(Pittsburgh, PA) – Five South Carolina State players have been named to American Urban Radio Network 2009 Sheridan Broadcasting Network (SBN) Sports Black College All-American (BCAA) Team, announced recently. The 25-member team is comprised of student-athletes from the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities, who will be honored during the 36th Annual BCAA Awards Weekend February 12-14, 2010, at the DoubleTree Resort Orlando in Orlando, Florida.
Bulldogs named to the prestigious squad are running back Will Ford, wide receiver Oliver (Tre') Young, offensive lineman Johnny Culbreath, linebacker David Erby and place kicker Blake Erickson. SC State has also been named the SBN 2009 national champion and will also be honored during the event.
The Bulldogs led the way with five players on the prestigious squad, while Prairie View A&M, the runner-up to SC State for national champion, had four players selected. Prairie View A&M University quarterback K. J. Black was named “SBN Sports/Doug Williams Offensive Player of the Year,” Grambling State University defensive lineman Christian Anthony was named “SBN Sports/Mel Blount Defensive Player of the Year” and for the second consecutive year Prairie View A&M University Head Coach Henry Frazier, III was named “SBN Sports/ Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year.”
Ford (5-11, 200 Sr., Travelers Rest, SC) rushed for 1,032 yards and eight touchdowns for SC State and became the school's and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's all-time rushing leader; Young (6-1, 195 Sr., Charleston, SC) led the MEAC in receptions with 65 for 995 yards and 9 TDs, and set school records for career catches, career receiving yards and yards in a single season); Culbreath (6-6, 310 Jr., Monroe, Ga.) anchored the SC State blocking and was named MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Year; Erby (6-0, 215 Jr., Rock Hill) led the Bulldogs in total tackles with 81; and Erickson (5-10, 165 So., Cantonment, Fla.) set a school record for field goals in a season with 14 in 17 tries and missed only one extra point in 46 attempts. All five earlier were named All-MEAC first team, and all but Erickson earned All-State accolades.
The 2009 SBN Sports Black College All-American Team and the 2009 National Champion South Carolina State Bulldogs will be honored at the 36th annual BCAA Awards Luncheon on Saturday, February 13, 2010 at the Doubletree Resort Orlando in Orlando, Florida. The event will be hosted by SBN Director of Sports, Ty Miller and will be keynoted by Chris Carter, 2010 NFL Hall of Fame finalist and ESPN analyst. Other featured speakers, presenters and special invited guests include NFL Hall of Famer Mel Blount, NFL Hall of Famer Larry Little, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Raheem Morris, Arizona Cardinals defensive back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Houston Texans wide receiver Jacoby Jones, former Denver Broncos wide receiver Rick Upchurch, former Houston Oilers kick-return specialist Billy 'White Shoes” Johnson and former Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Eddie Robinson Jr.
The Black College All American Awards Weekend (BCAA) recognizes and celebrates the academic and athletic achievements of student athletes who play football at America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Weekend activities include a welcoming reception and awards luncheon. It is attended by past and present NFL players, the members of the 2009 SBN All-American Team, their families, event sponsors and special invited guests.
The 2009 SBN All-America Team
Offense
|
Position
|
Name
|
School
|
Height
|
Weight
|
Class
|
Hometown
|
|
QB
|
K. J. Black
|
Prairie View A&M University
|
6-4
|
225
|
Jr.
|
Louisville, KY
|
|
RB
|
Ulysses Banks
|
Alabama A&M University
|
5-8
|
172
|
Sr.
|
Birmingham, AL
|
|
RB
|
Will Ford
|
South Carolina State University
|
5-11
|
185
|
Sr.
|
Travelers Rest, SC
|
|
WR
|
Juamorris Stewart
|
Southern University
|
6-3
|
195
|
Sr.
|
Baton Rouge, LA
|
|
WR
|
Oliver “Tre” Young
|
South Carolina State University
|
6-1
|
180
|
Sr.
|
Charleston, SC
|
|
TE
|
Warren Matthews
|
Southern University
|
6-3
|
240
|
Sr.
|
New Orleans, LA
|
|
OL
|
Johnny Culbreath
|
South Carolina State University
|
6-6
|
310
|
Jr.
|
Monroe, GA
|
|
OL
|
James Dekle
|
Prairie View A&M University
|
6-2
|
285
|
So.
|
Miami, FL
|
|
OL
|
Joseph Ephrem
|
Albany State University
|
6-6
|
350
|
Jr.
|
Troy, IL
|
|
OL
|
William Falakiseni
|
Norfolk State University
|
6-2
|
300
|
Jr.
|
Tafuna, American Samoa
|
|
OL
|
Robert Okeafor
|
Florida A&M University
|
6-4
|
295
|
Sr.
|
Jacksonville, FL
|
|
PK
|
Blake Erickson
|
South Carolina State University
|
5-10
|
165
|
So.
|
Pensacola, FL
Defense
|
|
DL
|
Christian Anthony
|
Grambling State University
|
6-4
|
275
|
Jr.
|
Birmingham, AL
|
|
DL
|
Justin Lawrence
|
Morgan State University
|
6-1
|
280
|
Sr.
|
Jetersville, VA
|
|
DL
|
Jeremy Maddox
|
Alabama A&M University
|
6-0
|
244
|
Sr.
|
Grand Bay, AL
|
|
DL
|
Quinton Spears
|
Prairie View A&M University
|
6-4
|
240
|
Jr.
|
Montgomery, TX
|
|
LB
|
David Erby
|
South Carolina State University
|
6-1
|
215
|
Sr.
|
Rock Hill, SC
|
|
LB
|
Adrian Hardy
|
Alabama State University
|
6-2
|
197
|
Sr.
|
Selma, AL
|
|
LB
|
George Howard
|
Morgan State University
|
6-1
|
245
|
Sr.
|
Chesapeake, VA
|
|
DB
|
Anthony Beck
|
Prairie View A&M University
|
6-2
|
205
|
Sr.
|
Channelview, TX
|
|
DB
|
Justin Hannah
|
Tuskegee University
|
5-10
|
185
|
Sr.
|
Birmingham, AL
|
|
DB
|
Quintez Smith
|
Shaw University
|
6-1
|
195
|
Sr.
|
Dublin, GA
|
|
DB
|
Terrell Whitehead
|
Norfolk State University
|
6-2
|
220
|
Sr.
|
Virginia Beach, VA
|
|
P
|
Jahmal Blanchard
|
Hampton University
|
6-3
|
182
|
Sr.
|
Fort Lauderdale, FL
|
|
SP
|
Leroy Vann
|
Florida A&M University
|
5-8
|
179
|
Sr.
|
Tampa, FL
|
K. J. Black, Prairie View A&M University, “SBN Sports /Doug Williams Offensive Player of the Year”
Christian Anthony, Grambling State University, “SBN Sports/Defensive Player of the Year”
Henry Frazier, III, Prairie View A&M University, “SBN Sports/Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year”