Alcorn State University Men's Football

Thomas returns to the Reservation after ten years; he formally served as a graduate assistant under Dr. Johnny Thomas (former Head Football Coach) and Dr. Gary Lewis (former defensive back coach) in 2001-2002. Now, under Coach Fred McNair, he is entering into his second year with the Braves football team and his first year as the defensive coordinator. Prior to serving in this capacity, he was on staff with the Mississippi Delta Community College Trojans serving as the defensive back coach and defensive coordinator. As the Trojans defensive coordinator his defense was ranked in the top tier of statistical categories for six years. He was also blessed to have coached over twenty young men that went on to receive full scholarships to Division I institutions and a host of young men that played on the Division II level. His most notable players are Kareem Moore of the Washington Redskins, Jalil Johnson, All-SWAC performer and 2011 New Comer of the Year in the Sun Belt Conference, Jemerilous Moten. 

Cedric Thomas enters his second season as the head coach of Alcorn State Football. Thomas is the 22nd head coach in program history.   Thomas led the football program to a 6-6 record in his first season with wins over Grambling State, Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M just to name a few. The team 2024 team finished 2nd in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division. The Braves finished with six student-athlete receiving All-SWAC postseason honors, including three first team selections.   A seasoned leader, Coach Thomas rejoined the Alcorn State football staff in March of 2022 as the defensive coordinator. The Cleveland, Mississippi native takes the reigns of the program after a prior stint as the defensive back coach from 2012-2015 and the defensive coordinator in 2016 and 2017.   During his previous eight seasons with the Braves, Alcorn won four straight SWAC Eastern Division titles, including back-to-back SWAC titles in 2014 and 2015, and participated in the inaugural Celebration Bowl.   Before returning to Alcorn, Thomas spent the 2021 season as the head football coach of his junior college alma mater Mississippi Delta Community College. He led the Trojans to a 5-4 season with three student athletes receiving Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference All-Conference awards.   Thomas spent the 2020 season as the defensive back coach at the University of Southern Mississippi after a two-year stint as the head football coach at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, his undergraduate alma mater.   During his two years in Pine Bluff, Thomas helped lead the Golden Lions to a four-win improvement, as UAPB tripled their win total from two wins to six wins from 2018 to 2019. He coached 14 All-SWAC honorees, including nine first-team selections.   Thomas served as the running backs coach at the University of Tennessee-Martin in 2002 before coming to MDCC in 2003, where he also spent the 2004 season. After a two-year term at Itawamba Community College in 2005 and 2006, he returned to MDCC for the 2007-2011 seasons.   The former MDCC and UAPB standout earned an Associate of Arts degree from MDCC in 1998, a bachelor’s degree in recreation in 2001 from UAPB, and a master’s degree in administration from Alcorn State University in 2015.   The former East Side High School graduate is married to Kelunda, and the couple has one daughter, Loegan. Thomas also has a son, Cedric Jr. COACHING CAREER: 2002-03: UT-Martin (Running Backs) 2003-04: Mississippi Delta CC (Defensive Coordinator)  2005-2006: Ittawamba CC (Defensive Backs) 2007-11: Mississippi Delta CC (Defensive Coordinator) 2012-2015: Alcorn State (Defensive Backs)  2016-2017: Alcorn State (Defensive Coordinator)  2018-2019: Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Head Coach) 2020-2021: Southern Miss. (Defensive Backs)  2021-2022: Mississippi Delta CC (Head Coach) 2022- 2023: Alcorn State (Defensive Coordinator) 2024: Alcorn State (Head Coach)

Aaron Anguiano is in his third season as the wide receivers coach for Alcorn State Football. Anguiano arrived on “The Reservation” in 2024 after serving as the offensive coordinator at Itawamba Community College in 2023, where his offense produced the NJCAA’s second-leading rusher in Charleston French. Prior to ICC, he played a key role in resurrecting the Bluefield State University football program (NCAA Division II) after a forty-one-year absence in 2021. As offensive coordinator in 2022, he guided an offense that broke multiple school passing and receiving records. From 2018–2020, Anguiano worked in several capacities at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. In 2020, he was the Golden Lions’ running backs coach and recruiting coordinator, while in 2018 and 2019 he assisted with the wide receivers. During that time, he developed standout talent, including Harry Ballard, who earned SWAC All-Conference honors in 2019, and Dejuan Miller, who was named an FCS Freshman All-American in 2018. Before joining UAPB, Anguiano was the running backs coach at Fullerton College, helping lead the Hornets to the 2017 Junior College National Championship and mentoring JUCO All-American running back Gerald Hulett. A native of Huntington Beach, California, Anguiano graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics.

Ryan Busz enters his ninth season as Running Backs Coach for the Alcorn State University football program after being promoted to the role in April 2019. A dedicated member of the Braves staff, Busz has played a key role in the development and success of Alcorn’s offensive unit. Before his promotion, Busz served as Alcorn’s equipment manager in 2018 and contributed as a graduate assistant coach in 2017, assisting with offensive preparation and player development. Busz’s coaching career began prior to his time at Alcorn, including a season as a graduate assistant at Wayne State College in Nebraska. In 2015, he coached linebackers at Garden City Community College, gaining valuable experience on the defensive side of the ball. A native of Indiana, Busz earned his bachelor’s degree in History from Indiana University in 2014, where he spent six seasons working with the Hoosiers football program. He later earned his Master’s degree in Athletic Administration from Alcorn State in 2018.

Trumaine Watson enters his second season as the Offensive Line Coach for Alcorn State Football in 2025. In his first season with the Braves, Watson led a formidable offensive front that ranked 17th nationally in rushing among FCS programs. His unit featured All-SWAC offensive lineman Ronald Brown and FCS Freshman All-American Cameron Rogers. Before arriving in Lorman, Watson served as the tight ends and offensive line coach at Norfolk State University, where he also held the title of recruiting coordinator. His impact on player development and recruiting contributed to the Spartans’ strong presence in the MEAC trenches. Watson’s coaching resume also includes a successful tenure at Virginia State University, where he served as assistant head coach, run game coordinator, and offensive line coach. In 2019, his offensive line ranked 18th nationally in rushing yards and was anchored by three-time All-CIAA selection and Division II All-American Frank Ball. Watson also mentored All-CIAA tight end Maurice Davis in 2018. Additionally, he served as head strength and conditioning coach during his first year at VSU. Prior to Virginia State, Watson spent four seasons at Virginia Union University, a rival of VSU. At VUU, he held multiple roles, including associate head coach, offensive tackles and tight ends coach, and head strength and conditioning coach. Under his leadership, the Panthers produced multiple All-CIAA performers, including Shamdu Nalls (2017) and Rashun Smith (2015). Notably, the 2015 VUU squad eclipsed 2,000 yards both rushing and passing, while the 2016 team featured a 1,300-yard rusher behind Watson’s offensive line. Watson has further honed his coaching craft through three stints in the Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship: with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019 (tight ends), Minnesota Vikings in 2021 (offensive line), and Tampa Bay Buccaneersin 2025 (offensive line). A native of Kannapolis, North Carolina, Watson began his coaching journey as offensive coordinator at Highland Springs High School near Richmond, Virginia. As a player, he was a standout offensive lineman at Virginia Union University, anchoring a unit that led the CIAA in rushing in both 2007 and 2008 — including a record-breaking 495-yard rushing performance in 2008. Watson is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and the proud son of Clayton and Priscilla Watson. He and his wife, Tanesha, are the parents of two sons, Trumaine Jr. (6) and Tahj (4).  

Derrien Covington enters his third season as the Braves’ defensive line coach. Covington joined the Braves after spending three seasons as the defensive line coach and strength and conditioning graduate assistant at Delta State, where he mentored All-Conference defensive tackle Timaje Porter. Prior to Delta State, Covington served as the defensive coordinator at his alma mater, Pearl River Central High School. The Picayune, Miss., native also gained coaching experience as the defensive line coach at McPherson College in Kansas, where he guided a pair of defensive Most Valuable Players, three First Team All-Region selections, and a Second Team All-Region honoree. As a player, Covington began his collegiate career at Mississippi Valley State before transferring to Delta State, where he appeared in 25 games from 2011 to 2014. He was a member of the Statesmen’s 2011 and 2014 Gulf South Conference championship-winning teams. In addition to his on-field coaching, Covington has served in various strength and conditioning roles at several programs, including Tulane University (2018), Waldorf University (2018), Delta State (2016–2018), and Mississippi State University (2016). He also spent time on staff at West Harrison High School and Holmes County Central High School.      

Tavarian McCullum joins the Alcorn State football staff as an assistant coach for the 2025 season, working with the Braves’ nickelbacks. A sharp defensive mind with a passion for player development, McCullum brings a detail-oriented approach and an intense energy to the secondary. McCullum spent time as a graduate assistant under former head coach, Fred McNair where he was instrumental in defensive backfield preparation and scout team coordination. His coaching journey also includes stops at the high school level in Mississippi, where he helped build competitive defensive units and mentored student-athletes on and off the field. A former defensive back himself, McCullum played college football at Alcorn State, gaining firsthand experience in SWAC competition. His background as both a player and coach within the conference gives him a unique perspective on the demands of the position and the mentality required to succeed. Known for his communication skills and ability to break down complex coverages, McCullum emphasizes physicality, versatility, and football IQ—traits that are vital for the nickel position in today’s game. He holds a bachelor's degree from Alcorn State and is currently pursuing his master’s in sports administration. McCullum is a native of Collins, Mississippi, and is excited to contribute to the winning culture being built at Alcorn under Head Coach Cedric Thomas.

Deion Roberson serves as the Defensive Coordinator for Alcorn State University Football, entering his second season in the role. A proud Alcorn State alumnus, Roberson returned to Lorman in 2022 to coach the defensive line after a successful stint at the University of Arkansas–Pine Bluff. At UAPB, Roberson held several key positions over three seasons, including defensive line coach (2018), linebackers coach (2019), and defensive run game coordinator (2020). Under his leadership, the Golden Lions' defense made notable strides—most notably in 2019 when they ranked third in the SWAC in rushing defense. That year, linebacker Kolby Watts emerged with four double-digit tackle games and ranked second on the team in total tackles and tackles for loss. In 2018, defensive end Je'Kevin Carter earned second-team All-SWAC honors under Roberson’s guidance. Roberson's coaching journey includes experience at multiple SWAC institutions. In 2016, he served as interim defensive line coach at Alcorn during a transitional period and later joined Prairie View A&M as a graduate assistant, where he contributed to both defensive line and special teams units. His coaching roots trace back to 2015, when he began as a student assistant at Alcorn, working closely with the defensive staff during a SWAC championship season. That year, the Braves led the league in multiple defensive categories including total defense, passing defense, sacks, and third-down defense. As a student-athlete, Roberson was a standout defensive lineman for the Braves. A team captain and three-year letterman, he helped lead Alcorn to the 2014 SWAC Championship. He was twice named the university’s Defensive Player of the Year (2013, 2014), earned back-to-back All-SWAC honors, and was selected as an FCS All-American (Boxtorow) in 2014. Roberson still holds the program's single-season record for tackles for loss with 21.5. Roberson earned his degree in general studies from Alcorn State University in 2016.