Tillery, Leamon Standout At NFLPA Game

Former Southern running back Lenard Tillery and South Carolina State offensive lineman Javarius Leamon got plenty of action in Saturday’s NFLPA Collegiate Bowl at the Stub Hub Center in Carson, Ca.

The sixth edition of the postseason all-star game culminated a week of workouts, practices and interviews with over 200 NFL and other professional league scouts and personnel executives in attendance.

Tillery had 20 yards on six carries and two receptions for 25 yards as he played halfback, fullback returned punts and kickoffs for the victorious National squad in a 27-7 win over the American team. Tillery was part of a dominant rushing attack for the National team that ran for 213 yards on 42 carries.

“He’s a good returner, lead blocker and he broke some runs out there,” National Team head coach Mike Martz said of Tillery. “He’ll make somebody’s team no worse than a special teams player,” Leamon, an offensive tackle from SCSU, was part of the offensive line that paved the way for the dominant rushing performance.

Albany State defensive tackle Grover Stewart was one of the standouts for the American team. Stewart had two sacks and two tackles for losses. Jackson State DT Cornelius Henderson was described in one review as being “hard to block” and had one tackle in the game.

One report of the week described North Carolina A&T RB Tarik Cohen as having the best day in one of the workouts. “Cohen was like Speedy Gonzalez on the field and I liked his explosiveness as a returner,” the reviewer said. Cohen had four carries for 27 yards in the game including an 18-yard run. Grambling wide receiver Chad Williams had one 10-yard reception.