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By Donald Hunt | For the Birmingham Times
College football will be front and center this weekend for many historically black colleges and universities (HBCU). Alabama State will open its season against Southern University on Saturday, Aug. 29 at Legion Field in the Birmingham Football Classic. The kickoff will be at 2 p.m.
ASU features quarterback Andrew Body who was named the preseason Southwestern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Body has been selected to the Stats Perform HBCU National Player of the Year Watch List. A year ago, he threw for 1,770 yards, 20 touchdowns and just one interception.
On defense, the Hornets have a brilliant standout with safety Ta’Shaun Sims, who earned preseason All-SWAC first team honors. Last season, Sims had five interceptions and 36 total tackles. ASU head coach Eddie Robinson, Jr., has one of the best teams in the SWAC.
Southern University first year head coach Marshall Faulk, a Hall of Famer, was a running backs coach at the University of Colorado last year. The Jaguars are led by safety Herman Brister III –who was named to the Aeneas Williams Award Preseason Watch List. This classic should be a good early season matchup for both teams.
In other HBCU action, Alabama A&M will battle Howard University in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. The game will be played on Saturday, Aug. 29 at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. The kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.
AAMU should be solid on the defensive side of the football with linebacker Wyatt Wright, defensive back Keon Handley Jr. and defensive lineman Arenza Davis. Offensively, wide receiver Jordan Chambers Smit can make some big plays with his pass catching ability.
In the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Miles College will visit Alcorn State in its season opener on Saturday, Aug. 29. The kickoff will be at 2 p.m. Miles College head coach Chris Goode has one of the top SIAC players with defensive lineman Javontae Cooper. The Golden Bears have a good playmaker with Cooper who had 33 total and 16 solo tackles last season.
Tuskegee University will face West Alabama in the Red Tails Classic. The game will take place on Sunday, Aug. 30 at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala. The kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Tuskegee University has two great offensive players with EJ Hall and running back Johnny Morris. Hall and Morris have received preseason all-conference honors. Defensively, the Golden Tigers, on defensive lineman Massiah Wells to stop the run. Wells had 55 total and 24 solo tackles last year.
