Don?t start calling Morgan State “Tight End University” just quite yet. But it might soon be time to start.
In four of the past five years, a Morgan State tight end has earned All-Mid Eastern Athletic Conference postseason honors ? highlighted by 2003 NFL third-round draft pick Visanthe Shiancoe who plays for the Minnesota Vikings. And with the way Rohnie Sykes has played this season, there?s a good chance the Bears? streak will continue this season.
“Rohnie is a great athlete and is strong and does well in the running game and passing game to receive the ball,” Morgan State coach Donald Hill-Eley said. “He blocks as well as a fullback and sometimes we try to put him back there and play-action to get him the ball. He?s an all-around player for us.”
But Skyes, a 6-foot-5, 260-pound senior who transferred from Yuba Community College in Marysville, Calif. in 2005, isn?t worried about accolades ? just securing Morgan State?s third winning season in 28 years.
“We wanna get this one,” Sykes, a native of Marysville, Calif., said. “It?s something to remember and go out on a wining note. Juniors who are going to be seniors next year will have something to start on.”
However, Morgan State (5-5, 4-3) will need more than just desire to beat South Carolina State (5-4, 4-2) in the team?s season finale this afternoon at 1:30 in Orangeburg, S.C. The Bears haven?t scored more than 20 points since a 36-33 overtime win against Howard on Oct. 13.
To kick-start the offense, Hill-Eley will look to Sykes to emerge as the favorite target for quarterbacks Byron Selby and Mario Melton, who have combined to complete just 49.3 percent of their passes for 1,407 yards with 7 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. So far, Sykes, who has five catches for 61 yards, primarily has been used as a blocker for senior running back Chad Simpson, who has rushed for a school-record 1,271 yards this season.
“We have to stretch the field with the passing game to open the running game,” Hill-Eley said. “There?s no doubt about it that we worked on that all week and are looking forward to doing that this weekend.”
For Sykes, a win over the Bulldogs would be a great way to cap his college career which has positioned him for the chance to make a living playing football.
“Being around the team we are like brothers,” Sykes said. “We all came together real well this year compared to last year when we were more individuals when I transferred.”
