Tuskegee Game Notes |
Fort Valley State Game Notes
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - After two years of nothing but offseason, the Tuskegee University football program will finally get to taste live game action against another opponent on Sunday, squaring off in a non-conference matchup with Fort Valley State in the Inaugural
Red Tails Classic.
What You Need to Know
- Time and Date: Sunday, September 5 (6 pm)
- 2019 Records: Tuskegee (5-5, 4-2 SIAC) | Fort Valley State (6-4, 4-2 SIAC)
- Location: Montgomery, Alabama – Cramton Bowl
- Series History: Tuskegee Leads 33-20-2
- Last Meeting: October 13, 2018 | Tuskegee 17, Fort Valley State 6 | Wildcat Stadium (Fort Valley, Georgia)
- Winning Streak: Tuskegee (W7) | Fort Valley State's Last Win: October 16, 2010 (26-0)
Key Returners
Offense
- Bryson Williams (QB)
- Appeared in one game versus Albany State, going 3-for-6 with 59 yards through the air.
- Taurean Taylor (RB)
- Led the Golden Tigers in rushing yards (597), rushing touchdowns (6) and yards per carry (6.0).
- Steven Hodges (WR)
- Topped Tuskegee in receptions (31) and receiving yards (535) with one score.
Defense
- Darren Peterson (DL)
- Led the team in sacks (3.0) and tops returners with 3.5 tackles for loss.
- Matthew Kenty (DL)
- Tied with Peterson for tackles for loss by returners (3.5), had half-a-sack and a quarterback hurry.
- Carl Matthews (LB)
- Led all returning defensive players in tackles (49), pass breakups (6) and interceptions (2) while being one of three players that both forced and recovered fumbles in 2019.
- Zha'Niko McMillan (DB)
- Had 16 tackles, two pass breakups, a sack, and an interception.
- Rorrick Steward (DB)
- Logged five interceptions, four pass breakups, two tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and 34 tackles in 2018.
Special Teams
- Arnes Huskic (K)
- Hit 10-of-13 (76.92%) field goals, making 90% (9-for-10) of his attempts from inside 40 yards. Had a 50-yarder against Winston-Salem.
- Ryan Duff (P)
- Racked up 1,453 punting yards with five punts downed inside the 20.
Key Losses
Offense
- Ahmad DeRasmus (QB)
- Led Tuskegee in passing yards (1,068) and passing touchdowns (4) while rushing for 147 yards.
- Jamarcus Ezell (QB)
- Had 454 passing yards and three passing touchdowns to go along with 128 yards plus two touchdowns on the ground.
- Kenny Gant (RB)
- Averaged 4.4 yards per carry over 180 yards.
- Peyton Ramzy (WR)
- Team leader in receiving touchdowns (6) and finished second in receiving yards (450) as well as receptions (25).
- Ladarrell Pettaway (WR)
- Logged 138 receiving yards and a touchdown while returning seven punts for 48 yards plus a score.
- Martesse Patterson (OL)
- Appeared in all ten games in 2019.
- Rochelin Romain (OL)
- Appeared in all ten games in 2019.
Defense
- Kali James (DL)
- Had 6.5 tackles for loss, 23 tackles, two quarterback hurries, a blocked kick and half-a-sack.
- Quindarius Coles (DL)
- Tied for the team lead with 3.0 sacks plus 4.5 tackles for a loss.
- Ricky Norris (LB)
- Fronted the Golden Tigers in tackles (75) and tackles for loss (12.5).
- Davoris Thomas (LB)
- Totaled 54 tackles and 5.0 tackles for loss.
- Brandon Roberts (DB)
- Led the team in interceptions (3) while racking up 40 tackles, three pass breakups and 2.5 tackles for loss.
- Ken Hike Jr. (DB)
- Topped the squad with nine pass breakups.
Scouting The Fort Valley State Wildcats
FVSU was one of the few SIAC members to play games in the spring, defeating Shorter (36-18) and Erskine (45-21) on the road.
The Wildcats will be inexperienced at quarterback as sophomore Tyrell Jackson, who made his collegiate debut in the spring campaign, has only appeared in two games, tossing 474 yards and three touchdowns.
In the backfield, Fort Valley will rely on Emanuel Wilson and Kentrelle Williams, who have a combined 142 yards and two touchdowns combined on the ground.
The Blue and Gold bring back its top receiver from 2019 in Shemar Bridges, leading the squad with 765 yards to go along with four scores.
Where Fort Valley State's strength on offense lies is in the trenches as it boasts two preseason all-conference selections up front with Emmanuel Boone and Waylin Bell.
On the other side of the ball, Preseason All-SIAC First Teamer Jahseari Patterson anchors the defensive line as he produced a team-best four forced fumbles and eight quarterback hurries while compiling 15 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks as a game wrecker for FVSU.
Tyler Moore will most likely be the signal-caller for the defense at the Star position, breaking up a club-high six passes in 2019 with 40 tackles.
The secondary brings back a pair of preseason all-conference defensive backs via Mike Hicks and Zach Anderson. Hicks accounted for four of the teams five picks in 2019 while Anderson brought down 61 ballcarriers with three pass breakups and two tackles for loss.
Special teams will break in a new kicker (Andre Labat) and punter (Trayontae Williams) with its primary returner slated as Lorenzo Smothers.
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