2022 Football Game Program vs. Delaware State

ABOUT THE GAME

Fresh off their first win of the season, the Spartans look to make it two in a row when they host Delaware State this Saturday for Homecoming 2022.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS

Norfolk State won its first game of the year in dramatic fashion last Saturday, as receiver Da’Quan Felton caught a 3-yard touchdown pass with five seconds left to lift the Spartans past Morgan State, 24-21.

NSU led 17-0 in the second quarter only to see Morgan State score the game’s next 21 points, including the goahead touchdown with 1:53 to play.

But the Spartans drove 66 yards in nine plays, capped by Jaylan Adams’ TD throw to Felton, to rally for the win.

Felton had a career-high eight catches for 94 yards and one touchdown. Otto Kuhns passed for a career-high 288 yards, with Felton and Chris Butler (6-88) the leading receivers.

Stuart Anderson Jr. had nine tackles, tied for team-high honors, including a forced fumble at the goal line that prevented one would-be Bears’ touchdown.

The win came in the MEAC’s first conference game of 2022, giving the Spartans the early lead in the conference standings.

SCOUTING THE HORNETS

Delaware State is off to a 3-2 start on the season after a 14-9 home win over Robert Morris on Oct. 1 in Dover. The Hornets had a bye week last week.

DSU also had early-season wins over Lincoln (Pa.), 34-0, and Virginia Lynch burg, 35-19. Their losses have come to Merrimack (26-13) and nationallyranked Delaware (35-9).

The Hornets lead the MEAC thus far in total defense (298.2 ypg allowed) and rushing defense (96.0 ypg). DSU is strong on the ground this year, as both Marquis Gillis (231 yards) and Wade Inge (203) rank in the MEAC top 10 in rushing. Omakus Langley leads the conference with four sacks.

DSU was picked to finish fourth in the conference preseason poll. Three Hornet defenders - lineman Isaiah Wil

GAME PREVIEW

liams, linebacker Ronald Holmes and defensive back Esaias Guthrie - were voted to the All-MEAC preseason first team.

SERIES HISTORY

Delaware State leads the all-time series with Norfolk State, 17-6. That in cludes last year’s improbable 28-26 DSU win in Dover on Nov. 13, when the Hor nets rallied from a 26-0 halftime deficit.

The Spartans played near flawless football in a first half which ended with them on top 26-0. But the Hornets slow ly rallied, eventually overcoming their deficit on a pair of fourth-down touch down passes – the last a 30-yard TD throw from Jared Lewis to Trey Gross with 1:53 remaining to put the Hornets in front 28-26.

J.J. Davis ran for 115 yards and a touchdown and Christian Ruffin re turned a blocked punt for a touchdown for NSU.

DSU’s win last year snapped a threegame series win streak for the Spartans.

THREE EARN MEAC HONORS

Three Spartans earned MEAC weekly honors following the Morgan State win: receiver Da’Quan Felton was selected Co-Offensive Player of the Week, de fensive back Stuart Anderson Jr. was named Defensive Player of the Week and running back Kevon King was se

lected Rookie of the Week.

• Felton caught a career-high eight pass es for 94 yards and the game-winning touchdown with five seconds left. He is currently third in the MEAC with 288 to tal receiving yards, and tied for second with three TD catches this year.

• Anderson registered nine tackles, including one for loss and a forced fumble. His forced fumble in the first quarter came at the Spartan 1-yard line with MSU about to score, and teammate Daylan Long recovered for NSU.

• King carried four times for 36 yards for NSU, including a 34-yard touchdown run on the first drive of the game. That marked King’s first career touchdown as a Spartan.

TYLER TALLIES TACKLES

NSU junior Tyler Long has been racking up the tackles of late. More on the standout linebacker:

• Long is first in the MEAC and 26th in all of the Division I FCS with 57 total tackles in six games.

• He has reached double figures three times, with 11 at Marshall, a then careerhigh tying 12 against St. Francis and a career-high 13 at Sacred Heart.

• Long also leads NSU and is sixth in the MEAC with 2.5 sacks on the year.

Otto Kuhns passed for 288 yards and ran for a score in the win at Morgan State. (Photo by Nick Sutton/Kinetic Stills)

Dawson Odums Head Football Coach

HEAD COACH DAWSON ODUMS

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 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).

who signed as an undrafted free agent with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars last year after finishing his career as a Spartan.

Dawson

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 second year as the head football coach at Norfolk State University. He was named the 18th head coach in Spartan history on April 21, 2021.

Odums led NSU to a successful campaign in his first season in charge. The Spartans went 6-5 in 2021, which included a six-game winning streak that was the program’s longest since 1984. Officially, the 2021 season marked NSU’s first winning ledger since 2007.

A balanced, high-powered offense was NSU’s calling card in 2021. NSU averaged 33.2 points per game, most in its Division I history and third-most in school annals, while averaging a MEAC-high 440.5 yards per game – another school D-I record. That included 212.2 rushing yards per game, second-best in program history and the most since 1984.

The Spartans had a school-record 18 players earn All-MEAC honors following the 2021 season. That included NSU capturing three of the MEAC’s top awards – Offensive Player of the Year (Juwan Carter), Rookie of the Year (J.J. Davis) and Offensive Lineman of the Year (Justin Redd).

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

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 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.

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.

Seven 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. That list includes two-time All-MEAC defensive end De’Shaan Dixon,

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.

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.

Odums and his wife, Audrey, have two daughters, Jasmine and Jaiden.

NO. NAME POS. HT. WT. YR. HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL

0 Stuart Anderson Jr. DB 6-2 219 Gr. Mathews, Va./Mathews HS

1 D.J. Djonkam DL 6-3 275 R-Jr. Springfield, Va./West Springfield HS

2 Brandon Savage DB 5-11 165 R-Sr. Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill Academy

2 Izayah Whiteside QB 6-2 164 Fr. Columbia, S.C./Irmo HS

3 Frank Boyd III RB 5-9 195 R-Sr. Richmond, Va./Liberty

3 Ja’Len Morrison DB 5-11 150 Fr. Manassas, Va./Unity Reed HS

4 Otto Kuhns QB 6-3 194 So. Columbus, Ohio/Eastern Illinois

5 Da’Quan Felton WR 6-3 205 R-So. Portsmouth, Va./Churchland HS

6 Justin Toler DB 5-10 175 R-Jr. Falmouth, Va./Stafford HS

7 Tayvion Land DB 5-8 180 R-Jr. Virginia Beach, Va./Liberty

8 Kyler Davis QB 6-1 206 R-Fr. Fayetteville N.C./ Seventy First HS

9 Jaylan Adams QB 5-10 184 R-Jr. Johnson City, Tenn./The Citadel

10 Tremayne Talbert WR 5-8 183 R-Jr. 42Richmond, Va./Highland Springs HS

11 Tyler Long LB 5-11 222 R-Jr. Cincinnati, Ohio/Lackawanna CC

12 T.J. Stevenson DL 6-4 228 R-Fr. Hampton, Va./North Carolina

13 Kevon King RB 5-11 200 Fr. Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Smith HS

15 J.J. Davis RB 5-9 172 R-So. Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati

16 Christian Ruffin DB 5-11 180 So. Raleigh, N.C./Southeast Raleigh HS

17 Joseph White DB 6-1 174 R-Jr. Virginia Beach, Va./University of Virginia

18 Christopher Price QB 6-1 182 R-Fr. Virginia Beach, Va./Landstown HS

19 Daylan Long LB 5-11 190 R-Fr Cincinnati, Ohio/Miami (Ohio)

20 Jason Wonodi WR 5-11 161 Fr. Brockton, Mass./Brockton HS

21 Devon Allen DB 6-0 177 So. Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes HS

22 Cameron Foreman DB 6-2 183 R-Jr. Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee HS

23 Ricky Harleston DB 5-10 195 R-So. Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood HS

24 Christian Butler WR 5-11 200 R-So. Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen HS

Collis Pride WR 6-2 180 R-So. Dinwiddie, Va./Bluefield College

Shaviaea Williams DB 5-11 196 R-Sr. Norfolk, Va./Granby HS

Jordin Lennon RB 5-10 211 Fr. Yorktown, Va./York HS

R.J. Coles DB 5-10 193 R-Jr. Richmond, Va./Varina HS

A.J. Williams DB 6-3 177 Fr. Hampton, Va./Hampton HS

Noah Spencer DB 6-3 208 R-So. Virginia Beach, Va./Old Dominion

Christian Parham DB 6-0 179 Fr. Virginia Beach, Va./Green Run HS

Lex Henry RB 5-8 189 So. Virginia Beach, Va./Salem HS

Pierre Royster DB 6-2 198 So. Norfolk, Va./Lake Taylor HS

Kameron Lewis DB 6-0 194 R-Fr. Woodbridge, Va./ Forest Park HS

Jamarei Ashby-Phan WR 5-8 170 Fr. Phoenix, Ariz./Chaparral HS

Darren Castor DB 6-0 170 Fr. Brockton, Mass./Brockton HS

Emile Sancho DB 6-0 164 Fr. Ocala, Fla./Vanguard HS

Kaleb Broadbent DB 5-11 196 Fr. Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch HS

Nyamusa Njoka DB 5-10 181 R-So. Silver Spring, Md./Paint Branch HS

Imani Bey DL 6-2 235 R-Sr. Washington, D.C./VMI

D.J. James III RB 5-8 170 Fr. Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes HS

Isaiah Stevens DB 5-9 166 Fr. Stafford, Va./North Stafford HS

Jayden Smith DB 6-1 178 So. Woodbridge, Va./Freedom HS

Elijah Smith WR 6-1 180 Fr. Newport News, Va./Warwick HS

Jaylen White RB 5-10 185 R-Fr. Hampton, Va./Phoebus HS

Toby Willis LS 6-3 211 Fr. Lancaster, S.C./Lancaster HS

Zion Lewis DB 6-1 174 R-So. Farmville, Va./Prince Edward HS

Zion Porter-Ervin WR 5-9 170 R-Fr. Hampton, Va./Phoebus HS

Sage Beuchert-Irvine DL 6-3 244 R-So. Reston, Va./South Lakes HS

Michael Vinson LB 6-2 240 Fr. Baltimore, Md./Saint Frances Academy

Marvin Dozier LS 6-0 225 Fr. Lake Worth, Fla./Park Vista Community

Marcus Triggs LB 5-11 209 Fr. Hampton, Va./Hampton HS

Anthony Blume DL 6-1 268 R-So. Edgewood, Md./Edgewood HS

NO. NAME POS. HT. WT. YR. HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL

53

Javari Rice-Wilson DL 5-11 251 So. Kings Mountain, N.C./Fordham

Javontay Martin LB 6-3 181 Fr. Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside

55

56

Baron Franks OL 6-5 264 R-Fr. Greenville, S.C./Greenville Senior

Marquis Hall LB 6-3 230 R-Sr. Woodbridge, Va./ Potomac Senior HS

57

Jalen Swindell DL 6-2 308 Fr. Charlotte, N.C./Wake Forest

58 Jonathan Hall LB 6-2 212 R-Jr. Courtland, Va./Old Dominion

Javoni Hales LB 5-11 238 R-Fr. Newport News, Va./Menchville HS

Dyral McMillan OL 6-2 284 R-Fr. Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte HS

Grandin Willcox K/P 5-11 220 Fr. Ocala, Fla./Vanguard HS

Jaden Bryant OL 6-4 389 Fr. Norfolk, Va./Norview HS

Christopher Jones OL 5-7 320 R-Fr. Windsor, Va./Windsor HS

64

Juwuan Carbonell OL 6-2 342 R-Fr. Newport News, Va./Heritage HS

Michael Tamakloe OL 6-2 276 Fr. Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville HS

Vincent Byrd Jr. OL 6-3 306 Fr. Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge HS

Garrison Wheatley OL 6-4 361 So. Johns Island, S.C./Hocking College

Julian Soriano OL 6-6 283 R-Fr. Suffolk, Va./Nansemond River HS

Jeff Woods OL 6-6 293 R-So. Fayetteville, N.C./UConn

Tynique Breathwaite OL 6-5 228 Fr. Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood HS

Egan Atkins OL 6-3 323 Sr. Tampa, Fla./Grambling

Silas Fitzgerald OL 6-4 264 R-Fr. Roanoke, Va./Hidden Valley HS

Colby Byrd OL 6-3 297 R-Sr. Virginia Beach, Va./Virginia Union

Evan Gregory OL 6-4 308 R-Jr. Brandywine, Md./Maryland

Andrew Nickens OL 6-3 325 R-Fr. Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor HS

Jeremiah Bolling-Farrar OL 6-7 290 R-Sr. Hopewell, Va./Wagner

Lamar Robinson OL 6-4 289 Fr. Alexandria, Va./Hayfield Secondary

Dorian Stitmon DL 6-0 265 Fr. Suffolk, Va./Churchland HS

Jeremiah Martin DL 6-1 261 Fr. Leonardtown, Md./Showtime Prep

Corie Addo WR 5-10 185 Fr. Richmond, Va./Clover Hill HS

Ademola Faleye TE 6-7 235 So. Brockton, Mass./Brockton HS

Kevin Gayles WR 6-0 201 R-Fr. Richmond, Va./Huguenot HS

Clifton Davis WR 6-2 179 Fr. Atlanta, Ga./North Stafford HS

Tavian Morris WR 6-0 180 R-Fr. Prince George, Va./Prince George HS

Jayden Hargett DL 6-4 221 Fr. Norfolk, Va./Maury HS

Mark Williams TE 6-2 219 R-Jr. Ashburn, Va./Kent State

Lukai Hatcher WR 6-2 170 R-Fr. Arlington, Va./Wakefield HS

Ikeem Wright TE 6-1 244 R-Fr. Norfolk, Va./Lake Taylor HS

Michael Curry TE 6-2 198 Fr. Brockto n, Mass./Brockton HS

Shawn Johnson DL 6-2 272 R-So. Bronx, N.Y./Archbishop Carroll

Isaiah Sephens TE 6-2 259 Fr. Empria, Va./Greensville County HS

Carson Wilt K/P 5-8 186 R-Fr. Lake Worth, Fla./Southern

Cameron Curry DL 6-5 217 Fr. Chantilly, Va./Chantilly HS

Jaylen Williams DL 6-5 227 Fr. Ocala, Fla./Vanguard HS

Tyler Johnson DL 6-5 251 R-So. Glen Allen, Va./Glenville State

Levontae Jacobs DL 6-3 285 So. Salisbury, N.C./West Rowan HS

Matthieu Watts DL 6-4 212 R-Fr. Hampton, Va./Phoebus HS

Jordyn Heath DL 5-11 246 R-So. Gardena, Calif./Junipero Serra

Shamar Hill DL 6-0 226 R-So. Kissimmee, Fla./Orlando Christian Prep

Amadeu Vital DL 6-1 270 R-Jr. Silver Spring, Md./Glenville State

Head Coach: Dawson Odums

Coaches: Steve Adams (Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator, LB Coach), Ryan Meyers (Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach), Vincent Marshall (WR Coach, Special Teams

LaQuaid Manago (OL Coach), Dwayne Taylor (CB Coach), Trumaine Watson (TE Coach), Mark Thurston (DL Coach), Bobby Blizzard (RB Coach), Kresean Reed (Safeties Coach), Jamal Williams (Defensive Assistant), Hudson Alexander (Offensive Assistant), Matthew Kooiman (Director of Operations)

DELAWARE STATE ROSTER

POS.

0 Andrew Reese DB 5-7 165 R-Jr. Miami, Fla./Miami Senior HS

1 Charles Peeler DB 5-8 175 R-Sr. Washington, D.C./Iowa State

2 Nico Stout WR 5-5 165 R-Fr. La Plata, Md./La Plata HS

3 Konner Blount-Foster WR 5-9 170 R-Fr. Waldorf, Md./St. Charles HS

4 Romell Harris-Freeman DB 6-4 190 R-Jr. Woodbridge, Va./Livingstone College

5 Marqui Adams QB 6-1 175 Fr. Philadelphia, Pa./Neumann-Goretti HS

6 Marquis Gillis RB 6-0 200 R-Fr. Milford, Del./Milford HS

7 Jared Lewis QB 6-3 210 R-Jr. Baltimore, Md./Fort Scott CC

8 EJ Core TE 6-1 220 R-Fr. Waldorf, Md./National Christian Academy

9 Ronald Holmes LB 6-1 210 So. Darby, Pa./Neumann & Goretti HS

10 Rahkeem Smith WR 5-9 170 Fr. Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall

11 Daniel Douglas DB 6-3 205 R-So. Wilmington, Del./Hodgson Vo-Tech

13 Tylik Bethea QB 6-5 200 R-So. Staten Island, N.Y./Lincoln HS

14 Halim Dixon-King WR 6-2 215 Jr. New Rochelle, N.Y./Monroe College

15 Avari Marshall WR 5-9 175 Fr. Miami, Fla./Barbara Goleman HS

16 C.J. Henry QB 5-10 180 R-Fr. Newark, Del./Hodgson Vo-Tech HS

17 Nathan Wilson K 6-1 180 Fr. Salem, N.J./Salem, HS

18 Jonathan Cardoza-Chicas K/P 5-11 195 Jr. Rahway, N.J./Monroe College

19 Jayden Jenkins WR 5-10 175 Fr. Bronx, N.Y./West Point Prep

20 Tyshaun Capers RB 5-11 200 So. Hollis, N.Y./Campus Magnet HS

21 Coleon Williams DB 5-10 185 Fr. Trenton, N.J./Notre Dame (NJ) HS

22 Michael Chris-Ike RB 6-2 225 R-Jr. Hamilton, Ontario/St. Thomas More Sec.

23 Javon Jackson WR 5-8 160 Fr. Newport News, Va./Woodside HS

24 Wade Inge RB 5-10 180 R-So. Williamstown, N.J./Williamstown HS

25 Jawain Granger DB 5-9 180 R-Sr. New Castle, Del./Caravel Academy

Wayne Favors III DB 6-0 170 Fr. Miami, Fla./Carol City HS

Kameron Young DB 6-0 200 R-Fr. Marriottsville, Md./Univ. of West Virginia

Jeffery Broughton DB 5-9 170 R-Fr. Middletown, Del./Appoquinimink HS

30 Dante Daniel LB 6-0 200 R-Sr. Pleasantville, N.J./Wesley College

31 Jasiyah Brooks LB 6-1 205 R-Fr. Alexandria, Va./Bowie HS

Geovanny Fabian DB 6-1 165 Fr. Philadelphia, Pa./Northeast HS

Kamari Jackson LB 5-11 185 R-Sr. Newport News, Va./Woodside HS

Thomas Bertrand-Hudon RB 6-0 220 R-Jr. Mt. Saint-Hilaire, Quebec/Champ.-Lennoxville

Nestor Conforti LS 6-0 200 Gr. Union, N.J./Kean University

Domonique Smith DB 6-0 185 R-Fr. Georgetown, Del./Sussex Central HS

Antquan Kinsey LB 5-11 230 R-Jr. Liberty City, Fla./Miami HS

Matt Noll P/K 6-0 200 So. Robesonia, Pa./Conrad Weiser HS

Jayden Estes DB 6-0 185 So. Middletown, Del./Appoquinimink HS

Jordan Lane K/P 6-0 175 So. Baltimore, Md./Central Connecticut St.

Aiden Weber LB 6-2 210 So. Pottstown, Pa./St. Mary’s Ryken HS (Md.)

Maurio Goings LB 6-0 230 R-So. New Market, Md./Oakdale HS

Kahleef Jimmison DB 5-10 170 Fr. Newport News, Va./Army-West Point

Omar Parker Jr. LB 5-9 200 So. Baltimore, Md./Eastern Tech HS

Donovan Mack DL 6-1 255 Fr. New Castle, Del./St. George’s HS

Traye Laster

5-11 220 Jr. Brandywine, Md./North Carolina Wesleyan

Sam Arkuwoille DL 6-1 230 R-Fr. Dover, Del./Dover HS

Bailey

Charles Brown, Jr.

Olivier Muembi

Brooks Parker

Kyle Williams

Robinson

Michel Bergeron LS 5-11 210 So. Burlington, Vt./Burlington HS

Josh Ramponeau DL 6-3 260 Sr. Spring Valley, N.Y./Hudson Valley CC

Jaydon Mifflin OL 6-2 260 Fr. Georgetown, Del./Sussex Tech HS

Derrico Poston OL 6-4 270 R-So. Oxon Hills, Md./Wesley College

Carrington Jones DL 6-1 280 R-Sr. Kinsale, Va./Temple University

Mathias Peoples OL 6-1 310 So. Washington, D.C./Kipp College Prep HS

Isaiah Cook OL 6-3 290 R-Fr. Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro HS

Sam Pearson OL 6-5 285 Sr. Washington, D.C./ASA - Brooklyn

Hallston Fergilus OL 6-3 300 Jr. Flushing, N.Y./Monroe College

Diu Dau OL 6-4 295 R-Fr. Rockville, Md./Richard Montgomery HS

Joseph Maxwell III OL 6-5 360 R-Fr. Savannah, Ga./Windsor Forest HS

Malcolm Jefferies OL 6-3 240 Fr. Baltimore, Md./New Town HS

Tavian Hobson OL 6-3 315 Jr. Rockford, Ill./Ellsworth CC (Iowa)

NyGhee Lolley WR 6-1 195 R-Fr. Newark, Del./Hodgson Vo-Tech HS

Tahmir Ellis TE 6-4 230 Fr. Plainfield, N.J./Plainfield HS

Myles Morales TE 6-4 235 So. Manhattan, N.Y./Paramus Catholic HS

Jerrish Halsey WR 5-10 160 Sr. Rahway, N.J./Wesley College

Joseph Bongono TE 6-6 235 Jr. Beltsville, Md./Mt. San Antonio College

Devin Curry WR 6-2 210 Sr. Clinton, Md./Wesley College

Bizzet Woodley WR 6-5 200 Jr. Chantilly, Va./Westfield HS

Roman Davis TE 6-3 215 R-So. Norristown, Pa./Gwynn Park HS (Md.)

Isaiah Williams DL 6-2 295 R-Sr. Brooklyn, N.Y./Lafayette HS

Omakus Langley II DL 6-3 245 R-Fr. Greenville, N.C./Hillside HS (N.J.)

Marcus Winfield DL 6-3 250 R-So. Abington, Pa./Cheltenham HS

Darren Cook DL 6-3 315 So. Washington, D.C./Friendship Collegiate

Corey St. John DL 6-2 275 Sr. Tampa, Fla./Ellsworth CC

Kevin Deshields DL 6-3 300 Sr. Bridgeton, N.J./Lackawanna CC

Tyrone Cooper DL 6-3 260 Fr. Chestertown, Md./Appoquinimink HS

Eric Montes DL 6-1 240 So. Berwick, Pa./Berwick HS

Head Coach: Rod Milstead Assistant Coaches: Bryan Bossard (Offensive Coordinator/RB/TE Coach), Andre Creamer (Defensive Coordinator/OLB Coach), Arthur Smith (ILB Coach/Special Teams Coordinator), Jeff Braxton (OL Coach), Bill Garvey (QB Coach), Anthony Missick (DB Coach), Pat Randolph (WR Coach), Joshua Wade (DL Coach), Chuck Poplos (Specialists), Lawrence Lvingston (Offensive As sistant), Neiko Creamer (Offensive Assistant)

6-1

6-2

6-1

6-3

5-10

R-Fr. Washington, D.C./Friendship Collegiate

R-So. Edgewood, Md./Eastern Michigan Univ.

R-Jr. Hamilton, Ontario/Saltfleet District

Sr. Laurel, Del./Delmar HS

R-Fr. Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East

So. Washington, D.C./Roosevelt HS

Dillon Marshall OL 6-4 290 R-Sr. Waldorf, Md./Westlake HS

Rodrigo Escobar OL 6-3 300 So. Elizabeth, N.J./East Coast Prep HS

Charles Pierce OL 6-0 285 So. Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek HS

PROJECTED LINEUPS

When Norfolk State Has the Ball

NSU OFFENSE

POS. NO. NAME

HT. WT. YR.

XWR 5 Da’Quan Felton 6-3 205 R-So.

YWR 10 Tremayne Talbert 5-8 183 R-Jr.

LT 78 Lamar Robinson 6-4 289 Fr.

LG 66 Vincent Byrd Jr. 6-3 306 Fr.

C 74 Colby Byrd 6-3 297 R-Sr.

RG 75 Evan Gregory 6-4 308 R-Jr.

RT 55 Baron Franks 6-5 264 R-Fr.

TE 81 Ademola Faleye 6-7 235 So.

ZWR 25 Collis Pride 6-2 180 R-So.

QB 4 Otto Kuhns 6-3 194 So.

RB 15 J.J. Davis 5-9 172 R-So.

When Delaware State Has the Ball

DSU OFFENSE

POS. NO. NAME

HT. WT. YR.

LT 73 Sam Pearson 6-5 285 R-Jr.

LG 61 Rodrigo Escobar 6-3 300 So.

C 60 Dillon Marshall 6-4 290 R-Sr.

RG 72 Isaiah Cook 6-3 290 R-Fr.

RT 68 Derrico Poston 6-4 270 R-So.

TE 83 Tahmir Ellis 6-4 230 Fr.

WR 85 Jerrish Halsey 5-10 160 Sr.

WR 2 Nico Stout 5-6 165 So.

WR 87 Devin Curry 6-2 210 Sr.

RB 6 Marquis Gillis 6-0 200 R-Fr.

QB 7 Jared Lewis 6-3 210 R-Jr.

NSU Special Teams

POS. NO. NAME HT. WT. YR.

K 61 Grandin Willcox 5-11 220 Fr.

P 61 Grandin Willcox 5-11 220 Fr.

LS 45 Toby Willis 6-3 211 Fr.

HLD 0 Stuart Anderson 6-2 219 Gr.

PR 10 Tremayne Talbert 5-8 183 R-Jr.

KR 15 J.J. Davis 5-9 172 R-So.

DSU DEFENSE

POS. NO. NAME

HT. WT. YR.

DE 95 Corey St. John 6-2 275 Sr.

DT 94 Darren Cook 6-3 315 So.

DE 90 Isaiah Williams 6-2 295 R-Sr.

OLB 53 Charles Brown 6-2 240 R-So.

ILB 45 Maurio Goings 6-0 230 R-Fr.

ILB 44 Aiden Weber 6-2 210 So.

OLB 55 Brooks Parker 6-1 210 Sr.

DB 25 Jawain Granger 5-9 165 R-Sr.

DB 0 Andrew Reese 5-7 165 R-Jr.

DB 4 Romell Harris-Freeman 6-4 190 R-Jr.

DB 1 Charles Peeler 5-8 175 R-Sr.

NSU DEFENSE

POS. NO. NAME

HT. WT. YR.

DE 48 Sage Beuchert-Irvine 6-3 244 R-So.

NG 95 Levontae Jacobs 6-3 285 So.

DT 52 Anthony Blume 6-1 268 R-So.

DE 94 Tyler Johnson 6-5 251 R-So.

WLB 11 Tyler Long 5-11 222 R-Jr.

MLB 56 Marquis Hall 6-3 230 R-Sr.

SAM 23 Ricky Harleston 5-10 195 R-So.

CB 41 Jayden Smith 6-1 178 So.

ROV 0 Stuart Anderson 6-2 219 Gr.

FS

17 Joseph White 6-1 174 R-Jr.

CB 21 Devon Allen 6-0 177 So.

Delaware State Special Teams

POS. NO. NAME HT. WT. YR.

K 17 Nathan Wilson 6-0 180 Fr.

P 41 Matt Knoll 6-0 200 Fr.

LS 37 Nestor Conforti 6-0 200 Gr.

HLD 41 Matt Knoll 6-0 200 Fr.

PR 1 Charles Peeler 5-8 175 R-Sr.

KR 24 Wade Inge 5-10 180 R-So.

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

Dr. 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.

UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT

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, Norfolk State launched the online Master’s degree in Cyber Psychology, the first of its kind in the nation. 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.

Upon taking the helm as President in 2019, she successfully continued the work already in progress towards achieving the 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. That same year, the continued efforts of student recruitment increased enrollment to a sixyear high in fall 2019, to 5,600 students. This included the largest freshman class in many

years, 1,200 freshmen (FY20). In a passing of the leadership torch, the university was also able to complete the construction of and opening of two new residence halls to accommodate the growing enrollment. Fiscal year 2020 also saw the University realize record high operating revenues (104% above projection), the highest in the history of Norfolk State.

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 in 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 a program for diversity and inclusion education at The Ohio State University. They have three adult children, and they are extremely proud of them.

Melody Webb Director of Athletics

Melody 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, 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.

The championships kept coming in 2021-22. NSU won five MEAC championships, including the second straight title for NSU men’s basketball, both men’s and women’s cross country championships and a sweep of the MEAC men’s track titles. At the conclusion of the year, the Spartans won the MEAC’s Talmadge Layman Hill Award for all-around excellence in men’s sports.

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.