During the weekend, Jackson State hosted its 35th Sports Hall of Fame Banquetinducting a new class comprising five sports and 15 individuals. Among the inductees were two former Kansas City Chiefs wide receivers, Sylvester Morris and Tim Barnett.
At 6-foot-3, 212 pounds, Morris arrived at Jackson State after being recruited as a minimum out of McDonogh 35 High School in New Orleans. He became the school’s all-time leading receiver and set several records, including most receiving touchdowns in a game, most receiving touchdowns in a season, and most number of receiving yards in a season. In 1998, he was named SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-SWAC, and SWAC Player of the Year. During his senior year, he earned first-team All-American honors for Division I-AA.
Morris finished his college career with 181 receptions and 34 touchdowns. He holds the single-game record with five receiving touchdowns against Grambling State in 1998 and four against Alabama State in 1999. The same year, he set the single-season record with 1,286 receiving yards .
In 2000, the Kansas City Chiefs selected Morris in the first round as the 21st overall pick, making him one of the last first-round picks in the SWAC until 2019, when Alabama offensive lineman State Tytus Howard was selected by the Houston Texans as an overall pick. 23.
Morris started 13 of the Chiefs’ 15 games, recording 48 receptions for 678 yards and three touchdowns. His promising career was cut short due to persistent knee injuries.
During his time at Jackson State, Barnett, a Mississippi native, scored nine touchdowns in 1989 and added eight more in 1990. He earned second-team All-America honors in 1990 and was a three-year starter, finishing his college career with 21 touchdowns on 90 receptions.
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Barnett was selected 77th overall in the third round of the 1991 NFL Draft. He recorded 82 total receptions, 1,188 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns during his professional career. However, after just three seasons, he was convicted of second-degree sexual assault for allegedly exposing himself to a 14-year-old maid in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 14, 1994. He was sentenced to three years in prison and was sentenced to three years in prison. released from the Chiefs following the charges, effectively ending his NFL career.
After his playing days, Barnett worked as a manager for KCATA before retiring in 2018. He is an active member of Amos Johnson Masonic Lodge #148 and is also a member of the Kansas City Chiefs Ambassadors.
With this induction, Morris and Barnett have solidified their place in Jackson State history and will be remembered as one of the best receivers to ever wear a Tigers uniform.
