SEVEN IN CACTUS BOWL:

The Valero Cactus Bowl, an all-star game featuring NCAA Division II senior football players, has announced the rosters of its two teams for the January 9, 2009 game at Javelina Stadium on the campus of Texas A&M-Kingsville. The rosters include seven players from HBCUs.

Elizabeth City State running back Sammy Milton will be joined by teammate Rod Jones (S) on the East Team. Fort Valley State CB Steven Jackson and Stillman DL Sammy Hill round out the HBCU representatives on the East squad.

Saint Paul's defensive backs Gregory Toler and Jerome Mann will be joined by Cheyney OL Dennis Cooper on the West Team.

The game will be produced and broadcast by LoneStar Sports Network, Inc. The game will be broadcast "Live" on LoneStar Sports Network (LNSTR), LoneStar Sports International (LNSTR-INTL), and many independent stations across the U.S. via FanzTV Network. The broadcast will begin at 6:00pm central time with a Pre-Game Show and Kick-Off at 6:35pm. www.thelonestarchannel.com. The game may also be viewed online www.tvunetworks.com. Click on the Watch TV button and go to Lone Star Sports.

The Cactus Bowl was originally known as the Snow Bowl and was played in Fargo, North Dakota from 1994 through 2000. Starting in 2001, the Snow Bowl was renamed the Cactus Bowl and has been played in Kingsville, Texas. There have been over 100 players drafted into the NFL who played in the Cactus Bowl. All net profits from the Cactus Bowl are donated to Shriners Hospitals for Children.

JOHNSON IN SENIOR BOWL:

Jackson State defensive back Domonique Johnson has officially accepted an invitation to the Jan. 24 Under Armour Senior Bowl, bowl officials announced last week.

Johnson was a second-team AP All-American and first team All-SWAC for the Tigers in 2008. He led the team with four interceptions and totaled a league-high 13 pass break-ups. The transfer from the University of Missouri helped lead the Tigers to the SWAC Championship in 2007 and back to the conference title game this season. He finished his career with nine interceptions in just two seasons.

Because he stands 6-2 and weighs 190 pounds and posted a 4.38 time in the 40-yard dash for scouts last year, Johnson, based on his size and speed, entered the season as the top black college NFL prospect. He is rated among the top 15 players at his position by several scouting services and is considered this season's version of former Tennessee State defensive back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, a player of similar size and speed who was selected on the first round of last year's NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals and will be playing in the NFC finals this weekend.

Johnson will play on the South team while in Mobile, which will be coached by the Jacksonville Jaguars staff. Kickoff for the 2009 Under Armour Senior Bowl is set for 6 pm (CT) in Mobile's Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The game will be televised by the NFL Network.

NFL HALL OF FAME FINALISTS:

Two former Tennessee State football players, Claude Humphrey and Richard Dent, are finalists for selection to the 2009 NFL Hall of Fame.

Humphrey, who played at TSU from 1964 -67, was a 1968 first round pick (third overall) of the Atlanta Falcons who was named to the NFL All-Pro team six times, 1971, 72, 73, 74, 76, and 77.

Dent, a Big Blue Tiger from 1979 ­ 82, was drafted in 1983 by the Chicago Bears where he played for ten years (1983-93). Dent played in two Super Bowls, XX (1985) with the Bears and XXIV (1990) with the 49ers. He was named the MVP of Super Bowl XX (1985) when the Chicago Bears defeated New England 46-10. Dent was a mainstay of the famed Chicago Bears defense and was named to the NFL All-Pro team five times 1984, 85, 88, 90 and 93.

Both were on the finalists list in 2006

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