By ADD SEYMOUR JR.
This week, Grambling will kick off a season in which
everyone expects big things from the Tigers.
Why not? They were
last season’s ADD’S HBCU SPORTS REPORT FCS National Champions and while they
lost their top receiver, important parts of their defense and a dependable
running back, they return the top quarterback in HBCU FCS football, DeVante
Kincaide, and running back Martez Carter.
How good are they? The G-Men lost seven starters on defense,
three of them All-SWAC linemen, and they still are the preseason No. 1 FCS team
in our first poll of 2017. How? Six defensive replacements are already
preseason All-SWAC picks and, again, they have Kincaide.
They are followed by a Tennessee State team that finished 7-4
last season, but feels they should have been better. They have a new
quarterback in former Florida signal-caller, dual-threat Treon Harris taking over
and throwing to the Ohio Valley Conference’s preseason Offensive Player of the
Year, Patrick Smith.
North Carolina Central was one point from claiming the HBCU
FCS national title last year when they lost 10-9 to Grambling in the
Celebration Bowl. They have to replace
star quarterback Malcolm Bell, but have a strong running game and again a great
defense.
In Division II, Winston-Salem State looks to win a
third-straight CIAA title and go deeper in the NCAA Division II playoffs. They have a deep, experienced squad on
offense and defense and look tough.
But to say that Bowie State is loaded is an understatement. Four Bulldogs were named to the CIAA’s preseason All-Conference team, including star
quarterback Amir Hall who threw for nearly 3,500 yards and 30 touchdowns last
year. He also rushed for nine
touchdowns. Their goal – get past WSSU.
Tuskegee looks to be the class of the Southern
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference again, but the Golden Tigers will have to
replace last year’s starting quarterback, Kevin Lacey. On defense, which has always been their
strength, preseason All-American and SIAC Defensive Player of the Year linebacker
Osband Thompson will lead the stingy Tuskegee defense.
Here are both of the entire FCS and Division II ADD’S HBCU
SPORTS REPORT Top Ten Football polls:
FCS
1)
Grambling
2)
Tennessee State
3)
North Carolina Central
4)
North Carolina A&T
5)
Southern
6)
Alcorn State
7)
South Carolina State
8)
Prairie View A&M
9)
Bethune-Cookman
10) Hampton
DIVISION II
1)
Winston-Salem State
2)
Bowie State
3)
Tuskegee
4)
Virginia State
5)
Albany State
6)
Fort Valley State
7)
Virginia Union
8)
Miles
9)
Fayetteville State
10) Kentucky
State
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