NORFOLK, Va. — Three Norfolk State football players have been invited to play in the 2009 HBCU Bowl later this month.

Safety Terrell Whitehead (Virginia Beach, Va.), quarterback Dennis Brown (Miami, Fla.) and kicker Justin Castellat (Virginia Beach, Va.) have accepted invitations to participate on the East team of senior standouts from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The game takes place on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 2 p.m. at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., and features an East team comprised of MEAC and CIAA stars against the West team of SWAC and SIAC players.

Whitehead became NSU's first-ever three-time All-MEAC pick last week. He was second on the team with 70 total tackles and tied for the MEAC lead with five interceptions this season. He returned those picks for 130 yards, including one touchdown. Whitehead, who spearheaded the MEAC's top pass defense, added four pass deflections, three tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He was named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week twice, both coming after the final two games of the year.

Brown capped a solid two-year run as NSU's quarterback this season by passing for 2,228 yards and 18 touchdowns, both ranking second in the conference. His two-year mark of 4,617 yards of total offense ranks second in NSU history, and his tallies of 2,228 passing yards and 2,608 yards of total offense in 2009 both rank as the third-best single seasons in program history.

Castellat is a two-time All-MEAC selection (2007, 2008) who made 33 field goals in his four-year career, believed to be the most for any kicker in program annals. His 196 career points rank him fifth in school history.

In addition to the Spartans' contingent, many of the other top HBCU players in the country are slated to participate, including MEAC Offensive Player of the Year Curtis Pulley (QB, FAMU), Defensive Player of the Year George Howard (LB, Morgan State) and all-time MEAC rushing leader Will Ford (RB, S.C. State) on the East squad.

All players invited to play in the game will be put through testing drills by National Football Scouting personnel. Scouts from the NFL and CFL will be in attendance to evaluate players during the week and at the game. For more information, visit www.hbcubowl.com.