HBCU Legacy Bowl: The SU Stamp

New Orleans, Louisiana, “The Big Easy,” was the place to be as the 2nd Annual HBCU Legacy Bowl game was at Tulane’s University, Yulman Stadium. The annual game began in 2022 and highlighted top draft-eligible prospects from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This year, the Legacy Bowl partnered with the NFL to host the HBCU NFL Combine.
With 97 players from around the country on this year’s roster, the teams are led each by co-head coaches. Southern’s head coach, Eric Dooley, was a part of this year’s staff, coaching for Team Robinson alongside Benedict College head coach Chennis Berry. In addition, Southern’s safeties coach Sean Wallace coached for Team Robinson.
Southern led all HBCUS this year with seven players on the roster. Defensive Lineman Jason Dumas, Safety Corione Harris, Linebacker Jordan Lewis, Quarterback Glendon “Bubba” McDaniel, Defensive Lineman Camron Peterson, Offensive Lineman Jermiah Strafford, and Offensive Lineman Brian Williams; all accepted their invitation to play in the postseason all-star game, with few having a standout performance.
As all seven players were on Team Robinson, Bubba McDaniel was the starting quarterback. Throughout the game, he went 7-for-7, with 41 yards through the air. When interviewed with OSM’s reporter, Sydney Cuillier, Bubba stated, “I just wanted to ball. To do what I love to do, and what I’ve been doing since I was a kid. Nothing different.” When asked about his game plan going in,“[the overall experience] was truly a blessing.”
As this was the last time Bubba will ever play under head coach Eric Dooley, “I’m comfortable with him. I get another opportunity to play with him.” The new “Bubba McDaniel Story ‘’ produced by The Office of Student Media, dives a little into McDaniel’s life, and he says he simply just wants people to understand “Jag Nation, I love them Jags. Faithful to the Jags and Go Jags!”
In addition, Jason Dumas was a standout player between the HBCU NFL Combine and the Legacy Bowl. Earning the Defensive MVP award with 3 sacks and 31 yards, Dumas’s “love for the game” drove his dominance. Jason Dumas, a 5-foot-11, 270-pound defensive lineman, transferred from Prairie View under head coach Eric Dooley this past season. “When guys do the right thing and do the things you’re supposed to do, good things are supposed to happen,” Dooley said. “The young man works extremely hard,” Dooley said about Dumas.
“I’m a hard worker. I’m a go-getter. I’m a team player, and I’ll do everything I can for the team first and stay disciplined to who I am.” When interviewed by OSM’s sports editor and reporter, Eric White, Dumas stated, “It was a great experience, and it helped us grow. Hopefully, get called up to the League, but I loved my time at Southern; and I am extremely blessed.” Finishing his collegiate career at Southern, Dumas prepares to finish his engineering degree in the summer and hopes to have a shot at the league.
Camron Peterson continuously showed up for Team Robinson as his undeniable presence on the defensive line allowed him to finish with 6 tackles, 3 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks, 1 force-fumble, and a pass breakup.
Team Robinson came out with the win, ending the game with a score of 10-3. “I’m not surprised by the guys being MVP. I thought the whole team was MVP.” Dooley speaks ecstatically about his winning team. “We had a short period of time to be with these young men, but they came out and displayed their talent and did a great job.” To Dooley, it is vital to keep having the HBCU Legacy Bowl and get eyeballs for these young men. “You’re on a big stage. You get a chance to be on national TV. Get to see all 32 teams,” Dooley says. “I think you only need to catch one set of eyes.”
The 2023 NFL Scouting Combine is scheduled from February 23rd to March 3rd. Southern University has several players declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft scheduled for April 27th-April 29th in Kansas City, Missouri.