MONTGOMERY, Ala. | For the first time since Thanksgiving Day 2019, the lights inside ASU Stadium will be on Friday night as Alabama State opens the 2021 spring season against Southern on ESPN3.
GAME NOTES
Alabama State will take the field for the first since Thanksgiving Day 2019, finishing 5-6 that season and 4-3 in conference play.
The Hornets were picked to finish third in the preseason poll this season on a vote of the league's head coaches.
A win Friday night would be the second time in three years that Alabama State would win their season opener, defeating Tuskegee in 2018 and falling to UAB in 2019.
The Hornets will play three home games this season – tonight, Jackson State (March 20), and Mississippi Valley State (April 10). They will play only one true road game against UAPB (March 28) and the Magic City Classic (April 17).
Ezra Gray returns for his senior season after a year in which he was rewarded for his academic work. The senior, who graduated in December, was named the FCS ADA Scholar Athlete of the Year and followed that up with being named a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy which is considered the Academic Heisman.
Junior receiver
Michael Jefferson returns for his third season after an impressive sophomore year that saw him catch 12 touchdowns.
Alabama State had three players named First Team All-SWAC this week with Gray earning the nod at running back, while
Christian Clark (defensive line) and
Naytron Culpepper (defensive back) earned the same.
Keenan Isaac (defensive back),
Michael Jefferson (receiver),
Andrew Ogletree (defensive line), and Gray (return specialist) all earned second team honors.
Long snapper
Luke Barnes was named to the Special Teams U All-American selection Watch List. He is one of five players from the FCS to earn the honor, as selections are based on each person's snapping ability.
Alabama State had nine players selected to the Phil Steele Preseason All-Conference teams in the fall, with several of the same players who earned All-SWAC honors on a vote from the leagues head coaches and sports information directors.
SERIES HISTORY
Southern leads the all-time series, 28-12
Streak: Southern, W4
Last Meeting: Southern def. Alabama State, 64-6
TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets are currently on sale for the 2021 spring season and are available by calling (334) 229-4551 or visiting BamaStateSports.com. Only season ticket and suite holders will be admitted into the stadium for the 2021 spring season due to social distant seating and COVID-19 protocols. Masks must be worn at all times while visiting the mask-mandatory Alabama State University campus and its athletic venues.
Follow the Hornets
For complete coverage of Alabama State University football, follow the Hornets on social media @BamaStateFB (Twitter), /BamaStateSports (Facebook), and @BamaStateSports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Alabama State athletics at BamaStateSports.com.
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