AKIL BLOUNT NAMED JAMES HARRIS-DOUG WILLIAMS FELLOW AT PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME

CANTON, OHIO – Akil Blount is the first recipient of the James Harris-Doug Williams Fellowship that was created through a collaboration between the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Black College Football Hall of Fame. The fellowship – named after NFL quarterbacks, African-American pioneers and co-founders of the Black College Football Hall of Fame – provides a unique career advancement opportunity at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton to a graduate of a Historically Black College & University (HBCU). Blount will work closely with the Hall of Fame’s executive leadership team for one year.

“It is a tremendous honor to have the fellowship named after Doug Williams and myself,” Harris said. “It rewards students who have achieved and provides them an opportunity to work with the talented team at one of the best sport organizations in the country.”

“We are excited to see Akil take the lessons he learned from competing in football and apply them to becoming a leader of tomorrow,” Hall of Fame President & CEO David Baker commented. “His academic accomplishments earned him this great opportunity and we look forward to helping him grow professionally and personally.”

Blount, a dean’s list student, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Florida A&M in 2015 and graduated last month with a Master of Business Administration from the university. A celebrated student-athlete, he played linebacker for the Rattlers and amassed 207 tackles, including 22.5 for a loss, during his college football career. Blount served as team captain for two seasons and was twice named all-conference in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). He also served as the President of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee that represented all athletes at Florida A&M. Blount went to training camp with the Miami Dolphins in 2016 after he had been signed as a free agent.

“He is such a great first recipient,” Williams stated. “He has done everything that we were looking for in a Fellowship. We are truly blessed for Akil to be our first of many more to come.”

Akil Blount is the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback MEL BLOUNT, who is also a product of a HBCU (Southern University).

Harris added, “This is an opportunity to allow the Fellow to make a difference and who else better than the son of Hall of Famer Mel Blount to serve as the first recipient. Akil Blount has proven his ability by earning his master’s at Florida A&M. I am thrilled that we are able to provide this leadership experience to such a wonderful young man.”