Athletics

Charlotte 49ers junior wide receiver Victor Tucker has been named to the 2020 Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List. The Biletnikoff Award is presented annually to the season’s outstanding college football receiver regardless of position (the award defines receiver as any player who catches a pass hence, tight ends, slot receivers and backs, inside receivers, wide receivers, split ends and running backs are eligible) by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation Inc.

Seven individuals — four all-American athletes, a coach, an administrator and a benefactor — are among the first class of the Charlotte 49ers Hall of fame.

The Charlotte 49ers, UNC Charlotte’s Division I intercollegiate athletics program, unveiled a highly anticipated new brand identity that is expected to become a rallying point for all of Niner Nation and the broader Charlotte community.

Former senior lecturer of Kinesiology Roy Fielding died Friday, May 15.Fielding, who had been a fixture at UNC Charlotte from 1977 through his recent retirement, served as lecturer, aquatics director and senior lecturer in the Department of Kinesiology. UNC Charlotte’s Belk Gym Pool was named “The Roy R. Fielding Aquatic Center” in his honor.

Charlotte 49ers Alex Highsmith and Cameron Clark were selected in the third and fourth rounds of the NFL Draft, respectively. Highsmith, a defensive end, was picked by the Pittsburgh Steelers and Clark, an offensive lineman, by the New York Jets.Running back Bennie LeMay signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent.

Conference USA officials have elected to suspend the 2020 spring athletic season until further notice, effective immediately. Earlier in the day, March 12, C-USA canceled the remaining games of the 2020 Basketball Championship Tournament.Other Charlotte 49ers athletics events will be impacted by the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in accordance with guidance from the UNC System and a directive from Chancellor Philip L. Dubois.Cancellations include the March 21 Spring Football Game.

Charlotte 49ers guard Jahmir Young was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year; voting on the award was by conference head coaches and media members in each conference city. He also was named third-team All-Conference USA and to the Conference USA All-Freshman team.   Young was named Conference USA Freshman of the Week a league-best eight times. He is the fourth player in league history to earn at least eight Conference USA Freshman/Rookie of the Week honors since the award began in the 2008-09 season.   

 The Charlotte 49ers will celebrate their 50th anniversary of NCAA Division I athletics during the 2020-21 season. As part of this celebration, Charlotte will announce the inaugural class of the 49ers Athletics Hall of Fame.Nominations are being accepted for the first class, which will include a maximum of six student-athletes, two coaches/administrators and one key contributor. Future classes will include a maximum of five inductees.

Charlotte 49ers head football coach Will Healy is among the local celebrities who are participating in Saturday’s Dancing with the Stars Charlotte Gala, which will raise funds for the Charlotte Ballet and six area charitable organizations.

A school-record three Charlotte 49ers have been invited to the 2020 NFL Combine, taking place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Offensive lineman Cameron Clark, defensive end Alex Highsmith and running back Benny LeMay all earned invites after leading Charlotte to its best season ever and the school’s first bowl appearance.