NEWARK, Del. – All eyes will be on Delaware Stadium Thursday night as Delaware State University, one of the MEAC’s proud HBCUs, takes the field against in-state rival Delaware in the season opener. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., with the Hornets aiming to make a statement against a Blue Hens program stepping onto the FBS stage for the first time.

The Hornets enter a new era under head coach DeSean Jackson, the three-time NFL Pro Bowl wide receiver making his college coaching debut. Jackson, who brings star power and energy to Dover, has also brought in big names to his staff, including former NFL running back Clinton Portis as RB coach.

On offense, Delaware State will look to transfer talent to spark a turnaround. Kaiden Bennett (Sacramento State) leads the quarterback competition, joined by Maryland transfer Jayden Sauray and veteran Marqui Adams. The Hornets’ challenge is steep—they’ve won just two games in the past two seasons—but with new leadership and fresh fire, this opener represents a chance to reset the program’s direction.

Meanwhile, Delaware’s Blue Hens have the spotlight as they begin life in Conference USA and at the FBS level. Head coach Ryan Carty has an impressive track record, going 22-1 in home openers as both a player and coach. The Hens return experience on both sides of the ball, including QB Nick Minicucci, WR Ja’Carree Kelly, and defensive standouts Jack Hall, Gavin Moul, and Hasson Manning Jr.

But make no mistake—the story Thursday night is bigger than a debut. It’s about Delaware State stepping onto the state’s biggest stage with new leadership, looking to shock their rival and show what HBCU football can do against an FBS opponent. For the Hornets, a win wouldn’t just be an upset—it would be a program-changing moment.

Fans can secure tickets at BlueHens.com/fbtickets to witness history unfold in Newark.

ATLANTA, Ga. — Three different Eagles found the end zone on the ground Saturday night as North Carolina Central University opened the 2025 season with a commanding 31-14 win over Southern University in the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kick-Off at Center Parc Stadium.

With the victory, the Eagles (1-0) captured their second straight win in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, while the MEAC improved to 12-7 all-time in the season-opening classic. HBCU Original was down on the field capturing every angle of the action, the fans, and the culture that made Atlanta the center of the HBCU football world.

First Half Fireworks

NCCU struck first, marching 80 yards on the opening drive and chewing nearly half the quarter before Arthur Rodgers, Jr. punched in a one-yard touchdown. Quarterback Walker Harris sparked the drive with an 18-yard scamper that set up the score.

Southern answered quickly when Cam’Ron McCoy broke free for a 69-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 7-7 with just over six minutes left in the opening quarter.

After a 31-yard field goal from Kaleb Robison gave NCCU a 10-7 edge, Southern landed a big blow late in the half. Trey Holly sprinted 80 yards untouched to put the Jaguars ahead 14-10. But the lead was short-lived.

On the very next drive, Chris Mosley delivered a lightning strike of his own — a 49-yard touchdown run in just nine seconds. With Robison’s extra point, NCCU carried a 17-14 lead into halftime.

Eagles Take Control

The second half belonged to the Eagles. A quick three-and-out forced by the defense led to excellent field position, and Harris capitalized with his first touchdown pass of 2025 — a three-yard strike to Kyle Morgan, extending the lead to 24-14.

Later in the third quarter, Aleni Mageo powered in from six yards out, giving NCCU a 31-14 cushion. From there, the defense clamped down, holding Southern scoreless for the final 31:57 of the contest.

Stats That Tell the Story

• Total Offense: NCCU 414 yards (231 rushing, 183 passing)

• Chris Mosley: Career night with 174 rushing yards and a touchdown

• Walker Harris: 19 completions, 183 yards, 1 passing TD, plus 18 yards rushing

• Eagle Defense: Led by Thomas Johnson with 7 tackles, 2 TFLs, a QB hurry, a forced fumble, and a recovery

What’s Next

North Carolina Central returns home for its 2025 home opener on Saturday, Aug. 30, hosting New Hampshire at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.

ATLANTA, Ga. – North Carolina Central University football kicks off its 2025 campaign on Saturday, August 30, in the 20th annual Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kick-Off, squaring off against Southern University at Center Parc Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. with national coverage on ABC.

The Match-Up
This will mark only the second-ever meeting between NCCU and Southern. The Eagles claimed the first contest back on Sept. 23, 2006, when they forced five interceptions en route to a 27-20 road win in Baton Rouge while competing as a Division II program.

Eagles vs. the SWAC
Since rejoining the MEAC in 2010, NCCU holds a 4-3 record against SWAC opponents. Head coach Trei Oliver has fared even better, going 4-1 against the conference, including last year’s Orange Blossom Classic victory over Alabama State. In 2025, the Eagles face two SWAC foes: Southern this weekend and Florida A&M on Oct. 11.

Strong Starts
NCCU owns a 47-51-1 all-time record in season openers but is 4-1 under Oliver, with four straight opening wins. That streak includes last year’s 31-24 triumph over Alabama State. For the third time in four years, the Eagles open on a neutral field.

Back in the Challenge
The Eagles are making their third appearance in the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge. They defeated Alcorn State 24-14 in 2021 and fell to Prairie View A&M in 2018, entering Saturday with a 1-1 Challenge record. Overall, the MEAC leads the series 11-7.

Atlanta Success
Atlanta has been a winning stage for NCCU. The Eagles claimed the 2022 Cricket Celebration Bowl in overtime against No. 5 Jackson State and previously beat Alcorn State in the 2021 Challenge, both at Center Parc Stadium.

Scouting Southern
The Jaguars, led by second-year head coach Terreance Graves, are the preseason pick to win the SWAC West. Southern finished 8-5 (7-1 SWAC) last year before falling in the conference title game. Five Jaguars earned Preseason All-SWAC honors, including Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Chelky Givens.

Coaching Ties
Oliver, assistant head coach Matt Leone, and offensive line coach Macander Dieudonne each spent time on Southern’s staff earlier in their careers. Oliver (2016–18) served as safeties coach and defensive coordinator, while Leone worked four seasons mentoring all-time passing leader Austin Howard and guiding high-powered Jaguar offenses. Dieudonne coached Southern’s tight ends in 2019.

Non-Conference Strength
The Eagles are 18-12 in non-conference play under Oliver, including a 15-4 record over the past two-plus seasons. Notable victories include wins over No. 25 Elon (2023), No. 25 New Hampshire (2022), and No. 5 Jackson State (2022). This year, NCCU will face opponents from the SWAC, CAA, Sun Belt, CIAA, and Southland, with Old Dominion representing the team’s lone FBS test.

Players to Watch
Three Eagles are on the Stats Perform HBCU Player of the Year Watchlist: QB Walker Harris, DB Malcolm Reed, and OL Trevon Humphrey. All three were selected Preseason First Team All-MEAC, with Reed also earning Stats Perform Preseason All-American recognition.

Offensive Line Continuity
The Eagles return starters at every offensive line position — a rarity in today’s FCS football. Anchored by Preseason All-MEAC selections Noah McKinney and Trevon Humphrey, the unit looks to provide stability for Harris and veteran tight end Luke Bracey.

For more information on NCCU athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.

By Jamison Hensley / ESPN | July 26, 2025

When Alabama A&M offensive line coach Markus Lawrence heard a knock at his office door, his heart often sank. Carson Vinson—6’7″, 314 pounds and loaded with raw talent—could have easily told him he was entering the transfer portal like so many other promising players from smaller programs chasing bigger opportunities.

But Vinson stayed.

And now, after four seasons at Alabama A&M, he stands alone as the only HBCU player selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, taken in the 5th round by the Baltimore Ravens. Rather than chasing NIL deals or Power Five spotlight, Vinson chose loyalty, commitment, and the road less traveled.

“He could have left us and chased the money,” said Lawrence, now coaching at South Carolina State. “Instead, he chased commitment and loyalty.”

Despite being the only HBCU draftee, Vinson takes no pride in that statistic. He believes more HBCU talent deserved recognition and wants to use his success to inspire others to stay true to their path—even if that path doesn’t lead to a bigger-name program.

Vinson earned his shot by dominating at the Senior Bowl, including a highlight moment in a one-on-one drill against Bengals first-rounder Shemar Stewart. At the NFL Combine, he ranked among the top 15 offensive linemen in the 40-yard dash (5.2), broad jump (9’3″), and three-cone drill (7.51).

Throughout the draft process, Vinson received messages from HBCU coaches, players, and fans across the country. The support reminded him that while HBCUs may be rivals on the field, the community is united in mission.

“We have our rivalries, but after we get past it, we’re all one big family,” Vinson said.

Vinson joins Cobie Durant (South Carolina State, 2022) as only the second HBCU player taken in the first five rounds over the past five years. ESPN’s Jordan Reid sees the transfer portal and NIL deals as ongoing barriers for players who stay at HBCUs to get noticed.

“It’s hard to blame them,” Reid said. “But it makes what Vinson did even more special.”

From Two-Star to Standout

Arriving in Huntsville, Alabama, in 2020 as a two-star recruit, Vinson didn’t initially impress Coach Lawrence.

“I didn’t think he was going to be tough enough,” Lawrence admitted. But during Vinson’s first practice, he demolished the starting defensive end in one rep. “I looked at Coach [Duane] Taylor and said, ‘Scratch that whole soft deal.’”

From there, Vinson emerged not only as a physical force but as a cerebral presence, famously carrying a chessboard to games and remaining undefeated against teammates.

“He’s our biggest, meanest, strongest guy — and he’s playing chess in the locker room,” Lawrence laughed.

Vinson’s breakout moment came in a 2023 matchup against Vanderbilt, proving he could handle FBS competition. Despite late recruiting interest from North Carolina, Vinson turned them down.

“They didn’t want me out of high school. I had a chip on my shoulder,” Vinson said. “I said, ‘I’m going to do it from the school that wanted me first.’”

The Ravens Take Notice

By the time he visited Baltimore, Vinson had already earned a reputation as a physical beast. But his handshake sealed it for GM Eric DeCosta.

“He almost broke my hand,” DeCosta joked. “When he left, I just said, ‘I’m good.’”

Baltimore’s offensive line coach George Warhop became one of Vinson’s biggest advocates, pushing hard for the team to draft him after watching him battle in Senior Bowl practices.

“He wasn’t perfect, but he competed,” Warhop said. “And there aren’t many guys built like him.”

Selected with the 141st overall pick, Vinson received the call from DeCosta and then a straight-shooting message from Warhop:

“Don’t let me down. I’m going to work the dog crap out of you.”

And Warhop has made good on that promise, delivering intense coaching and no-nonsense feedback from rookie minicamp forward.

“He just kind of looks at me and says, ‘Yes sir,’ and goes on and does what he’s supposed to do,” Warhop said. “We’re trying to get him up to speed fast—by any means necessary.”

Building Legacy, Not Just a Career

With Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten locking down the tackle spots, Vinson won’t need to play immediately. But the Ravens have a history of developing Day 3 linemen into starters, and Vinson could be next in line.

If and when his moment comes, Vinson plans to pay it forward. Inspired by Alabama A&M legends Robert Mathis and John Stallworth, he knows firsthand the value of representation.

“Seeing guys like Mathis in person makes the dream real,” Vinson said. “It’s not just about giving money — it’s about showing up.”

And that’s exactly what Carson Vinson plans to do — show up, stand tall, and lead the next generation of HBCU talent to believe that staying loyal can still lead to greatness.

ATLANTA — Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University Football Programs Receive New Helmets Through Arthur M. Blank Foundation Grant

Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University are kicking off the 2025 football season with a major boost to player safety. Thanks to a generous grant from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, in partnership with the Atlanta Falcons, both HBCU programs have received brand-new football helmets featuring cutting-edge technology designed to enhance student-athlete health and safety.

Chris Millman, Senior Vice President of Community Engagement and Sports Philanthropy at AMB Sports and Entertainment, emphasized the importance of this initiative:

“We are proud to support the football programs at these historic institutions through this grant. Player health and safety is paramount at every level of the game, and the technological advancements in helmet design over the last five years have been remarkable. We’re pleased to help these teams prioritize the well-being of their student-athletes.”

Harold Ellis, Director of Athletics at Morehouse College, expressed deep appreciation for the gift:

“Morehouse Athletics is grateful for this opportunity. The new helmets will significantly enhance player safety and provide our Maroon Tigers with top-level protection as they take the field this season. We thank the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and the Atlanta Falcons for their generosity and for forming a meaningful partnership that supports our commitment to a safe and empowering student-athlete experience.”

Clark Atlanta University Head Coach Teddy Keaton also acknowledged the broader impact of the donation:

“This is more than just new gear—it’s an investment in the future and well-being of our young men. We are thankful to the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and the Atlanta Falcons for recognizing the importance of protecting our players both on and off the field. These helmets symbolize progress, purpose, and the strength of partnership.”

About the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
Founded in 1995 by Arthur M. Blank, co-founder of The Home Depot, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation works to transform lives and communities by bringing people together to address critical issues. The foundation has awarded over $1.5 billion to causes across its core focus areas: Atlanta’s Westside, Democracy, Environment, Mental Health & Well-Being, and Youth Development.

The foundation also supports essential Atlanta institutions such as Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and the Shepherd Center, along with founder-led initiatives focused on veterans, military families, and individuals who stutter. For more information, visit www.blankfoundation.org.

Photo Credit: David Collins, Morehouse College Office of Institutional Advancement.