2021 Norfolk State Football Program vs. Morgan State by Matt Michalec

Saturday, OCtOBEr 30, 2021 • 2 PM NoRfolk STaTe vS MOrGaN StatE BReaST CaNCeR aWaReNeSS DaY

DECEMBER 18, 2021, NOON ET ON C M E R C E D E S - B E N Z S TA D I U M

AT L A N TA , G A

GAME PREVIEW ABOUT THE GAME The Norfolk State football team looks to remain perfect in the MEAC and extend its winning streak to six games when the Spartans host Morgan State this Saturday on Breast Cancer Awareness Day. SCOUTING THE SPARTANS In their last time out, Juwan Carter passed for 332 yards and completed 21 consecutive passes at one point to lead Norfolk State to a 45-31 win at Howard last Saturday at Greene Stadium. The win was the Spartans’ fifth straight, matching their longest win streak in the last 10 years. Carter completed 26 of 29 passes and threw one touchdown pass. Cameryn Brent rushed for 99 yards on 10 carries and two touchdowns, including a 57-yarder with just over 90 seconds to play that sealed the win. NSU recorded two interceptions on the day, one each by Tayvion Land and Justin Toler. The Spartans’ special teams also came up big, as Stuart Anderson Jr. blocked a punt in the third quarter that teammate Christian Ruffin returned 4 yards for another Spartan score. NSU leads the MEAC in scoring (35.9 points per game) and total offensive yards per game (448.6). Carter leads in passing (231.9 ypg) and total offense (274.6) and Justin Smith is first in receiving yards (87.9). Defensively, De’Shaan Dixon (6.5) and Chris Myers (4.5) are 1-2, respectively, in sacks. SCOUTING THE BEARS Morgan State enters this week’s game still in search of its first win of the season. The Bears fell to 0-7 on the year, 0-3 in the MEAC, after a 28-17 setback at home last week against North Carolina Central. The Bears led 10-7 at halftime, but were outscored 21-7 in the second half. MSU rushed for 180 yards in the game, 82 by Jabriel Johnson. Quarterback Neil Boudreau threw for 193 yards and one touchdown. The Bears are averaging just 10.3 points per game this year. Boudreau has thrown six touchdown passes and

Romello Kimbrough has rushed for three TDs. SERIES HISTORY NSU leads the all-time series with Morgan State, 19-12 with three other wins vacated. With 19 wins, the Spartans have beaten MSU more than they have defeated any other MEAC school. On the field, NSU is 18-4 against MSU since moving to Division I in 1997 (with three wins later vacated). The Spartans defeated Morgan State 48-0 on Nov. 2, 2019 at Dick Price Stadium in the teams’ last meeting. NSU intercepted five passes in the game and finished with 529 total yards, 314 coming through the air off the arm of Carter. DUO MAKES THEIR MARK Senior quarterback Juwan Carter and receiver Justin Smith continue to make their mark on the school’s record book. Carter, who earlier this season became the school’s all-time leader in total offensive yards, is now just 376 passing yards shy of breaking Aaron Sparrow’s school record of 8,758 that has stood since 1995. Carter also broke Sparrow’s record for consecutive completions when he completed 21 straight throws at Howard. With 1,598 career receiving yards, Smith now ranks eighth in NSU history. He needs just 64 yards to pass Marty

Conner for seventh. With one more receiving touchdown, Smith would move into a tie for sixth in NSU history with 15, a mark shared by Howard Gilmore and Tyrone Sellers. TRUSTY TRENCHMEN NSU has won the MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week award following its last six games. LG Jalen Powell started the streak following the Wake Forest game and just received his second such award after the Howard victory. C Colby Byrd won it following the Elizabeth City and VUL games, and RG Justin Redd won it after St. Francis and Hampton. That group has helped the Spartans lead the MEAC and rank 13th nationally in rushing so far, at 216.7 yards per game. NSU rushed for more than 300 yards in back-to-back games for the first time since 2010 with 322 vs. ECSU and 323 at St. Francis. STREAKING SPARTANS With a win today against Morgan State, NSU would match the secondlongest win streak in school history, at six games. The Spartans also won six straight games in both 1949 and 1982. The school record for longest winning streak is eight, set by the 1984 CIAA championship team.

Juwan Carter has thrown 15 touchdowns and just two interceptions this year. He is closing in on the NSU career passing yardage record. (Photo by Nick Sutton/Kinetic Stills)

GAME PREVIEW OTHER AWARD WINNERS NSU has been a fixture in the weekly MEAC award winners. Aside from the six offensive line awards, NSU has won a total of nine other weekly conference honors. Most recently, Christian Ruffin was selected MEAC Rookie of the Week after returning a blocked punt for a touchdown at Howard, and Stuart Anderson Jr. was named Special Teams Co-Player of the Week for blocking that punt. SCORING SPREE The Spartans have scored at least 40 points in three straight games, a feat which has happened just twice previously in school history and not since 1993. The Spartans are averaging 35.9 points per game, well ahead of their school Division I-era record pace of 28.9 set in 2019. The overall school record for scoring offense in a season is 36.0 in 1995. The 1994 season (34.5) was the only other time a Spartan team averaged more than 30 points per game for an entire season. SPARTANS IN THE PROS Norfolk State is represented in the NFL by undrafted defensive back Bobby Price of the Detroit Lions. Price was a two-time All-MEAC safety for NSU who started 37 games between 2016 and 2019. Price spent much of the 2020 NFL

season on the Lions practice squad. He has made 12 tackles and broken up three passes in seven games this season. He also caught a fake punt for 17 yards and a first down against the Rams. ALL GAMES ON HOT 91.1 FM, SXM Campus radio station WNSB Hot 91.1 FM will serve as the carrier of all 11 Spartan football games this fall, plus any potential postseason games, for the second year in a row. Fans can also listen to the games online at www.tunein. com, or through the TuneIn Radio app by searching for WNSB 91.1 FM. NSU’s football broadcasts will be available on SiriusXM for the first time throughout the 2021 season. The SXM App is free for most subscribers, and anyone who is not yet a subscriber can download the SXM App and get a free, limited-time preview. Select games will also air on an SXM channel. Check the athletics web site for weekly updates. Additionally, select NSU men’s and women’s basketball games will also air SiriusXM beginning later this year.

MEAC at a Glance 2021 Standings South Carolina State Norfolk State North Carolina Central Howard Delaware State Morgan State

Conf. Overall W-L W-L 2-0 3-4 1-0 5-2 1-0 3-4 1-1 2-5 0-1 3-4 0-3 0-7

Last Week’s Results N.C. Central 28, Morgan State 17 Norfolk State 45, Howard 31 S.C. State 13, Delaware State 7 This Week’s Games Howard at Delaware State......................2 p.m. Morgan State at Norfolk State...............2 p.m. S.C. State at N.C. Central...........................2 p.m. Preseason MEAC Poll (First-place votes in parentheses) 1. South Carolina State (5)................ 118 2. Norfolk State (2)...................... 96 3. North Carolina Central (2)............ 78 4. Delaware State (1)........................... 56 5. Morgan State (1).............................. 48 6. Howard (1)......................................... 36 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year QB Juwan Carter, Norfolk State Preseason Defensive Player of the Year DB Decobie Durant, S.C. State

Stuart Anderson Jr. (pictured) blocked a punt which teammate Christian Ruffin returned for a touchdown at Howard. (Photo by Nick Sutton/Kinetic Stills)

HEAD COACH ASSISTANT DAWSON COACHES ODUMS ranked 20th in the FCS Top 25 Coaches Poll. Defensive end Jordan Lewis brought distinction to the Jaguars by winning the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the top defensive player in the Division I FCS. Lewis, who led the country in sacks and tackles for loss, also won SWAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Southern posted top-20 total offenses in 2015 and 2016 and a No. 13 mark in rushing offense en route to a SWAC West title in 2019. Odums’ squads ranked in the top 10 in the FCS in punt return average four times, including leading the country in 2017, and also ranked top-10 in kickoff return average twice.

Dawson Odums Head Football Coach

awson Odums, a championship coach with a track record of developing student-athletes both on and off the field during his collegiate coaching career, is in his first year as the head football coach at Norfolk State University. He was named the 18th head coach in Spartan history on April 21, 2021. A native of Shelby, North Carolina, Odums has more than 20 years of collegiate coaching experience. Most recently, Odums enjoyed a stellar 10-year run in the Southwestern Athletic Conference at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Odums directed Southern to a winning record in each of his eight full seasons at the helm of the program, including a 5-1 mark in the abbreviated 2021 spring season. In his last five seasons, the Jaguars posted a 29-6 SWAC record. His overall record on the field with the Jaguars was 63-35. After joining the Jaguars as defensive line coach in 2011, Odums was elevated to interim head coach two games into the 2012 season before earning the permanent head coach position following the year. On the field, Odums led Southern to a 53-17 SWAC mark over the last nine seasons. His ledger includes one SWAC championship (2013), one SWAC Coach of the Year honor (2013) and four SWAC West Division titles (2013, ‘14, ‘18, ‘19). Odums’ teams at Southern excelled in all three phases of the game. In the 2021 spring season, Southern ranked first nationally in blocked punts, second in third-down conversions, fifth in sacks and eighth in scoring offense. Southern finished the year

The 2013 season was a special one for Odums. His first full year as head coach at Southern culminated in a double-overtime SWAC championship game victory over Jackson State. The win made Odums just the second coach in Southern history to win a SWAC divisional title, outright SWAC championship and SWAC Coach of the Year honors in his first year as head coach. The Jaguars went 9-4 that year, one of four seasons in which they won at least eight games on Odums’ watch. They also won nine games and captured the divisional title the following year, 2014. Six players coached by Odums have signed with teams in the NFL or CFL. That list includes SWAC all-time leading rusher Lenard Tillery and Southern’s all-time leader in receiving yards and return touchdowns, Willie Quinn. Former Jaguars defensive back Danny Johnson is on the roster of the Washington Football Team. Jaguar student-athletes have also performed well in the classroom. Fifty-seven Southern players earned Dean’s List honors during the fall 2020 semester. Under Odums’ guidance, Southern’s APR score has steadily risen, reaching a multi-year rate of 952 in the last NCAA report of his tenure there. Odums’ other coaching stints include a pair of stops in the MEAC. He spent three seasons at North Carolina A&T (2008-10), serving first as defensive line coach and special teams coordinator and then as defensive coordinator. The Aggies’ special teams units thrived under his leadership, returning four kicks for touchdowns and blocking three kicks in 2010. That came on the heels of a 2009 season in which the Aggies blocked five kicks. In 2010, Brandon Jackson became the first Aggie in five seasons to record more

than 100 tackles in a season, finishing with 106. D’Vonte Graham led the MEAC in interceptions with seven. The year prior saw Jarrell Herring earn first-team All-MEAC honors at defensive end. Odums’ first stint in the MEAC came as defensive line coach at Bethune-Cookman from 2005-07. Over Odums’ three-year span there, the Wildcats run defense was among the stingiest in the MEAC. In 2007, the Wildcats defense ranked third in the conference in rush defense and third in total defense. Odums also worked with the Wildcats special teams units and scouted opposing teams’ special teams personnel. Prior to arriving at Bethune-Cookman, Odums spent three seasons at Division II Clark Atlanta. He served as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator from 200203, then as interim head coach in 2004. Odums’ other stints at the Division I level include two years at Georgia Southern and one at Gardner-Webb. In his first year at GSU in 2000, Odums coached the linebackers while helping the Eagles win the Division I-AA (now FCS) national championship. He then mentored the defensive ends in his second year. Odums played linebacker and quarterback at Crest High School in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, before competing collegiately at North Carolina Central. A defensive lineman at NCCU, Odums was a team captain and All-CIAA selection as a senior. He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1997. A member of the American Football Coaches Association, Odums participated in the NCAA Coaches Academy in Indianapolis in 2010. Odums and his wife, Audrey, have two daughters, Jasmine and Jaiden.

NORFOLK STATE ROSTER

NO. NAME

POS. HT. WT. YR. HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL

NO. NAME

POS. HT. WT. YR. HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL

Christopher Price

57 Demetrius Johnson

6-1 210 Fr.

Norfolk, Va./Maury HS

Marcque Ellington

WR 6-6 210 R-Sr. Neptune, N.J./St. John-Vianney HS

Terique Miles

6-3 210 Fr.

Norfolk, Va./Palmetto Prep

Kevin Johnson

6-0 175 R-So. Suffolk, Va./Nansemond River HS

Javoni Hales

5-11 210 Fr.

Newport News, Va./Menchville HS

Justin Smith

WR 6-2 180 R-Sr. Richmond, Va./Benedictine Preparatory

Dyral McMillan

6-3 295 Fr.

Charlotte, N.C./Jireh Prep

Anthony Williams

6-3 235 R-Sr. Norfolk, Va./Maury HS

Kole Williams

6-0 215 Fr.

Suffolk, Va./Nansemond River HS

Devyn Coles

5-11 175 R-So. Highland Springs, Va./Highland Springs HS

Jalen Powell

6-3 280 R-Sr. Temple Hills, Md./Hampton (Va.) HS

Da’Kendall James

WR 6-1 190 R-So. Chesapeake, Va./Coastal Carolina

Taro Lipscomb

6-3 290 R-Sr. Washington, D.C./Friendship College

Tayvion Land

5-8 190 R-So. Virginia Beach, Va./Liberty

Jeff Woods

6-6 290 R-Fr. Fayetteville, N.C./UConn

Juwan Carter

6-0 175 R-Sr. Richmond, Va./Highland Springs HS

Justin Redd

6-5 315 R-Jr. Hampton, Va./Hampton HS

Bobby Dunn

6-1 180 Fr.

Ian Williams

6-2 285 R-Sr. Richmond, Va./Benedictine Preparatory

Tremayne Talbert

WR 5-9 170 R-So. Richmond, Va./Highland Springs HS

Silas Fitzgerald

6-5 290 R-Fr. Roanoke, Va./Hidden Valley HS

Shaviaea Williams

5-11 195 R-Jr. Norfolk, Va./Granby HS

Colby Byrd

6-3 290 R-Jr. Virginia Beach, Va./Virginia Union

Jonah Fitzgerald

6-4 205 R-So. Roanoke, Va./Old Dominion University

Andrew Nickens

6-3 300 Fr.

Cameryn Brent

5-8 200 R-Sr. Atlanta, Ga./Holmes CC

78/88 Josh Culberson

6-3 295 R-Fr. Chesapeake, Va./Fork Union Military

J.J. Davis

5-9 170 R-Fr. Cincinnati, Ohio/University of Cincinnati

79 Desmond Kelly

6-4 290 Fr.

Christian Ruffin

5-11 175 Fr.

Noah Spencer

WR 6-2 190 R-Fr. Virginia Beach, Va./Old Dominion

Kyler Davis

6-0 210 R-Fr. Fayetteville, N.C./Fork Union Military

Ademola Faleye

De’Shaan Dixon

6-5 260 R-Sr. Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch HS

Kevin Gayles

WR 6-0 195 R-Fr. Richmond, Va./Huguenot HS

Tyler Long

5-11 210 R-So. Cincinnati, Ohio/Lackawanna College

Da’Quan Felton

WR 6-4 185 R-Fr. Portsmouth, Va./Churchland HS

Stuart Anderson Jr.

6-3 210 R-Jr. Mathews, Va./Mathews HS

Tavian Morris

WR 6-2 175 R-Fr. Prince George, Va./Prince George HS

Brandon Savage

5-10 170 R-Jr. Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill Academy

Vincent Jarvis

WR 6-0 180 R-So. Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes HS

Cameron Foreman

6-2 180 R-So. Mechanicsville, Va./Fork Union Military

Jayden Kelley

Rayquan Smith

5-9 210 R-So. Richmond, Va./Highland Springs HS

Lukai Hatcher

WR 6-0 160 Fr.

Chris Butler

WR 5-11 200 R-Fr. Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen HS

Shawn McFarland

Collis Pride

WR 6-3 180 R-Fr. Dinwiddie, Va./Bluefield College (W.Va.)

Demani Ward

WR 5-9 165 Fr.

Sivon Pleasants

5-10 160 R-Fr. Doswell, Va./Caroline HS

Remy Feltes

6-4 320 R-Jr. Solingen, Germany/New Mexico Military

Shamar Hill

6-3 210 R-Fr. Kissimmee, Fla./Orlando Christian

Mac Petit

6-2 275 R-Fr. Atlanta, Ga./Westlake HS

R.J. Coles

5-10 190 R-So. Richmond, Va./Varina HS

Miles Fludd

6-2 315 R-Fr. Lynchburg, Va./Brookville HS

Justin Toler

5-10 165 R-So. Falmouth, Va./Stafford HS

Levontae Jacobs

6-3 255 Fr.

Salisbury, N.C./West Rowan HS

Shy’Keem Hussey

WR 6-2 205 R-So. Pinetops, N.C./Louisburg College

Matthieu Watts

6-3 215 Fr.

Hampton, Va./Phoebus HS

Ryan Richter

6-1 190 R-Jr. Temecula, Calif./Reedley College

97 Bernard Heath

5-11 250 Fr.

Gardena, Calif./Junipero Serra

Lex Henry

5-8 175 R-Fr. Virginia Beach, Va./Salem HS

Chris Myers

6-6 245 R-Sr. LaVergne, Tenn./Middle Tennessee

Steve Ashby

6-0 175 Jr.

Amadeu Vital

6-3 265 R-Jr. Silver Spring, Md./Glenville State

Josh Nardone

K/P 5-11 200 R-Sr. Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS

Jaylin Barmer

6-0 240 R-Jr. Baltimore, Md./USAG Humphreys

Shawn Johnson

6-2 235 R-Fr. Bronx, N.Y./Jireh Prep (N.C.)

Tristan Brooks

WR 5-11 170 So. Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch HS

Devon Allen

6-0 170 R-Fr. Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes HS

Jordan Bryant

WR 5-7 165 R-Fr. Bryans Road, Md./Henry E. Lackey HS

Johnathan Gregory

6-2 185 R-Jr. Hampton, Va./Phoebus HS

Jonathan Hall

6-2 225 R-So. Courtland, Va./Old Dominion University

38 Jeff Foster

6-1 175 Fr.

Anthony Hill

6-1 250 R-So. Upper Marlboro, Md./Hutchinson CC

Imani Bey

6-3 240 R-Jr. Washington, D.C./VMI

Chris Jones

5-9 270 R-Fr. Windsor, Va./Windsor HS

Pierre Royster

6-1 185 Fr.

Norfolk, Va./Lake Taylor HS

Zane Killgo

WR 5-10 170 R-Jr. Arlington, Va./Millersville University

Jayden Smith

6-1 180 Fr.

Woodbridge, Va./Freedom HS

Justis Monsanto

6-2 220 R-Fr. Prince George, Va./Prince George HS

Zion Lewis

6-2 170 R-Fr. Farmville, Va./Prince Edward HS

Omar Morrisey

6-0 275 R-So. Queens, N.Y./Eagle Academy

Jaylen White

5-9 185 Fr.

Bryce Stratton

6-2 215 So. Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch HS

Brent Stratton

5-10 170 R-Fr. Chesapeake, Va./Nansemond River HS

Zac Denton

5-10 185 R-Jr. Fishersville, Va./Georgia Prep Sports Ac.

Head Coach: Dawson Odums

Kameron Lewis

6-2 170 Fr.

Assistant Coaches: B.T. Sherman (Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/RB Coach),

Sage Beuchert-Irvine DL

6-1 205 R-Fr. Reston, Va./South Lakes HS

Steve Adams (Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator, LB Coach), Vincent Marshall (WR

Ricky Harleston

5-10 190 R-Fr. Virginia Beach, Va./James Madison

Coach, Special Teams Coordinator), Skyler Jones (DL Coach/Recruiting Coordinator), Brandon

Matt Hodges

6-0 220 R-Sr. Richmond, Va./Bishop Sullivan Catholic HS

Torrey (OL Coach), Tanner Cotman (Safeties Coach), LaQuaid Manago (TE Coach), Dwayne Taylor

51 Mark Brown

5-10 190 R-Jr. Reston, Va./Centreville HS

(CB Coach), Ryan Meyers (QB Coach)

Anthony Blume

6-2 265 R-Fr. Edgewood, Md./Edgewood HS

D’Montre’ Smith

6-5 320 R-So. Columbia, S.C./Keenan HS

D.J. Djonkam

6-3 260 R-So. Springfield, Va./Fork Union Military

Baron Franks II

6-4 285 R-Fr. Greenville, S.C./Greenville Sr. HS

Marquis Hall

6-2 230 R-Jr. Woodbridge, Va./Potomac Senior HS

6-0 185 R-Fr. Virginia Beach, Va./Landstown HS

Richmond, Va./Varina HS

Raleigh, N.C./Southeast Raleigh HS

Los Angeles, Calif./West Los Angeles CC

Norfolk, Va./Lake Taylor HS

Hampton, Va./Phoebus HS

Woodbridge, Va./Forest Park HS

6-7 225 Fr.

Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor HS Chicago, Ill./Thornton Township HS Brockton, Mass./Brockton

6-1 200 R-Fr. Hopewell, Va./Hopewell HS Arlington, Va./Wakefield HS

6-3 235 R-Sr. Selden, N.Y./Monroe College Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield HS

MORGAN ASSISTANT STATE COACHES ROSTER NO. NAME

POS. YR. HT. WT.

NO. NAME

POS. YR. HT. WT.

0/2 Jairus Grissom

Jr.

6-2 210 Detroit, Mich./River Rouge HS

48 Deshauwn Alleyne

Fr.

6-1 220 Port St. Lucie, Fla./St. Lucie W. Centennial

Thomas Marcus

Jr.

6-2 203 San Diego, Calif./Horizon HS

49 Ray Gallagher

Fr.

6-0 240 West Deptford, N.J./Mainland Regional HS

Terius Wheatley

Jr.

6-0 200 Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS

50 Jayelin Davis

Fr.

6-0 217 North Augusta, S.C./Fox Creek HS

Devon Mondy

Jr.

6-3 195 Jacksonville, Fla./Edward H. White HS

51 Elijah Williams

Fr.

6-1 230 Jersey City, N.J./Lincoln HS

Neil Boudreau

Gr.

6-3 220 Irvine, Calif./University HS

52 Adeola Sulaiman

So.

6-5 210 Upper Marlboro, Md./Frederick Douglass

4 Kaleb Coleman

Fr.

6-0 185 Southfield, Mich./Groves HS

53 Wesley Vailahi

Fr.

6-3 270 Salt Lake City, Utah/East HS

Jabriel Johnson

So.

5-9 197 Baltimore, Md./McDonough HS

53 Ahmari Santana

Fr.

6-0 235 Baltimore, Md./North County HS

Krysten Riley-Richardson RB

Fr.

6-1 225 Streetsboro, Ohio /Streetsboro HS

54 Lawrence Richardson LB

So.

6-1 210 Philadelphia, Pa./Bishop McDevitt

Carlvainsky Decius

Fr.

6-0 175 New Carrollton, Md./Parkdale HS

55 Quadir Colvin

Fr.

6-1 300 Wilmington, Del./Salesianum HS

Romello Kimbrough

Jr.

6-0 225 Columbus, Ga./Butler C.C.

56 Kobe Tuitele

Fr.

6-0 290 Pago Pago, American Samoa/Tafuna HS

9 Malcolm Brown

Fr.

6-4 225 Fulton, Md./Reservoir HS

58 Marvin Atuatasi

So.

6-1 310 Leone, American Samoa/Tafuna hS

Gr.

6-3 230 Des Moines, Iowa /Southeast Polk HS

59 Danny Chaudhry

Fr.

6-4 235 Macomb, Mich./Macomb Dakota HS

10 K.C. Akubuo-Onwuemeka K

Jr.

6-2 190 Hercules, Calif./Hercules HS

60 Jaleel Rhett

Fr.

6-4 270 Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell HS

11 Duce Taylor

Fr.

6-1 180 Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown HS

62 Torrance Williams

Fr.

6-2 275 Baltimore, Md./St. Frances Academy

12 Jayden Wooden

Jr.

6-1 180 Peoria, Ariz./Centennial HS

65 Keshawn Dixon

Fr.

6-3 275 Palm Bay, Fla./Palm Bay, Fla.

14 Brandon Williams

Fr.

6-0 180 Washington, D.C./H.D. Woodson HS

66 Chase Carter

Fr.

6-4 315 Lakewood, Calif./Lakewood HS

15 Daymond Hamler

Fr.

5-10 170 Pontiac, Mich./Waterford Kettering HS

67 Ja’Noy Sumner

Fr.

6-0 320 Waycross, Ga./Ware County HS

16 Carlos Porter-Lumpkin CB

Fr.

6-0 165 Inkster, Mich./River Rouge HS

70 Keivon Anderson

So.

6-1 275 Windsor Mill, Md./Loyola Blakefield HS

18 Ahmari Benjamin

Jr.

6-2 180 Upper Marlboro, Md./Wise HS

72 Treyvon Branch

Fr.

6-3 290 White Plains, Md./St. John’s College HS

19 Demier Shipley

So.

6-3 160 Tuskegee, Ala./Booker T. Washington HS

73 Ahmeen Reese

Jr.

6-0 370 Yonkers, N.Y./Norcross HS

20 Cameron Brown

So.

5-8 185 Bristow, Va./Unity Reed HS

74 Camauri Barney

Fr.

6-4 315 Rosedale, Md./Lake Clifton HS

20 Johnny Fenwick

Fr.

5-11 175 Springdale, Md./CH Flowers HS

75 Dexter Carr Jr.

So.

6-3 285 Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge HS

21 Andrew Howell

So.

5-7 190 Staten Island, N.Y./Erasmus Hall HS

76 Chris Anthony

Gr.

6-4 300 Massillon, Ohio/Washington HS

22 Jae’Veyon Morton

Jr.

5-9 180 Detroit, Mich./Martin Luther King HS

78 Eric McKeown

Fr.

6-5 275 Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge HS

22 Quri Hickman

Jr.

6-0 250 Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley HS

79 Keevan Lawrence

Fr.

6-0 280 Washington, D.C./Friendship Collegiate

23 Jordan Johnson

So.

6-3 190 Lanham, Md./Belair Baptist HS

80 Max Thrower

Sr.

6-3 232 Detroit, Mich./Shrine Catholic HS

24 London Drummond

Fr.

5-11 185 Berlin, Md./John Carroll HS

81 Joseph Owumi

Fr.

6-3 195 Springdale, Md./CH Flowers

25 Richard Monroe IV

So.

6-2 195 Greensboro, N.C./Dudley HS

82 Ajani Johnson

Sr.

5-7 170 Los Angeles, Calif./Salesian HS

25 Bryan Stukes

Fr.

6-1 190 Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Smith HS

83 Wesley Wolfolk

Gr.

6-2 215 Upper Marlboro, Md./Suitland HS

27 Jumar Hines

Fr.

6-0 160 Baltimore, Md./Dulaney HS

86 Isaiah Scott

Jr.

5-8 170 Kansas City, Kan.

29d Bruce Mattox III

So.

6-0 180 Grayson, Ga./Tucker HS

87 James Reddick III

Fr.

6-4 235 Marietta, Ga./Hillgrove HS

29 James Tarver III

Fr.

5-9 190 Meriden, Conn./F.T. Maloney HS

88 Tyler Wilkins

Fr.

6-3 180 Columbia, Md./Mount St. Joseph HS

30 Kenneth Miller Jr.

Jr.

5-7 175 Austin, Texas/NW Oklahoma State

89 Isaiah Gerena

Fr.

6-4 240 Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat HS

31 Josh Graham

Fr.

5-9 180 Norcross, Ga./Norcross HS

90 Marcus Coleman

Jr.

6-3 265 Upper Marlboro, Md./Ohio Univ.

32 Xavier Shell

Fr.

6-1 230 Baltimore Md./Mergenthaler Vocational

91 Merinio Dendoe

Sr.

6-3 275 Amsterdam, The Netherlands/Bijmer HS

33 Aree Booker

So.

5-11 205 Orange, N.J./DePaul Catholic HS

92 Christian Teague

So.

6-4 240 Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown HS

34 Jeremiah Bryant

Jr.

6-0 180 Baltimore, Md./Overlea HS

93 Kamren Lark

Fr.

6-1 275 Norcross, Ga./Norcross HS

34 Kobe Evans

Fr.

5-11 170 Baltimore, Md./Patterson HS

94 Mehki Ellis

Fr.

6-2 250 Hamden, Conn./Hamden Country Day

35 Hosea Robinson

So.

5-10 185 Waldorf, Md./Westlake HS

95 Kearon Smith

Fr.

6-4 220 Baltimore, Md./Paul Dunbar HS

36 Alfonzo Graham

Jr.

5-9 195 Baltimore, Md./Dunbar HS

96 Darrius Outlaw

So.

6-5 245 Owings Mill, Md./Jireh Prep HS

36 Taron Riddick

Fr.

6-0 170 Washington, D.C./Friendship HS

97 Malcolm Robinson

Jr.

6-3 305 Massillon, Ohio/Washington HS

37 Andre Crawley

Fr.

5-7 160 Baltimore, Md./Mount St. Joseph

98 Nana Asante

Fr.

6-7 230 Burtonsville, Md./Fork Union Military

38 Kenneth Fowlkes

Fr.

6-0 225 Baltimore, Md./Loch Raven HS

99 Nathan Perry

Sr.

6-4 340 Madison, Miss./Germantown HS

39 Cameron Kelly

Jr.

5-11 175 Stamford, Conn./The Brunswick School

40 Erick Hunter

Fr.

6-4 190 Capitol Heights, Md./Westlake HS

40 Ajahni Terry

So.

5-8 205 Germantown, Md./Northwest HS

41 Dorien Parris

Fr.

5-10 200 Bradenton, Fla./IMG Academy

42 Elijah Peyton

Fr.

5-11 280 Springdale, Md./CH Flowers HS

43 David Adeleke

Sr.

5-9 195 Silver Spring, Md./Wheaton HS

44 Tyreek Sykes

Fr.

5-10 175 Baltimore, Md./Paul Dunbar HS

44 Daylin Gooden

Fr.

5-10 180 Norristown, Pa./Pope John Paul II

45 Devan Hebron

GRIZ R-Jr. 6-3 220 Lanham, Md./Duval HS

46 Victor Wilson

Fr.

5-10 204 Highland Springs, Va./Highland Springs

46 Bruce Howard

Fr.

5-10 170 Germantown, Md./Northwest HS

47 Rahim Mersier Jr.

Fr.

5-9 150 Detroit, Mich./Martin Luther King HS

Kalen Jennings

HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL

Head Coach: Tyrone Wheatley

Assistant Coaches: William Carr (Assoc. Head Coach/DL Coach), Antonio James (Defensive

Coordinator/OLB Coach), Josh Firm (Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach), Derrick Alexander (WR Coach), Darryl Bullock (OL Coach), Jacoby Jones (TE Coach), Jordan Pulou (Safeties Coach), Anthony Binker (Special Teams Coordinator), Jerome Smith (RB Coach), Omarr Smith (DB Coach)

PROJECTED LINEUPS When Norfolk State Has the Ball

NSU OFFENSE POS. NO. NAME

HT. WT. YR.

ZWR TE LT LG C RG RT SWR XWR QB RB

6-1 6-3 6-6 6-3 6-3 6-5 6-5 6-6 6-2 6-0 6-0

6 4 69 65 74 70 53 1 3 8 2

Da’Kendall James Anthony Williams Jeff Woods Jalen Powell Colby Byrd Justin Redd D’Montre’ Smith Marcque Ellington Justin Smith Juwan Carter Kevin Johnson

190 235 290 280 290 315 320 210 180 175 175

R-So. R-Sr. R-Fr. R-Sr. R-Jr. R-Jr. R-So. R-Sr. R-Sr. R-Sr. R-So.

When Morgan State Has the Ball

MSU OFFENSE POS. NO. NAME WR LT LG C RG RT Y F QB H F Z

1 66 76 73 75 72 89 37 4 5 8 83

Thomas Marcus 6-2 Chase Carter 6-4 Chris Anthony 6-4 Ahmeen Reese 6-0 Dexter Carr Jr. 6-3 Treyvon Branch 6-3 Isaiah Gerena 6-4 Andre Crawley 5-7 Neil Boudreau 6-3 Jabriel Johnson 5-9 Romello Kimbrough 6-0 Wesley Wolfolk 6-2

NSU Special Teams POS. NO. NAME

PK P KO LS Hold KR PR

34 31 31 46 20 2 3

203 315 300 370 285 290 240 160 220 197 225 215

Jr. Fr. Gr. Jr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Gr. So. Jr. Gr.

HT. WT. YR.

Josh Nardone 5-11 Ryan Richter 6-1 Ryan Richter 6-1 Zac Denton 5-10 Stuart Anderson Jr. 6-3 Kevin Johnson 6-0 Justin Smith 6-2

Subject to change

HT. WT. YR.

200 190 190 185 210 175 180

R-Sr. R-Jr. R-Jr. R-Jr. R-Jr. R-So. R-Sr.

MSU DEFENSE POS. NO. NAME

HT. WT. YR.

6-5 245 So.

96 Darrius Outlaw

NT 92 Christian Teague 6-4 DT 90 Marcus Coleman 6-3 SLB 40 Erick Hunter 6-4 MLB 9 Kalen Jennings 6-3 WLB 54 Lawrence Richardson 6-1 GRIZ 51 Elijah Williams 6-1 BC 22 Jae’veyon Morton 5-9 SS 29 Bruce Mattox III 6-0 FS 12 Jayden Wooden 6-1 FC 7 Carlvainsky Decius 6-0

240 265 190 230 210 230 180 180 180 175

So. Jr. Fr. Gr. So. Fr. Jr. So. Jr. Fr.

NSU DEFENSE POS. NO. NAME

HT. WT. YR.

DE 18 De’Shaan Dixon NG 90 Remy Feltes DT 52 Anthony Blume DE 98 Chris Myers WLB 19 Tyler Long MLB 56 Marquis Hall CB 5 Devyn Coles ROV 28 R.J. Coles FS 20 Stuart Anderson Jr. NI 7 Tayvion Land CB 21 Brandon Savage

6-5 6-4 6-2 6-6 5-11 6-2 5-11 5-10 6-3 5-8 5-10

MSU Special Teams POS. NO. NAME

260 320 265 245 210 230 175 190 210 190 170

R-Sr. R-Jr. R-Fr. R-Sr. R-So. R-Jr. R-So. R-So. R-Jr. R-So. R-Jr.

HT. WT. YR.

PK 10 KC Akubuo 6-2 190 Jr. H 4 Neil Boudreau 6-3 220 Gr. P 4 Neil Boudreau 6-3 220 Gr. LS 33 Aree Booker 5-11 205 So. KR 83 Wesley Wolfolk 6-2 215 Gr. PR 83 Wesley Wolfolk 6-2 215 Gr.

ASSISTANT COACHES UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT 10-year reaffirmation of accreditation by its major accrediting body, The Southern Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). This reaffirmation underscores the University’s strength, stability, and forward momentum. Enrollment increased to a six-year high in 2019, to 5,600 students. This included the largest freshman class in many years, 1,200 freshmen (FY20). The University has realized record high operating revenues 104% above projection, the highest in the history of Norfolk State. A new 740-bed state of the art residence complex was opened.

Javaune Adams-Gaston, Ph.D. President Norfolk State University

r. Javaune Adams-Gaston is the seventh President of Norfolk State University. She began her tenure on June 24, 2019. As President, she is committed to ensuring that Norfolk State University fulfills its mission as an HBCU for the modern world, a university grounded by its heritage, focused on the future, and deeply committed to student success. Her vision is student success, opportunity access and affordability, and growth and sustainability. A strong advocate for collaboration and developing strategic partnerships with local, regional, and state stakeholders, Dr. Adams-Gaston is committed to cultivating strong connections with alumni and the community. During her first year at Norfolk State University, the COVID-19 pandemic created multiple challenges for the nation and the world. President. Adams-Gaston worked together with her team to continue to move the institution forward despite the issues created as a result of the pandemic. This led to the university achieving multiple successes. The goals of access, opportunity, and success for NSU students remained her focus even during these unprecedented times. Under President Adams-Gaston’s management, Norfolk State University has successfully achieved the status of a U.S. News and World Report 2021, Top 20 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) designation. Attained

Since President Adams-Gaston’s arrival Norfolk State University has also expanded its online academic program curriculums to include a Master’s degree in Cybersecurity and has been recognized nationally and been designated as a Department of Defense Center of Excellence in Cybersecurity and Department of Energy Cybersecurity Consortium Leader. Under her leadership, the online Master’s degree in Cyber Psychology launched in Fall 2019, is the first of its kind in the nation. The University also opened the NSU Innovation Center in Downtown Norfolk, VA, March 2019, a learning space that integrates pedagogy and technology to help grow and serve as a channel for minority entrepreneurs. Norfolk State University has developed the Center for African American Public Policy, a first of its kind in Virginia which “serves to educate the public at large, empower minority communities and assist lawmakers on alternative ideas of how to solve issues that communities of color face”. Norfolk State University has received national recognition and visibility for the International Cyber Psychology Conference, the Voice of America’s 1619 Commemoration radio broadcast, the US Senatorial Debate and recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding as part of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Tech Talent Pipeline initiative and students are participants in the Virginia College Affordability Network. Dr. Adams-Gaston has been successful in acquiring multiple donations including a transformational gift of over $40 million from Mackenzie Scott, the largest single donor gift in the history of NSU. In addition, this year, the University has secured grants in excess of over $7.8

million for scholarships and financial support to enhance student success. Some of the partnerships include Sentara HealthcarePublic Health Program, Appalachian School of Law 3+3, Academic Partnerships, Netflix, Apple, Amazon, USAA, and the Black Ambition Prize and many others. President Adams-Gaston is a higher education professional and scholar with more than 30 years of experience at nationally known research universities. Prior to joining Norfolk State University, Dr. Adams-Gaston served as senior vice president at The Ohio State University and led 40 departments in the Office of Student Life annually impacting over 60,000 students. With her selection in 2009, Dr. Adams-Gaston became The Ohio State’s first female African American Vice President for Student Life. She came to The Ohio University State from the University of Maryland, where she served in a variety of administrative and faculty positions. Her experience included serving at University of Maryland, College Park as associate dean of academic affairs, faculty member, executive director of the Career Center, equity administrator, psychologist and first UMCP African American female assistant athletic director (Division 1) and as an Athletic Certification Peer Reviewer for the NCAA. Trained as a psychologist, Dr. Adams-Gaston spent more than 25 years in private practice. She also served as a member of the graduate faculty at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University. She was an affiliate assistant professor at The Ohio State University. Dr. Adams-Gaston earned a bachelor’s degree in biology, psychology, and general science, at the University of Dubuque; a master’s degree in psychology at Loras College; and a Ph.D. in psychology at Iowa State University. She considers her greatest achievement to be her family. She is married to Dmitri Gaston, MCRP, who served as a planner and management analyst in Washington, D.C. for over 25 years and as a planner, including creating diversity and inclusion education at The Ohio State University. They have three adult children, and they are extremely proud of them.

DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS including the Division I championship in 2025. Student-athletes continued to excel in the classroom as well, with the department posting an overall GPA of 3.15 after the spring semester, the highest ever.

Melody Webb Director of Athletics

elody Webb was appointed to the position of University Athletics Director on July 1, 2020 after serving for six years at NSU as Senior Associate Athletics Director for Administration/Senior Woman Administrator. She became the ninth athletics director in the history of Norfolk State, and the first female to hold the role. “Ms. Webb will lead Spartan Athletics to excellence both on and off the field of competition while also increasing NSU’s visibility and competitiveness,” NSU President Dr. Javaune AdamsGaston said. “She is an exceptional administrator and is well respected within the field of intercollegiate athletics.” In her first season leading the Spartans in 2020-21, both the men’s basketball and baseball teams captured MEAC titles. NSU men’s basketball defeated Appalachian State in the NCAA Tournament First Four after winning its second-ever MEAC Championship. Spartan baseball, meanwhile, made its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance after capturing its very first MEAC Championship. Norfolk State was also selected to host four NCAA Track & Field Indoor Championships from 2023-26,

Webb joined the NSU staff in April of 2014. In that role as Associate AD, she oversaw the business office, facilities, game operations and external relations, which included media relations, ticketing, marketing, promotions, fundraising, and corporate partnerships. Webb helped to provide strategies that drove revenue streams while increasing brand management and awareness to support the mission and vision of NSU athletics. Under her leadership, Webb oversaw more than $2 million in facility upgrades and renovations, including the installation of video scoreboards, locker room renovations, replacement of the original court in Joseph G Echols Hall, and new artificial turf at Dick Price Stadium. Prior to NSU, Webb was the Associate Commissioner for Business Operations at the Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association (CIAA), where she oversaw financial support to 13 institutions, 3,500 students and more than 5,000 participation opportunities in 14 different championships. Of the 14 championships produced by the CIAA, its annual basketball tournament is one of the nation’s premier sporting events, attracting over 190,000 fans during the course of the week, and was ranked as the third-highest attended basketball tournament among all NCAA divisions. Before the CIAA, Webb served stints as the assistant athletics director for business at George Washington University, business manager at University of Maryland and associate athletics director/SWA at Elizabeth City State University. At George Washington, she was responsible

for administrative oversight of a $22 million budget. She assisted with the financial management of a $55 million budget at Maryland and oversaw the administrative operations for athletic financial affairs, purchasing and accounts. At Elizabeth City, she provided fiscal management and operational oversight of all aspects of the intercollegiate athletics and sports programs. In each position, Webb was responsible for external and internal reports to university administrators, the Department of Education and the NCAA. Webb currently sits on various committees and boards and is a part of the Collegiate Athletic Business Managers Association (CABMA), Minority Opportunity Athletic Association (MOAA), National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators and is a member of Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. A native of Chicago, Illinois, Webb earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Savannah State University, where she was a four-year letter winner in volleyball, serving as team captain for three years. Webb also competed in basketball and track and field where she also received conference honors. After completing her undergraduate degree, she then earned her master’s in public administration with a focus in public policy and management from Bowie State University. Webb is pursuing a Doctorate of Education from the United States Sports Academy.

JOIN THE EVOLUTION

2021 Schedule 09/04 09/11 09/18 09/25 10/02 10/16

7 PM 12 PM 6 PM 12 PM 2 PM 2 PM

10/23 2 PM

AT Toledo AT WAke ForesT elizAbeTh CiTy sTATe AT sT. FrAnCis (PA) AT hAMPTon VirginiA–lynChburg hoMeCoMing AT hoWArd *

10/30 2 PM

MorgAn sTATe* breAsT CAnCer AWAreness dAy

11/06 2 PM

AT n.C. CenTrAl*

11/13 1 PM

AT delAWAre sTATe*

11/20 2 PM

souTh CArolinA sTATe* MiliTAry APPreCiATion/senior dAy

GOLD DENOTES HOME GAME *DENOTES MEAC GAME Subject to change