Football | 2/19/2026 10:00:00 AM

BALTIMORE, Md. (February 19, 2026) – Morgan State Football will have four student-athletes competing in the HBCU Legacy Bowl on Saturday, February 21, at Tulane University's Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The HBCU Legacy Bowl has quickly established itself as a premier platform for showcasing the talent and rich tradition of HBCU football on a national stage. The game will be televised live on NFL Network at 4 p.m. EST.

The invite-only HBCU All-Star Game features approximately 100 of the nation's top draft-eligible players representing 33 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, providing increased visibility and valuable professional opportunities. Demonstrating the depth of talent across the conference, five Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) programs are represented, with 17 players selected to participate.

North Carolina Central led the MEAC with seven invitees, while Morgan State ranked third in the conference with four selections. Representing the Bears are linebacker Erick Hunter, defensive back Jadon Carter, offensive lineman Jerrod Burrell, and offensive lineman Treyvon Branch.
 

Practice is underway in New Orleans ??@SherreeBurruss caught up with @MorganStBears LB Erick Hunter ahead of the game this weekend!

The 2026 @HBCULegacyBowl is Saturday at 4pm ET on NFL Network pic.twitter.com/DFCQeHwEeg

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) February 19, 2026

Morgan State's defense will be front and center at the Legacy Bowl, highlighted by a quartet of standout performers. Leading the way is All-American linebacker Erick Hunter, whose consistency, physicality, and disruptive presence have made him a force on the field. He is joined by Jadon Carter, an All-MEAC First Team defensive back recognized for his elite coverage skills and knack for creating turnovers.

Morgan's presence on the offensive side of the ball is anchored in the trenches, with offensive linemen Jerrod Burrell and Treyvon Branch representing the Bears up front. Their selections underscore the strength and development of Morgan State's offensive line.

Together, Hunter, Carter, Burrell, and Branch will gain an invaluable opportunity to showcase their talents in front of NFL scouts, further elevating their professional prospects on a national stage.

Teams will be divided by conference affiliation, with South Carolina State head coach Chennis Berry and Johnson C. Smith head coach Maurice Flowers leading players from the MEAC and CIAA. That group will compete as Team Gaither, honoring legendary former Florida A&M head coach Jake Gaither.

On the opposite sideline, Prairie View A&M head coach Tremaine Jackson and Albany State head coach Quinn Gray Sr. will guide players from the SWAC and SIAC as Team Robinson, representing legendary Grambling State head coach Eddie Robinson.

Game partners include Allstate, the National Football League, adidas, Coca-Cola, Coors Light, the Allstate Sugar Bowl, the New Orleans Saints, 15 and the Mahomies Foundation, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Riddell, along with NFL standouts Terron Armstead, Aaron Donald, Patrick Mahomes, Bobby Wagner, and Jameis Winston.

For more information, please visit www.HBCULegacyBowl.com.

 
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.