ORANGEBURG, SC – South Carolina State athletics will be on prominent display Saturday (Feb.22) at the 2025 All State HBCU Legacy Bowl at Tulane's Yalman Stadium in New Orleans. The contest is set for 3:00 p.m. (CT)/ 4 p.m. EDT and will be televised live by the NFL Network.

Six coaches including head coach Chennis Berry and seven (7) Bulldogs from the 2024 MEAC Championship squad (9-3 overall, 5-0 MEAC) will be among almost 23 from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) participating in the contest, which will give players from Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) an opportunity to showcase their talent in front of scouts and other team personnel from National Football League (NFL) teams.

 "It's an honor to represent South Carolina State University at the 2025 Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl," said three-time Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl Coach, Chennis Berry. "My coaches as well as our players are thrilled to have this opportunity."
 
Berry noted, "It's a first-class experience that the players will love, and it will provide them an opportunity to further their football career as well as participate in a top-notch career fair. It's a great day to be a Bulldog."

Representing the Bulldogs on Team Gaither -- made up of players from the MEAC and Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) – will be OL Eric Brown, Jr., OL Cam Johnson, DL John Hannibal, DL Jayden Broughton, TE Keshawn Toney, QB Eric Phoenix and LB Aaron Smith.

Bulldog head coach Chennis Berry will be the Co-head coach of Team Gaither along with assistant coaches Jonathan Williams (OC), Jordan Odaffer (DC), Rashard Alston (RB), Gary Howard (DL) and Kevin King (Special Teams/DB). Virginia Union Alvin Parker is the other Co-head coach.
 
Team Gaither, honoring late Florida A&M head coach Jake Gaither, will battle Team Robinson, which honors late Grambling head coach Eddie Robinson. Team Robinson will be made up of players from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). Jackson State's T.C. Taylor and Sam Shade formerly at Miles College will serve as Co-head coaches for Team Robinson.
 
South Carolina State
Chennis Berry (HC) | MEAC COY, AFCA COY, Finalist for Eddie Robinson COY, ABIS Watch List and 3rd Straight Appearance on HBCU Legacy Bowl Coaching Staff.
Eric Phoenix (1st Team All-MEAC| HBCU + National Player of the Year)
Keshawn Toney (1st Team All-MEAC)
Eric Brown, Jr. (1st Team All-MEAC)
Cam Johnson (1st Team All-MEAC)
Jayden Broughton (1st Team All-MEAC)
Aaron Smith (1st Team All-MEAC|Selected to East|West Shrine All-Star Game)
John Hannibal (2^nd Team All-MEAC)

ABOUT SC STATE ATHLETICS
South Carolina State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 14 sports: women's volleyball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track & field, softball, men's and women's outdoor track and field, women's soccer and football with all teams competing in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), except for women's soccer.
 
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