Southern tops recruiting rankings
For the first time in 13 years of compiling football recruiting rankings for historically Black colleges and universities, BOXTOROW says Southern has the top class for the coming season. The rankings are based on school releases, media reports and recruiting boards. The top 10:
1. Southern
This is the best recruiting class for Dawson Odums, who is entering his eighth season. SU, finally out from under NCAA sanctions, signed six three-star players, the most any HBCU program has signed in one year since BOXTOROW has been ranking the classes. Southern lost just eight players from last year’s team that won the SWAC Western Division. The Jags return nine starters on offense and eight on defense. The jewel of the class is Bertrand Carrell, a 5-10, 180-pound safety who spurned 11 Football Bowl Subdivision programs including LSU, Arizona and Missouri. The Jaguars emphasized the defensive backfield, signing another three-star safety from Baton Rouge in Anthony Shaffer. Cornerback Tyruss Gayden from Louisiana’s West Jefferson was also a three-star recruit and received offers from Army and Harvard. Another threestar signee on defense was defensive end Jaylon Ned (6-6, 230) from Lake Charles. The three-star signees weren’t just relegated to defense. Southern signed two on offense, including wide receiver Kiaeem Green from New Orleans and wide receiver Corey Williams from Bellaire, Texas. With Ladarius Skelton emerging as the Jaguars’ quarterback, Southern continued to look to the future by signing Harold Blood, a two-star prospect who completed 178 of 259 passes for 2,573 yards and 29 touchdowns with seven interceptions. He also ran 47 times for 252 yards and five touchdowns. Travien Benjamin (5-11, 185) from St. Martinsville in Louisiana was a two-time all-state player who rushed for 2,101 yards and 43 touchdowns last year. The Jaguars also signed five FBS transfers, most notably Chazmyn Turner (6-3, 265) of Purdue who will have two seasons of eligibility. He had 62 tackles, 11 for loss, with four sacks in two seasons at Purdue.
2. North Carolina A&T
3. Alcorn State
4. Bethune-Cookman
5. Florida A&M
6. North Carolina Central
7. Tennessee State
8. Howard
9. Grambling
T-10 Jackson State
T-10 Alabama A&M