PASADENA, Calif. – Alabama A&M football continues to be featured on the big stage as both offensive coordinator Duane Taylor and graduate quarterback Aqeel Glass (St. Louis, Mo.) have been selected to participate in the prestigious NFLPA Collegiate Bowl at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, January 29.
 
Slated for 5 p.m. (CST), the game will air live on NFL Network and gives some of most talented players across the college football landscape the opportunity to showcase their skills in front of National Football League (NFL) scouts, player personnel, general managers and head coaches from all 32 teams. They will also be introduced to aspects beyond the field that professional athletes contend with, particularly life style changes that come with that opportunity.
 
The architect and driving force behind one of the most potent offenses at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level, Taylor and Glass find themselves in select company as both coach and player. Glass is one of just five players from the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) ranks, and the only one on the offensive side of the ball, and is one of five players from the State of Alabama selected to play in the game.
 
From fellow HBCU's he is joined by safety Cory Rahman (Tennessee State), defensive back CJ Holmes (Jackson State), James Houston (Jackson State) and DB Markquese Bell (Florida A&M) and by quarterback Zerrick Cooper (Jacksonville State), specialist Cameron Kaye (Troy), offensive tackle Jachai Baker (South Alabama) and linebacker T.D. Moultry (Auburn) from Alabama.
 
For Taylor, who has constructed one of the most dangerous offenses in the country and that was just recognized as American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Minority Offensive Staff of the Year, he will be the only current HBCU coach on either the National or American coaching staffs.
 
He will serve as offensive coordinator on long-time NFL head coach Jeff Fisher's staff which features the likes of legendary defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and former players Seneca Wallace, Robert Edwards, Nate Washington, Chris Chambers, Brandon Manumaleuna, Eugene Chung, Andre Gurode, Aldon Smith and Nick Novak.
 
Among the coaches on the National staff are such luminaries as Pro Football Hall of Famers Rod Woodson and Jackie Slater as well as Jeff Blake, Terrance Mathis, Willie Anderson, Vontaze Burfict, Carnell Lake, Brock Marion and Josh Cribbs.
 
Glass and Taylor will not only be surrounded by a wealth of football knowledge on staff but also by those suiting up. This year's group of more than 100 players includes individuals from Oregon State, Cincinnati, Miami, California, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Arizona State, Texas A&M, UCLA, North Carolina, Michigan, Iowa, FCS National Champion North Dakota State, USC and Auburn.
 
A path to the next level, previous participants that have gone to play in the NFL include Tarik Cohen (Chicago Bears), Kelvin Beachum (Arizona Cardinals), Elandon Roberts (Miami Dolphins), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Green Bay Packers), Darnell Mooney (Chicago Bears), Chris Conley (Houston Texans), Duron Harmon (Atlanta Falcons) and Marquette King (Las Vegas Raiders).
 
Full information on the game and its history can be found on the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl website, including an extensive list of former players to reach the NFL and complete rosters and coaching staffs for both teams.