North Carolina A&T State University Athletics

GREENSBORO, N.C., February 3, 2005 - A season removed from numerous injuries at running back and quarterback, the N.C. A&T football team filled some immediate needs with offensive skill players, while building for the future on the defensive side of the ball.

On Thursday, N.C. A&T head coach George Small released his initial National Letter of Intent signees. The list included 21 players total, 12 in-state, four junior college transfers and two Division I-A transfers. The Aggies return 15 starters from last season's team.

"We are excited about this class," Small said. "We feel like some of these young men will have a significant impact on Aggie football. Some we're hoping can compete for a spot right away, and some we feel like will help us down the road."

The Aggies lost two running backs to season-ending injuries last season, and senior tailback Micheaux Hollingsworth missed three games with high ankle sprain. Hollingsworth's eligibility has expired, but a lack of bodies at the running back position should not be a problem in 2005.

Five-foot-eight, 190-pound running Derrick Eddington will join the Aggies after transferring from the University of Cincinnati. Also signing with the Aggies is 6-foot-1 Kevin A. London out of East Mecklenburg in Charlotte, N.C. London rushed for 2,760 and scored 25 touchdowns for the Eagles of East Mecklenburg.

London and Eddington will join rising sophomore Quante Speight, who showed promise before missing the Aggies last four games with an injury. Chris Jones is also scheduled to return. He rushed for 107 yards against Alcorn State last season, but missed seven games because of injury.

Quarterback was another position with a lot of turnover because of injuries. Rico Watkins was lost to a season-ending injury two weeks into the season, and Marshall Glenn missed time with a shoulder injury.

The Aggies signed Rodrick Stevens, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound quarterback who transferred from East Mississippi Community College, to add depth at quarterback. Small will also bring in Brenton Smith from Richmond County High in Rockingham, N.C.

"We're building the pieces it's going to take to compete for conference titles and win playoff games year-in-and-year out," Small said. "We felt we did an excellent job of bringing quality lineman last season and we feel like we did a good job of adding skill players this season. We especially like we did on the local level."

The Aggies landed two players from Greensboro, N.C. in defensive backs Quinton Corry of Dudley and Simeon Platt of Ragsdale. Two recruits from Winston-Salem Carver signed in wide receivers Frederick McClure and Herbert Miller III.

Four Fayetteville, N.C., recruits are on the list, including three from E.E. Smith. The Aggies signed one player apiece from Raleigh, Cary, Charlotte and Rockingham.

COSTON TO PLAY IN SENIOR BOWL INSTEAD OF CLASSIC

Greensboro, N.C., - January 14, 2005 - N.C. A&T center Junius Coston has decided to play in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on January 29, and withdrew his name from the Villages Gridiron Classic scheduled to be played January 15 in Florida.

The game is scheduled for 4 p.m. on the east coast and will be televised by ESPN from Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Hampton kick-return specialist Jerome Mathis will present the MEAC in the Gridiron Classic this Saturday.

“He’s coming up on the biggest moment in his life,’’ offensive lineman coach Chennis Berry said. “Every decision he makes has to put him in the best situation as heads toward the NFL Draft in April. He must do what is more beneficial for his career.”

The Senior Bowl is considered the nation’s most unique college all-star football game and football’s premier pre-draft event. It annually features the country’s best senior collegiate football stars and top NFL draft prospects on teams representing the North and South which are coached by the entire coaching staffs from two National Football League teams.

Senior Bowl practices are also attended by over 700 general managers, head coaches, assistant coaches, scouts and other front office personnel from the 32 National Football League teams, making the Senior Bowl the week-long host to a one-of-a-kind NFL Coaches Convention. It was those features Coston did not want to risk forfeiting by wearing down his body in another all-star game.

“I hope people understand what an honor it is for someone from our school to be selected to play in this game,’’ Berry said. “Junius is a hard work and someone the university can be proud of. “

Coston played every position along the Aggies offensive line during his four-year career, was a four-year starter and is considered a sleeper pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by many publications. Sleeper picks are generally mid-to-late round picks that eventually become NFL starters.

Scott Wright of nfldraftcountdown.com, has Coston rated No. 9 among centers in the draft. Coston is a 6-foot-3, 305-pound Raleigh native. Under his leadership over the past four seasons, the Aggies rushing attack averaged 4.5 yards per carry.

He led the team in pancake blocks three consecutive seasons and consistently graded out at 90 percent or higher once coaches watched the game film. He finished his career by making 41 consecutive starts as an Aggie.

LEWIS NAMED FIRST-TEAM ALL-MEAC

Senior defensive back James McCoy makes Second-Team All-MEAC.

Rickie Lewis (Photo Courtesy of Charles Watkins.)

GREENSBORO, N.C., - December 1, 2004 - Junior defensive lineman Rickie Lewis followed through on preseason predictions by earning First-Team All-MEAC honors on defense for the 2004 season.

Lewis, a 6-foot-2, 225 junior out of Greensboro, N.C., was predicted to make First-Team All-MEAC during the preseason. Votes by MEAC coaches and sports information directors led to the coveted preseason honor.

Lewis, a Second Team All-MEAC selection in 2003, started putting his name in the first-team conference picture early. In the first game of the season, Lewis forced a fumble, recovered the same fumble and returned it 36 yards to score the Aggies first touchdown in a game where his score made a big difference in a narrow 16-15 win over N.C. Central. He also recorded seven tackles in the game and was named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week.

Seven weeks later he played a key role in the Aggies 14-13 overtime win over Howard. Lewis recorded 15 tackles (11 solo) and had two key stops behind the line of scrimmage on third downs to halt Bison drives.

For the season, Lewis finished with 73 tackles - 34 of those stops were unassisted - and he had three sacks. Twelve-and-a half of Lewis' tackles were behind the line of scrimmage for a total of 60 yards lost by the opposition.

Lewis led all MEAC defensive linemen in tackles. "It's a tremendous honor for Rickie because he puts so much work into being a complete football player," N.C. A&T head coach George Small said. "Rickie is a young man who worked extremely hard during the off-season, so this honor is a testament to how dedication and effort off the field plays in someone's success on the field."

Teammate James McCoy, a 5-10 senior cornerback out of South Mills, N.C., made the MEAC's defensive second team. "I think James was worthy of being a first-teamer," Small said. For him to be named to an All-MEAC defensive team is certainly an honor and a great way to finalize his senior season.

McCoy led an Aggies secondary that was ranked fourth in the nation in pass defense. He intercepted three passes on the season, returning two of them for touchdowns. On Sept. 25 against Elon, his 46-yard interception return helped the Aggies seal a 19-17 win at home. At Hampton on Nov. 13, he intercepted a Kerry Dixon pass and returned it 59 yards to spark a rally that fell short. McCoy finished his N.C. A&T career with nine interceptions, and has returned more than half of those picks (five) for touchdowns.