KJ Black —Focused and Ready
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Quarterback |
KJ Black, a 6'4” 225 pound transfer from Western Kentucky and the rest of the Prairie View A&M football team entered the 2009 season with their sights set on winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship as well as the Black College National Championship. Black, who stepped on campus with two years of football eligibility remaining, says he came to Prairie View because he liked the school and facilities. He also viewed Head Coach Henry Frazier as someone he could believe and trust. Assured that he would get the opportunity to compete for playing time, he started fall practice jockeying for the quarterback position with senior Jay Bluford. The upperclassman got the nod to start the season and Black dedicated himself to being an understudy who would remain focused and ready when called upon.
His call of duty arrived in the season' second game against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent New Mexico State. With his team down 21-3, Coach Frazier was hoping Black would jump-start the Panthers offense. The Louisville, Kentucky, native responded by rushing for a nine-yard score and tossing a 27-yard touchdown pass as the Aggies held on to win 21-18. Despite the loss, Black's stellar play and leadership put him under center as the Panthers new signal-caller.
His first start would come in the Annual State Fair Classic at The Cotton Bowl in Dallas against defending SBN National Champ, Grambling State. In what turned out to be his “coming out party,” Black rushed for two touchdowns and threw for two more as Prairie View A&M slipped past the Tigers, 35-32. On the day, he completed 16 of 18 passes and threw for 161 of his team's 184 passing yards to lead the Panthers to their first win against Grambling State since 1987.
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Prairie View A&M quarterback, KJ Black led the Panthers to their first SWAC title in 45 years. |
Black elevated his play in the Panthers next two games against Alabama State and Mississippi Valley State, respectively. In a 24-10 win over the Hornets, he threw for 341 yards, while against the Delta Devils he provided Prairie View's Blackshear Field homecoming crowd with a display of his mastery of the Panthers offense by tossing three touchdowns in their 38-0 win. His next game would bring a stiff challenge from Southern and a quarterback duel with SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Bryant Lee. The Jaguar got the best of his counterpart on the stat sheet. Lee was 25 of 36 for 285 yards and ran for 59 yards on nine carries. Black was 13 of 22 for 165 yards, but his 49 yard scoring strike to runningback Donald Babers propelled the Panthers to a 16-14 win.
In what turned out to be a preview of the SWAC Championship Game, The Panthers outlasted Alabama A&M 33-27. Black riddled the vaunted Bulldogs defense passing for 224 yards and three touchdowns. He matched the number of passing scores the following week as Prairie View rolled over Alcorn State, 34-14. The number would go up in the regular season finale as Black torched Arkansas -Pine Bluff, passing for 312 yards and five touchdowns as the Panthers blew past the Golden Lions 49 -17.
By the end of the regular season KJ's performance had earned him the SWAC Offensive Player of the Week or Newcomer of the week every time he was on the field. The accolades were great, but the humble quarterback stayed focused and set his sights on the SWAC Championship Game and a rematch against Alabama A&M. Once again, the margin of victory was six points as Prairie View came out on top 30-26. Black threw for 258 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Panthers raised their first SWAC Championship flag in 45 years.
KJ finished the 2009 Football Season as the most accurate quarterback on the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level completing 159 passes out of 222 attempts with only 4 interceptions. His postseason honors included SWAC Championship Game MVP, SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, SBN Black College All American Team quarterback and 2009 SBN Doug Williams/Offensive Player of the Year.
Black says he lives by the words, “Don't praise yourself unless someone else praises you.”
It's time for KJ Black, to give himself a “standing ovation”!
