HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Alabama A&M (0-0, 0-0 SWAC) football begins its title defense as they host South Carolina State (0-0, 0-0 MEAC) to open the Fall 2021 season following the first HBCU National Championship in program history this spring.
It will also be a return to Louis Crews Stadium for the first time since November 23, 2019 as the team played every game on the road during their championship run. That will be a drought that will end when the teams kick off at 6 p.m. under the lights.
Fans can follow all the action through
live stats and catch full coverage following the game on
www.AAMUSports.com, the official online home of Alabama A&M Athletics.
ALL HAIL THE CHAMPIONS
The Bulldogs enter the Fall 2021 season having racked up multiple titles, headlined by their first HBCU National Championship and the first Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) title in 15 years. Those, along with the first undefeated season since 1966, all came to about with a thrilling 40-33 victory over No. 25 Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the SWAC Championship.
HONORS ABOUND
Alabama A&M reaped the rewards of a tremendous season with a total of 12 All-Americans, including Second-Team American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) honors for junior wide out
Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim (Miramar, Fla.). That would be just the fourth in program history, second at the Division I level and first since 2007.
It would also include 10 BOXTOROW All-American recognitions, with six of those coming following the season, and a HERO Sports Sophomore honor for Ibrahim. On top of that, graduate quarterback
Aqeel Glass (St. Louis, Mo.) earned the Deacon Jones Trophy as the Black College Football Hall of Fame Player of the Year and was the National Player of the Year for BOXTOROW. He also earned SWAC Player of the Year honors.
WATCH ME NOW
With the majority of this spring's top performers back in the fold for Fall 2021, all eyes are on A&M. Glass headlines those in the spotlight as he has been named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List representing the top player at the Football Championship Subdivision, the Deacon Jones Watch List as the top player at an HBCU and both the Reese's Senior Bowl and College Football Performance Awards (CFPA).
He is joined by Ibrahim on the Deacon Jones and has also been named a BOXTOROW Preseason All-American and SWAC Preseason Player of the Year. Those pale in comparison, however, to being the first player selected to play in the inaugural HBCU Legacy Bowl, a new postseason All-Star game featuring the top 100 HBCU National Football League (NFL) draft eligible players.
ABOUT THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE BULLDOGS
South Carolina State enters the Fall 2021 campaign following a spring season that saw them go 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
That would be a season that was only slated to be two games against Delaware State before an impromptu season opener against A&M on March 6. That game would result in a 31-7 defeat for their only loss of the season before posting relatively narrow decisions over DSU (17-9 on March 13), Alabama State (14-7 on April 3) and 31-28 against Delaware State (Apr. 17).
Scouting The Alabama A&M University Bulldogs
Record: 5-0, 3-0 SWAC (Spring 2021)
Last Time Out: W, 40-33 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff on May 1
Streak: Six Wins
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Schedule
Roster
Statistics
Individual Statistical Offensive Leaders (Spring 2021)
Passing Yards: Aqeel Glass – 1,355
Passing Touchdowns: Aqeel Glass – 16
Completions: Aqeel Glass – 91
Completion Percentage: Aqeel Glass – .576
Rushing Yards: Gary Quarles – 318
Rushing Touchdowns: Gary Quarles – 4
Carries: Gary Quarles – 76
Receiving Yards: Zabrian Moore – 363
Receiving Touchdowns: Zabrian Moore – 5
Receptions: Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim – 24
Individual Statistical Defensive Leaders
Tackles: Armoni Holloway – 20
Tackles (Solo): Armoni Holloway – 15
Tackles (Assisted): Amari Holloway – 7
Tackles For Loss: Marcus Cushnie,
Armoni Holloway – 4
Sacks: Marcus Cushnie – 5.5
Interceptions: Quantravis Kelly – 3
Individual Statistical Special Team Leaders
Field Goals Made: Spencer Corey – 3
Punting Yards: Troy Lendvay – 758
Touchbacks: Troy Lendvay – 1
Inside 20-Yard Line: Troy Lendvay – 2
Punt Returns: Odieu Hilaire,
Keion Wakefield – 4
Punt Return Yards: Odieu Hilaire – 51
Kickoff Returns: Cameron Young, Brian Jenkins, Jr. – 3
Kickoff Return Yards: Cameron Young – 64
Team Statistics
Scoring: 40.3
Passing: 338.8
Rushing: 118.3
Total Offense: 457.0
Touchdowns: 21
Kickoff Return Average: 19.2
Punt Return Yards Average: 11.0
Time of Possession: 30:26
Sacks: 11
Interceptions: 5
Tackles: 210
Tackles For Loss: 26.0
Scouting The South Carolina State University Bulldogs
Record: 3-1, 0-0 MEAC (Spring 2021)
Last Time Out: W, 31-28 vs. Delaware State on April 17
Streak: Three Wins
Quick Links
Football Home Page
Schedule
Roster
Statistics
Individual Statistical Offensive Leaders
Unavailable
Individual Statistical Defensive Leaders
Unavailable
Individual Statistical Special Team Leaders
Unavailable
Team Statistics
Unavailable
