QBs Hickbottom, Witt, WR McClain stand out in Legacy Bowl

NEW ORLEANS – Tennessee State’s Geremy Hickbottom began his final college football season by learning a new system with a new team and ended it by being named the top offensive player at the first All-Star game organized for players at historically Black colleges and universities.

Hickbottom accounted for 97 yards and a touchdown from scrimmage in three possessions, helping Team Gaither beat Team Robinson 22-6 in the inaugural HBCU Legacy Bowl on Saturday.

Hickbottom’s approach centered on “taking what they give me, not trying to overdo it,” he said. “That’s when you get yourself in trouble. But just take what they give me a find a way to execute it.”

Hickbottom passed for 72 yards and rushed for 25, including a 3-yard touchdown dash around the right end.

Bowie State running back Calil Wilkins turned a short pass from Chowan’s Bryce Witt into a 12-yard touchdown and Norfolk State quarterback Juwan Carter added a 7-yard touchdown run for Team Gaither.

The teams were named for two of the most prominent former head coaches at historically Black colleges and universities: Grambling’s Eddie Robinson and Florida A&M’s Jake Gaither.

Southern receiver Marquis McClain caught seven passes for 84 yards for Team Gaither.

Florida A&M’s Antwan Collier, who played for Team Robinson, was named the game’s top defensive player after making nine tackles, including 1 1/2 tackles for loss.

“Throughout this week I just came in and told myself, `Learn the system fast, fit into the scheme and do your job,’ and that’s exactly what I did – and came out and competed every day,” said Collier, who previous played for UCF before an arrest led to his dismissal.

Collier thanked Florida A&M coach Willie Simmons – who coached Team Gaither at the Legacy Bowl – for giving him a second chance and said he arrived in New…

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