UPDATE: Due to concerns regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus) the HBCU Combine has been cancelled.
Lincoln University, Pa. – Lincoln University senior football student-athlete Solomon Bassett (Fort Worth, Texas/Boswell) has been invited to participate in the Inaugural NFL HBCU Combine on March 27-28 in South Florida.
Bassett was among 51 athletes and nine from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) chosen to participate.
The event will take place at the Miami Dolphins Baptist Health Training Facility with an opportunity for an evaluation and exposure for Draft eligible athletes with no remaining eligibility who were not invited to the National Invitational Combine (NIC).
"It's a great deal all-around for us to have Solomon Bassett represent Lincoln University at the HBCU combine because it shows that perseverance and hard work pays off and gives you opportunities," said Lincoln head football coach Josh Dean. "I think he represents the type of attitude and hard work that it takes to be an athlete coming from a historical black college, especially at the Division II level. The combine gives him the opportunity to extend his career and chase that goal of playing in the NFL."
Bassett led the Lions defense with six sacks and five blocked kicks in 2019. The five blocked kicks were the most by an NCAA Division II player this season as well as a Lincoln school record. The senior defensive lineman recorded 41 total tackles and had a team-best 12 tackles for loss, totaling 61 yards. During the season Bassett earned CIAA special Teams Player of the Week honors and ECAC special Team Player of the month honors. He is also a two-time first Team All-CIAA recipient and was named to the 2019 Don Hanson Super Region Third Team.
"It's a family environment (here at Lincoln); its about support," said Dean. "I believe that the university does a great job in supporting our athletes and giving people opportunities. As we are still a young program, Solomon blazing the path and setting the trail for subsequent athletes to follow and have this opportunity is important."
"Being one of the 51 athletes that will have an opportunity to perform at this inaugural HBCU combine is huge because now when we go recruit we can say 'we're building something at this program and we're changing the narrative about what this football program has been.,'" adds Dean. "Athletes like Solomon who have come through here have had individual success but we need to get more guys that come from that same mindset who will collectively improve our program and at the same time create opportunities for themselves at the next level."
The Fort Worth, Texas native appeared in 40 games for the Lions from 2015-19 and finished his career as the Lions all-time leader in blocked kicks (8) and fumbles recovered (6). His 48 career tackles for loss and 22 sacks rank second all-time in Lincoln's football history.
