A second University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff football player has been selected to play in an all-star game this winter.
UAPB announced Friday that tight end Tristan Ballard will play in the HBCU Legacy Bowl on Feb. 24, 2024. The game will be played at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans and broadcast on the NFL Network at 3 p.m.
Ballard joins offensive lineman Ryan Atkins as the second Golden Lion selected for this year’s game, which will be its third edition.
Ballard, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, was UAPB’s fourth-leading receiver this season, best among tight ends. He caught 12 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns. He was one of just three players to catch multiple touchdown passes this season.
His best performances came against Tennessee State and Mississippi Valley State. He caught four passes for 65 yards against TSU in the Southern Heritage Classic, and he caught five for 41 yards and a touchdown at MVSU.
The HBCU Legacy Bowl, which is presented by the Black College Football Hall of Fame, seeks to provide NFL Draft-eligible HBCU players an opportunity to showcase their talents. Six total UAPB players participated in the first two editions of the game, including former quarter Skyler Perry last year.