The 2019 North Carolina A&T Aggies football team represented North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in the 2019 NCAA Division I FCS football season. This marked the 96th season for the program, and the Aggies were led by second-year head coach Sam Washington. The Aggies finished the season with a record of 9–3 overall and 6–2 in MEAC play, capturing their 11th conference title. The Aggies also earned an invitation to the Celebration Bowl where they defeated Southwestern Athletic Conference champion Alcorn State, earning their seventh black college football national championship. The Aggies played their home games at BB&T Stadium.
Before the season At the conclusion of the 2018 football season, the Aggies lost key players such as two-time MEAC Offensive Player of the Year, Lamar Reynard; 2018 MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Year, Left Guard Michah Shaw. In addition, the Aggies also lost Running Back Marquell Cartwright, who had 2 seasons of 1000 plus rushing yard seasons and MEAC defensive player of the year, Darryl Johnson who decided to forego his senior season and declare early for the 2019 NFL draft.
Recruiting
Prior to National Signing Day in February 2019 two players enrolled for the spring semester in order to participate in spring practice. On National Signing Day, A&T signed 19 additional players out of high school that completed the 2019 recruiting class. Of the class, 12 players were from North Carolina.
MEAC poll In the MEAC preseason poll released on July 26, 2019, the Aggies were predicted to finish in first place.
Preseason All–MEAC teams The Aggies had eleven players selected to the preseason all-MEAC teams.
First Team Offense
Marcus Pettiford – OL
Dontae Keys – OL
Second Team Offense
Jah-Maine Martin – RB
Elijah Bell – WR
Third Team Offense
Zachary Leslie – WR
First Team Defense
Justin Cates – DL
Mac McCain – DB
Second Team Defense
Antoine Wilder – LB
Third Team Defense
Jermaine Williams – DL
Richie Kittles – LB
Michael Rivers – P
Coaching staff 2019 North Carolina A&T Aggies coaching staffHead coach Head coach – Sam Washington Assistant head coach – Dominic Frescura
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks – Chris Barnette Offensive line – Ronald Mattes Wide receivers – Matt Pawlowski Running backs/recruiting coordinator – Shawn Gibbs Tight end/video coordinator – Deshaun Massey & Glenn Reese
Defensive coaches Co-defensive coordinator/defensive line – Courtney Coard Inside linebackers – Denzel Jones Outside linebackers – Terry Lantz Defensive backs – Thomas Howard Administrative staff Athletic Director (A.D.) – Earl M. Hilton III Director of football operations – Jay Respass
Roster 2019 North Carolina A&T Aggies Roster (Source)Quarterbacks 1 Jalen Fowler – Sophomore 10 Kylil Carter – Graduate Student 12 Kingsley Ifedi – Sophomore 16 Khalil Gilliam – Freshman
Wide receivers 2 Korey Banks – Junior 3 Chance Pride – Sophomore 13 Elijah Bell – Senior 15 Ahmed Bah – Junior 18 Taymon Cooke – Freshman 19 Zachary Leslie – Junior 80 Israel Spivey – Freshman 81 Ron Hunt – Senior 86 Jordan McDaniel – Sophomore 88 Mykul (Prestige) Edwards – Freshman
Offensive line 55 Dacquari Wilson – Sophomore 60 Lawrence Lagrone – Freshman 61 Tyshawn Miller – Sophomore 62 Rio Claytor - Freshman 63 Jeremiah Martin - Junior 66 Arlander Cherry – Junior 68 Cesar Minarro – Freshman 69 Deven Milton – Junior 70 Trawn Barrington – Freshman 72 Tim Williams – Freshman 73 Marcus Pettiford – Senior 74 De'jour Simpson – Junior 75 Bilal Ali – Junior 76 Tyler Clifford – Freshman 77 Breontae Matthews – Graduate Student 79 Dontae Keys – Junior Tight ends 82 Jarvis Reid – Senior 84 Quinzel Lockhart – Sophomore
Fullbacks 46 William Simpson – Senior 49 Justin Nwachukwu – Senior
Running backs 25 Kashon Baker – Senior 26 Darius Graves – Junior 30 Jah-Maine Martin – Junior 36 T.J. Boyce – Freshman
Defensive line 41 Leon "Tre" Smalls – Senior 43 Melik Ward – Freshman 50 Devin Harrell – Sophomore 52 Michael Branch – Senior 90 Karfa Kaba – Sophomore 92 Jermaine Williams – Senior 94 Justin Cates – Graduate Student 96 Thomas Washington – Freshman
Defensive ends 91 Janorris Robertson – Freshman 93 Jermaine McDaniel – Sophomore 95 Kyle Stanback – Freshman 98 Kadarius Kendrick – Senior
Rovers 22 Anthony "AJ" Dupree – Freshman 34 Jazir Staton – Freshman 58 Tyler Schuster – Sophomore Linebackers 8 Joseph Stuckey – Sophomore 9 Antoine Wilder – Senior 23 Alex Fumbah – Junior 40 Chris Williams – Freshman 44 Chase Williamson – Freshman 45 KeAndre Jones – Sophomore 48 Stephen Davis Jr. – Junior 53 Julian Monell – Freshman 54 Kyin Howard – Sophomore 57 Jacob Roberts – Freshman 59 Elijah Westbrook – Senior
Defensive backs 4 Miles Simon – Freshman 5 Richie Kittles – Senior 14 Herbert Booker – Freshman 20 Najee Reams – Junior 21 Derrek Williams – Junior 24 Amir McNeil – Sophomore 27 Jabari Butler – Senior 29 Mac McCain – Junior 32 Aaron Harris – Freshman 33 Jalon Bethea – Senior 37 Janaz Sumpter – Freshman 39 Chris Moseley – Senior 42 Will Jones – Sophomore
Punters 17 James Mackey – Senior 47 Michael Rivers – Sophomore
Kickers 35 Noel Ruiz – Junior 38 Davis Rogers – Sophomore
Long snappers 51 John Davis – Junior 67 Ernest (Petie) Bush III – Senior † Starter at position * Injured; did not play in 2019.
Schedule
Game summaries
No. 21 Elon
Statistics ELON NCAT First downs 17 19 Total yards 221 326 Rushing yards 19 133 Passing yards 202 193 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 27:50 32:10 Team Category Player StatisticsElon Passing Davis Cheek 16/27, 202 yards, TD Rushing Brelynd Cyphers 4 rushes, 30 yards Receiving Matt Foster 3 receptions, 48 yardsNorth Carolina A&T Passing Kylil Carter 16/27, 193 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jah-Maine Martin 21 rushes, 54 yards, TD Receiving Elijah Bell 9 receptions, 93 yards, TD
This game marked the 12th meeting between the Aggies and In-State Division I FCS opponent Elon. Going into the game, both teams were nationally ranked as the Aggies and Phoenix were ranked 20th and 21st in the STATS FCS Preseason poll. As of the time of kickoff, A&T held a 7–4 all-time record against Elon, and had won the last 3 matchups, including a 14–7 road win in 2015. This matchup was the final game of a 4-year series between the two that began in 2013.
Elon were the first to score from a 5-yard run for a touchdown by running back De'Sean McNair. The Phoenix ended the first quarter up 7–0. In the second quarter, the A&T responded with 14 unanswered points. Running Back Jah'Maine Martin tied the game with a 1-yard run and wide receiver Elijah Bell scored on a 5-yard pass from quarterback Kylil Carter. Bell's catch made him the all-time leader in touchdown receptions for the Aggies. On the opening drive of the second half, the Phoenix tied the game with a 2-yard run by De'Sean McNair. The Aggies regained the lead with a 10-yard pass from Kylil Carter to Quinzel Lockhart. The Phoenix responded with a 14-yard reception by Kortez Weeks tying the game at 21–21. In the 4th quarter, both teams exchanged possession of the ball as the game clock wound down to 0:01 seconds remaining. On the game's final play, kicker Noel Ruiz made make a 52-yard field goal, securing the Aggies' victory, 24–21. Ruiz's field goal tied the program's record which was set by Yonnick Mathews in 2003. The 50 plus yard game-winning kick was the first since Carlos Dacalos made one in 2004.
At Duke
Statistics NCAT DUKE First downs 10 31 Total yards 249 574 Rushing yards 138 210 Passing yards 111 364 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 25:30 34:30 Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Carolina A&T Passing Kylil Carter 8/22, 111 yards Rushing Jah-Maine Martin 10 rushes, 82 yards, TD Receiving Elijah Bell 2 receptions, 52 yardsDuke Passing Quentin Harris 30/42, 345 yards, 4 TD Rushing Quentin Harris 13 rushes, 83 yards, TD Receiving Jalon Calhoun 8 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TD
This game marked the first meeting between the Aggies and in-state FBS opponent Duke. The Aggies last saw an opponent from the ACC in 2015, when they lost to North Carolina 53–14.
The Aggies were able to score first with a 40-yard field goal by Noel Ruiz. Duke countered with a 38-yard pass from Quinton Harris to Jalon Calhoun for a touchdown. On the second play of the Aggies' first drive of the second quarter, A&T running back Jah-Maine Martin scored on a 66-yard carry to put A&T in the lead 10–7. Duke was able put together an offensive attack that resulted in three touchdowns in rapid succession, putting the Blue Devils into a 28–10 lead with 3:10 left before halftime. In the third quarter, Duke's AJ Reed scored on a 50-yard field goal. The Aggies responded with a 36-yard field goal of his own, making the score 31–13. The Blue Devils ended the third quarter with a 24-yard pass from Quinton Harris to Jalon Calhoun for a touchdown extending their lead to 38–13. In the fourth quarter, Duke scored one last time on Mataeo Durant's 1-yard run.
At Charleston Southern
Statistics NCAT CHSO First downs 20 18 Total yards 467 281 Rushing yards 292 48 Passing yards 175 233 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 31:53 28:07 Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Carolina A&T Passing Kylil Carter 14/29, 175 yards Rushing Jah-Maine Martin 25 rushes, 299 yards, 2 TD Receiving Elijah Bell 5 receptions, 77 yardsCharleston Southern Passing Jack Chambers 18/30, 188 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Ronnie Harris 12 rushes, 26 yards Receiving Kameron Brown 9 receptions, 110 yards, 2 TD
This game marks the first meeting between the Aggies and FCS opponent Charleston Southern. The Aggies are currently on a 2-game win streek against competition from the Big South Conference; with last season's win over Gardner-Webb 45–6.
Charleston Southern was able to get on the scoreboard with the first with a 33-yard pass from quarterback Jack Chambers to Kameron Brown to score the only points of the 1st quarter. In the 2nd quarter, the Buccaneers scored on a 1-yard run by Jack Chambers, putting them ahead 14–0. With 5:56 remaining in the half, Kicker Noel Ruiz kicked a 31-yard field goal to get the Aggies on the board. Ruiz was able to make another field goal, this time from 43 yards, with time running out on the half. In the 3rd quarter, neither the Aggies nor the Buccaneers were able to score. In the opening minute of the 4th quarter, Running Back Jah-Maine Martin scored on an 84-yard run, the Aggies were able to follow up with a 2-point conversion making the game 14–14.
Delaware State
Statistics DSU NCAT First downs 8 27 Total yards 100 432 Rushing yards 23 258 Passing yards 77 174 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 24:03 35:57 Team Category Player StatisticsDelaware State Passing Tylik Bethea 9/21, 69 yards Rushing Bryant Dallas 13 rushes, 44 yards Receiving Kwannah Kollie 4 receptions, 33 yardsNorth Carolina A&T Passing Kylil Carter 16/27, 167 yards, TD Rushing Jah-Maine Martin 14 rushes, 108 yards, 4 TD Receiving Elijah Bell 9 receptions, 101 yards
This game marked the 47th meeting between the Aggies and Delaware State. Going into the game, the Aggies led the series 24–22–1 over the hornets, including a 34–6 home victory in 2018. The game also marked the return of All-America Cornerback Mac McCain, who suffered a season-ending injury to his left knee in November 2018; McCain he completed the day with 3 tackles and 1 pass breakup.