Has one of the most amazing stories on the team … Experienced academic troubles in the spring of 2106 before being deemed ineligible for the 2016 season … Did not attend N.C. A&T during the 2017 spring semester … Through the Accelerating Academic Success Program funded by an NCAA grant N.C. A&T received in 2015, Pettiford survived his academic shortcomings and became a key player in a historic 2017 season … After a rigorous summer schedule, assistance from learning specialist and Pettiford’s remarkable determination to become a success in the classroom, Pettiford became a member of the N.C. A&T football team again in the fall of 2017 ... Would become a part of the most successful football season in N.C. A&T history … N.C. A&T went 12-0, won their ninth Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title, won the 2017 Celebration Bowl over Grambling State and were named HBCU National Champions … Earned a 3.32-grade point average for the 2017-18 school year, was removed from academic probation, made the Dean’s List and declared a major … He is a two-time first-team All-MEAC performer … In 2017, he earned first team honors at right tackle before earning first-team honors at left tackle in 2018 … Had an outstanding first season with the Aggies … Became a starter late in the 2015 season … A fast, agile lineman who can reach linebackers quickly … Runs one of the faster 40-yard dash times among the offensive linemen ... Named preseason first-team All-MEAC prior to 2019 ... Named preseason All-American by FCS STATS and BoxToRow.
2018 Season: Started all 11 games he played in … Earned first-team All-MEAC honors for the second straight season … Played a team-leading 687 snaps for the Aggies and had eight knockdown blocks, only six missed assignments, one sack surrendered and he only had two penalties called against him … Graded out at 79 percent for the season …Helped the Aggies have the No. 1 red zone offense in the conference, the second-ranked scoring offense, the third-ranked total offense and the fourth-ranked rushing offense … Graded out at 80 percent or higher in five of the Aggies seven conference games … Played 69 plays and graded out at 85 percent in the Aggies 37-20 Homecoming win over Norfolk State on Nov. 3 … N.C. A&T rushed for 310 yards in the win … Earned a grade of 85 percent on 48 snaps played in the Aggies 34-6 win at Delaware State on Oct. 6 … Helped the Aggies compile a season-high 539 yards of total offense by grading out at 81 percent on 70 plays in the Aggies 45-0 win over N.C. Central on Nov. 17.
2017 Season: Started all 12 games during the Aggies historic season … Earned first-team All-MEAC honors last season after playing 649 snaps with 24 knockdown blocks, an average grade of 83.3 percent … In one of the biggest games of the season, graded out with an 87 against Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 21 … Graded out at 86 percent against arch-rival N.C. Central on Nov. 18 … Aggies offense complied 5,122 yards of offense and surrendered only 11 sacks all season … Played on an offense that led the MEAC in scoring offense, first downs, third-down conversions and passing offense while ranking second in red zone offense and rushing offense … N.C. A&T was 13th in the nation in fewest sacks allowed.
2016 Season: Did not play in a game.
2015 Season: Played in 12 games with eight starts … Started mostly at the right tackle position … Began to grade out well at the start of October … Graded out well at Norfolk State on Oct. 10 and at home against Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 17 … Made the start against Alcorn State in the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl and graded out well.
High School: Played three varsity seasons at Durham Hillside … Was a three-year starter for Hillside … Was selected to play in the 2014 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas … Played all five offensive line positions in high school.
