The Celebration Bowl has become the de facto college football championship for historically black colleges.
From Delaware to Florida, and from Alabama to Texas, the goal each season for Division I football teams playing in the Mid-Eastern Athletic and Southwestern Athletic conferences is to reach and win the Celebration Bowl. For the third straight season, that game is being played in Atlanta.
And this season the game brings some metro Atlanta natives back home. On Saturday at noon on ABC, you may be able to spot a quarterback from Cobb County, or a linebacker from Lawrenceville.
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Here’s all the metro Atlanta players on the rosters for the Celebration Bowl:
North Carolina A&T
- Marcus Albert: Redshirt Senior, Linebacker – College Park, Banneker A leader on the Aggies' defense, Albert has recorded 40 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble this year.
- Kylil Carter: Junior, Quarterback – Austell, South Cobb Carter has taken a backup roll this year, but has played some earlier in the season. He's rushed for 63 yards and passed for 50 more.
- Kadarius Kendrick: Redshirt Sophomore, Defensive End – Forest Park, Forest Park The Clayton County native has seen action in 11 games and has racked up 4.5 tackles-for-losses.
- Julian McKnight: Redshirt Junior, Defensive Lineman – Conyers, Rockdale County McKnight has seen time in six games and has 12 tackles on the season.
- Joshua Patrick: Senior, Linebacker – DeKalb, Southwest DeKalb Patrick has 18 tackles and an interception so far this season.
- Trey Scott: Grad Student, Tight End – Atlanta, McEachern A transfer from Tulane, Scott is one of the lead pass catchers for the Tigers this year. He's tallied 24 receptions for 347 yards and a touchdown.
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Grambling State
- Malik Route: Freshman, Wide Receiver – Tucker, Griffin A true freshman, Route has played in 10 games for the Tigers and caught two passes for 17 yards.
- Raylon Richardson: Redshirt Freshman, Wide Receiver – Atlanta, Miller Grove
- Justin Victorian: Redshirt Sophomore, Defensive Back – Roswell, Roswell The north Fulton County native has seen action in five games, tallying two tackles and a pass break-up.
- Johntavious Robinson: Junior, Running Back – Atlanta, North Clayton
- Marchael Jackson: Redshirt Sophomore, Linebacker – Lawrenceville, Central Gwinnett This Gwinnett native is a regular at linebacker for the Tigers. He's played in 11 games and notched 23 tackles, two sacks and forced a fumble.
- Brandon Varner: Junior, Defensive Lineman – Atlanta, Kipp Atlanta A playmaker in the trenches, Varner has played in every game for the Tigers this season. He has six tackles-for-losses, two fumble recoveries and a safety.
- Darrell Brown: Junior, Offensive Lineman – Atlanta, MLK Jr. Brown has anchored an offensive line that has paved the way for the SWAC's No. 1 scoring offense this season.
- Kobe Ross: Redshirt Freshman, Wide Receiver – Decatur, MLK Jr. Ross has caught nine passes for 138 yards this season.
- Cameron Richardson: Freshman, Defensive Lineman – Stone Mountain, Tucker
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This is the third edition of the Celebration Bowl, a game that started in 2015. The winner will be the first two-time champion of the game, as Grambling won last year and A&T took home the trophy in its inagural year.
For the Aggies, one big record is on the line. If they top the Tigers, the 2017 Aggies will be the first ever team from the MEAC to complete an undefeated season since the conference started playing football in 1971. The Aggies are anchored by three FCS All-Americans and MEAC Coach of the Year, Rod Broadway.
After a season-opening loss to Tulane, Grambling is on an 11-game winning streak and led by SWAC Offensive Player of the Year and former Ole Miss quarterback, DeVante Kincade. The Tigers are guided by four-time SWAC Coach of the Year, Broderick Fobbs. Its defensive front led all of Division I college football in sacks this season with 47, three more than playoff-bound Clemson.
This will be the first bowl game that Mercedes-Benz Stadium will host.
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