A video of four-star quarterback Marcus Stokes singing lyrics that included the N-word surfaced in November. This prompted the University of Florida to rescind its scholarship offer to him. After a few short months, Stokes got a request from the historically Black college and university, Albany State.
The Gators had accepted Stokes’ commitment to playing for them in July 2022, but they invalidated it after they saw the video of him singing the disrespectful racial slur. Stokes had previously expressed regret for his actions and stated his acceptance of Florida’s verdict.
Florida Gators QB recruit Marcus Stokes with some choice words.
He’s Caucasian. pic.twitter.com/l3Zv29ljUa
— CFBLIVE247 (@CFBLive247_) November 18, 2022
“I deeply apologize for the words in the song that I chose to say,” Stokes said in his statement. “I fully accept the consequences for my actions, and I respect the University of Florida’s decision to withdraw my scholarship offer to play football.”
However, despite the lack of interest from Power Five schools, Stokes had received offers from lower divisions. It was announced on Tuesday that Stokes had received a scholarship offer from Albany State, a Division II HBCU, CBS Sports reports.
Marcus Stokes, a four-star quarterback recruit who lost his University of Florida scholarship offer after rapping the n-word on video, has received a new offer from an HBCU, Albany State University. https://t.co/Gqcm5S67VU
— TMZ (@TMZ) January 25, 2023
Quinn Gray, the new head coach at Albany State, was mentioned in a tweet by Stokes. Gray was a star at Florida A&M and later played for the Jacksonville Jaguars. In December, the Golden Rams hired him.
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
Stokes was initially recruited by Memphis, where Gray had previously worked as an offensive analyst. According to the 247Sports rankings, Stokes is a four-star recruit and the No. 24 quarterback in the 2023 signing class. Stokes received a scholarship offer from the D-II program in West Florida and one from Albany State.
Although some people considered it a poor decision for the HBCU, others do not believe Stokes should have been punished for singing along to a rap song.
Check out some of the opposing viewpoints from folks on Twitter.
For singing a song. Let’s not get this twisted. Lyrics to a song. People blew it up and tried to destroy his career. Cancel culture got him before he even got started.
— Ådâm Röūtės (@turbo_mehico) January 26, 2023
His first day at the school… pic.twitter.com/4TLR2n7OFf
— Capone ♎️♿️🔨🤞🏿🦍☃️🪖🦁🌚🎯🌝🍆🥇🥶 (@Capone20s) January 26, 2023
On God this an Albany State L if I ever seen one 🤦🏾♂️
— OG 10 LBS (@TJackERA) January 26, 2023
Misleading head line, he rapped a song lyric he shouldn’t have they didn’t need to yoke his scholarship
— TONY (@SirJMG) January 26, 2023
Ridiculous that it was revoked in the first place when everyone does this
There is zero malicious intent to singing the words of a popular song
— Emilia (@emiliallure) January 26, 2023
It’s very easy to skip that word in songs… done it my whole life. Not hard at all people. Don’t get comfortable thinking you can say it.
— B (@hexagoniccube) January 26, 2023
What are your thoughts? Do you think snatching the scholarship was fair? Is it suitable for him to join Albany State? Let us know!
