SEVEN HEADED TO COMBINE: Seven black college seniors are among the over 300 NFL prospects that will descend on Indianapolis this week to be measured, tested and worked out by top executives, coaches, scouts and medical personnel from all 32 NFL teams at the NFL Draft Combine (Wednesday Feb. 20 thru Tuesday, Feb. 26 at the RCA Dome).

Delaware State record-setting wide receiver Shaheer McBride, Kendall Langford and Marcus Dixon, stalwarts on the defensive line for Hampton, and Offensive Player of the Year Chad Simpson, running back from Morgan State, are the four players invited from the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference. Jaymar Johnson, a wide receiver for champion Jackson State, is the lone Southwestern Athletic Conference invitee as is conference Defensive Player of the Year Curtis Johnson of Clark Atlanta representing the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Perhaps at the head of the list is Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, an outstanding defensive back/kick returner from Tennessee State.

McBride (6-3, 200) finished as the Hornets all-time leader in receptions (201) and receiving yards (3,001) and tied John Taylor's career touchdown mark (33). Langford (6-6, 294, Petersburg, Va.) and Dixon (6-4, 295, Rome, Ga.) both finished as first team all-MEAC picks with Langford posting 71 tackles and five sacks with Dixon getting 58 tackles and six sacks. Simpson, a Miami native, led the MEAC and broke MSU's single-season rushing total with 1,402 yards.

Curtis Johnson (6-4, 245, Lauderhill, Fl.) totalled 13.5 sacks for 99 yards in losses to lead the SIAC and all black college players. Jaymar Johnson (6-1, 180, Gary, In.) finished among the top receivers and kick returners in the SWAC with 36 receptions for 613 yards and 7 TDs. Rodgers-Cromartie (6-2, 185, Brendonton, Fl.) picked off just two passes but returned both for touchdowns. He totalled 37 tackles, 28 solos, and blocked four kicks (3 field goals and one PAT). He was named a first team AP all-American, was the BCSP Defensive Player of the Year and is considered the top black college pro prospect.

ALL-TIME GREATS HONORED: The 34th Annual SBN Sports Black College All-American Awards Banquet was held Saturday at the Atlanta Marriot Marquis honoring the 24 black college all-American football stars of 2008. (Top left) Black college legends and current NFL executives Doug Williams (l.) and James Harris (r.) surround event host, actor Anthony Anderson (c.). (Top right) AURN President Jerry Lopes (l.) and Co-Chairman Ron Davenport (r.) congratulate actor Bill Nunn, Jr., (c.) who accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of his father, Bill Nunn, Sr., a longtime and pioneering scout of the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Bottom left) NFL Hall of Famer Mel Blount presents the Defensive Player of the Year award to Bethune-Cookman linebacker Ronnie McCullough. (Bottom r.) SBN Coach of the Year, Willie Slater of Tuskegee (c.) and Offensive Player of the Year, QB Jacary Atkinson (r.) share the National Championship Trophy with all-American offensive lineman and teammate Larry Peoples (l.). View the 24 honorees at http://www.aurn.com/promotions/collegiate.asp

© 2008 Azeez Communications, Inc.

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