MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Tuskegee football team will kick off its 2024 season Sunday evening in the Red Tails Classic inside the historic Cramton Bowl as the Golden Tigers take on non-conference foe Johnson C. Smith. 
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Sunday, Sept. 1
Time: 6 p.m. (CT)
Location: Montgomery, Ala. (Cramton Bowl)
TV: ESPNU
Live Stats: goldentigersports.com/sidearmstats
Audio: Golden Tiger Sports Network (YouTube)
Tickets: Purchase Red Tails Classic Tickets Here
 
SERIES HISTORY
Series: Tuskegee leads 12-5-1
In Tuskegee: 5-2-1
In Charlotte: 5-3
Neutral: 2-0
 
ABOUT TUSKEGEE (0-0)
Second-year head coach Aaron James will look to become the first Golden Tiger coach to lead Tuskegee football to back-to-back season-opening wins since the 2016 and 2017 seasons after picking up a win over Fort Valley State in last year's opener. The team went 7-4 in James' first season, falling just short of returning to the SIAC Championship game in consecutive years. The Golden Tigers aim to reclaim the conference title for the first time since 2017 after three titles in the 2010s.
 
The Golden Tigers will take the field with over 60 newcomers against Johnson C. Smith, including 24 transfers. TU returns 11 starters from last year's team with three on the offensive side of the ball, six on defense, and two on special teams. The newcomer breakdown includes 37 players on offense, 25 players on defense, and one specialist.
 
Junior Mikael King Jr. returns as one of the focal points on the Golden Tiger defensive unit, after an offseason filled with accolades. The cornerback was named Preseason First Team All-SIAC and Defensive Player of the Year at SIAC Media Day, along with being named to the Deacon Jones Trophy Watch List, an HBCU All-American Honorable Mention by BOXTOROW and to the Elite 150 Watch List by D2Football after coming off a season with a league-high six interceptions last season.
 
Tuskegee will also be playing a new starter at quarterback, looking to replace Bryson Williams who started a majority of the past two seasons. Transfer Raequon Beal and returner Chris Roberson have battled throughout camp, as Roberson made five appearances under center for TU last season, going 33-for-61 through the air for 462 yards and two scores, along with two scores on the ground. Meanwhile, Beal is coming off two seasons at Faulkner where he appeared in 13 games. The Michigan native passed for 1,038 yards and three scores during his time with the Eagles.
 
Linebacker Malik Moore also returns as a key cog on defense, having started 21 straight games in his career. The junior was also named Preseason All-SIAC, as well as HBCU All-American Honorable Mention by BOXTOROW after posting 82 total tackles, including 10.5 for loss, five pass breakups, four sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble in 2023.
 
ABOUT JOHNSON C. SMITH (0-0)
Johnson C. Smith also comes into 2024 off a 7-4 season and predicted to finish fourth in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). The Golden Bulls finished 2023 second in the Southern Division and participated in the inaugural Florida Beach Bowl last postseason, falling 23-10 to Fort Valley State.
 
Head coach Maurice Flowers had a successful turnaround in year two after a 2-7 record in his first season. JCSU is led by Preseason All-CIAA linebacker Benari Black, who has collected 152 tackles, including 20 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks over the last two seasons.

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