Aaron James enters his fourth season with the program and third at the helm after being named the 18th head coach of Tuskegee University prior to the 2023 season.
Last season, the Golden Tigers finished with a 5-6 overall record and 5-3 mark in conference play. The Golden Tigers secured a winning conference record for the third consecutive year under James, further underscoring the program’s steady rise since his arrival.
The offensive unit demonstrated balance and versatility, averaging just over 318 yards per game. The ground game was steady, producing 137.5 rushing yards per outing and ranking among the SIAC’s most physical rushing attacks. Multiple backs contributed, led by Johnny Morris (374 yards, 4 TDs) and Desmond Leverette (330 yards, 3 TDs). Quarterback Raequan Beal commanded the passing game, throwing for 1,511 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 137 passing yards per contest. He connected most frequently with Reggie Brigman (504 yards) and Quavon Beckford (488 yards, 6 TDs), who emerged as deep threats and big-play receivers. Tuskegee scored 31 total touchdowns and was efficient in the red zone, converting 89 percent of red zone opportunities, which ranked top three in the SIAC.
The Tuskegee defense, while tested throughout the season, produced disruptive plays and key moments across all levels. The unit registered 22 sacks and held opponents to just 3.7 yards per rush. Linebacker Charles Davis Jr. anchored the defense with a team-best 67 tackles, while Malik Moore added 60 stops, 9 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks. Defensive lineman Terence Maize contributed 9 tackles for loss and 3 sacks to lead the pass rush. The secondary combined for eight interceptions, paced by Mikael King Jr. and Cameron Reynolds. The defense also ranked among the top teams in the conference in fourth-down conversion defense, holding opponents to just 33 percent success rate. Additionally, the Golden Tigers led the SIAC with five defensive touchdowns, including a 93-yard fumble return score by Kaquan Kimber.
Special teams played a vital role in Tuskegee’s competitiveness. Kicker Lorcan Ryans was among the most reliable in Division II, converting 72 percent of his field goal attempts (13-of-18), including three from 40-plus yards. Ryans also handled punting duties, averaging 33.3 yards per punt while pinning opponents inside the 20-yard line 10 times. The kickoff return unit ranked near the top of the SIAC, averaging 22.1 yards per return, led by Rodricus Magee’s 27.1-yard average. The punt return unit, meanwhile, produced a solid 10.0 yards per return.
Tuskegee produced multiple All-SIAC selections in 2024. Lorcan Ryans earned First Team honors as a kicker after ranking among the league leaders in scoring. Defensive standout Malik Moore and linebacker Jarell Culbreth also earned All-Conference recognition for their impact on defense, while Culbreth was later invited to compete in the prestigious Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl, further highlighting the program’s growing national footprint.
The Golden Tigers finished the 2024 season ranked top five in the SIAC in rushing offense, red zone offense, fourth-down defense, and total sacks. Nationally, the team was among the Division II leaders in defensive touchdowns scored and ranked in the top 40 in kickoff return average. These rankings reflect James’ emphasis on winning the third phase of the game and playing complementary football.
His 2023 Golden Tiger team went 7-4 and 6-2 in SIAC play, while coaching six All-SIAC performers. James’ fast-paced brand of offense, led by one of the strongest rushing attack in the league, ranking second in the conference in rushing attempts (414) and total rushing yards (1,562), third in touchdowns (21) and yards rushing per game (142.0), and sixth in yards per rush (3.8). In the passing game, Tuskegee landed fifth in the SIAC in yards per pass (7.6), sixth in passing yards (1,994), seventh in completion completion (55.5 pct), eighth in completions (146), yards per game (181.3), and ninth in touchdowns.
All-SIAC receiver Antonio Meeks led the league in receiving yards per game at 93.1, holding a 17.3 yards per catch average along with 43 receptions, 745 yards, and five touchdowns. He was joined on the offensive side of the ball by offensive lineman Damion Clark who had a strong sophomore season in the trenches. Cornerback Mikael King earned First Team All-SIAC honors along with being named a First Team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). The sophomore led the SIAC and finished sixth all of Division II in interceptions per game, totaling six on the year. The Tuskegee native also had eight pass breakups on the year, good for third in the conference and 17th nationally. Along with his strong play in the passing game, King ranked fourth on the Golden Tiger defensive unit in total tackles (45), tied for second in solo tackles (29), and added 2.5 tackles for loss in the secondary. His stellar year included six games with four or more tackles and five games with an interception, including a career-high two pick game on the road against Savannah State.
Junior linebacker Malik Moore was a First Team SIAC member along with a Second Team All-Region Two Team honoree. Moore finished fifth in the SIAC and 67th in the nation in total tackles this season (82), averaging 7.5 tackles per game, ninth in the conference in solo tackles with 41 for 3.9 per game, and 10.5 total tackles for loss on the season. The Tallahassee, Fla., native was named the SIAC Defensive Player of the Week once this season and recorded two double-figure tackles games this season, along with ranking third in the league and 22nd in the country in fumbles recovered and having two double-digit tackle performances. The two remaining All-SIAC players included punter Ryan Duff and safety Christian Ramsey.
In the prior season as an offensive coordinator in his return to his alma mater, James helped guide the Golden Tiger offense to a turnaround season for the program, going 8-3 and 7-0 in SIAC play to win the SIAC West Division and reach the 2023 Championship game. Under his watch, Tuskegee gained 3,676 total yards of offense and 39 touchdowns, led by a pair of running backs who ran for over 1,500 total rushing yards combined, while Bryson Williams led the way through the air as the team passed for 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns.
James also coached three All-SIAC performers in 2022, in First Team running back Taurean Taylor, Second Team center Nathan Harrison, and Second Team receiver Antonio Meeks. In the same season, the program finished fifth in the nation in red zone offense (91.9 percent) and 26th in time of possession (32:04 min/game), and 28th in turnovers lost. Just one season earlier, the team finished the season 64th in red zone offense, 100th in time of possession, and 154th in turnovers lost. The Golden Tigers also had top-75 finishes in team passing efficiency (52nd), interceptions thrown (53), completion percentage (59th), third down conversion percentage (64th), rushing offense (66th), and scoring offense (73rd).
A 2022 participant in the NFL Coaching Academy, James returns to his alma mater after a year as the offensive coordinator at Bethune-Cookman. With the Wildcats, James coached tight end standout Kemari Averett, who earned All-SWAC First Team, AFCA/FCS Coaches All-American First Team, Stats Perform FCS All-American Second Team, and HERO All-American Second Team honors.
Prior to his stop in the SWAC, James spent nine years at SIAC conference member Miles where he served as the offensive coordinator, a role he was in for three years with the Golden Bears before serving as the quarterback coach for eight of the nine seasons, along with seving as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator previously. During his time with Miles, James coached 24 players who earned All-SIAC honors in his nine seasons, including 12 First Team and 12 Second Team honorees. Running back Justin Hardy highlighted the honorees by winning SIAC MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and earning First Team honors in 2017. James has also been a part of four SIAC championship squads, in 2011, 2015, 2018, and 2019, while also coaching on the 2012 team that made Miles’ first-ever Division II playoff appearance. He was instrumental in helping quarterback David Whipple earn First Team All-SIAC honors in 2016. His final year at Miles, the offense averaged better than 28 points per game in 2019 while going 9-3 en route to a conference championship and D2 playoff berth.
He also brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the coaching staff, after serving as former quarterbacks coach at Lane College. His career also includes a stay at Clark Atlanta as their quarterback coach and a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Tuskegee, and an assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Bullock County High School.
James was a star quarterback for Tuskegee from 1998-2001, where he compiled an impressive record of 42-5 as a starter. He has the most wins of any signal-caller in Golden Tigers history. He won three SIAC championships during his career, led the Golden Tigers to a 12-0 season and HBCU National Championship in 2000, was an All-Conference selection after the 2001 season and played professionally for the Alabama Lighting of the NAFL in 2004, where he led the league in passing yards and touchdowns. His 91-yard touchdown run record from scrimmage is atop the Golden Tigers list.
A native of Pritchard, Alabama and a graduate of Tuskegee, James holds a Bachelor’s degree in History. He is married to Rosie James and he has two daughters, Erin Morrissette and Layla James.
