Randall Barnes Articles - Page 9

Another HBCU standout is heading to play in the Power Five, as former Morgan State star Naya Ojukwu is heading to the ACC. The women’s basketball standout is on the move again, as she is set to play for the University of California after stints at Utah and Gonzaga. Ojukwu’s basketball journey began in high […]

Another former NFL star is entering the NFL coaching game as former Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes is heading to Central State University to become the team’s wide receivers coach under new head coach Tony Carter. Carter is a former NFL player himself and was hired to lead Central State, a SIAC member, earlier this […]

Charlie Ward is the latest HBCU head coach in the community but he’s already making a huge splash, as Anquan Boldin Jr., a former Buffalo guard, is transferring to Florida A&M. Boldin Jr. announced his commitment on Instagram, sharing a photoshoot in the team’s white jersey. Boldin Jr., son of three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver […]

Former Alabama State star Kisean Johnson is joining the Cleveland Browns as an Undrafted Free Agent, per a report by Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports. Johnson was a star at Alabama State before he transferred to Vanderbilt after the 2023 season and eventually went on to become a contributor for Western Kentucky in the 2024 […]

Florida A&M is narrowing down its presidential search, and the Rattler Community has made it clear that they are not interested in the candidacy of Marva Johnson.​ Florida A&M stakeholders have made their voices heard, openly pushing against Johnson, making their voices heard in a town hall on Wednesday, per a report by WXTL.​ Johnson, […]

ESPN star Stephen A. Smith has been growing his profile over the past couple of years, expanding his brand outside of sports talk. But his latest appearance on the widely popular, long-running NBC series Law & Order just might validate him as a certified star. Smith appeared on yesterday’s Season 24 episode “Tough Love.” In the […]

Shaquille O’Neal showed love to HBCUs on Thursday’s NBA on TNT coverage as he wore an Alabama State cardigan. While it seems like a small gesture to some, O’Neal’s clothing choice added to the attention and fervor that the institution has gained since its resounding victory in the First Four tournament in March.   View […]

Grambling State is set to kick off the 2025 season with the renewal of a historic rivalry with Langston in the Shreveport Kickoff Classic. The game is set to take place on August 30th at 7 PM EST and will be hosted at Independence Stadium. “We’re thrilled to open our season with the Shreveport Kickoff […]

DeSean Jackson and Delaware State have already made moves on the recruiting trail this Spring, but the addition of a Division III football star will make their secondary even more fearsome. The Hornets have signed defensive back James Woods, a standout from Brevard College, making a rare leap from Division III to the FCS level. […]

Sam Shade and Alabama A&M made a huge transfer portal splash on Thursday afternoon, as they’ve found their new QB1 in former UAPB star Mekhi Hagens, per a report by FCSCentral’s Zach McKinnell. “In another unexpected announcement, former UAPB QB Mekhi Hagens announces his commitment to Alabama A&M,” McKinnell said in a post on his […]

Florida A&M made headlines when they secured former Fordham University quarterback C.J. Montes, but it appears that he’s leaving the Rattlers to head back to Kent State. FCSCentral’s Zach McKinnell broke the news on his X account. “In an unexpected twist… Former Fordham QB CJ Montes will not transfer to Florida A&M and will return […]

Former Norfolk State star Diamond Johnson was among several players released by the Minnesota Lynx following their first preseason game against the Chicago Sky on Tuesday evening. Per a statement by the Lynx, Johnson was released alongside forwards Dalayah Daniels, Ajae Petty and Camryn Taylor. Johnson was arguably the most surprising omission from last month’s […]

Fisk University star Morgan Price is entering the transfer portal after a historic run with the Bulldog gymnastics program. Price made the announcement about her transfer in a letter to her social media accounts. The letter read: “This has honestly been one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make, but after a lot […]

The Warriors were dealt with bad news on Wednesday afternoon, as it was announced that Steph Curry is dealing with a Grade 1 hamstring strain and will be out for at least a week, per a report by ClutchPoints Senior NBA Reporter Brett Siegel. The injury spells problems for the Warriors, who were able to […]

Rep. Jasmine Crockett served as the commencement speaker at Tougaloo College this past weekend. In the address, Crockett interwove stories of the civil rights movement into the challenges that are faced today to inspire the class of 2025 to fight for change.​ She spoke about several current issues in the speech and even involved Donald […]

NBC is making a comeback in the NBA media rights space this fall, thrilling basketball fans with the promise of broader coverage and the return of a classic partner from the league’s golden era. But, many fans aren’t happy with NBC’s upcoming use of AI to recreate the voice of one of NBA on NBC’s […]

Mississippi Valley State and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff are among several FCS and FBS teams facing postseason bans, according to the NCAA’s release of its Academic Progress Rate (APR) on Tuesday. The APR evaluates the academic success of schools and their athletic programs, with scores below 930 resulting in penalties. These scores […]

Urban Edge Network has responded to the arbitration decision in their lawsuit with the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), as well as a statement released by the SWAC about the decision on Tuesday afternoon. The statement, obtained by HBCU Pulse on ClutchPoints, is below: “Urban Edge Network (UEN) acknowledges the recent arbitration decision and public statement […]

Virginia Tech has landed another former HBCU star who looks to make an immediate mark on the team’s chances as a contender. The Hokies landed former Tigers standout Isaiah Spencer via the transfer portal, a move that surely will help fortify their wide receiver room. Spencer was a standout player on a talented Jackson State […]

T.C. Taylor has made some key additions to his championship-winning coaching staff at Jackson State, adding former Charlotte assistant Justin Sanders and 2024 Celebration Bowl champion Esaias Guthrie. Taylor has also promoted former quality control coach Aaron Jackson to assistant coach. The moves come as Jackson State solidifies its team heading into the end of […]

After going unselected in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Diamond Johnson seems to be in a perfect position to make the Minnesota Lynx roster as the WNBA preseason has started. Johnson, arguably the best women’s basketball player out of an HBCU last season on the best team in HBCU, has been actively engaged in practices for […]

T.C. Taylor and Jackson State have added another explosive offensive weapon that could further increase their chances of repeating as champions in the 2025 season. The Tigers have added former Prairie View A&M wide receiver Shemar Savage via the transfer portal, a huge addition for their wide receiver room following the departure of Isaiah Spencer. […]

Though the Lakers lost in the first round to the Timberwolves, LeBron James had a stellar season at age 40. LeBron took on a different role in his 22nd season, serving as more of a secondary option as he deferred to first Anthony Davis and eventually Luka Doncic. He also dialed up his defensive intensity, […]

An HBCU student who chose Florida A&M over Harvard, Yale, and Morehouse College is set to graduate from the institution this weekend. He made headlines in 2021 when he enrolled at the institution at the age of 16, becoming the youngest student in Florida A&M history. Now, he’s set to continue his amazing academic story. […]

After 28 years on the sidelines for the San Antonio Spurs, Greg Popovich has stepped down as coach of the team. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Popovich will transition to being team president full time. At 76, Gregg Popovich holds the title of the NBA’s all-time winningest coach, boasting 1,422 regular-season victories. Over his […]

The Lakers were knocked out in five games by the Timberwolves on Wednesday, and Brian Windhorst sees parallels between their current situation and the Mavericks’ struggles after the 2022-2023 season. According to Windhorst, while the Lakers’ future may seem uncertain now, their issues could be resolved by adding athletic, big rim protectors—similar to how the […]

When I saw that the Lakers drew the Timberwolves as a first-round playoff opponent, I was relieved. While the Lakers are my favorite team, I enjoy watching the Timberwolves play and rooting for Anthony Edwards. I watched them consistently in the regular season, and I saw several ways that the Lakers could beat them. I […]

Purdue University made a major addition in the transfer portal, landing HBCU star defensive lineman Josh Burney, per a report by Rivals. Burney spent his last four seasons at Fort Valley State as a key contributor to their defense and looks to bring that same level of success to the Boilermakers as a grad transfer. […]

Following the departure of Blake Harper to Creighton, Howard University is set to land a former Morehouse College star in the transfer portal. In a post on his X account, Cedric Taylor II announced his commitment to the Bison. “From Foes to Family #TheDreamFactory?,” Taylor posted, an obvious nod to the sports rivalry between the […]

The Black College Football Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2025, set to be honored at the 16th Annual Induction Ceremony this summer. Presented by the Atlanta Falcons, the Black College Football Hall of Fame event will take place on June 7 at 7:30 PM ET at the College Football Hall of Fame […]

After weeks of speculation, former Howard University star Blake Harper has announced his transfer to Creighton University. He announced his transfer portal decision in an emotional 30-second video that recounted his journey through his time at Howard University, eventually showing him in a Creighton University jersey. Harper, a freshman, claimed the MEAC Freshman of the […]

Former Georgia, LSU, and Nebraska star Arik Gilbert is making a huge move as he transfers to an HBCU. Gilbert is transferring to Savannah State, per a report by Rivals, strengthening the team’s prospects in the SIAC. Standing at 6’5″ and weighing 270 pounds, Gilbert played a few seasons in the FBS before looking to […]

HBCU alumnus and basketball Hall of Famer Earl ‘The Pearl’ Monroe took to his X account to release a statement about the passing of Dick Barnett. Barnett was his teammate on the New York Knicks as well as a fellow HBCU alumnus. Monroe said, “A good friend who achieved so much in his lifetime. Dick […]

In a recent appearance on Jim Rome’s eponymous radio show, new Florida A&M head basketball coach Charlie Ward talked about his extensive ties to the institution and even being born on campus. It’s a connection that Ward has been forthcoming about mentioning as he accepted the head coach position earlier this month. “ Well, [the hospital] […]

A viral video has circulated from Shedeur Sanders’ time at Jackson State that many believe shows that his teammates were jealous of him. Posted by the founder of the Kollege Kidd digital media brand, the video appears to be from the 2021 season and features Million Dollaz Worth of Game co-host Gillie Tha Kid showering him […]

Many celebrities have spoken fondly about HBCUs and have even said they wished they attended one, but Shaquille O’Neal actually had a time as an HBCU student. The multi-time NBA All-Star and Inside The NBA crew member has several connections with HBCUs through his philanthropy as well as his son Shaquir O’Neal, but Shaq revealed an […]

The Cleveland Browns made a noteworthy move by selecting former Colorado Buffaloes star Shedeur Sanders to strengthen their QB room. However, much of the discussion around him has focused on his unexpected drop in the draft compared to earlier projections. Many mock drafts had him going in the first and second round, with reporting linking […]

After no HBCU players were selected in the NFL draft in 2024, the second time since 2021, Alabama A&M’s Carson Vinson heard his name called in the fifth round and is heading to the Baltimore Ravens. Vincent is a perfect example of the proof of concept that HBCU players can be discovered and drafted out […]

Florida A&M is landing another star quarterback to lead the offense with the departure of Daniel Richardson, as the Rattlers have landed former Fordham University quarterback C.J. Montes. Montes announced his commitment to the team on his social media account. “Rattler nation… I’m home,” he said on a post on Sunday afternoon. He spent two […]