play, which he had to pull out on Friday […]

Even as the football season nears, Tony Carter is still loading up his inaugural Central State coaching staff with plenty 0f NFL experience. After hiring former Steelers great Santonio Holmes, Carter’s latest additions are Leon Washington as offensive coordinator and Quintin Demps as Defensive Pass Game Coordinator. Both Washington and Demps have extensive NFL experience […]

In a recent media availability at the Cincinnati Open, Aryna Sabalenka spoke about her comments about her French Open final match with Coco Gauff. The June statement following her defeat to the American tennis star dominated sports headlines coming out of the French Open, as she seemingly downplayed Gauff’s victory. While addressing the media, she […]

Florida A&M’s FAMU Foundation is seeing a staff shakeup as the school year is set to begin. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, W. Anthony Neal was compelled to step down from his dual role. He was placed on administrative leave on August 1st, though his resignation is effective on September 30th and could be shortened […]

Fresh off their SWAC Championship and Celebration Bowl victory, Jackson State finds itself regarded as one of the best teams in the FCS. Stats Perform recently revealed their FCS Top 25 list, with Jackson State being listed at #17. Their 2025 preseason ranking is higher than where they finished last season, which was at #18. […]

WWE Women’s Champion Naomi walked out of the first-ever two-night Summerslam with a resounding victory, defeating contenders Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky. But, even more special, she got to share it with her father. During her entrance to the match, her father, Shawn McCray (known by his stage name Derek Mack), played her entrance theme […]

The world of HBCU football is rich with history and tradition. As fans, we often debate and chronicle the greatest programs in our own ways. This offseason, a recurring conversation has revolved around creating tiers for the blue bloods of college football. While I’ve always been consistent in my sports fandom, I typically avoid making […]

Kim Mulkey and the LSU Lady Tigers have prioritized playing HBCU teams over the past few seasons, and this tradition will continue in the upcoming season, with four Black college basketball programs on their schedule. Langston University, Alcorn State, Alabama State, and Morgan State are scheduled to face off against LSU this season, receiving a […]

Mickey Joseph has added a recruiting wizard to his Grambling State squad that is also set to fortify his team during the season. Wyatt Anderson announced officially on his X account that he has joined the Tigers, with FCS Central Reporter Zach McKinnell reporting that he has been named tight end coach. Anderson previously served […]

Chennis Berry and South Carolina State made history in July by hiring Tess Abbott as the director of recruiting. Abbott is the first woman in program history to join the football staff. In her role, she will oversee every aspect of the Bulldogs’ recruiting strategy, including planning and managing official and unofficial visits, evaluating talent, […]

An HBCU alumna saw herself competing against the best in the track & field circuit, even beating out Olympian Sha’Carri Richardson. North Carolina A&T alumna Kayla White set a personal best of 10.89 to win her heat, surpassing Sha’Carri Richardson’s time of 11.07. Richardson delivered her strongest performance of the season, but White ultimately emerged […]

Fresh off of a huge Canadian Open win, tennis phenom Coco Gauff is debuting a new U.S. Open Collection with New Balance. The sportswear giant’s new line, revealed on Friday, features three Gauff-inspired tennis shoes that celebrate her recent triumphs and her journey to the top of the sport. The collection includes the Coco CG2 […]

Simone Biles reaffirmed her amazing legacy during the 2024 Paris Olympics, claiming gold and representing the country with excellence. But she went through a rigorous process to prepare for the global sports competition, according to her comments in an exclusive interview with Olympics.com’s Scott Bregman. The article detailed the sacrifices that she made leading to […]

Teddy Keaton and his Clark Atlanta Panthers secured a huge win recently as they returned a star reciever to their SIAC Championship contending team. Per a report by HBCU Gameday, WR Armone Harris has rejoined the team after entering the transfer portal. He initially committed to Johnson C. Smith University, announcing his commitment to the […]

As the football season rolls in, twenty HBCU players have been named to the HBCU+ Player of the Year watchlist. The award, developed through a collaboration between Stats Perform and Urban Edge Network (parent company of HBCU+), aims to recognize the top player from the 21 HBCU programs in the Division I subdivision. This includes […]

Ahead of the football season, four of the HBCU conferences (the SWAC, MEAC, CIAA, and SIAC) have announced a strategic partnership. According to a joint statement from all four conferences, they have agreed to collaborate more closely to enhance the value of HBCU conferences and strengthen the HBCU brand. While recognizing differences in division, size, […]

With football season just around the corner, three standout HBCU players have earned spots on the preseason watchlist for the Buck Buchanan Award. Southern University defensive lineman Ckelby Givens, Morgan State linebacker Erick Hunter, and North Carolina Central defensive back Malcolm Reed are representing black college football this season. One of them could follow in […]

Following the announcement of his departure from ESPN, Shannon Sharpe has broken his silence. On the Wednesday evening edition of the Nightcap podcast, Sharpe spoke about the news, particularly focusing on the timing of the announcement of him not returning to ESPN and it potentially clashing with the enshrinement of his brother Sterling Sharpe in the Pro […]

In a shocking move, Alabama A&M has removed Mekhi Hagens from its roster, per a report by Stats Perform’s Craig Haley. “#FCS Alabama A&M has removed QB transfer Mekhi Hagens from its roster, due to academics, a source close to the team confirmed,” he posted on Wednesday evening. Hagins joined the Bulldogs after playing at […]

For years, South Carolina State head coach Chennis Berry has been one of the most interesting stories in HBCU football. After a 5-5 season with Benedict College in 2021, his first season with the program, he turned the Tigers into a perennial Division II superpower. They won back-to-back SIAC Championships and ranked at the top […]

The East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 list featured several HBCU stars who are predicted to have huge seasons this Fall. Per their website, the Shrine Bowl 1000 list looks insight into their scouting process while providing an early look at college players eligible for the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl and the 2026 NFL Draft. Howard University […]

Ahead of the football season, the John Madden Foundation has announced a major HBCU partnership with the Black College Alumni Hall of Fame, according to a statement by both organizations on Tuesday afternoon. The foundation is now an Official Partner of the Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl, offering essential support to HBCU students. The John Madden […]

Michael Vick and Norfolk State have a player who is expected to have a standout season on the gridiron. Spartan running back Kevon King has been named to the Walter Payton Award watch list, appearing amongst several other FCS stars. King is one of the players who are returning to the Spartans from Dawson Odoms’s […]

With the football season weeks away, the SIAC has announced its ESPN football schedule for the season. The lineup features several of the conference’s most notable programs, highly anticipated classics, as well as the conference’s football championship that will be held in Atlanta, Georgia.  “Our relationship with ESPN remains steadfast as we continue our mission […]

Only days after announcing his transfer from Delaware State, Marqui Adams has drawn significant interest from both Jackson State and Southern University as a quarterback option leading into the start of the season in August. Adams announced he received offers from both programs on his social media accounts, the only offers he posted since July […]

Following Deion Sanders’ admission that he had bladder cancer, Good Morning America and Fox NFL Kickoff host Michael Strahan posted a heartfelt post to his social media account in support of the football star turned college football coach.Strahan and Sanders are close, both being former standout defensive players in the NFL during the same era, […]

Tremaine Jackson and Prairie View A&M secured a huge recruiting win, landing one of the best running backs in the class of 2026. Aldine Davis High School star  Nicholas Tramble has committed to the Panthers, choosing to attend the Texas-based, FCS competing HBCU over several major FBS programs such as UNLV, Kansas State, Texas State, […]

Baltimore Ravens rookie Carson Vinson is adjusting well to the NFL as the preseason approaches. He’s joining a team that is poised to be a Super Bowl contender, with his role on the offensive line being arguably the most important: protecting Lamar Jackson and opening up running lanes for Derrick Henry. Vinson also has the […]

Tennessee State recently announced the hire of former Duke standout Nolan Smith as the next men’s basketball head coach. But, per a report by Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, Smith was far from the only big name considered for the position. Tennessee State Athletics has been making big moves in recent years, first hiring Eddie George […]

Actress Keisha Knight Pulliam paid tribute to former The Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner in an emotional post on her social media account on Sunday evening. The post featured Warner playing the guitar at a concert. “A week ago I lost my big brother but I gained an angel… I love you… I miss you… We […]

With only weeks until the start of the season, DeSean Jackson’s Delaware State Hornets lost a major offensive weapon. Quarterback Marqui Adams, one of the remaining members of the Hornets pre-Jackson, has entered the transfer portal. He announced his move on his social media accounts on Friday afternoon. “Thank you Delaware state ! Entering the […]

During the Bill Dooley Pigskin Preview in Raleigh, North Carolina, North Carolina Central coach Trei Oliver made an astounding claim that perfectly illustrates the post-transfer portal and NIL era of college football. While addressing attendees, Oliver alleged that a Virginia Tech coach recruited one of his players on the sideline during the North Carolina Central […]

Arthur Blank and the Atlanta Falcons are making another big move in support of HBCUs. In a collaboration with the Arthur M. Blank Foundation, the team is donating new, state-of-the-art football helmets to Clark Atlanta and Morehouse College ahead of the 2025 football season. Chris Millman, AMB Sports and Entertainment Senior Vice President of Community […]