Another HBCU football team lost a highly touted quarterback before the 2025 season started, but for an entirely different reason.
Mekhi Hagens, who passed for over 2,500 yards and 16 touchdowns for Arkansas-Pine Bluff last season, was removed from Alabama A&M’s roster, according to Stats Perform’s Craig Haley. Haley cited “an academic issue” as the reason for removal.
#FCS Alabama A&M has removed QB transfer Mekhi Hagens from its roster, due to academics, a source close to the team confirmed.
At UAPB last season, Hagens was No. 2 in passing yards (2,541) and No. 3 in TD passes (16) in the SWAC.
AAMU returns veteran QB Cornelious Brown IV.
— Craig Haley (@CraigHaley) July 30, 2025
AAMU still has Cornelious Brown at quarterback, and he’ll likely be Sam Shade’s starter this season.
Brown was the Bulldogs’ most consistent signal caller in 2024, completing 127 of 222 passes for 1,666 yards and 12 touchdowns while splitting time with Xavier Lankford.
Hagens originally transferred to Lamar University but rerouted to Alabama A&M in May.
