Alabama A&M has taken Mekhi Hagens off their official roster.
In a surprising turn of events, veteran Cornelius Brown IV has been confirmed as the new starting quarterback for Alabama A&M, following the removal of Mekhi Hagens from the roster due to an academic issue.
Brown, a returning veteran, is expected to be the starter for head coach Sam Shade this season. Last year, Brown was Alabama A&M's most consistent quarterback, completing 127 of 222 passes for 1,666 yards and 12 touchdowns while sharing playing time with Xavier Lankford[1].
Mekhi Hagens, who was removed from Alabama A&M’s roster, was a highly productive transfer from Arkansas-Pine Bluff. In the previous season, Hagens threw for over 2,500 yards and 16 touchdowns, ranking him No. 2 in passing yards and No. 3 in touchdown passes in the SWAC. However, due to academic reasons, he will not be playing for Alabama A&M this season[1].
Hagens announced his transfer from UAPB in a social media post in November. During his time at UAPB, Hagens emerged as one of the SWAC's top quarterbacks, completing 178 of 304 passes for 2,278 yards and running for 301 yards in 2020[1].
Meanwhile, Brown began his college career at Georgia State, where he spent portions of three seasons. During his time at Georgia State, Brown threw for 2,489 yards and accounted for 26 total touchdowns[1].
In a standout performance, Hagens led Arkansas-Pine Bluff's offense, which ranked fifth in the SWAC. His standout performance came in UAPB's big win over Prairie View A&M.
In summary:
| Quarterback | Background | Past Achievements | |-------------------------|----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------| | Cornelius Brown IV | Returning veteran for Alabama A&M | 1,666 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2024 season[1] | | Mekhi Hagens (removed) | Transfer from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 2024 star | 2,541 yards and 16 touchdowns in SWAC 2024[1] |
As Alabama A&M searches for another option at quarterback, Cornelius Brown IV will lead the team this season. Craig Haley provided insight into who Alabama A&M might be considering as a replacement for Hagens[2].
[1] Source: Alabama A&M Sports [2] Source: Craig Haley
In the NCAA football realm, the absence of Mekhi Hagens, due to academic issues, unsettles Alabama A&M's offensive lineup, as he amassed impressive scores with 2,541 yards and 16 touchdowns in the SWAC during the previous season. Conversely, Cornelius Brown IV, who displayed consistent scores with 1,666 yards and 12 touchdowns in his tenure for Alabama A&M last season, achieves the title of the team's new starting quarterback. Meanwhile, American football enthusiasts might find interest in exploring other universities' potential quarterbacks, as the hunt for Hagens' replacement commences.
