Football

Three Bears Invited to HBCU Combine in Birmingham

Courtesy of Morgan State Athletic Communications


BALTIMORE, Md., April 7, 2021 -- Three former Morgan State football standouts are among the 45 players invited to the inaugural HBCU Combine scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 9-10 at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
 
The Bears invited to the HBCU Combine include 2019 All-MEAC selections Ian McBorrough, Rico Kennedy, and Carl Garnes.

McBorrough led the Bears as one of the league's premier linebackers in 2019. He led the MEAC with a career-high 110 total tackles and he also ranked T-11th in tackles for loss (10). He also had five fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and two sacks. 
 
Kennedy earned his third consecutive All-MEAC selection and finished the 2019 season third in the MEAC in tackles with 105, averaging 8.8 per game. He also led the conference with 16.0 tackles for loss -- 4.5 of which are sacks. The Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) product added two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on the year.  

Garnes was recognized as a standout in the Bears' secondary. The Columbus, N.J. native completed the 2019 season ranked T-3rd in the league with 13 passes defended. He ranked 2nd with 11 breakups, including a pair of interceptions. Garnes ranked fourth on the team with 48 tackles (35 solo) from his cornerback position.
 
The NFL had planned to hold its first Historically Black Colleges and Universities Combine last year, but the event was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
 
The HBCU Combine will be held on April 9th-10th at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Last year's event was scheduled to take place in Miami at the end of March.
 
This year's event has been organized by HBCU National Combine LLC. Talent evaluators from the NFL, CFL and XFL are expected to attend.
 
"We are fully committed to exploring ways to enhance player evaluation for professional football teams and giving every deserving player the opportunity to have his talent assessed by pro scouts," said Phillip Blackwell, Executive Director of the HBCU Combine.

The combine is designed for players from HBCU football programs who were not chosen for the NFL Scouting Combine and did not have a pro day attended professional scouts.
 
All on-field drill and tests that are performed during the HBCU Combine will be administered and performed to NFL Regional Combines specifications.  Fusion Sport's SMARTSPEED timing system will be used to electronically time the 40-yard dash and short shuttle drill.

The HBCU Combine Recognition Dinner will be held at the Hilton Birmingham the evening of April 9th for participants and invited guests which will highlight the legacy of HBCU football. The featured speaker will be Darryl Orlando Ledbetter, award-winning Atlanta Falcons Beat Writer for The Atlanta Journal Constitution, who is an HBCU graduate. 
 
Stephen A. Smith, ESPN commentator and Winston-Salem State graduate, will also participate in the Recognition Dinner and has provided a travel assistance grant to each participating player to help defray their transportation costs incurred to attend this special two-day event. 
 
The HBCU Combine will take place as part of the schedule of events during the Birmingham Coaching Clinic presented by UAB Football. The Legion Pavilion at the University of Alabama-Birmingham will be the site for on-field performance assessments.

The event will consist of ten defensive backs, seven defensive linemen and six linebackers on defense. On offense there will be two quarterbacks, a pair of running backs, eight wide receivers, three tight ends, six offensive linemen and a long-snapper. 

Here is the roster of players that will be partaking in the event. 
 
 Name  Pos.  Draft Year  School
 Robert Cummings  DB  2020  Benedict College
 Carl Garnes  DB  2020  Morgan State University
 Jaylen Harris  DB  2021  Prairie View A&M University
 Joshua Hill  DB 2020  Alabama State University
 Mac McCain III  DB  2021  North Carolina A&T University
 Travionte Brown  DB  2020  Benedict College
 Trevor Merritt  DB  2020  Bethune-Cookman University
 Nhyre' Quinerly  DB  2020  Norfolk State University
 Monte Seabrook  DB  2021  Livingstone College
 Daryus Skinner  DB  2020  Winston-Salem State University
 Charles Anderson Jr.  DL  2020  Jackson State University
 Brandon Carswell  DL  2020  Delaware State University
 Craig Evans  DL  2020  Langston University
 Tyrell Goodwin  DL   2020  South Carolina State
 Darius Royster  DL  2020  North Carolina Central University
 Jalen Steward  DL  2020  Arkansas-Pine Bluff
 Isaiah Washington  DL  2020  Prairie View A&M University
 Nigel Chavis  LB  2020  Norfolk State University
 Rico Kennedy  LB  2020  Morgan State University
 Calvin Lunkins  LB  2020  Southern University
 Ian McBorrough  LB   2020  Morgan State University
 Solomon Muhammad  LB  2020  Alcorn State University
 Durrell Nash  LB  2020  St. Augustine's University
 Colten Menges  LS  2021  Alcorn State University
 Jeremiah Abby  OL  2020  Southern University
 Frank Ball  OL  2020  Virginia State University
 Keanu Gonzalez  OL   2020  Shaw University
 Jodeci Harris  OL  2020  Southern University
 Michael Johnson  OL  2021  Savannah State University
 Kion Smith  OL  2021  Fayetteville State University
 Deondre Francois  QB  2020  Hampton University
 Akevious Williams  QB  2020  Bethune-Cookman University
 Dawonya Tucker  RB  2020  Prairie View A&M University
 De'Shawn Waller  RB  2020  Alcorn State University
 DuShon  David  TE  2020  Bowie State University
 Kevonta Moses  TE  2020  Shaw University
 Kalif Jackson  TE  2020  Grambling State University
 Elijah Bell  WR  2020  North Carolina A&T University
 Donnie Corley  WR  2021  Texas Southern University
 Quintin Guice  WR  2021  Grambling State University
 Cortez Lewis  WR  2020  Hampton University
 Hunter Register  WR  2020  Southern University
 Tristen Wallace  WR  2021  Prairie View A&M University
 Marcus Williams  WR  2020  Florida A&M University
 Jimmie Robinson  WR/RB   2020  Bethune-Cookman University