2020 Grambling State Tigers football team

2020 Grambling State Tigers football
Conference	Southwestern Athletic Conference
Division	West Division
Record	0–4 (0–4 SWAC)
Head coach	Broderick Fobbs (7th season)
Home stadium	Eddie Robinson Stadium

2020 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
No. 24 Alabama A&M x$		3	–	0					5	–	0
Alabama State		3	–	2					3	–	3
Jackson State		3	–	2					4	–	3
Mississippi Valley State		1	–	3					1	–	3
West Division
Arkansas–Pine Bluff x		4	–	0					4	–	1
Southern		4	–	1					5	–	1
Prairie View A&M*		2	–	1					2	–	1
Texas Southern		1	–	2					1	–	2
Grambling State		0	–	4					0	–	4
Championship: Alabama A&M 40, Arkansas–Pine Bluff 33
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions Note: The SWAC played a spring conference-only schedule (February–May 2021) due to COVID-19 pandemic. Alcorn State opted out of the spring season; all of their scheduled games were counted as forfeit wins for their opponents. * – Ineligible for FCS postseason play due to NCAA sanctions. Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2020 Grambling State Tigers football team represented Grambling State University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Tigers were led by seventh-year head coach Broderick Fobbs and played their home games at Eddie Robinson Stadium in Grambling, Louisiana as members of the West Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

On July 20, 2020, the Southwestern Athletic Conference announced that it would not play fall sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes the football program. The conference is formalizing plans to conduct a competitive schedule for football during the 2021 spring semester.

Preseason

Recruiting class

Reference:

College recruiting information (2020)
Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	40‡	Commit date
Lawrence Asiedu Safety	Cedar Park, TX	Vista Ridge HS Fort Scott CC	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	-	Dec 18, 2019
	Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Egan Atkins Offensive Lne	Tampa, FL	Blake HS ASA CC	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	315 lb (143 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Dayron Butler Cornerback	Manor, TX	Manor HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Zion Cage Defensive Line	Pflugerville, TX	Pflugerville HS Navarro College	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	260 lb (120 kg)	-	Dec 18, 2019
	Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Javon Cox Defensive Line	Lemanville, LA	East Ascension HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	245 lb (111 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Demarion Cleaves Linebacker	Memphis, TN	Freedom Prep	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Isaiah Conner Linebacker	Memphis, TN	Freedom Prep	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Riyan Cotton Linebacker	Baton Rouge, LA	Central HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	230 lb (100 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Keelan Cox Defensive Line	Manvel, TX	Manvel HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Josh Darling Linebacker	Gordo, AL	Gordo HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN: N/A
Reyondous Estes Cornerbacker	East St. Louis, IL	East St. Louis HS Minnesota Riverside CC	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN: N/A
Walter Forte Linebacker	Jonesboro, GA	Jonesboro HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Trenton Grow Wide Receiver	Edgard, LA	West St. John HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN: N/A
Tyron Hall Cornerback	Frisco, TX	Lone Star HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Josh Jefferson Offensive Line	Edgewood, MD	St. John's College HS Massachusetts ASA CC	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	295 lb (134 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Marquise McKnight Kicker/Punter	Baton Rouge, LA	Madison Prep	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Bryan Powell Linebacker	Decauter, GA	Southwest DeKalb HS ASA CC	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN: N/A
Josh Reed Linebacker	Houston, TX	Heights HS Blinn CC	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Jaxson Sanders Offensive Line	White Hall, AR	White Hall HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	303 lb (137 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN: N/A
Jalon Sheffield Defensive Line	Tallahassee, FL	Tallahassee Leon HS Florida Atlantic South Alabama	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	255 lb (116 kg)	-	Dec 18, 2019
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN: N/A
Myron Stewart Safety	Port Gibson, MS	Port Gibson HS Mississippi Gulf Coast CC	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	-	Dec 18, 2019
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
DeMarcus Tinsley Offensive Line	Newnan, GA	Newnan HS Dodge City CC	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	325 lb (147 kg)	-	Dec 18, 2019
	Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Willie "Trey" Truitt Wide Receiver	Snellville, GA	South Gwinnett HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Elijah Walker Quarterback	Amite, LA	Amite HS Hinds CC Louisiana Tech	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	-	Dec 18, 2019
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN: N/A
Hurshie Williams Safety	Harker Heights, TX	Harker Heights HS Cisco CC North Texas	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	-	Dec 18, 2019
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A

Preseason polls

The SWAC will release their polls in July 2020.

West Division

Predicted finish	Team	Votes
1
2
3
4
5

East Division

Predicted finish	Team	Votes
1
2
3
4
5

Preseason all–SWAC teams

Offense

Defense

Schedule

Due to the SWAC's postponement of the 2020 football season to spring 2021, games against South Alabama, South Carolina State and UTSA were canceled. The SWAC released updated spring schedules on August 17.

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
March 6	12:00 p.m.	Jackson State	Eddie Robinson Stadium Grambling, LA	ESPN3	L 28–33	6,340
March 13	3:00 p.m.	vs. Prairie View A&M	Globe Life Park Arlington, TX (State Fair Classic)		L 10–17	10,500
March 20	12:00 p.m.	Arkansas–Pine Bluff	Eddie Robinson Stadium Grambling, LA		L 21–48	5,105
April 17	1:30 p.m.	vs. Southern	Independence Stadium Shreveport, LA (Bayou Classic)	NBCSN	L 7–49	11,312
All times are in Central time

Game summaries

Jackson State

Jackson State at Grambling State

1 2 3 4 Total • JSU Tigers 7 20 0 6 33 GRAM Tigers 14 0 7 7 28 Date: March 6, 2021 Location: Eddie Robinson Stadium Grambling, LA Game start: 12:00 p.m. CST Elapsed time: 3 hours and 58 minutes Game attendance: 6,340 Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C) TV announcers (ESPN3): Tiffany Greene (play-by-play) and Jay Walker (analyst)

Scoring summary 1 11:34 JSU Corey Reed Jr. 13-yard pass from Jalon Jones (Noah Anderson kick) (3 plays, 10 yards, 1:17) JSU 7–0 08:04 GRAM Geremy Hickbottom 2-yard rush (Garrett Urban kick) (9 plays, 61 yards, 3:23) TIE 7–7 04:07 GRAM Keilon Elder 1-yard rush (Garrett Urban kick)br/>(7 play, 51 yards, 2:30) GRAM 14–7 2 10:48 JSU Jalon Jones 4-yard rush (Noah Anderson PAT failed) (9 plays, 67 yards, 4:02) GRAM 14–13 09:05 JSU Daylen Baldwin 64-yard pass from Jalon Jones (Glenn Misiak kick) (2 plays, 68 yards, 0:44) JSU 20–14 05:00 JSU Tyson Alexander 33-yard rush (Glenn Misiak kick) (5 plays, 62 yards, 1:39) JSU 27–14 3 08:50 GRAM Darrell Clark 15-yard pass from Geremy Hickbottom (Garrett Urban kick) (11 plays, 67 yards, 4:00) JSU 27–21 4 13:55 GRAM Keilon Elder 2-yard rush (Garrett Urban kick) (16 plays, 80 yard, 5:45) GRAM 28–27 12:35 JSU Warren Newman 20-yard pass from Jalon Jones (Noah Anderson PAT failed) (4 plays, 50 yards, 1:13) JSU 33–28

See also: 2020 Jackson State Tigers football team

Pregame line	Over/under
GRAM −10.5	50

Statistics	Jackson State	Grambling State
First downs	21	29
Total yards	473	422
Rushing yards	293	182
Passing yards	180	240
Turnovers	2	1
Time of possession	28:06	31:54

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Jackson State	Passing	Jalon Jones	12/18, 180 yards, 3 TDs
	Rushing	Tyson Alexander	17 carries, 184 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Daylen Baldwin	4 receptions, 95 yards, 1 TD
Grambling State	Passing	Geremy Hickbottom	24/35, 237 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Geremy Hickbottom	16 carries, 81 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Dorrell James	6 receptions, 87 yards

Vs. Prairie View A&M

Prairie View A&M vs. Grambling State

1 2 3 4 Total • Panthers 3 7 7 0 17 Tigers 0 0 10 0 10 Date: March 13, 2021 Location: Globe Life Park Arlington, TX Game start: 3:00 p.m. CST Elapsed time: 3 hours and 20 minutes Game attendance: 10,500 Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C) • Weather: Light Rain Referee: Tony Ross

Scoring summary 1 05:10 PVAMU Luis Reyes 36-yard field goal (19 plays, 59 yards, 6:50) PVAMU 3–0 2 14:31 PVAMU TJ Starks 6-yard rush (Luis Reyes kick) (9 plays, 67 yards, 3:29) PVAMU 10–0 3 10:27 GRAM Garrett Urban 46-yard field goal (12 plays, 64 yards, 4:24) PVAMU 10–3 08:21 PVAMU Chris Johnson 60-yard pass from Trazon Connley (Luis Reyes kick) (5 plays, 69 yards, 2:06) PVAMU 17–3 00:58 GRAM Lyndemian Brooks 1-yard rush (Garrett Urban kick) (3 plays, 41 yards, 0:56) PVAMU 17–10

See also: 2020 Prairie View A&M Panthers football team and State Fair Classic

Pregame line	Over/under
GRAM –2.5	55

Statistics	Prairie View A&M	Grambling State
First downs	18	17
Total yards	370	308
Rushing yards	153	105
Passing yards	217	203
Turnovers	2	1
Time of possession	43:05	28:46

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Prairie View A&M	Passing	Trazon Connley	8/12, 152 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Kristian Mosley	18 carries, 74 yards
	Receiving	Chris Johnson	3 receptions, 108 yards, 1 TD
Grambling State	Passing	Geremy Hickbottom	11/16, 113 yards, 2 INTs
	Rushing	Lyndemian Brooks	11 carries, 61 yards
	Receiving	Darrell Clark	6 receptions, 91 yards

Arkansas–Pine Bluff

Arkansas–Pine Bluff at Grambling State

1 2 3 4 Total • Golden Lions 7 7 28 6 48 Tigers 0 7 7 7 21 Date: March 20, 2021 Location: Eddie Robinson Stadium Grambling, LA Game start: 12:00 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 15 minutes Game attendance: 5,105 Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C) Referee: Gary Leeper

Scoring summary 1 12:14 UAPB Jalon Thigpen 35-yard interception returned (Zach Piwniczka kick) (0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00) UAPB 7–0 2 04:18 GRAM CJ Russell 4-yard rush (Garrett Urban kick) (7 plays, 75 yards, 1:57) TIE 7–7 03:34 UAPB Harry Ballard III 58-yard pass from Skyler Perry (Zach Piwniczka kick)br/>(2 play, 60 yards, 0:38) UAPB 14–7 3 13:58 UAPB Josh Wilkes 60-yard pass from Skyler Perry (Zach Piwniczka kick) (3 plays, 60 yards, 1:02) UAPB 21–7 09:29 UAPB Mattias Clark 4-yard rush (Zach Piwniczka kick) (10 plays, 61 yards, 3:24) UAPB 28–7 07:23 GRAM Kobe' Ross 39-yard pass from Elijah Walker (Garrett Urban kick) (7 plays, 73 yards, 1:59) UAPB 28–14 03:09 UAPB Terrill McCray III 7-yard blocked punt returned (Zach Piwniczka kick) (0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00) UAPB 35–14 00:48 UABP Jeremy Brown 28-yard pass from Skyler Perry (Zach Piwniczka kick) (2 play, 36 yards, 0:52) UAPB 42–14 4 12:00 UAPB Jeremy Brown 31-yard pass from Skyler Perry (Zach Pwiniczka kick) (10 plays, 70 yards, 1:50) UAPB 48–14 09:04 GRAM Kash Foley 77-yard pass from Keilon Elder (Garrett Urban kick) (2 plays, 77 yards, 0:58) UAPB 48–21

See also: 2020 Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football team

Pregame line	Over/under
GRAM −6.0	53

Statistics	Arkansas–Pine Bluff	Grambling State
First downs	18	16
Total yards	402	368
Rushing yards	56	87
Passing yards	346	281
Turnovers	1	1
Time of possession	27:53	32:07

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Arkansas–Pine Bluff	Passing	Skyler Perry	18/30, 346 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Omar Allen Jr.	11 carries, 42 yards
	Receiving	Josh Wilkes	6 receptions, 131 yards, 1 TD
Grambling State	Passing	Elijah Walker	13/26, 174 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Keilon Elder	11 carries, 65 yards
	Receiving	Kash Foley	5 receptions, 111 yards, 1 TD

Vs. Southern

Grambling State vs. Southern

1 2 3 4 Total Tigers 0 0 7 0 7 • Jaguars 14 14 14 7 49 Date: April 17, 2021 Location: Independence Stadium Shreveport, LA Game start: 1:30 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 24 minutes Game attendance: 11,312 Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: NNW 11 MPH Referee: Y. N. Meyers Television network: NBC Sports Network

Scoring summary 1 08:48 SOU Ladarius Skelton 3-yard rush (Cesar Barajas kick) (12 plays, 75 yards, 4:46) SOU 7–0 03:01 SOU Craig Nelson 4-yard rush (Cesar Barajas kick) (10 plays, 57 yards, 4:55) SOU 14–0 2 11:24 SOU Travis Tucker 22-yard pass from John Lampley (Cesar Barajas kick)br/>(8 plays, 82 yards, 3:29) SOU 21–0 00:11 SOU Jerodd Sims 1-yard rush (Cesar Barajas kick) (5 plays, 78 yards, 3:11) SOU 28–0 3 11:40 SOU Ladarius Skelton 3-yard rush (Cesar Barajas kick) (6 plays, 69 yards, 3:11) SOU 35–0 09:01 GRAM Raylon Richardson 13-yard pass from Elijah Walker (Garrett Urban kick) (7 plays, 75 yards, 2:39) SOU 35–7 03:22 SOU Marquis McClain 5-yard rush (Cesar Barajas kick) (9 plays, 68 yards, 5:33) SOU 42–7 4 13:46 SOU Glendon McDaniels 5-yard rush (Cesar Barajas kick) (3 plays, 50 yards, 1:01) SOU 49–7

See also: 2020 Southern Jaguars football team and Bayou Classic

Pregame line	Over/under
SOU −14.0	55

Statistics	Grambling State	Southern
First downs	13	19
Total yards	208	520
Rushing yards	143	232
Passing yards	65	288
Turnovers	0	0
Time of possession	25:51	34:09

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Grambling State	Passing	Elijah Walker	9/14, 65 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Lyndemian Brooks	9 carries, 71 yards
	Receiving	Raylon Richardson	3 receptions, 51 yards, 1 TD
Southern	Passing	John Lampley	8/11, 143 yards, 1 TDs
	Rushing	Ladarius Skelton	7 carries, 76 yards, 2 TDs
	Receiving	Ethan Howard	5 receptions, 80 yards