Bolar, Cherelus, Kinsler to Compete in the HBCU Legacy Bowl
COURTESY OF ALCORN SPORTS
NEW ORLEANS – Three Braves football players have been selected to compete in the HBCU Legacy Bowl on Saturday, Feb. 25. CJ Bolar, Claudin Cherelus, and Keyron Kinsler Jr. will represent Alcorn State University at the annual event hosted by the Black College Football Hall of Fame at 3 p.m. CST at the Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, La.
CJ Bolar is a 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior from Purvis, Mississippi. The wide receiver transfer from Vanderbilt and Poplarville High alum caught a pass in all but one (1) game for which he participated throughout his career for the Purple and Gold. He finished the 2022 season fourth on the Braves squad in receptions (21) while tallying 248 receiving yards. He would also return two punts for the Braves this past season.
Claudin Cherelus, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound senior from Golden Gate, Florida, was named to the All-SWAC Second Team on defense. The Braves’ middle linebacker was one of the best at his position during the Fred McNair era. Cherelus concluded the 2022 season ranked eighth in the SWAC for tackles for loss, despite missing a pair of games with an injury. Additionally, he was 10th overall in the league for total tackles. The UMass transfer and Golden Gate High alum registered 67 tackles across the 2022 season, including a team-leading 13.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He added a team’s second-most six quarterback sacks for a loss of 39 yards to the opposition.
Safety Keyron Kinsler Jr. was a driving force behind the Purple and Gold defensive secondary during the 2022 campaign. A native of Micanopy, Florida, the 5-foot-11, 190-pound safety and alum of North Marion High ended the season ranked third on the squad in total tackles with 61 to his credit (34 solo, 27 assisted). He collected one interception on the season and was tied for second overall with five pass deflections across the campaign. He also recovered a pair of fumbles and forced a team-leading three fumbles. In a come-from-behind win at home to Bethune-Cookman, Kinsler amassed two forced fumbles against the Wildcats.
“Opportunity is what the HBCU Legacy Bowl is all about,” said NFL QB legend and Black College Football Hall of Fame Co-Founder James “Shack” Harris. “We shall continue to do all we can to lift Historically Black Colleges and Universities through this meaningful platform.
The HBCU Legacy Bowl, presented by the Black College Football Hall of Fame, is a postseason all-star game that showcases the top 100 NFL draft-eligible football players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. More than a football game, the week-long celebration of Black culture and history will provide invaluable exposure for HBCU students.
Founding Partners for the HBCU Legacy Bowl include the National Football League, Adidas, Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and his 15 and the Mahomies Foundation, Coca-Cola, Coors Light, New Orleans Saints, Riddell, State Farm, Sugar Bowl, Tulane University, Zebra Technologies, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.