National title pursuit for North Carolina A&T

One of the country's most successful football programs in recent years looks to add another title on Saturday when North Carolina A&T meets Alcorn State at noon in the fourth Celebration Bowl at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The Aggies (9-2) also seeks the national title for Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) that'll be bestowed upon Saturday's winner.

A&T senior linebacker Deion Jones is a 2014 South Point High graduate who has helped the Aggies to a 50-7 record the past four seasons including those bowl appearances and national titles.

In those four seasons, A&T has beaten three FBS schools - Kent State in 2016, Charlotte in 2017 and East Carolina earlier this year.

Also playing for the Aggies are sophomore wide receiver Zachary Leslie (Burns 2016 graduate) and freshman defensive lineman Devin Harrell (Hunter Huss 2017 graduate).

This season, Jones has 54 tackles (seven for losses) in 11 starts, Leslie had 44 catches for 557 yards and eight touchdowns in 11 games (10 starts) and Harrell had four tackles in three games.

Leslie was named third team All-MEAC for his play in a year in which Cam Newton's younger brother Caylin Newton of Howard was the first team All-MEAC quarterback.

After winning or sharing a fifth straight Mid-Eastern Conference title, the Aggies are pursuing the school's seventh national title; A&T previously won HBCU national championships in 1951, 1968, 1990, 1999, 2015 and last season.

Richard Walker: 704-869-1843; twitter.com/jrwalk22