The Spartans forced Hampton into four turnovers in the back-and-forth af fair. NSU registered three interceptions of HU quarterback Jett Duffey, two by cornerback Justin Toler.
BOMB FOR THE BOOKS
NSU’s first touchdown of the 2022 season was an eye-opener. Otto Kuhns connected with Da’Quan Felton on a 90-yard scoring strike on the first play of the second half last week at JMU.
Based on available records, the play is the third-longest pass in school his tory, and longest in 11 years. Chris Wal ley threw a school-record 98-yard TD pass to Derrick Demps in the 2011 FCS playoff game at Old Dominion. In 2003, Dontrell Leonard connected on a 97yard pass play with Howard Gilmore at Morgan State.
CAPTAINS NAMED
• Defense: DL Anthony Blume, LB Marquis Hall, DB Stuart Anderson Jr.
Da’Quan Felton caught a 90-yard TD pass against James Madison, the third-longest pass play in school history. (Photo by Nick Sutton/Kinetic Stills)
Hampton has opened the season 2-0 with victories over Howard (31-28) and Tuskegee (42-10). The Pirates are aver aging 413.5 yards per game behind a balanced attack. Quarterback Malcolm Mays has passed for 401 yards and four touchdowns so far this year. Preseason honorable mention All-CAA receiver Jadakis Bonds has caught three of those scores and averages 106.5 receiving yards per game.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
NSU and Hampton have met 56 times before, with NSU holding a 27-261 edge with two Spartan wins vacated. This year marks the first meeting be tween the teams at Dick Price Stadium since 2017, a game HU won 16-14.
Norfolk State dropped its first two games to start the year in matchups against FBS teams Marshall and James Madison. The Spartans have scored 10 points so far this year, on a 25-yard field goal by freshman Grandin Willcox at Marshall and a 90-yard touchdown pass from Otto Kuhns to Da’Quan Felton at James Madison. Kuhns passed for 203 yards at JMU, 141 to Felton.
Thanks in part to that long scoring strike, Felton leads the MEAC in receiving yards per game through two games (72.5). Defensively, linebacker Tyler Long ranks tied for second in the conference with 9.0 tackles per game (18 total in two games).
The following players were elected captains of the 2022 team: • Offense: WR Da’Quan Felton, RB J.J. Davis, C Colby Byrd.
NSU had seven All-MEAC preseason picks. RB J.J. Davis, C Colby Byrd, DB Brandon Savage and LB Marquis Hall were first-team selections. WR Da’Quan Felton, LB Tyler Long and DB Justin Toler were second-team choices.
1
NSU was picked to finish third in the MEAC this season behind defending champion South Carolina State and North Carolina Central. The Spartans welcome back 12 starters from last year, including four on offense and eight on defense.
SCOUTING THE PIRATES
PRESEASON HONORS
Davis, the MEAC’s leading rusher as a freshman in 2021, was voted the pre season MEAC Offensive Player of the Year. In addition to his preseason MEAC honor, Davis was also named a pre season HBCU All-American by BOXTO ROW and was selected to the preseason watch list for the Black College Football Player of the Year along with Hall.
GAME PREVIEW
ABOUT THE GAME
the preseason All-CAA first team.
After two games on the road to begin the year, the Norfolk State football team plays its 2022 home opener this week against Hampton University in the Battle of the Bay. It marks the first Battle of the Bay at Dick Price Stadium since 2017.
SERIES HISTORY
The teams ended a three-year series hiatus last year at HU’s Armstrong Sta dium. The game was one for the ages, as Juwan Carter’s 1-yard TD plunge in overtime gave the Spartans a 47-44 win in the highest scoring game in series history.Carter ran for 92 yards and three touchdowns, both career highs, while passing for 294 yards and two more scores. Wideout Justin Smith snared five passes for a career-high 144 yards and a TD for NSU.
The duo of Elijah Burris and Darran Butts has rushed for 257 yards through twoThegames.Pirates are in their first year com peting in the CAA after a short stint in the Big South Conference. Hampton was picked to finish 13th (last) in the CAA this season. Linebacker/defensive lineman Keshaun Moore was voted to
DAVIS LOOKING FOR AN ENCORE
2022 Standings Conf. Overall W-L W-L
N.C. Central at New Hampshire 6 p.m.
5. Howard (1) 52
All NSU games will also be broadcast on WNSB 91.1 FM and on Sirius/XM ra dio.
2
South Florida 42, Howard 20 Delaware 35, Delaware State 9
Dawson Head
MEAC at a Glance
2. North Carolina Central (1) 92
Morgan State 0-0 0-2
(First-place votes in parentheses)
J.J. Davis (pictured) was selected the MEAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. (Photo by Nick Sutton/Kinetic Stills)
Howard 0-0 0-3
South Carolina State 0-0 1-1 Delaware State 0-0 1-1 Norfolk State 0-0 0-2
Norfolk State is represented in the NFL by a pair of undrafted players who were All-MEAC performers at NSU: de fensive back Bobby Price of the Detroit Lions and end/outside linebacker De’Shaan Dixon of the Jacksonville Jaguars.Price was a two-time All-MEAC safety for NSU who started 37 games between 2016 and 2019. Price spent much of the
DfieldinattheAprilOdumsinwentwinninglongestseasonsinceAbalanced,NSU’s33.2Ihistorywhileperincludedsecond-bestmostTheearnseason.ofof(J.J.(JustinAnativehascoachingOdumstheatLouisiana.
1. South Carolina State (8) 123
Despite splitting carries in a talented running back rotation, J.J. Davis made quite the splash in his freshman year at NSU in 2021. A former transfer from Cincinnati, Davis led the MEAC with 887 rushing yards on just 123 carries. His av erage of 7.2 yards per carry was the best in all of Division I FCS.
6. Morgan State (1) 26
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
S.C. State 33, Bethune-Cookman 9
Preseason MEAC Poll
Last Week’s Results
RB J.J. Davis, Norfolk State
This Week’s Games
A five-time MEAC Rookie of the Week and one time Offensive Player of the Week, Davis was second in the MEAC with 11 total touchdowns (10 rushing, one receiving) en route to MEAC Rookie of the Year honors.
SPARTANS IN THE PROS
2020 NFL season on the Lions practice squad. He made 18 tackles and broke up three passes in 15 games in 2021 while startingDixontwice.(2017-21) has had a strong preseason and training camp in his first year with the Jaguars, who signed Dixon following the 2022 draft. Dixon led the MEAC in sacks and was a first-team All MEAC pick in 2021.
Ten of NSU’s 11 games this year will be broadcast on one of the ESPN family of networks. The games at Marshall and JMU both aired live on ESPN3.
NSU’s non-conference games with Hampton, St. Francis and N.C. A&T plus all five MEAC games will be on ESPN+ at minimum. Games with N.C. Central and S.C. State fall on two of the MEAC’s wild card weekends, meaning if the games hold significance in the standings, they could be selected to air live on ESPN3 and tape-delayed on ESPNU. If not, they will still air on ESPN+.
3. Norfolk State .......................... 80
SPARTANS ON TV, RADIO
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Sacred Heart at Morgan State ............ 12 p.m. Hampton at Norfolk State 2 p.m. Va.-Lynchburg at Delaware State 2 p.m. Morehouse at Howard 3 p.m.
James Madison 63, Norfolk State 7 N.C. Central 41, Winston-Salem State 0 Towson 29, Morgan State 21
GAME PREVIEW
North Carolina Central 0-0 2-0
Davis had four 100-yard rushing games, including three against MEAC foes and a career-high 217 on just 18 carries at N.C. Central. Davis had three plays of at least 70 yards last year, in cluding a school-record 88-yard run at NCCU.
4. Delaware State (1) 58
DL Jeblonski Green, S.C. State
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).
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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.
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
Odums’coordinator.first
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.
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, Odums’‘19).
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.
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 Odums1997.
HEAD COACH DAWSON ODUMS
who signed as an undrafted free agent with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars last year after finishing his career as a Spartan.
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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
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.
Dawson
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.
3
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 with the Jaguars was 63-35.
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,
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.
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.
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.
Dawson Odums Head Football 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.
and his wife, Audrey, have two daughters, Jasmine and Jaiden.
23 Ricky Harleston DB 5-10 195 R-So. Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood HS
Vincent Byrd Jr. OL 6-3 306 Fr. Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge 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 Jayden Smith DB 6-1 178 So. Woodbridge, Va./Freedom HS Smith WR 6-1 Fr. Newport News, Va./Warwick HS White RB 5-10 185 R-Fr. Hampton, Va./Phoebus HS Willis LS 6-3 211 Fr. Lancaster, S.C./Lancaster HS Stevens DB 5-9 Fr. Stafford, Va./North Stafford HS Zion Lewis DB 6-1 174 R-So. Farmville, Va./Prince Edward Md./Saint Worth, Fla./Park Vista Hampton, Va./Hampton Blume DL 6-1 R-So. Edgewood, Md./Edgewood HS
NO. NAME POS. HT. WT. YR. HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL 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
28 R.J. Coles DB 5-10 193 R-Jr. Richmond, Va./Varina HS
Ryan
58
43 Elijah
0 Stuart Anderson Jr. DB 6-2 219 Gr. Mathews, Va./Mathews HS
J.J. Davis RB 5-9 172 R-So. Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati
268
6
8
55
61 Grandin Willcox K/P 5-11 220 Fr. Ocala, Fla./Vanguard HS
Mark
29 A.J. Williams DB 6-3 177 Fr. Hampton, Va./Hampton HS 30 Noah Spencer DB 6-3 208 R-So. Virginia Beach, Va./Old Dominion 31 Christian Parham DB 6-0 179 Fr. Virginia Beach, Va./Green Run HS 32 Lex Henry RB 5-8 189 So. Virginia Beach, Va./Salem HS 33 Pierre Royster DB 6-2 198 So. Norfolk, Va./Lake Taylor HS 34 Kameron Lewis DB 6-0 194 R-Fr. Woodbridge, Va./ Forest Park HS 35
Daylan Long LB 5-11 190 R-Fr Cincinnati, Ohio/Miami (Ohio)
HS 46 Ja’Len Morrison DB 5-11 150 Fr. Manassas, Va./Unity Reed HS 47 Zion Porter-Ervin WR 5-9 170 R-Fr. Hampton, Va./Phoebus HS 48 Sage Beuchert-Irvine DL 6-3 244 R-So. Reston, Va./South Lakes HS 49 Michael Vinson LB 6-2 240 Fr. Baltimore,
Jalen Swindell DL 6-2 308 Fr. Charlotte, N.C./Wake Forest Jonathan Hall LB 6-2 212 R-Jr. Courtland, Va./Old Dominion
Trumaine
Kyler Davis QB 6-1 206 R-Fr. Fayetteville N.C./ Seventy First HS
78 Lamar Robinson OL 6-4 289 Fr. Alexandria, Va./Hayfield Secondary
87
Dawson Odums
T.J. Stevenson DL 6-4 228 R-Fr. Hampton, Va./North Carolina
98
5 Da’Quan Felton WR 6-3 205 R-So. Portsmouth, Va./Churchland HS Justin Toler DB 5-10 175 R-Jr. Falmouth, Va./Stafford HS
24
Javoni Hales LB 5-11 238 R-Fr. Newport News, Va./Menchville HS
97
26 Shaviaea Williams DB 5-11 196 R-Sr. Norfolk, Va./Granby HS
22 Cameron Foreman DB 6-2 183 R-Jr. Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee HS
95
7
Coordinator, LB
Community 51 Marcus Triggs LB 5-11 209 Fr.
12
180
Frances Academy 50 Marvin Dozier LS 6-0 225 Fr. Lake
20 Jason Wonodi WR 5-11 161 Fr. Brockton, Mass./Brockton HS
Nyamusa Njoka DB 5-10 181 R-So. Silver Spring, Md./Paint Branch HS
75 Evan Gregory OL 6-4 308 R-Jr. Brandywine, Md./Maryland
76 Andrew Nickens OL 6-3 325 R-Fr. Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor HS
45 Toby
HS 52 Anthony
57
Jaden Bryant OL 6-4 389 Fr. Norfolk, Va./Norview HS
73 Silas Fitzgerald OL 6-4 264 R-Fr. Roanoke, Va./Hidden Valley HS
Dyral McMillan OL 6-2 284 R-Fr. Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte HS
19
93
Collis Pride WR 6-2 180 R-So. Dinwiddie, Va./Bluefield College
65 Michael Tamakloe OL 6-2 276 Fr. Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville HS
80 Corie Addo WR 5-10 185 Fr. Richmond, Va./Clover Hill HS 81 Ademola Faleye TE 6-7 235 So. Brockton, Mass./Brockton HS 82 Kevin Gayles WR 6-0 201 R-Fr. Richmond, Va./Huguenot HS 83 Clifton Davis WR 6-2 179 Fr. Atlanta, Ga./North Stafford HS 84 Tavian Morris WR 6-0 180 R-Fr. Prince George, Va./Prince George HS 85 Jayden Hargett DL 6-4 221 Fr. Norfolk, Va./Maury HS 86 Mark Williams TE 6-2 219 R-Jr. Ashburn, Va./Kent State Lukai Hatcher WR 6-2 170 R-Fr. Arlington, Va./Wakefield HS 88 Ikeem Wright TE 6-1 244 R-Fr. Norfolk, Va./Lake Taylor HS 89 Michael Curry TE 6-2 198 Fr. Brockto n, Mass./Brockton HS 90 Shawn Johnson DL 6-2 272 R-So. Bronx, N.Y./Archbishop Carroll 91 Carson Wilt K/P 5-8 186 R-Fr. Lake Worth, Fla./Southern 92 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
4 NORFOLK STATE ROSTER NO. 0123456789101112131415161819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546484950515254555657
8 Izayah Whiteside QB 6-2 164 Fr. Columbia, S.C./Irmo HS
74 Colby Byrd OL 6-3 297 R-Sr. Virginia Beach, Va./Virginia Union
13
54
37
69 Jeff Woods OL 6-6 293 R-So. Fayetteville, N.C./UConn
71 Egan Atkins OL 6-3 323 Sr. Tampa, Fla./Grambling
79 Isaiah Sephens LB 6-2 259 Fr. Empria, Va./Greensville County HS
Vincent
10 Tremayne Talbert WR 5-8 183 R-Jr. 42Richmond, Va./Highland Springs HS
18 Christopher Price QB 6-1 182 R-Fr. Virginia Beach, Va./Landstown HS
46 Isaiah
9
77 Jeremiah Bolling-Farrar OL 6-7 290 R-Sr. Hopewell, Va./Wagner
Dwayne
41
60
2 Brandon Savage DB 5-11 165 R-Sr. Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill Academy
67 Garrison Wheatley OL 6-4 361 So. Johns Island, S.C./Hocking College
27
94
64 Juwuan Carbonell OL 6-2 342 R-Fr. Newport News, Va./Heritage HS
66
Coordinator),
4 Otto Kuhns QB 6-3 194 So. Columbus, Ohio/Eastern Illinois
21 Devon Allen DB 6-0 177 So. Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes HS
D.J. Djonkam DL 6-3 275 R-Jr. Springfield, Va./West Springfield HS
11 Tyler Long LB 5-11 222 R-Jr. Cincinnati, Ohio/Lackawanna CC
Jaylan Adams QB 5-10 184 R-Jr. Johnson City, Tenn./The Citadel
Christian Butler WR 5-11 200 R-So. Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen HS
Tayvion Land DB 5-8 180 R-Jr. Virginia Beach, Va./Liberty
68 Julian Soriano OL 6-6 283 R-Fr. Suffolk, Va./Nansemond River HS
62
1
59
25
96
15
Jamal
NAME POS. HT. WT. YR. HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL
99
Kevon King RB 5-11 200 Fr. Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Smith HS
38
Jamarei Ashby-Phan WR 5-8 170 Fr. Phoenix, Ariz./Chaparral HS 36 Darren Castor DB 6-0 170 Fr. Brockton, Mass./Brockton HS 36 Emile Sancho DB 6-0 164 Fr. Ocala, Fla./Vanguard HS Kaleb Broadbent DB 5-11 196 Fr. Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch HS
70 Tynique Breathwaite OL 6-5 228 Fr. Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood HS
44 Jaylen
Head Coach:
3 Frank Boyd III RB 5-9 195 R-Sr. Richmond, Va./Liberty
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
Jordin Lennon RB 5-10 211 Fr. Yorktown, Va./York HS
39
40
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
Assistant (Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coach), Meyers (Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach), Marshall (WR Coach, Special Teams LaQuaid Manago (OL Coach), Taylor (CB Coach), Watson (TE Coach), Thurston (DL Coach), Bobby Blizzard (RB Coach), Kresean Reed (Safeties Coach), Williams (Defensive Assistant), Hudson Alexander (Offensive Assistant), Matthew Kooiman (Director of Operations)
79 Dorian Stitmon DL 6-0 265 Fr. Suffolk, Va./Churchland HS
166
56
NO.
63 Christopher Jones OL 5-7 320 R-Fr. Windsor, Va./Windsor HS
46
Coaches: Steve Adams
29 Cam Sturdifen DB 6-2 185 R-Fr. Richmond, Va./Manchester HS
Andy Matthews DL 6-2 295 R-Fr. Richmond, Va./Varina HS
Tyler McDuffie OL 6-8 315 R-So. Danville, Va./George Washington HS
82
15 KeShaun Moore DL 6-3 240 So. Suffolk, Va./Lackawanna JC
88
Ja’Quan Snipes RB 6-0 215 R-Jr. Asheboro, N.C./Randleman HS
J’Cori Shaw OL 6-3 300 Fr. Elizabeth City, N.C./Northeastern HS
Poly 57 Elijah Washington DL 6-3 330 R-So.
43
James Marshall OL 6-0 280 R-Jr. Bowie, Md./Bishop McNamara HS
64
2 Kevin Johnson WR 6-0 175 R-Jr. Suffolk, Va./Norfolk State
87
Head Coach: Robert Prunty
11 Romon Copeland WR 5-9 165 R-So. Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Smith HS
Tymere Robinson RB 5-11 220 Sr. Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack HS
5
6 Brian Roberts DB 6-1 195 Jr. Jacksonville, Fla.UMass
45 Joseph
Jadakis Bonds WR 6-4 200 R-So. Williamston, N.C./Riverside HS Chad Booker WR 6-1 190 R-So. Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic HS Rylan McLaurin WR 5-11 180 Fr. Charlotte, N.C./Presbyterian College 86 Abe Uqdah WR 6-4 190 Gr. Midlothian, Va./Clover Hill HS Jarrett Powell TE 6-2 245 Fr. Woodbridge, Va./CD Hylton HS Evan King TE 6-5 245 R-Fr. Tinley Park, Ill./Oak Forest HS 89 TK Paisant TE 6-5 265 R-So. Carrboro, N.C./Carrboro HS 91
71
HS 52 DeAndre Faulk LB 6-2 230 R-Jr.
3 Stanley Garner DB 6-2 185 Gr. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./University of Kentucky
HS 56 Keith Norris DL 6-0 250 R-So.
51 Brandon Richards SPEC 6-0 235
38 Ethan Cadogan DB 6-2 190 Jr. Columbia, Md./Long Reach HS David Stevens DB 5-9 170 So. Paramus, N.J./Paramus Catholic Tyler Faison WR 6-0 170 Jr. Laurel, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti David Olla LB 6-2 230 R-So. Browns Summit, N.C./NE Guilford HS Robinson Davis DB 5-11 186 R-Fr. W. Friendship, Md./Marriotts Ridge HS Lester Ethan SPEC 6-0 175 Fr. Raven, Va./Richlands Quentin Johnson RB 6-2 210 Fr. Richmond, Va./Matoaca HS Henry Fr. Dumfries, Va. Potomac, HS R-So. St. Louis, Mo. John Burroughs HS R-So. Suwanee, Ga. Collins Hill HS Fr. Jacksonville, Fla./First Coast HS Ufua So. Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill Gr. Yorktown, Va./Tabb Suffolk, Va./Lakeland Mt. Holly, N.C./Mountain Island Charter Courtland, Va./Southampton Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Williamsburg, Va./Lafayette
32
9 Kymari Gray WR 6-2 185 R-Sr. Hampton, Va. /Phoebus HS
10 Ali Shockley DB 5-11 185 So. Rock Hill, S.C./Ellsworth JC
28
Messiah Russell DB 6-2 190 Fr. Newport News, Va./James Madison
Erik Walker OL 6-5 305 R-Fr. Gibsonville, N.C./E. Guilford HS
14 Armand Vinson WR 6-4 180 R-Sr. Ahoskie, N.C./Hertford County HS
Jonathan Ward SPEC 5-10 240 R-So. Raleigh, N.C./Cardinal Gibbons Kentrelle Groom DL 6-3 270 Gr. Charlotte, N.C./Rocky River HS
Quinton Ragland OL 6-5 310 R-Fr. Mineral, Va./Louisa County HS
70
40
22 Darran Butts RB 5-10 185 Jr. Suffolk, Va./King’s Fork HS
72
23 Justin Dingle LB 6-2 220 Sr. Columbia, S.C./Dreher HS
48 Kendall Davis LB 5-11 210
19 Byron Perkins DB 6-3 190 R-Fr. Chicago, Ill./Purdue
66
24 Devonta Davis DB 6-0 190 Fr. Tarboro, N.C./Louisburg JC
49 Maa’ki Marshall RB 6-0 205
HS
Jamel Raiford OL 6-5 315 R-Fr. Waldorf, Md. Westlake HS Garrett Slider OL 6-4 285 Fr. Pearland, Texas/Glenda Dawson HS
Winford Dowdy OL 6-4 290 Sr. Akron, Ohio/Urbana University
Brandon Hardy OL 6-4 295 Fr. Vanceboro, N.C./Louisburg JC
76
67
81
44
SCHOOL 58
Bryce Jamison DB 6-1 180 R-So. Columbia, Md./Dayton
DeVaughn Orr OL 6-6 290 R-Fr. Suffolk, Va./King’s Fork HS
78
Booker Fraser OL 6-3 315 Jr. Gainesville, Ga./Riverside Military Acad.
KooimanCoach),
36
Quintrell Coates OL 6-8 315 R-Jr. Anahuac, Texas/Anahuac HS
62
13 Trent Cloud WR 6-0 180 R-Fr. Cleveland, Ohio/University of Cincinnati
LB 6-1 210
33
HS 54 Mason King LB 6-3 240 Fr.
58
25 Malik Matthew LB 6-3 208 Fr. Bronx, N.Y./Syracuse
1 Christopher Zellous QB 6-3 220 R-So. Greensboro, N.C./Grimsley HS
Robert Viney III OL 6-4 300 Jr. Hampton, Va./Virginia Union
Jordan Wimberly WR 5-10 180 Sr. Paterson, N.J./Hackensack HS
50 Daniel
Axel Perez SPEC 6-1 180 Fr. Gardenia, Calif./Los Angeles Harbor Coll.
42
Ademola Owudunni OL 6-8 315 Rf. Newark, N.J./Malcolm X Shabazz HS
7 Malcolm Mays QB 6-5 195 Gr. Arlington, Texas/Kilgore CC
Brian Csehoski SPEC 5-10 170 R-Sr. Aldie, Va./John Champe HS
65
18 Ahmad Ross LB 6-2 225 R-Jr. Hammonton, N.J./St. Joseph
NO. NAME POS. HT. WT. YR. HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS Shane Fordham LB 6-1 225 R-So. W. Philadelphia, Pa./Haverford School
59
77
RB 5-10 210
73
Corey Wilson DB 6-1 195 Fr. Hampton, Va./Phoebus HS
30
12 Sofian Massoud QB 6-1 185 Gr. Harlem, N.Y./University of Houston
21 Stafford Everett DB 5-11 195 R-Jr. North Beach, Fla./Asa-Miami JC
46 Adisa Roberts DB 6-1 170
60
4 Qwahsin Townsel LB 6-0 225 So. Egg Harbor, N.J./Villanova
31
NO. NAME POS. HT. WT. YR. HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL
5 Elijah Burris RB 5-10 205 Sr. Gastonia, N.C. /Mountain Island Charter HS
8 Robert Prunty Jr. DB 6-0 195 Fr. Greensboro, N.C./J.H. Rose HS
26 Joshua Plush DB 6-0 180 Gr. Columbia, S.C./Ben Lippen
HAMPTON ROSTER
84
39
74
Jay’Ree Hardy DL 6-2 310 R-Jr. Suffolk, Va./King’s Fork HS 92 D’Andre Satchell DL 6-4 280 R-Fr. Rockville Centre, N.Y./Monroe JC 94 Rashawn Washington DL 6-3 280 R-Fr. Norfolk, Va./Nansemond River HS 95 Rodrick Dorsey DL 6-2 285 Sr. Andrews, S.C./Andrews HS 96 Ohmante Jenkins DL 6-2 290 So. Winchester, N.Y./George Rodgers Clark HS 97 JehDon Jenkins LB 6-3 255 R-Jr. Lexington, Ky. /Georgia Prep
34 Brandon Murphy DB 5-11 200 So. Altamonte Spring, Fla./Chowan
35
69
Keyondre White RB 5-11 230 So. Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Akron
80
27 Devin Whitaker DB 5-10 170 So. Manassas, Va./St. Francis
37
HS 55 Javen Johnson DL 6-3 300 Fr.
20 Adam Akins DB 6-0 185 Jr. Whitsett, N.C. Southeast Guilford HS
16 Tyler Thompson WR 6-0 170 Fr. Newport News, Va./Woodside HS
JerMarion Wages OL 6-6 280 Gr. Raeford, N.C./Hutchinson CC
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Assistant Coaches: Brian White (Assoc. Head Coach/Offensive Line), Zack Patterson (Offensive Coordinator), Chris Cosh (Defensive Coordinator), Todd McComb (Co-Defensive Co ordinator), Brandon Williams (Outside Linebackers Coach), Trent Boykin (Running Backs Coach), Ollie Taylor (Inside Receivers/Tight Ends Coach), Nick Newsome (Safeties Coach), Kentwan Balmer (Defensive Line Coach), Chris Anderson (Receivers Coach)
63
0 Michael Crawford DB 6-0 185 R-Fr. Philadelphia, Pa./Lackawanna JC
POS. NO. NAME HT. WT. YR.
CB 2 Brandon Savage 5-11 165 R-Sr.
LB 4 Qwahsin Townsel 6-0 225 Grad.
WLB 11 Tyler Long 5-11 222 R-Jr.
YWR 10 Tremayne Talbert 5-8 183 R-Jr.
LG 66 Winford Dowdy 6-4 290 So.
DB 0 Michael Crawford 6-0 185 R-So.
When Norfolk State Has the Ball
ROV 28 R.J. Coles 5-10 193 R-Jr.
WR 11 Romon Copeland 5-9 165 Fr.
NG 95 Levontae Jacobs 6-3 285 So.
WR 13 Trent Cloud 6-0 180 R-Jr.
C 71 Brandon Hardy 6-4 295 So.
RG 76 Quinton Ragland 6-5 310 R-So.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
POS. NO. NAME HT. WT. YR.
MLB 56 Marquis Hall 6-3 230 R-Sr.
NSU Special Teams
Javaune NorfolkPresident
DL 15 Keshaun Moore 6-3 240 R-Jr.
DB 10 Ali Shockley 5-11 185 R-Jr.
Hampton Special Teams
K 36 Axel Perez 6-1 180 Jr.
NSU OFFENSE
RB 15 J.J. Davis 5-9 172 R-So.
C 74 Colby Byrd 6-3 297 R-Sr.
DB 19 Byron Perkins 6-3 190 R-So.
DE 12 T.J. Stevenson 6-4 228 R-Fr.
WR 81 Jadakis Bonds 6-4 190 Jr.
LT 77 Tyler McDuffie 6-8 315 Fr.
LG 77 Jeremiah Bolling-Farrar 6-7 290 R-Sr.
LB 52 Deandre Faulk 6-1 225 R-So.
POS. NO. NAME HT. WT. YR.
KR 15 J.J. Davis 5-9 172 R-So.
HT. WT. YR.
DE 48 Sage Beuchert-Irvine 6-3 244 R-So.
SAM 7 Tayvion Land 5-8 180 R-Jr.
PK 61 Grandin Willcox 5-11 220 Fr.
DT 52 Anthony Blume 6-1 268 R-So.
NSU DEFENSE
LT 69 Jeff Woods 6-6 293 R-So.
XWR 5 Da’Quan Felton 6-3 205 R-So.
DB 28 Corey Wilson 6-1 195 Fr.
LS 45 Toby Willis 6-3 211 Fr.
QB 7 Malcolm Mays 6-5 195 Jr.
P 36 Axel Perez 6-1 180 Jr.
P 61 Grandin Willcox 5-11 220 Fr.
HAMPTON OFFENSE
ZWR 25 Collis Pride 6-2 180 R-So.
TE 89 TK Paisant 6-5 265 Fr.
DB 20 Adam Akins 6-0 185 Fr.
to change
HLD 43 Ethan Lester 6-0 175 R-Fr.
HT. WT. YR.
RT 55 Baron Franks 6-5 264 R-Fr.
PR 10 Tremayne Talbert 5-8 183 R-Jr.
DShePresident,Norfolkangroundedfuture,success.opportunityandadvocatestrategicandcommittedwithDuringUniversity,multipleworld.togetherthecreatedledsuccesses.andfocustimes.management,hasU.S.Historically(HBCU)
RT 64 J’Cori Shaw 6-3 300 R-So.
Subject
POS. NO. NAME
TE 81 Ademola Faleye 6-7 235 So.
When Hampton Has the Ball
CB 6 Justin Toler 5-10 175 R-Jr.
QB 4 Otto Kuhns 6-3 194 So.
DL 67 Andy Matthews 6-2 295 Jr.
RB 22 Darran Butts 5-10 185 R-So.
FS 0 Stuart Anderson 6-2 219 Gr.
HLD 0 Stuart Anderson 6-2 219 Gr.
POS. NO. NAME
DL 54 Mason King 6-3 230 R-So.
DL 62 Kentrelle Groom 6-2 270 Jr.
6
RG 75 Evan Gregory 6-4 308 R-Jr.
HT. WT. YR.
POS. NO. NAME
HAMPTON DEFENSE
LS 51 Brandon Richards 6-0 235 Fr.
UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT
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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.
PresidentState.Adams-Gaston
is a higher education professional and scholar with more than 30 years of experience at nationally known research universities.
Javaune Adams-Gaston, Ph.D. NorfolkPresidentState University
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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,
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.
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 Ataccounts.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
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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.
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.
M 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.
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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.
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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.
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
Norfolk State was also selected to host four NCAA Track & Field Indoor Championships from 2023-26, including the Division I championship
“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
Melody Webb Director of Athletics
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