2022 Season Begins as Wildcats Face Hurricanes

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Bethune-Cookman begins its second season as members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference as the Wildcats meet the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. It's the Wildcats' first game in Miami since 2019 when the Hurricanes posted a 63-0 decision. The teams have met five times, the first in 2011.

The Wildcats are trying to rebound from a 2-9 campaign in 2021 after sitting out the 2020 season due to COVID-19. That 2-9 was B-CU's worst record since the 1958 team finished 1-7 after going 2-6 in 1957.

Game Information

Satuday, Sept. 3
Opponent: Miami (0-0)
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Miami Gardens, Fla. | Hard Rock Stadium
Watch: https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=c8aac356-9859-4eb4-a1fc-8df19d334bdb

A WINNING TRADITION….

The 2010s saw the Wildcats enjoy massive success, posting an 80-35 record over the decade that was the tenth best in FCS. B-CU recorded 17 fourth-quarter comebacks, the third highest FCS total.

AND SINCE WE'RE IN MIAMI…

Bethune-Cookman's most famous NFL alumni of course is Hall of Famer Larry Little, a member of the famed 1972 Miami Dolphins. There were two Wildcats on that 17-0 Super Bowl champions, the other being Maulty Moore.
WELCOME BACK, PART ONE
Bethune-Cookman has 46 returning players from last year, 23 on defense, 21 on offense and two special teams players.

WELCOME BACK, PART TWO
South Florida has always been a prime recruiting area for the Wildcats. This year's team features 18 players from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

KEMARI, PART ONE
Senior tight end Kemari Averett has received numerous preseason awards, including being named the best tight end on the 2022 Black College Football Hall of Fame Player Of The Year Watch List. Averett was also named to the All-SWAC First Team at SWAC media day in July, as well as the Stats Perform Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch, the 2022 HERO Sports FCS Preseason All American Second Team Offense, and the BOXTOROW HBCU All-American Second Team.

KEMARI PART TWO
Averett finished the 2021 season with 52 receptions, 888 yards, and 11 touchdowns. He averaged 17.1 yards per catch and just over 80 yards per game. He caught a pass in all 11 games and scored a touchdown in eight.

DOWN UNDER
Senior punter Ben Lennon played four seasons of Australian rules football in the Australian Football League from 2014-17. He was selected in the first round of the 2013 AFL draft with the No. 12 overall pick by the Richmond Tigers. He played in 21 career games with 10 goals. Lennon was second in the SWAC in punting last year with an average of 42.7 yards per kick.

DEEP THREAT
WR Darry Powell Jr. was B-CU's second leading receiver last year behind Averett, averaging 21.4 yards per catch.

BOTH SIDES
When quarterback Jalon Jones throws a touchdown pass this year, he'll be able to say he's thrown for scores for and against the Wildcats. While at Jackson State, he threw a TD pass in the 2019 MEAC/SWAC Challenge against B-CU in Atlanta.

DEAS, PLEASE
Darnell Deas finished second in the SWAC with an average of 28 yards per return this season. Deas racked up 476 return yards on 17 returns. At South Carolina State, Deas returned four kicks for 142 yards, including a 95-yard return for a touchdown. He also returned a kick 89 yards for a touchdown against Alabama A&M.

DON'T SLEEP ON OMARI
Senior Omari Hill-Robinson was B-CU's other preseason award recipient, Robinson was named to the HBCU Preseason All-American Team and Preseason Second Team Southwestern Athletic Conference. Hill-Robinson finished tied atop the SWAC with four interceptions. He also added eight pass break-ups.

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