TUSKEGEE, Ala. – The Tuskegee University football program will host the newest member of the SIAC, Edward Waters University, this weekend in the first ever matchup between the two schools at Cleveland L. Abbott Memorial Alumni Stadium.
What You Need to Know
- Time and Date: Saturday, September 18 (1 pm)
- Records: Tuskegee (0-2, 0-0 SIAC) | Edward Waters (1-1, 0-0 SIAC)
- Location: Tuskegee, Alabama – Abbott Memorial Alumni Stadium
- Series History: Tuskegee Leads 2-0
- Last Meeting: November 1, 2019 | Tuskegee 27, Edward Waters 26 | First Coast High School (Jacksonville, Florida)
- Winning Streak: Tuskegee (W2) | Edward Waters' Last Win: N/A
Tuskegee Overview
Offense
- Tuskegee's offense has been one of the more successful teams on fourth down so far in 2021, converting half of its conversion attempts to place top-50 in the nation.
- As a team, TU has maintained its discipline regarding flags, only garnering 52.5 penalty yards per game to rank one slot outside the top-50.
- Quarterback Bryson Williams has done a solid job in his first two games as starter, ranking top-50 in the NCAA and second in the SIAC for yards per completion (13.94) while placing in the upper-half of the league for quarterback rating (109.7), completion percentage (51.4%), plus passing yards a game (125.5).
- Wide receiver Steven Hodges has been the veteran of the wideout room as well as the most consistent as he's fifth in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with 105 receiving yards, topping the team.
Defense
- Tuskegee's pass rush has accumulated four sacks with all coming versus UWA, with its average per game resulting in fifth among SIAC members.
- Linebacker Woodly Appolon has been a playmaker from the jump for Defensive Coordinator Kelvin Powell, slotting in at ninth in Division II for solo tackles per game (8.0), 20th in the nation and leading the conference in tackles per contest (11.0), as well as top-25 in forced fumbles per matchup (0.50) which is tied with teammate Freddrick Austin.
- Austin, a sophomore defensive lineman from Prichard, Alabama, currently is the only Golden Tiger with multiple sacks, taking down UWA's Jack McDaniels twice and now sits top-45 in the country.
Special Teams
- The kickoff coverage unit has stayed in its respective lanes and reduced chunk gains, allowing only 15 yards per return, just outside the NCAA's top-25.
- Devarens Valcin has been the primary returner for TU and has excelled in that role, ranking ninth in the NCAA for combined kick return yards (punt plus kickoff) while averaging the fifth-highest kickoff return yardage in the SIAC at 19.4.
- Ryan Duff has consistently flipped the field for the Golden Tigers, placing fourth in the league with an average distance of 34.5 yards per punt.
Scouting The Edward Waters Tigers
Edward Waters opened the 2021 season with a home victory over Florida Memorial in its brand-new stadium, winning its NCAA Division II and venue debut, 24-20.
EWU followed that up with its first SIAC road game (does not count in standings as they are a provisional reclassifying member from NAIA) at Benedict College last Thursday, suffering a 44-3 setback.
Cedquan Smith is the primary quarterback for the Tigers with cameos from David Johnson as well. Smith has thrown for 111 yards over two contests while Johnson has made one appearance for 76 yards.
De'Shaun Hugee has been the bellcow for the orange and purple, rushing for one of the team's two offensive touchdowns (the other being Smith on a rush) and rumbling for 110 yards on the ground.
Stevenson Fernand (56), Tyquez Hampton (37) and Ferante Cowart (36) have accounted for just under 62% of the receiving production for Edward Waters but have yet to haul in a score.
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