Jontejay Robinson to compete in NFL’s Inaugural Madden NFL 21 x HBCU Tournament Finals ahead of Super Bowl LV
A student from Alcorn State University will compete against gamers from other HBCU’s in an inaugural gaming tournament.
Jontejay Robinson, a sophomore from Albany, Georgia, is one of 16 HBCU gamers to advance and compete in the NFL’s Inaugural Madden NFL 21 x HBCU Tournament Finals Saturday, Feb. 6, from 7 – 9:30 p.m. EST. The competition will be broadcast on the EA Madden NFL Twitch channel. The Grand Prize winner will receive $5,000. Runners-up in the second and third place will each receive $2,500.
The tournament is part of the NFL HBCU Initiative, which includes conferences and schools to recognize and strengthen its relationships with HBCUs across the country. Through these relationships, the NFL has developed several HBCU-focused programs to educate and connect students to careers in football administration and the sports industry at large.
In November 2020, Madden NFL players representing HBCUs across the country participated in a single-elimination qualifier tournament for their school’s athletic conference. The top 16 players have advanced to the tournament ahead of Super Bowl LV (55).
The opportunity is one that Robinson appreciates because it allows him to represent his University, and it shows other gamers the opportunities esports have to offer.
“Being a finalist in anything feels good, and representing Alcorn as a finalist in this event is an honor,” said Robinson. “This opportunity could give other Alcorn students and students at HBCUs who like to play video games a glimpse of what’s possible if they pursue these kinds of opportunities.”
Playing video games is one of Robinson’s hobbies, so for him to be considered a top player is an honor.
“The most exciting part about this opportunity is coming in as a top Madden player in this HBCU gaming competition. I’m looking forward to representing Alcorn this weekend, and I hope to do more esports tournaments in the future.”
Cyrus Russ, assistant vice president for Compliance & Student Academic Services at Alcorn, believes that Jontejay’s opportunity will help Alcorn esports soar in the future.
“It’s a great opportunity for Jontejay to represent the University on the national stage,” said Russ. “As we continue to grow our esports program, we are proud to provide a platform for our students to gain national exposure and recognition in the competitive esports landscape. I would love for Alcorn to be known as the HBCU that helped revolutionize the gaming industry.”