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MIAMI, Florida -- Canon-McMillan High School graduate Mike Hull is going to have some added competition with the Miami Dolphins. And it will come from another Washington County native.
Florida A&M linebacker Akil Blount, who attended The Linsly School but lives in Taylorstown, signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent following the draft. He also had offers from San Francisco, Seattle, Pittsburgh and Denver.
“Time to go to work. #DolphinsNation #2GodBeTheGlory,” Blount Tweeted Saturday night.
“As soon as the draft was over, they called me to see if I was interested,” said Blount. “They talked to my agent and worked things out and then called me back to welcome me to the team.”
Blount (6-3, 240) led Florida A&M in tackles in each of the past two seasons and added three interceptions and 14 1/2 tackles for loss.
He is the son of former Steelers Hall of Fame cornerback Mel Blount. CONTINUE READING
TAMPA, Florida – Legendary sports broadcaster Dick Vitale announced North Carolina Central University cornerback Ryan Smith as the 108th pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday.
Smith becomes NCCU's second NFL draft pick in the last 25 years. Smith and defensive end Greg Peterson, who was also chosen by Tampa Bay in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft, are the only Eagles selected in the draft since defensive back Robert Massey went in the second round to the Saints in 1989.
Prior to his announcement, Smith received multiple calls from NFL teams while at his home in Upper Marlboro, Maryland on Saturday, but then came the call that changed his life from a representative of the Buccaneers. "'Ryan, we are going to make you a Buc,'" Smith remembers the caller saying. "My heart dropped. It's amazing."
During Smith's visit to Tampa, Florida prior to the draft, he was impressed, saying "I can see myself playing here for these coaches." Then Smith added, "They have the best facilities I have ever seen."
He said the Buccaneers "like my quickness, my burst and my attitude on the field."
As far as what Buccaneers fans should expect from Smith, he said "I have a chip on my shoulder. I have been doubted my whole life. I am going to give it my all and 10 times more. All my life I've been doubted. All my life I've had to work hard and prove myself. There's nothing new here. I still have something to prove. They are going to see why I should have gone earlier in this draft."
Smith is looking forward to the opportunity to learn in the NFL. "I know there's a lot to learn. I know I'm raw and I'm nowhere near my best ability," he said. "I want to see how great I can be."
Mark Dulgerian of the NFL Network provided this analysis of Smith: "One of Tampa's biggest needs was cornerback and they've addressed it again with one of the 'sleepers' in this draft. Smith is a quicker-than-fast cover corner with flashy ball skills. With some of their current CBs nearing contract years, Smith has long-term starting potential."
Smith is slated to leave Maryland for Florida on Thursday as his NFL journey continues.
Smith capped his standout NCCU tenure from 2012-15 with a school career record 168 solo tackles, while finishing sixth in career tackles with 263 and 11th in passes defended with 31 (seven interceptions and 24 pass break-ups).
As a senior, he ranked third in MEAC with team-best 11 passes defended (two interceptions and nine pass break-ups), while adding 52 tackles (38 solo). Smith also led conference and ranked 10th in the nation with an average of 28.1 yards per kickoff return (14 for 394 yards, 1 TD).
After helping to lead the Eagles to their second straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship, Smith graduated from NCCU on Dec. 12, 2015, with a degree in criminal justice.
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MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina -- All every child wants is to make their mother smile.
Mere mention of his name making his mother beam with joy, Temarrick Hemingway certainly knew his accomplishments – chief among them finishing his education at South Carolina State and becoming a well-rounded young man – made her proud.
However, the depths to which her pride dwelled were unveiled Saturday afternoon, a day for which the Loris native will file in his memory bank for the rest of his life.
Hemingway was selected by the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, taken in the sixth round of the NFL Draft. The former South Carolina State tight end was the draft’s overall 177th pick.
The accomplishment warranted a phone call from his mother, who was so overtaken with emotion she had to hang up and call back, according to the local gridiron star.
“All I heard was her crying, and how proud she was of me,” Hemingway said. “It’s a step into a new situation, a pretty neat one at that.”
Hemingway wavered during his time at North Myrtle Beach High School as to which sport he should play in college, finding it tough deciding between football or basketball.
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Charlene Goreau has been named the NAIA Region IV (South) Rookie of the Year by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Goreau, a freshman from Toulouse, France, and a graduate of Raymond Naves School, had a tough act to follow: replace two-time All-American Nour Abbes, who transferred from Xavier to the University of Washington, at No. 1 singles. But Goreau sparkled, winning 15-of-20 decisions, including 10 in a row, and earning a No. 18 national ranking. Goreau has four singles victories vs. NCAA Division I players, two against nationally ranked NAIA opponents and two against regionally ranked NAIA players. Goreau is a three-time Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week and has led the Gold Nuggets to a No. 16 national team ranking. The Gold Nuggets (8-13) have concluded their regular season and are not scheduled to play in a conference or unaffiliated group tournament. They'll learn May 9 if they qualified for the NAIA National Championship at Mobile, Ala. Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director XULAgold.com XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA twitter.com/xulagold www.facebook.com/xulagold
NEW ORLEANS — For the first time in the history of the Xavier University of Louisiana men's program, the Gold Rush have earned three Intercollegiate Tennis Association/NAIA Region IV (South) awards in one season. Xavier's honorees are: • Alan Green, Coach of the Year. • Loic Didavi, Assistant Coach of the Year. • Kyle Montrel, Senior Player of the Year. This is Green's third ITA men's regional award in the last five seasons. His Gold Rush are 13-6 this season with a school-record five victories against NCAA Division I opponents. Xavier's No. 3 national ranking is its highest ever. Didavi, in his second season as an XU assistant, was the ITA/NAIA National and Regional Senior Player of the Year for Xavier in 2012-13. "Loic has been instrumental in player development, and he has been a good mentor for our new players this season," Green said. "His overall input in our success has been crucial." Montrel, a three-time ITA/NAIA All-American, is ranked 10th nationally in singles and 19th in doubles. Last season he received the ITA/NAIA Region IV Arthur Ashe Jr. Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship. Montrel is from Atlanta and a graduate of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy. The Gold Rush will compete next Friday (May 6) in an NAIA unaffiliated group qualifying tournament at Lawrenceville, Ga. Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director XULAgold.com XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA twitter.com/xulagold www.facebook.com/xulagold
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana has posted online its job description for head men's basketball coach.
The job description, in a PDF format, is available here. Applicants can apply for the job online by creating a profile at the XU Human Resources web page. Link to XU staff openings. Recommendations for the position may be sent to XU Director of Athletics and Recreation Jason Horn by email (jhorn1@xula.edu) or phone (504-520-7329). Xavier seeks to replace Dannton Jackson, recently hired as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Xavier was 21-12 in 2015-16 and qualified for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship for a school-record sixth consecutive time. The Gold Rush were runner-up in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament each of the past two seasons. Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director XULAgold.com XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA twitter.com/xulagold www.facebook.com/xulagold
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – Redshirt freshman quarterback Akevious Williams manufactured a last-minute scoring drive to help Maroon to a 20-17 come-from-behind victory over Gold in the sixth annual Maroon and Gold Spring Showcase at Municipal Stadium on Saturday, April 30.
The 16-yard touchdown from Williams to Jaymonte McLeod with 44 seconds remaining capped off an 80-yard march that allowed the Madison, Florida native to rebound from two early interceptions and end both the game and spring practice on a positive note.
From the start of spring practices, a friendly rivalry between quarterbacks Williams and redshirt sophomore Larry Brihm, Jr. has developed with a good-natured talk between the two Sunshine State products.
“I’m going to until I can’t talk anymore,” said Williams, who finished 11 of 18 for 147 yards, including a 6-yard score to Karim Bryant in the second quarter. “All I heard was Gold was going to do this, and Gold was going to do that. Now I have bragging rights.”
Williams, who might have had the better luck of draw when the Wildcats’ loaded receiving corps was dispersed among the two teams, set the tone on the final drive with a 50-yard strike to Jawill Davis. A 14-yarder to Jaime Wilson followed, then McLeod bounced off a Gold defender and found the right side of the end zone for the score.
“When I went back, I didn’t think I was going to hit Jawill [Davis]”, Williams said. “Then I saw he had 1-on-1 coverage and I just took my chances. Once he caught it, I knew it was going to be a big play.
“Finishing the game like that is a big confidence booster,” Williams added. “But I know it’s about getting better each and every drive.”
Brihm, the only returning quarterback with game experience from the 2015 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title season, completed 14 of 28 passes for 167 yards for the Gold team in a consistent effort.
The Gold squad scored on all three red zone possessions, the first two off a turnover and short punt, then a solid 80-yard match in which Brihm connected with Ja-Quan Lumas for 35 yards and Courtney Lowery for 22.
“He [Williams] pushes me every day, I push him,” said Brihm, whose touchdown pass was a tipped 5-yarder to Kendon Davis in the first quarter. “I feel like he’s going to be good and I’m going to be good for the upcoming season.”
A slow start from both teams’ offense gave early attention to the defense, most notably Diquan Richardson, who registered the two picks of Williams for the Gold.
Richardson’s coming off a solid season – he was the fourth leading tackler. But with the secondary needing to replace two starters, he’s trying to elevate himself as a playmaker.
“I’ve had some goals, and today was about showing my work,” Richardson said. “My line got pressure on the quarterback, so I’m grateful for my teammates.”
Other game highlights include the following:
- Uriel Hernandez handled kicking duties for both teams and went 3-3 on field goals and 4-4 on PATs
- Wilson had 88 yards on three catches
- Romary Corneille had an interception that set up the first Gold touchdown.
- Taivion Butler had two sacks
Other than the slow start, head coach Terry Sims, recently completing his first year at the helm in Daytona Beach, liked what he saw.
“There was a lot of enthusiasm, and a lot of guys trying to make plays,” Sims said. “That fourth quarter was Wildcats football.”
The official Bethune-Cookman football schedule is now available at BCUathletics.com.
The 2016 B-CU Football schedule includes five (5) home games at Municipal Stadium, including the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. The Wildcats welcome Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) opponent Alcorn State for the annual event presented by ESPN. The date is set for Sunday, Sept. 4, with a time to be determined later. The schedule also includes home games against Tennessee State (Sept. 17), North Carolina Central (Oct. 1), North Carolina A&T (Oct. 15) and Delaware State (Oct. 29). The regular season concludes November 19, with the Florida Blue Florida Classic.
