Miller Grove alum receives HBCU scholarship
Miller Grove High School alum and class of 2023 receiver/free safety Jayvonne Dillard received the Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) Scholar Athlete Scholarship in June at a ceremony held at the Chick-Fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in downtown Atlanta.
The BCFHOF scholarship is worth $5,000 and is awarded to five athletes each year who will attend a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). Dillard will play this upcoming season for North Carolina A&T – with which he signed a college football scholarship.
“I watched Jayvonne grow up from a kid to a fine young man,” said Miller Grove head coach Melvin Brown. “He leads by example on and off the field, is very coachable and will give you everything he’s got.”
Dillard finished his high school career with a 3.6 GPA and 72 catches for 1,170 yards and 11 touchdowns in 24 games. He is one of 78 DeKalb athletes to record more than 1,000 career receiving yards. He finished the 2022 season with 41 receptions for 683 yards and six touchdowns to lead his Wolverine team in receiving yards. Dillard added 38 total tackles, one tackle for a loss and two interceptions playing defense at free safety.
The objective of the scholarship program is to help students afford the costs associated with attending college, according to a news release.
Dillard’s academic prowess was part of the reason he received the award along with his volunteer efforts with Eastern Star church group, stated the release.
“We expect great things from Jayvonne, not only as a player but a student as well,” said Brown. “He is a smart young man with a bright future. He knows academics come first. He was very deserving of the award.”
North Carolina A&T will begin its regular season on Aug. 31 against the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers in Birmingham.
The winner of North Carolina A&T’s conference—the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference or the MEAC—generally plays in Atlanta at Mercedes Benz Stadium in the Cricket Celebration Bowl in mid-December.
