Chennis Berry Named East-West Shrine Bowl Assistant, DB Jarod Washington Earns Invite

South Carolina State coach Chennis Berry will serve as an assistant at the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl, coaching All-American DB Jarod Washington.

Jarod Washington and Chennis Berry | Credit: East-West Shrine Bowl

Chennis Berry, the 2025 HBCU Football National Championship head coach of the South Carolina State Bulldogs, has been selected as an assistant coach for the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl. He will coach alongside his own HBCU All-American defensive back Jarod Washington on one of college football’s premier pre-draft stages.

Washington is currently the only HBCU football player invited to participate in the prestigious all-star contest.

Berry told HBCU Legends that he will serve as "an offensive assistant coach on the West Team," working primarily with the offensive linemen during Shrine Bowl week.

Virignia Union head coach, Dr. Alvin Parker, will be the HBCU assistant coach for the East team.

The 101st East-West Shrine Bowl will be played at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, with a national broadcast on NFL Network showcasing some of the nation’s top NFL-ready prospects.

We’ve got two of the best coaches in the game as a part of the HBCU Coaching Fellowship Program at the East-West Shrine Bowl!

🔴 Alvin Parker (@APtheballcoach), @VUU_Football
🔵 Chennis Berry (@coachberry77), @SCState_Fb#ShrineBowlWHOSNEXT pic.twitter.com/aPfKaB4Z5X

— East-West Shrine Bowl (@ShrineBowl) January 23, 2026

Berry’s Rise Brings National Spotlight to South Carolina State

The 2025 HBCU Legends Coach of the Year, Berry, continues to elevate South Carolina State’s national profile after leading the Bulldogs to back-to-back MEAC championships and a 40–38 quadruple-overtime victory over Prairie View A&M in the 2025 Cricket Celebration Bowl, securing the program’s HBCU national title.

Since accepting the head coaching position in December 2023 following a dominant tenure at Benedict College, where he won two HBCU Football Division II national championships, Berry has transformed South Carolina State into one of the most consistent programs in HBCU football.

#GoDogs

Your HEAD FOOTBALL COACH CHENNIS BERRY @coachberry77 WITH A PASSIONATE SPEECH yesterday on the steps of the SOUTH CAROLINA STATE HOUSE!!!!! Check out what he had to say!!!!!!@SCStateAthletic @MEACSports #PayTheFEE#DigDEEP#Manifest#CWCW
🔴🔵🐶🏈 pic.twitter.com/W3sogTBosk

— South Carolina State Football (@SCState_Fb) January 20, 2026

Over his first two seasons, the Bulldogs have compiled a 19–6 overall record and a perfect 10–0 mark in MEAC play, establishing themselves as a championship standard within the conference.

Berry and his staff will also coach one of the teams at the 2026 Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl on Feb. 21, 2026, where they will square off against a squad led by Coach Tremaine Jackson.

Dec 14, 2024; Atlanta, GA, USA; South Carolina State Bulldogs defensive back Jarod Washington (12) prepares for a game against the Jackson State Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Jarod Washington: Shutdown Corner With Elite Production

Washington (6-foot-2, 188 pounds, Fredericksburg, Va.) anchored a championship secondary and delivered one of the most dominant defensive seasons in the FCS during the 2025 campaign.

He led the subdivision in passes defended per game (1.83) and finished first nationally with 20 pass breakups. Washington totaled 32 tackles (29 solo), two interceptions — including a 51-yard return for a touchdown — and one forced fumble across 12 games.

His performance earned him finalist honors for the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS Defensive Player of the Year) and Stats Perform HBCU National Player of the Year, while also being named MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and receiving the 2025 Aeneas Williams Award, presented annually to the nation’s top defensive back.

A couple of HBCU national champs in the building 🏆@jaro0d_ | @coachberry77 #ShrineBowlWHOSNEXT pic.twitter.com/4Vqg3MEDuI

— East-West Shrine Bowl (@ShrineBowl) January 24, 2026

Week 11 vs. Howard: A Defining Performance

Washington’s résumé-defining performance came in Week 11 against Howard, where he was named Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week.

"Jarod is competing hard," Coach Berry said about his defensive back's performance during the Shrine Bowl practices. "Proud of him."

He became the only FCS player in 2025 — and one of the few in recent seasons — to record six passes defended in a single game, a feat he accomplished twice during the year. Against the Bison, Washington recorded:

• 27-yard interception return for a touchdown

• 56-yard blocked field goal return for a touchdown

Multiple pass breakups that disrupted Howard’s passing attack throughout the contest

The performance reinforced Washington’s reputation as a versatile boundary corner capable of impacting games in coverage and on special teams.

Continuing a Bulldog Defensive Back Tradition

Washington follows former South Carolina State All-American Cobie Durant, who played in the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl before emerging as a key contributor for the Los Angeles Rams. Durant accounted for five turnovers during the Rams’ playoff run, which ended with a loss to Seattle in the NFC Championship Game.

For Berry, coaching in the Shrine Bowl alongside one of his own players represents both a developmental opportunity and a program-branding win, placing South Carolina State’s defensive philosophy directly in front of NFL coaches and scouts throughout a full week of practices, meetings, and game-day evaluations.

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