Randall Barnes Articles - Page 3

Quinn Gray is now officially the head coach of Florida A&M, and he’s already getting a ringing endorsement from a coaching legend with whom he’s very familiar. In a promo posted by the O&G Strike Zone to secure donations for the football program, legendary Florida A&M coach Billy Joe spoke highly of Gray and gave his […]

After a successful first season, DeSean Jackson is set to lose another key contributor to his Delaware State roster. Star running back James Jones announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal, and now standout linebacker Brian Bates Jr. is also set to enter the transfer portal. Bates announced the decision via his social media […]

Money games are a reality for HBCU programs across athletics, and Kim Mulkey sees these as opportunities to give back. LSU recently beat Alabama State 109-41, which was their fourth matchup against an HBCU this season. In postgame comments, Mulkey spoke about why LSU intentionally plays HBCUs and how she views it as a way […]

Michael Vick and Norfolk State are set to lose a huge game against their bitter in-state rival, Virginia State University, starting in 2026. New season. New opportunities. 🏈 The 2026 Football Schedule is here. Start planning those Saturdays now!#GreaterHappensHere #BigState pic.twitter.com/89EDwzDasx — VSU Athletics (@VSUsports) December 29, 2025 Virginia State released their 2026 football schedule […]

It’s been over a year since Michael Vick was announced as Norfolk State head coach, and he departed his role on Fox NFL Kickoff. But on Sunday, Vick made his return to the television program with one year of college coaching under his belt and a lot to say. We are excited to have our […]

So, as we approach the new year, there’s been a very fervent conversation about the Cricket Celebration Bowl that has festered more than it has in recent years. Typically, after the Cricket Celebration Bowl ends, we talk about how amazing the game is. We prognosticate about the coaches, the players, and the matchup itself, and […]

Quinn Gray is officially heading to Florida A&M to start the new year, and Albany State didn’t waste any time naming their replacement for their previous winning coach. Albany State announced on Thursday that it had come to terms with David Bowser, announcing the hire in a statement. Bowser spoke about his appointment to the […]

After a phenomenal season, DeSean Jackson and Delaware State are prepared to take a big hit in their running back room. The Hornets were the top rushing team in the FCS this season, finishing with rushing for 3,494 yards and 38 touchdowns. One of the key contributors to that fearsome run offense was James Jones. […]

So, it’s HBCU award season, and I’m fortunate enough—in my three years covering HBCU sports for ClutchPoints and HBCU Pulse—to have a single vote for a postseason award in the HBCU space. The honor is the Quarter Phi Back Award, which honors the best high school and HBCU quarterback in the nation. Now, there are […]

Marshall Faulk is fortifying his offensive attack at Southern, as he has identified his offensive coordinator. Per CBS Sports, Faulk is adding former Sacramento State OC Ken Merchant to the new role. Merchant served as offensive coordinator under former Sacramento State head coach Brennan Marion, who is known for his high paced “go-go offense”, a […]

After a historic first season, DeSean Jackson has inked an extension with Delaware State. Per a statement released by the institution obtained by ClutchPoints, Jackson is set to stay with the football program until 2028. Jackson spoke about the extension in a statement, saying, “Just two days before Christmas last year, I began the next […]

After weeks of speculation, Quinn Gray has officially been announced as the 20th head coach of Florida A&M University. Following the approval of his coaching contract with the Florida A&M Board of Trustees, the university announced his hire via a statement. Gray reacted to his hire via a statement released by the institution, saying, “I’m […]

Division II HBCU football had a historic season this year, with Albany State’s run the regional final in the NCAA Division II Playoffs amid five HBCUs from the SIAC and CIAA making the field. But, Virginia Union Curtis Allen had perhaps the greatest accomplishment in Division II football this year as he became the first […]

Savannah State University has found its latest football coach after former head coach Aaron Kelton stepped down following theend of the season. The Tigers have named former Fayetteville State University defensive coordinator Thomas Howard as head coach, per a statement by the institution. “We are excited to welcome Coach Howard to Savannah State,” said Savannah […]

The football season is officially over, and as we move into the beginning of basketball season, I have a confession to make: I barely realized the Chris Paul HBCU Classic was happening this past weekend. When the classic first announced its move to Atlanta, I thought it was a brilliant strategic play. I even wrote […]

Quinn Gray hasn’t officially been announced as head coach of Florida A&M yet, but the university is undoubtedly on the track to solidify his hire as early as the end of the month. The institution posted a copy of the 11-page contract draft for Gray’s coaching services, which includes numbers that will make him one […]

A former HBCU player is celebrating a milestone achievement at the University of Georgia. Former Southern University wide receiver Devon Gales has received a communications degree from Georgia, ten years following the catastrophic injury that left him paralyzed from the chest down in Southern University’s out-of-conference matchup against the Bulldogs on September 26, 2015. In […]

Grambling State pulled off a huge win in the Chris Paul HBCU Classic, putting up a dominant performance in their out-of-conference matchup against reigning MEAC Champions Norfolk State. Although the Spartans’ roster has undergone a few changes since their championship season last year, they still remain among the best programs in HBCU basketball. But, Crarey […]

In college basketball, it isn’t often that programs have the opportunity to make a definitive statement early in the season. Typically, smaller Division I programs face off against Power 4 institutions in “money games,” where the larger schools often win in resounding fashion due to superior athleticism and roster depth. Conversely, many mid-majors use matchups […]

Marshall Faulk is working to build his coaching staff at Southern University and is making some big moves. Faulk wanted no expense spared on the staff around him, as he negotiated an assistant salary budget pool of $950,000 in his contract, per a report by WRBZ. First, Faulk is reuniting with an old teammate from […]

This offseason has seen one of the most fervent coaching carousels in recent memory in HBCU football and Howard University appears close to finding its next head football coach. The Bison head coaching job became open after longtime head coach Larry Scott departed the program to join Auburn as tight ends coach. Now, per prominent […]

The 2025 Cricket Celebration Bowl provided an amazing kickoff to the bowl season, and the college football world was clearly tuned in. According to data released by ESPN, the Saturday afternoon matchup drew an average of 2.3 million viewers on ABC and peaked at 3 million viewers during the dramatic four-overtime broadcast. In an interview […]

Former NFL Great Marshall Faulk is off and rolling as head coach of Southern University. Faulk and his new staff are bringing in new recruits and getting ready to close out 2025 in a big way. Faulk is also being paid a hefty sum for his services, per WRBZ. The local Baton Rouge affiliate recently […]

On Saturday, following Chennis Berry and South Carolina State’s remarkable victory over Tremaine Jackson and Prairie View A&M, Berry addressed the media in the Celebration Bowl post-game press conference. He was candid, direct, and far more pointed in his remarks than he normally is during media availability. He specifically spoke about how it appeared that […]

In perhaps the biggest shock of the early part of the off-season, Teddy Keaton is out as Clark Atlanta University head coach. His departure comes only a year after the Panthers made the SIAC Championship versus Sam Shade’s Miles College Bears. A source indicated to me that a change was coming at Clark Atlanta, with […]

After a historic season that saw him reign as the best quarterback in HBCU football, Andrew Body has entered the transfer portal. He announced his decision via his social media accounts. His statement is below: Romans 12:2 (NV) “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your […]

It looks as if Auburn University athletics is landing another HBCU coach, as Howard University head coach Larry Scott is set to become the Tight Ends coach under new head coach Alex Golesh. CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz broke the news on his social media accounts. “Auburn is expected to hire Howard head coach Larry Scott […]

It’s official: Quinn Gray is moving on as coach of Albany State University. After a historic season, the Rams released a statement announcing that Gray was stepping down from the program to pursue other opportunities. “In college athletics, success naturally creates opportunity,” said Director of Athletics Dr. Kristene Kelly in a statement. “Coach Gray’s success […]

Now firmly installed as the head coach at James Madison, Bill Napier has hired a former HBCU coach staffer from Jackson State. Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports announced on Sunday that Napier has hired Kali James to his coaching staff as a defensive line coach. “James Madison is set to hire Western Kentucky’s Kali James […]

The Celebration Bowl was one of the best HBCU games ever. We saw South Carolina State come back from a 21-point deficit—where they were outscored 21-0 in the first half by Prairie View A&M—and the Panthers’ Cam Peters had the game of his life, accounting for five total touchdowns and throwing for 412 yards. Meanwhile, […]

Chennis Berry cemented himself as arguably the best coach in HBCU football with South Carolina State’s come-from-behind victory over Prairie View A&M 40-38 in the Celebration Bowl. At the start of the press conference, Berry got some things off his chest. Coach Chennis Berry after winning the @CelebrationBowl “I keep receipts 🧾… All through the […]

Diego Pavia is one of the brightest stars in college football. He finished the year as a Heisman trophy finalist who led Vanderbilt to a 10-2 record this season. But, before he became one of the best quarterbacks in the sport, he was on the radar of Deion Sanders during his time at Jackson State. […]

The college football world was turned into Saturday afternoon’s Cricket Celebration Bowl, as it turned into a four-overtime classic that saw Chennis Berry and South Carolina State become the HBCU national champions. But, in the fourth overtime, Ryan Stubblefield found Tyler Smith for the two-point conversion as he ran into the right side of the […]

The 2025 Cricket Celebration Bowl delivered a game for the ages. What began as a defensive exhibition by Tremaine Jackson’s Prairie View A&M Panthers and a pitch-perfect game for Cam Peters quickly devolved into a nightmare for Chennis Berry’s Bulldogs, only to see South Carolina State stage the largest comeback in Celebration Bowl history, ultimately […]

Hampton University has closed in on its next head football coach, and it’s a coach with plenty of FBS experience. Per CBS Sports Matt Zenitz, Hampton is set to hire Kansas State assistant coach Van Malone. “Hampton is expected to hire Van Malone as its head coach, sources tell @CBSSports. Was at Kansas State the […]

Urban Edge Network is broadcasting another college basketball game in conjunction with the Texas Legends. Tulsa and New Mexico are set to square off on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 3 PM EST. The game will be airing on Urban Edge Network, an emerging digital platform largely dedicated to amplifying HBCU and multicultural content, and offers […]

A Florida A&M legend is closing in on coming home. Per Football Scoop, Current Albany State head coach Quinn Gray is finalizing a deal to become the Rattler’s next head football coach. The report also details that Gray had another suitor for his coaching talents: Hampton University. The Pirates fired head coach Trent Boykin immediately […]

To win in the modern NBA, you need two things: a transcendent superstar and a roster full of athletic playmakers that can also play good to great defense. That has typically been the blueprint for most NBA champions throughout history, and it hasn’t changed in this new era of the league. With Victor Wembanyama back […]

This Saturday’s Celebration Bowl presents an intriguing clash of styles, with South Carolina State’s explosive offense led by William Adkins IV under center and the smart, nimble defense of Prairie View A&M, starring Trevor Randle. The game is going to hinge entirely on whether Chennis Berry and South Carolina State can figure out the defensive […]