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Miami Herald
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Two Tennessee State players find home at Jackson State
A pair of offensive linemen have decided to make Jackson State football their home after a stint at Tennessee State. Alex Valbuena and Ace Meadows both announced on social media on Monday that they were committing to JSU. Alex Valbuena, a 6-foot, 275-pound offensive lineman from Antioch, Tennessee, has been a dedicated member of the Tennessee State University (TSU) Tigers football team. After redshirting his freshman year in 2022, Valbuena played as a redshirt freshman in 2023 and continued as a redshirt sophomore in 2024. Throughout his tenure, he has worn jersey number 51 and primarily played the guard position. Notably, Valbuena started in the game against Southeast Missouri State on November 23, 2024. Prior to his collegiate career, he attended Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, where he earned first-team all-conference and all-state honors. Ace Meadows, a 6-foot-7, 310-pound offensive lineman from Trenton, Tennessee, began his football journey at Peabody High School. There, he distinguished himself as a top offensive lineman recruit, earning recognition on the All-West Tennessee high school football team in 2023. In December 2023, Meadows committed to TSU, influenced by the leadership of head coach Eddie George, whom he described as 'one of the most humble men I've ever met.' Meadows entered TSU as a freshman in 2024. In the 2024 season, the Tennessee State Tigers' offense demonstrated a balanced approach, averaging 190.0 rushing yards and 165.5 passing yards per game, culminating in an average of 355.5 total yards per game. The team scored 28 touchdowns-17 rushing and 10 passing-contributing to a total of 220 points for the season. Eddie George left Tennessee State at the end of the 2024 season to take the head coaching job at Bowling Green. Jackson State won the 2024 HBCU National Championship with a victory over South Carolina State. The post Two Tennessee State players find home at Jackson State appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Miami Herald
25-03-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
HBCU head coach doubles as umpire
Florida A&M head football coach James Colzie III loves sports. He was a star athlete at Florida State, playing both football and baseball. The coach of the HBCU powerhouse from the SWAC recently went viral because of how he likes to spend his spare time pursuing his passion. Earlier this month, while FAMU was on spring break, Colzie made a trip to Starkville, Mississippi, for a surprising reason. He took on the role of umpire during Mississippi State's three-game softball series against Auburn. Colzie worked at third base on Saturday, first base on Sunday, and behind home plate on Monday for the finale. Colzie III's connection to the game is rooted in his family as well. His father, James Colzie, has been the softball assignor for Dade County Public Schools in Florida since 1975 and has served as an athletic director since 1991. In recognition of his contributions to high school athletics, Colzie was inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2020. His father's Hall of Fame bio reads in part, 'The Miami, Florida native began his officiating career in basketball, softball, and volleyball. To present, Colzie has officiated over 4,000 FHSAA contests and has appeared on a crew in 290 District Championships, 270 Regional Championships, and 36 State Championship games. His commitment and perseverance led him to become the Greater Miami Athletic Conference Commissioner of Commissions, where he played an instrumental role in recruiting and retaining officials and became a member of the FHSAA Officials Advisory Committee (1990-95).' In 2024 Colzie led the Florida A&M Rattlers football team to a 7-5 overall record and a 5-3 mark in the SWAC, finishing second in the SWAC East. FAMU finished with a 4-1 record at Bragg Memorial Stadium. Despite a challenging 1-4 record on the road, the team ended the season on a positive note with a two-game winning streak. In 2023 FAMU won the HBCU National Championship under the final season of Willie Simmons as head coach. The post HBCU head coach doubles as umpire appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
