james burgess jr.

James Burgess Jr. came to Alabama State University out of Huffman High School in Birmingham, Alabama. In addition to football, James was a standout basketball player at Huffman, winning the 6A AHSAA State Basketball Championship. Burgess appeared in nine games for the Hornets and recorded five tackles during the spring 2021 FCS football season. He played in eight games and recorded four tackles during the 2022 campaign. James saw regular playing time during the 2023 season and finished his junior year with 32 tackles, 26 solo. He intercepted two passes for touchdowns in 2023, while his 11 passed defended tied for third in the SWAC Conference. 

James Burgess Jr. produced an incredible senior season for the Alabama State University Hornets and won the 2024 Aeneas Williams Award. Burgess finished the regular season with 53 tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovered. He was targeted 37 times and allowed only nine catches while in man coverage. James tied for third in the SWAC with 10 passes defended, and finished first in the conference with four interceptions, while helping lead the SWAC’s top defense. 

Burgess was named First-Team All-SWAC and First Team All-American and he received a 2025 Legacy Bowl invitation. 

Kenny Gallop Jr. came to Howard University out of Churchland High School in Portsmouth, Virginia. Gallop appeared in two games as a freshman. He saw regular playing time during his sophomore season finishing 2021 with 75 tackles, 45 solo while being named to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) All-Conference Second Team and 2021 Phil Steele FCS All-MEAC Second Team. Kenny became one of the most dominate defensive backs in the FCS in 2022. He had 93 tackles, 63 solo while leading the Bison to a share of the MEAC regular season championship. Gallop was a 2022 All-MEAC first team selection and named to BOXTOROW HBCU All-America Second Team, the Bluebloods All-Conference First Team, and Phil Steele FCS All-MEAC First Team.

Kenny Gallop Jr. produced an incredible senior season for the Howard Bison and won the 2023 Aeneas Williams Award. Gallop finished the regular season with 65 tackles, 40 solo, 1.5 sacks, 4 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 3 interceptions for 26 yards, and 3 passes defended through 11 games. He recorded a season-high 11 tackles and the game-clinching interception in the homecoming victory over Norfolk State earning him FCS National Defensive Player of the Week. Howard's secondary topped the FCS in pass defense, allowing only 129.1 pass yards per game. 

Gallop was named to the HBCU All-American Team, FCS Football Central All-American Team, and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Khalil Baker was a standout athlete at East Forsyth High School just outside Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Baker was a two-time all-conference and all-county selection, as well as a two-time sportsmanship award recipient while at East Forsyth. He also served as team captain of the 2018 state championship team before attending North Carolina Central University (NCCU). 

As a freshman at NCCU, Baker appeared in three games as a defensive back recording one tackle. He received more playing time as a sophomore, where he appeared in 11 games and finished the 2021 season with 16 tackles and two passes defended.  

Baker became a dominate force on the field as a junior. He won the inaugural Aeneas Williams Award, given to the nation's best defensive back in HBCU Division I college football. He made more history by becoming the first NCCU Eagle to earn Associated Press FCS All-America First Team honors. Baker was named the 2022 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Defensive Player of the Year. He led the Eagles to the 2022 MEAC Championship with 61 tackles, 43 solo, nine passes defended and four interceptions. Baker capped the year by registering a team-high 10 tackles to earn the 2022 Celebration Bowl Defensive MVP award, as the Eagles defeated No. 5 Jackson State in overtime to capture the HBCU national championship title.