Benedict College's football program earned a spotlight on the Palmetto Pigskin Tour, a regional platform that travels across South Carolina to highlight Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference programs. The Tigers were featured at stop #6 of the 2026 tour, with Head Coach Ron Dickerson Jr. leading a delegation that included wide receiver CJ Favors, defensive end Ryan Perry, and placekicker Zane Spires in an audio segment.
The Palmetto Pigskin Tour represents a significant opportunity for SIAC institutions to gain regional visibility and connect with fans across the Palmetto State. By featuring Benedict's coaching staff and student-athletes, the tour underscores the competitive depth and talent within the conference. The inclusion of players from multiple positions—offense, defense, and special teams—reflects the well-rounded nature of the Tigers' roster.
Coach Dickerson's participation in the tour signals the program's commitment to building its profile within the region. As head coach, Dickerson carries the responsibility of representing Benedict's football tradition and vision to a broader audience. The presence of Favors, Perry, and Spires alongside him demonstrates the caliber of talent the program is developing and the voices that will shape the Tigers' future on the field.
The SIAC, one of the nation's historically significant athletic conferences, has long been a proving ground for competitive college football. Tours like the Palmetto Pigskin initiative help maintain that visibility and allow programs to tell their stories directly to fans, media, and potential recruits across the region. For a program like Benedict, such platforms are essential for building momentum and establishing the Tigers as a force within conference play.
The audio segment format allows listeners to hear directly from the coaching staff and players about the program's direction, team culture, and individual aspirations. These kinds of media appearances often serve as important touchstones for program building, offering unfiltered access to the people driving the team's success.
Why this matters: For the HBCU community, regional visibility tours like the Palmetto Pigskin initiative reinforce the quality of football being played at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. When Benedict's coaches and players are featured alongside other SIAC programs, it elevates the entire conference and reminds fans, media, and potential student-athletes that HBCU football remains a vibrant, competitive space. These platforms help counter narratives that overlook Black college athletics and ensure that the talent, dedication, and tradition at institutions like Benedict receive the recognition they deserve.