"Baad Team" puts up big numbers
LUT WILLIAMS
BCSP Editor
The 2004 "Baad Team" of Black College Sports Page all-stars features a group of standouts that includes national leaders in rushing, interceptions, tackles and kickoff returns.
On offense, Tennessee State senior running back
Charles Anthony finished the year with the most accolades and
takes home the BCSP Offensive Player of the Year award.
Anthony, the Ohio Valley Conference
offensive player of the year and consensus all-American pick
after earning first team all-I-AA status from the Associated
Press, Walter Camp Foundation, Sports Network and American
Football Coaches Association (AFCA), capped off an outstanding
four-year career with the Blue Tigers by leading all of I-AA averaging
158.1 yards per game.
His 1,739 yards was the third highest single-season total in Ohio Valley Conference history, broke his own TSU single-season record and allowed him to finish his career as the second leading rusher in OVC history with 5,057 yards. The Orlando, Fla., native also finished third nationally in all-purpose yards at 187 yards per game and was fifth in voting for the Walter Payton Award, given to I-AA's best offensive player.
SIAC Offensive Player of the Year and MVP, senior running back Derrick Wimbush of Fort Valley State, may even have better numbers than Anthony. His total of 1,840 yards and 167.3 yards per game, which included a whopping 7.4 yards per carry, topped all black college rushers and was third best in Div. II earning him a first team all-America designation by both the AFCA and D-2football.com.
The Mauk, Ga., native added 22 touchdowns to finish second in voting for the Harlon Hill Trophy that goes to the best Div. II player in the nation. Wimbush, who joins Anthony in the first team backfield, will play in this year's Hula Bowl All-Star Game in Hawaii in January.
Wimbush and Anthony, both repeaters from last year's Baad Team, led a contingent of 12 black college rushers that topped the 1,000-yard mark. Anthony had 1,708 yards a year ago while Wimbush tallied 1,358.
When it comes to production, no one had more than "Baad Team" quarterback Bradshaw Littlejohn of Morgan State. Despite throwing 16 interceptions, the gifted 6-3, 258-pound native of Gaffney, S.C., rushed for 770 yards and 18 touchdowns while throwing for 2,843 yards and another 18 TDs to earn MEAC offensive player of the year honors. His 310.3 yards of total offense per game was best among all black college offensive performers.
Hampton senior wide receiver/kick returner Jerome Mathis was perhaps the most lethal weapon in all of black college football and makes this year's Baad Team as a kick returner.
The Petersburg, Va., native led all of I-AA in kickoff returns bringing back five for touchdowns while averaging 35.5 yards per return. The NCAA 200-meter all-American in track was also dangerous as a receiver, averaging 29.5 yards per reception with another seven TD receptions.
Alcorn State sophomore Charlie Spiller and Morgan State junior Kelvin Dickens, both first team selections in their respective conferences, were the only receivers to top the 1,000-yard mark this season and earn first-team designation with this year's "Baad Team." Spiller topped the SWAC with 1,111 receiving yards on 50 receptions with nine TDs. Dickens led the MEAC with 1,019 yards on 47 catches with seven scores.
Albany State tight end Edward Harper, easily the most productive player at his position with 33 receptions for 405 yards, holds down that spot.
All-American senior center and MEAC Lineman of the Year, Jelani Clement (6-2, 350) of Hampton leads the offensive line. He is joined by fellow seniors Mynia Smith (6-7, 340) of Southern, Robert Louis (6-3, 290) of Alabama A&M and Julius Franklin (6-4, 240) of Bethune-Cookman. Junior Rodney Magwood (6-3, 346) of Albany State rounds out the guys up front. Clement, Smith and Louis are repeaters from last year's first team.
Tuskegee senior Travis Gumbs who converted 44 of 46 extra point attempts and 16 of 22 field goals and also averaged 42.9 yards on punts, all bests in the SIAC and right at the top among black college kickers, gets the nod as both the Baad Team placekicker and punter.
Linebackers, as usual, took home the majority
of the defensive player of the year awards (3) and one
of them stands out as the Baad Team Defensive Player
of the Year.
Though just a sophomore, Hampton's Justin Durant had the best year of the bunch, winning the MEAC award as he finished fourth in the conference in tackles (94) and tackles for losses (12). He added three interceptions, two of which he returned for TDs, and three sacks.
Fayetteville State linebacker Charles Roberts won the CIAA's top award after posting 115 tackles and three sacks. Ronald "Rock" Dillon of Alabama State took home the SWAC's best defensive player award leading the SWAC champion Hornets' who topped the conference in rushing defense.
Albany State defensive end Walter Curry, last year's SIAC and BCSP defensive player of the year, repeated this year with the conference award and is once again on the Baad Team. Curry, helped lead the Golden Rams to an undefeated regular season and Div. II quarterfinal berth getting 11 sacks and 22.5 tackles for losses amongst 72 total tackles.
He is joined on the defensive line by Grambling State standout Kenneth Pettway (8.5 sacks, 15 TFL), Hampton's Micah Littlejohn (7 sacks) and N. C. Cental's Scheldon Connor.
Southern defensive back Ahmad Treaudo, who led I-AA with nine interceptions and was named to two all-American teams, anchors the secondary. Bethune-Cookman's Nick Collins (6 ints., 19 passes defended), Howard's Antoine Bethea (99 tackles, 4 forced fumbles) and Fayetteville State's Walt Williams (5 ints.) round out the backfield.
Woodard, Dillon and Gumbs were also selected to the 2003 first team.
Deondri Clark, who vowed to lead Shaw to national prominence and then did it, is the BCSP Coach of the Year. Clark guided Shaw to its first CIAA title since 1947 three years after returning to gridiron play and got the CIAA only its second win vs. the SIAC in an upset of highly favored Tuskegee at the Pioneer Bowl. The Bears finished an unprecedented third in the final BCSP ranking behind Albany State and Hampton.
© 2004 Azeez Communications, Inc.