Sept 3rd: "Gates Earns SWAC Football Weekly Honor"

A Birmingham native was named his Conference's Special Teams Player of the Week following the Alabama State's season opening game against North Carolina Central.  

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Alabama State's AJ Gates was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for Sept. 3, 2024.

Gates had two kickoff returns for 89 yards and one touchdown against North Carolina Central at the Orange Blossom Classic. Trailing 21-0, the Birmingham, Ala., native returned kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown to get the Hornets on the scoreboard.

Gates also had four carries for 10 yards and caught one pass on the afternoon.

In 2023, Gates played in five contests, catching 10 passes for 64 yard and a touchdown. He also rushed 14 times for 50 yards and returned two kicks for 55 yards with a long of 33. He played his high school ball at Mountain Brook. 

Alabama State University Makes Kisean Johnson the First Recipient of its Tarvaris Jackson Legacy of Leadership Award.

Alabama State honoured two of its young men yesterday, one of who is a Birmingham native. The text below is cropped from a press release in order to focus on the Tarvaris Jackson award recipient in particular.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama State University Head Football Coach Eddie Robinson announced (that) receiver Kisean Johnson was named the Tarvaris Jackson Legacy of Leadership Award winner.

The Tarvaris Jackson Legacy of Leadership Award grants a tuition scholarship for the fall and a patch of Tarvaris Jackson will be on Johnson's jersey for the 2023 season. 

Johnson played nine games in 2022, tying for the team lead with 31 catches and a team-best 530. yards with three touchdown catches.

The head coach and coaching staff collaborate and decide the recipient of both awards each year. 

About The Tarvaris Jackson Legacy of Leadership Award 

The Tarvaris Jackson Award comes through the Bama State F Phi B Alumni Association in memory of Jackson. Jackson led the Hornets to the SWAC Championship as a junior in 2004 before moving on to the NFL after the 2005 season. The Montgomery, Ala., native spent nine seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle   

CRITERIA

1. Recipient must act with integrity and respect for others across all endeavors.
2. Put other needs ahead of his own.
3. Performed a minimum of 10 hours of community service within the last 12 months of the award being announced.
4. Spoken highly of amongst peers and training staff.
5. Works hard on and off the field, doesn't miss practice, and has an OUTSTANDING work ethic!!!
6. Minimum 2.8 GPA.
7. Has a BIG Heart and a warm CHARISMATIC spirit.
8. Recipient doesn't have to be the most outstanding player on the team. The recipient has to meet criteria and must show and exemplify qualities of a LEADER!!!