As previously reported by REVOLT, in November 2022, Marcus Stokes’ college football career seemingly ended before it had a chance to begin after the white Nease High School student was caught on social media saying “n**ga” in a video he recorded. The University of Florida withdrew its scholarship offer once the clip went viral. Since then, he’s been offered other scholarships — this time at more than one HBCU.
On Tuesday (Jan. 24), Stokes shared the news via Twitter: “Blessed to [receive] my first HBCU offer to play at Albany State University!” The learning institution is a public historically Black university in Albany, Georgia. Yesterday (Jan. 26), he announced yet another campus was interested in having him as a student-athlete. “Blessed to receive my first Division 1 HBCU offer from Alabama A&M University,” he wrote on Twitter. “It’s very unique. Very interesting. We didn’t expect this at all,” his father told 247 Sports in an article published earlier this week.
Blessed to reciever my first HBCU offer to play at Albany State University! @CoachQGray @ASUGoldenRamsFB @Andrew_Ivins @CoachDrafts @NeaseFTBL pic.twitter.com/5mAsS0Mv3X
— Marcus “JOKER” Stokes🃏 (@marcusstokes06) January 24, 2023
Before his online racial slur, Stokes was ranked the 24th quarterback prospect in his graduating class. During his senior season, some of his stats included completing 136 of 248 pass attempts (54.8 percent) for 1,867 yards with 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. In the video that cost him his University of Florida scholarship, the prospect recorded a selfie video listening to music, saying, “Welcome back, n**ga.” After the clip spread like wildfire on social media, he apologized. “I was in my car listening to rap music, rapping along to the words, and posted a video of it on social media. I deeply apologize for the words in the song that I chose to say. It was hurtful and offensive to many people, and I regret that. I fully accept the consequences [of] my actions,” he said in part.
“This might do the kid some good to go to an HBCU. What better way for someone to learn about the Black culture and get educated on racial sensitivity? Isn’t that what we want more people to do in this country anyway?” former ESPN anchor Darren M. Haynes said during a WUSA 9 news broadcast.
See what others thought of the decision below.
Blessed to receive my first Division 1 HBCU offer from Alabama A&M University @Jaymai18 @AamufbR @Andrew_Ivins @CoachDrafts @NeaseFTBL @6pointsjax @denny_thompson pic.twitter.com/uB1vFi4Zcf
— Marcus “JOKER” Stokes🃏 (@marcusstokes06) January 26, 2023
A WHITE quarterback recruit who loses a DIV-1 scholarship for saying the N-WORD, receives a new offer from a BLACK college (HBCU) @wusa9
Here’s my take: pic.twitter.com/4VzXPfhypv
— Darren M. Haynes (@DarrenMHaynes) January 26, 2023
How do you all feel about Albany State and Alabama A&M offering Marcus Stokes?
— Jeff Lightsy Jr. (@jlightsy7) January 26, 2023
Marcus Stokes a black ass name they probably thought they was offering this nigga a scholarship. https://t.co/htLxBEYSYD pic.twitter.com/r8N81ZkCvQ
— Charles Aznavour (@Trey_La_Suede) January 25, 2023
Recap on the Marcus Stokes story pic.twitter.com/VaXMXICsXB
— my next album WGFATH is 94.29% done • 432 hz (@Fred_ET_) January 26, 2023
Marcus Stokes On His First Day At Albany State…. pic.twitter.com/KwdENhe76c
— November's Very Own 🦉 (@OriginalBran215) January 26, 2023
Marcus Stokes after getting his latest offer. pic.twitter.com/FMr7SZaeMt
— Harrison (@Harrison954_) January 26, 2023
Marcus Stokes, Former Florida QB Commit Whose Scholarship Was Pulled Due To Racial Slur, Gets A HBCU Offer From Albany State. pic.twitter.com/COd2pilv0L
— Poetik Flakko (@FlakkoPoetik) January 26, 2023
“Marcus Stokes”pic.twitter.com/fqAXzwrAx7 https://t.co/RkIBc2aufO
— Forester93 (@Forester932) November 21, 2022