The North Carolina A&T men’s and women’s track and field indoor teams return to action Saturday following the Christmas break with a meet at Clemson University’s Orange and Purple Classic. When they arrive, they’ll have a few new additions.

Football players Tarik Cohen and Kevin Francis will be opening up their track season at the event. Cohen, who earned MEAC co-offensive Player of the Year honors in football as the Aggies running back, will be competing in the 60 and 200 meters.

“He’s really been training hard. He brings a lot of heart,” says Duane Ross, the Aggies director of track and field programs.

Francis, a junior tight end, looks forward to the high jump and the 60-meter hurdles.

Seeing football players transfer from the playing field to compete on the track is not new at A&T. Desmond Lawrence is a wide receiver and a track and field All-American. He competed at the USA Track and Field Championships last summer and will be opening his final indoor season Saturday in the 60.

Sophomore wide receiver Caleb Gabriel will compete in the 60, 200 and 1,600-meter relay. He was a part of the Aggies’ 1,600-meter relay outdoor conference championship team in May.

“I think it keeps our guys ready,” said Ross about athletes playing both sports. “Look what Desmond did. He was the fastest football player in the country because of what he did on the track. He had so much more exposure, scouts were coming to see him primarily just on his athletic ability.

“I think it’s great; (football and track) work well together. I think football helps with that durability, keeping them mentally and physically tough. They are out there taking those licks and then when they get out here it’s a different type of mental stress, but they’re hungry, and they handle it well.”

Not only is this a big meet for the football players making their collegiate debut, but Ross will be taking his team to his alma mater. Ross looks forward to seeing his team compete where he became a legend. He returns to Clemson four months after being inducted into the Clemson University Hall of Fame.

“I’m excited for our kids,” said Ross. “I’m always excited to go back home where I spent quite a bit of time and enjoyed my collegiate career. It’s always good to go back there and take my team and compete against my alma mater, but I’m more excited for our team. They have been training hard and putting in a lot of work in the classroom and on the track.”

The North Carolina A&T track and field teams haven’t competed since Dec. 6 at the JDL College Kickoff Classic.

“I’m ready for them to get out and really start competing,” Ross said. “We competed in those early two meets in December, so they should have all the butterflies out now, and they should be ready to compete the way they need to be because this is going to be a little bit more competitive.”