1
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.
PRESEASON HONORS
St. Francis improved to 1-2 on the year with a 27-7 road win at Wagner College on Saturday. Makai Jackson made 11 receptions for 117 yards and one touchdown and also scored on a 79-yard kickoff return to propel St. Francis to the win. The Red Flash ran for 189 yards and passed for 181 in the win while holding Wagner to just 195 total yards.The SFU win came on the heels of close losses to FBS Akron (30-23, OT) and Richmond (31-21) to open the year.
GAME PREVIEW
ABOUT THE GAME
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
Kuhns passed for 121 yards and Jaylan Adams 49 for the Spartans. Collis Pride caught four passes for 47 yards, both career highs.
St. Francis was picked to finish third in the Northeast Conference preseason poll this year behind Sacred Heart and Duquesne.
STRONG IN THE MIDDLE
BOMB FOR THE BOOKS
The Spartan football team plays its second straight home game this week when it hosts the Red Flash of St. Francis (Pa.) in the second-ever meeting between the teams.
NSU linebackers Marquis Hall and Tyler Long continue to lead the Spar tan defense. The two preseason All-ME AC selections lead the team in tackles (Long with 25, Hall with 20) and rank among the top five in the MEAC in tack les. The two also have two of the Spar tans’ three interceptions this year as well: Long had one at JMU and Hall last week against Hampton.
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 on Sept. 10 at JMU.
SCOUTING THE RED FLASH
NSU and St. Francis played for the first time in series history last year in Lo retto, Pennsylvania, with the Spartans prevailing 28-16. Juwan Carter passed for two touchdowns, one each to Justin Smith and Anthony Williams, and also rushed for 72 yards and a score for the Spartans. NSU ran for 323 yards and a 5.5 yards per carry average as a team.
Both Pride and Felton have seven receptions on the season. Felton leads the team with 170 receiving yards.
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.
Marquis Hall had nine tackles and an interception last week against Hampton. (Photo by Nick Sutton/Kinetic Stills)
Defensive lineman Donnell Brown, offensive lineman Seth Osborne and kicker Alex Schmoke were all named to the preseason All-NEC team.
SERIES HISTORY
Norfolk State fell to 0-3 after a hardfought 17-7 loss to Hampton in the Battle of the Bay before 15,459 fans at Dick Price Stadium last Saturday. The teams were tied at 7-all at halftime, but Hampton scored the only 10 points of the second half and kept NSU off the board to win the first meeting between the teams at Dick Price Stadium in five years.NSU’s lone touchdown came on an 11-yard TD pass from Otto Kuhns to Da’Quan Felton in the first quarter. It was the second TD hookup between the two in as many games.
Linebackers Tyler Long (25) and Marquis Hall (20) lead the team in tackles. Hall had nine tackles and an interception against Hampton, and Long had seven tackles and one sack. Long ranks second in the conference and Hall fifth in tackles.
NSU took control by outscoring the Red Flash 14-0 in the third quarter, but St. Francis cut their deficit to 21-16 with 5:21 remaining. The Spartans iced the game, however, with a drive that took all but 39 seconds off the clock and end ed with a 25-yard TD pass from Carter to Williams.
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.
4. Delaware State (1) 58
St. Francis (Pa.) at Norfolk State 2 p.m. Merrimack at Delaware State 2 p.m. Virginia Lynchburg at N.C. Central ...... 4 p.m. S.C. State at N.C. A&T 7 p.m.
6. Morgan State (1) 26
The following players were elected captains of the 2022 team:
North Carolina Central 0-0 3-0 Delaware State 0-0 2-1
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Jeblonski Green, S.C. State
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.
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.
SPARTANS ON TV, RADIO
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.
DAVIS LOOKING FOR AN ENCORE
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+.
5. Howard (1) ........................................ 52
Last Week’s Results
RB J.J. Davis, Norfolk State
Stuart Anderson Jr. (pictured) is one of three defensive co-captains this year. (Photo by Nick Sutton/Kinetic Stills)
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GAME PREVIEW
South Carolina State 0-0 1-1 Morgan State 0-0 1-2 Howard 0-0 1-3 Norfolk State 0-0 0-3
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
3. Norfolk State .......................... 80
1. South Carolina State (8) ............... 123
This Week’s Games
DL
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 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.
2. North Carolina Central (1) 92
MEAC at a Glance
Morgan State 24, Sacred Heart 9 Hampton 17, Norfolk State 7 Delaware State 35, Virginia Lynchburg 19 Howard 31, Morehouse 0 N.C. Central 45, New Hampshire 27
SPARTANS IN THE PROS
Preseason MEAC Poll (First-place votes in parentheses)
Norfolk State is represented in the NFL by a pair of undrafted players who
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.
• Offense: WR Da’Quan Felton, RB J.J. Davis, C Colby Byrd.
• Defense: DL Anthony Blume, LB Mar quis Hall, DB Stuart Anderson Jr.
2022 Standings Conf. Overall W-L W-L
CAPTAINS NAMED
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.
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.
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
who signed as an undrafted free agent with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars last year after finishing his career as a Spartan.
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.
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.
Dawson Odums Head Football Coach
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.
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.
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 Odums’coordinator.first
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 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.
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.
Thetwice.2013
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.
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.
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
Dawson
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).
3
and his wife, Audrey, have two daughters, Jasmine and Jaiden.
HEAD COACH DAWSON ODUMS
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,
43 Elijah Smith WR 6-1 180 Fr. Newport News, Va./Warwick HS
56 Marquis Hall LB 6-3 230 R-Sr. Woodbridge, Va./ Potomac Senior HS
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59 Javoni Hales LB 5-11 238 R-Fr. Newport News, Va./Menchville HS
74 Colby Byrd OL 6-3 297 R-Sr. Virginia Beach, Va./Virginia Union
85 Jayden Hargett DL 6-4 221 Fr. Norfolk, Va./Maury HS
99 Amadeu Vital DL 6-1 270 R-Jr. Silver Spring, Md./Glenville State
9 Jaylan Adams QB 5-10 184 R-Jr. Johnson City, Tenn./The Citadel
47 Zion Porter-Ervin WR 5-9 170 R-Fr. Hampton, Va./Phoebus HS
69 Jeff Woods OL 6-6 293 R-So. Fayetteville, N.C./UConn
23 Ricky Harleston DB 5-10 195 R-So. Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood HS
65 Michael Tamakloe OL 6-2 276 Fr. Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville HS
1 D.J. Djonkam DL 6-3 275 R-Jr. Springfield, Va./West Springfield HS
8 Izayah Whiteside QB 6-2 164 Fr. Columbia, S.C./Irmo HS
17 Joseph White DB 6-1 174 R-Jr. Virginia Beach, Va./University of Virginia
68 Julian Soriano OL 6-6 283 R-Fr. Suffolk, Va./Nansemond River HS
71 Egan Atkins OL 6-3 323 Sr. Tampa, Fla./Grambling
22 Cameron Foreman DB 6-2 183 R-Jr. Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee HS
39 Imani Bey DL 6-2 235 R-Sr. Washington, D.C./VMI
5 Da’Quan Felton WR 6-3 205 R-So. Portsmouth, Va./Churchland HS
73 Silas Fitzgerald OL 6-4 264 R-Fr. Roanoke, Va./Hidden Valley HS
80 Corie Addo WR 5-10 185 Fr. Richmond, Va./Clover Hill HS
93 Jaylen Williams DL 6-5 227 Fr. Ocala, Fla./Vanguard HS
28 R.J. Coles DB 5-10 193 R-Jr. Richmond, Va./Varina HS
21 Devon Allen DB 6-0 177 So. Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes HS
49 Michael Vinson LB 6-2 240 Fr. Baltimore, Md./Saint Frances Academy
NO. NAME POS. HT. WT. YR. HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL
53 Javari Rice-Wilson DL 5-11 251 So. Kings Mountain, N.C./Fordham
67 Garrison Wheatley OL 6-4 361 So. Johns Island, S.C./Hocking College
Assistant Coaches: Steve Adams (Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator, LB Coach), Ryan Meyers (Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach), Vincent Marshall (WR Coach, Special Teams Coordinator), 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)
2 Brandon Savage DB 5-11 165 R-Sr. Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill Academy
15 J.J. Davis RB 5-9 172 R-So. Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati
40 D.J. James III RB 5-8 170 Fr. Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes HS
51 Marcus Triggs LB 5-11 209 Fr. Hampton, Va./Hampton HS
63 Christopher Jones OL 5-7 320 R-Fr. Windsor, Va./Windsor HS
66 Vincent Byrd Jr. OL 6-3 306 Fr. Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge HS
82 Kevin Gayles WR 6-0 201 R-Fr. Richmond, Va./Huguenot HS
84 Tavian Morris WR 6-0 180 R-Fr. Prince George, Va./Prince George HS
38 Nyamusa Njoka DB 5-10 181 R-So. Silver Spring, Md./Paint Branch HS
45 Toby Willis LS 6-3 211 Fr. Lancaster, S.C./Lancaster HS
92 Cameron Curry DL 6-5 217 Fr. Chantilly, Va./Chantilly HS
95 Levontae Jacobs DL 6-3 285 So. Salisbury, N.C./West Rowan HS
34 Kameron Lewis DB 6-0 194 R-Fr. Woodbridge, Va./ Forest Park HS
57 Jalen Swindell DL 6-2 308 Fr. Charlotte, N.C./Wake Forest
79 Dorian Stitmon DL 6-0 265 Fr. Suffolk, Va./Churchland HS
61 Grandin Willcox K/P 5-11 220 Fr. Ocala, Fla./Vanguard HS
94 Tyler Johnson DL 6-5 251 R-So. Glen Allen, Va./Glenville State
88 Ikeem Wright TE 6-1 244 R-Fr. Norfolk, Va./Lake Taylor HS
48 Sage Beuchert-Irvine DL 6-3 244 R-So. Reston, Va./South Lakes HS
12 T.J. Stevenson DL 6-4 228 R-Fr. Hampton, Va./North Carolina
20 Jason Wonodi WR 5-11 161 Fr. Brockton, Mass./Brockton HS
97 Jordyn Heath DL 5-11 246 R-So. Gardena, Calif./Junipero Serra
16 Christian Ruffin DB 5-11 180 So. Raleigh, N.C./Southeast Raleigh HS
27 Jordin Lennon RB 5-10 211 Fr. Yorktown, Va./York HS
31 Christian Parham DB 6-0 179 Fr. Virginia Beach, Va./Green Run HS
60 Dyral McMillan OL 6-2 284 R-Fr. Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte HS
11 Tyler Long LB 5-11 222 R-Jr. Cincinnati, Ohio/Lackawanna CC
NO. NAME POS. HT. WT. YR. HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL
75 Evan Gregory OL 6-4 308 R-Jr. Brandywine, Md./Maryland
13 Kevon King RB 5-11 200 Fr. Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Smith HS
36 Darren Castor DB 6-0 170 Fr. Brockton, Mass./Brockton HS
35 Jamarei Ashby-Phan WR 5-8 170 Fr. Phoenix, Ariz./Chaparral HS
83 Clifton Davis WR 6-2 179 Fr. Atlanta, Ga./North Stafford HS
86 Mark Williams TE 6-2 219 R-Jr. Ashburn, Va./Kent State
0 Stuart Anderson Jr. DB 6-2 219 Gr. Mathews, Va./Mathews HS
52 Anthony Blume DL 6-1 268 R-So. Edgewood, Md./Edgewood HS
NORFOLK STATE ROSTER
64 Juwuan Carbonell OL 6-2 342 R-Fr. Newport News, Va./Heritage HS
33 Pierre Royster DB 6-2 198 So. Norfolk, Va./Lake Taylor HS
78 Lamar Robinson OL 6-4 289 Fr. Alexandria, Va./Hayfield Secondary
79 Isaiah Sephens LB 6-2 259 Fr. Empria, Va./Greensville County HS
32 Lex Henry RB 5-8 189 So. Virginia Beach, Va./Salem HS
29 A.J. Williams DB 6-3 177 Fr. Hampton, Va./Hampton HS
36 Emile Sancho DB 6-0 164 Fr. Ocala, Fla./Vanguard 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
98 Shamar Hill DL 6-0 226 R-So. Kissimmee, Fla./Orlando Christian Prep
24 Christian Butler WR 5-11 200 R-So. Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen HS
81 Ademola Faleye TE 6-7 235 So. Brockton, Mass./Brockton HS
8 Kyler Davis QB 6-1 206 R-Fr. Fayetteville N.C./ Seventy First HS
46 Isaiah Stevens DB 5-9 166 Fr. Stafford, Va./North Stafford HS
54 Javontay Martin LB 6-3 181 Fr. Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside
70 Tynique Breathwaite OL 6-5 228 Fr. Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood HS
30 Noah Spencer DB 6-3 208 R-So. Virginia Beach, Va./Old Dominion
Head Coach: Dawson Odums
4 Otto Kuhns QB 6-3 194 So. Columbus, Ohio/Eastern Illinois
6 Justin Toler DB 5-10 175 R-Jr. Falmouth, Va./Stafford HS
76 Andrew Nickens OL 6-3 325 R-Fr. Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor HS
50 Marvin Dozier LS 6-0 225 Fr. Lake Worth, Fla./Park Vista Community
10 Tremayne Talbert WR 5-8 183 R-Jr. 42Richmond, Va./Highland Springs HS
46 Ja’Len Morrison DB 5-11 150 Fr. Manassas, Va./Unity Reed HS
18 Christopher Price QB 6-1 182 R-Fr. Virginia Beach, Va./Landstown HS
58 Jonathan Hall LB 6-2 212 R-Jr. Courtland, Va./Old Dominion
26 Shaviaea Williams DB 5-11 196 R-Sr. Norfolk, Va./Granby HS
3 Frank Boyd III RB 5-9 195 R-Sr. Richmond, Va./Liberty
46 Zion Lewis DB 6-1 174 R-So. Farmville, Va./Prince Edward HS
87 Lukai Hatcher WR 6-2 170 R-Fr. Arlington, Va./Wakefield HS
44 Jaylen White RB 5-10 185 R-Fr. Hampton, Va./Phoebus HS
7 Tayvion Land DB 5-8 180 R-Jr. Virginia Beach, Va./Liberty
62 Jaden Bryant OL 6-4 389 Fr. Norfolk, Va./Norview HS
96 Matthieu Watts DL 6-4 212 R-Fr. Hampton, Va./Phoebus HS
41 Jayden Smith DB 6-1 178 So. Woodbridge, Va./Freedom HS
37 Kaleb Broadbent DB 5-11 196 Fr. Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch HS
19 Daylan Long LB 5-11 190 R-Fr Cincinnati, Ohio/Miami (Ohio)
77 Jeremiah Bolling-Farrar OL 6-7 290 R-Sr. Hopewell, Va./Wagner
25 Collis Pride WR 6-2 180 R-So. Dinwiddie, Va./Bluefield College
55 Baron Franks OL 6-5 264 R-Fr. Greenville, S.C./Greenville Senior
4 Cole Doyle QB 5-10 170 R-So Glendale, Claif. / College of the Canyons
11 Kendall Marks DB 5-11 155 Fr. Baltimore, Md. / Mergenthaler Voc. Tech.
NO. NAME POS. HT. WT. YR. HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL
37 Alex Schmoke K 5-9 160 R-So. Bellwood, Pa. / Bellwood-Antis
49 James Tharpe TE 5-9 215 R-Fr. New Windsor, N.Y. / Newburgh Free Ac.
17 Kai Williams WR 6-2 205 R-Jr. Johns Creek, Ga. / Mount Pisgah Christian
19 Hunter Brown TE 6-4 245 R-So. Wellsboro, Pa. / Wellsboro
23 Kesean Dyson LB 6-1 220 So. Ashburn, Va. / Broad Run
31 Deondre Scott RB 5-11 190 Jr. Stafford, Va. / Lackawanna College
52 Giambi Nesbit DL 6-2 290 R-Fr. Camden, N.J. / Saint Joseph’s Prep
66 Seth Osborne OL 6-4 310 R-Jr. Williamsburg, Va. / Lafayette
30 Isaiah Sturgis RB 5-9 190 R-Fr. Central York, Pa. / Central York
57 Paul Liebal LB 6-0 205 R-So. Altoona, Pa. / Bishop Guilfoyle
69 Jessie Ramil OL 6-5 295 R-Fr. Binghamton, N.Y. / Binghamton
70 Cole Graham OL 6-6 315 So. Greensburg, Pa. / Hempfield Area
44 Willie O’Hara LB 6-2 235 R-Sr. Des, Moines, Iowa / South Dakota
29 Kyle Hill DB 5-10 190 R-Jr. Chocowinity, N.C. / Southside
72 Logan Pitetti OL 6-1 270 R-Fr. South Fayette, Pa. / South Fayette
80 Kameron Blevins WR 175 R-Fr. Vero Beach, Fla. / Eau Gallis
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6 Norval Black WR 6-1 160 R-Jr. Germantown, Md. / Penn State
84 James Lilley Fr. TE 6-4 235 Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg
87 Tyreese Haugabrooks R-So. TE 6-0 240 Griffin, Ga. / Spalding
47 Kael Gardner LB 6-1 210 R-So. Howard, Pa. / Bald Eagle Area
87 Scott Raymond Fr. TE 6-3 235 Clarence, N.Y. / Clarence
21 Kerry Galloway DB 5-7 145 R-Jr. Wilmington, Del. / DuPont
25 William Middleton LB 5-11 200 So. Montgomery, Ala. / New Mexico Military In.
8 Jalon Spencer QB 6-5 210 R-So. Waldorf, Md. / Westlake
8 Travell Cook DB 6-0 185 R-Jr. Miami, Fla. / Copiah-Lincoln CC
28 Mark Conrad DB 6-2 190 R-Jr. Altoona, Pa. / Bishop Guilfoyle
39 Mason Frye DB 5-8 165 R-Fr. Manor, Pa. / Penn-Trafford
48 Brayden Porter RB 5-10 200 Fr. Souderton, Pa. / Souderton
55 Dwayne Majors DL 5-11 260 R-Jr. Fairless Hills, Pa. / Conwell-Egan Catholic
16 Elijah Sarratt WR 6-3 205 Fr. Stafford, Va. / St. Frances Academy
75 Levi Villarrial OL 6-1 275 R-Fr. Ebensburg, Pa. / Central Cambria
80 Aaron Tutino WR 5-11 155 R-So. Ligonier, Pa. / Ligonier Valley
90 John Courtney R-Fr. DL 6-2 250 Ashburn, Va. / Briar Woods
93 Shawn Phillips Fr. DL 6-5 275 Baltimore, Md. / St. Frances Academy
5 Desmond Harrod DB 6-0 200 R-Jr. Waldorf, Md. / Westlake
7 Lovell Armstead RB 5-9 170 R-Jr. Fredericksburg, Va. / The Avalon School
11 Brandan Lisenby WR 6-0 185 R-Sr. Alexandria, Va. / West Potomac
9 Sebastian Benjamin LB 6-4 230 R-So. Philadelphia, Pa. / Northeast
41 Carter Glassmyer LB 6-1 210 Fr. Central York, Pa. / Central York
50 Nate Henrich LB 6-5 225 Fr. Eden, N.Y. / St. Francis
98 Eddie Bierals So. DL 6-2 255 Wayne, N.J. / DePaul Catholic
Assistant Coaches: Marco Pecora (Assoc. Head Coach/OC), Scott Lewis (DC), Brian Wright (WR), Josh Hutchison (RB/Special Teams), Thomas Rogish (DL), Ryan Wilson (OL), Zach Morehead (TE), Ben Bruni (LB), Elven walker IV (Secondary/Special Teams), Brian Basile (Defensive Assistant), Dan Gueguen (Defensive Assist)
43 Mercury Swaim LB 6-0 200 Fr. Bedford, Pa. / Bedford
3 Damon Horton RB 6-0 210 R-So. Philadelphia, Pa. / Hazelton Area
68 Wylie Spiker OL 6-3 310 So. Ligonier, Pa. / Ligonier Valley
76 Bailey Iboleon OL 6-4 305 R-Jr. Alexandria, Va. / West Potomac
92 Jalen Robertson Fr. DL 6-4 240 Baltimore, Md. / Archbishop Spalding
38 Jordan Jackson RB 5-9 210 R-Fr. Highland Springs, Va. / Highland Springs
58 Nico Nuzzo LB 6-4 190 R-Fr. New Castle, Pa. / Neshannock
94 Langston Ross R-Fr. DL 6-0 245 Forestville, Md. / Bishop McNamara
34 Tate Myers TE 6-2 250 R-So. Harrisburg, Pa. / Bishop McDevitt
86 Haiden Garner Fr. WR 6-2 185 Shade Gap, Ga. / Bishop Guilfoyle
56 Daunte White LB 6-0 210 R-Fr. Wharton, N.J. / Morris Hills
26 Daniel Walker LB 6-2 250 R-Jr. Washington, Pa. / Delaware
91 Di’Moni Dickerson R-Fr. DL 6-1 245 Glenarden, Md. / Our Lady of Good Counsel
Head Coach: Chris Villarrial
27 Macrae Plummer K 5-10 170 R-Fr. Lebanon, Pa. / Annville-Cleona
62 Mason Imbt OL 6-3 310 Fr. Tory, Pa. / Troy
24 Kyle Craig LB 6-2 195 R-Jr. Haymarket, Va. / Battlefield
27 Luke Edwards RB 6-0 190 Fr. New Castle, Pa. / Wilmington
53 Tre’Quan Dorsey OL 6-4 305 R-Sr. Sterling, Va. / Lackawanna College
58 Louis Mihota OL 6-2 285 R-Jr. Fredericksburg, Va. / Virginia Tech
65 Nick McGowan OL 5-11 270 R-Fr. Johnstown, Pa. / Bishop McCourt
22 Kennyth Kennedy DB 6-1 170 R-Fr. Paterson, N.J. / Paramus Catholic
67 Conner Van Tassel OL 6-4 300 Fr. Purcellville, Pa. / Loudoun Valley
88 Tony Dressler Gr. LB 6-2 220 Selinsgrove, Pa. / Selinsgrove (Lock Haven)
95 James Watkins R-Sr. DL 6-2 320 Oxon Hill, Md. / Oxon Hill
12 Nick Whitfield, Jr. QB 6-5 200 Fr. Fredonia, N.Y. / Fredonia
13 Aakeem Snell DB 6-3 185 Jr. Penn Hills, Pa. / Lackawanna College
32 Nate Frye DB 5-8 165 R-Fr. Manor, Pa. / Penn-Trafford
18 Adrian Mejia QB 6-1 175 Fr. West Springfield, Va. / West Springfield
1 Breon Noel DB 5-11 190 So. Baltimore, Md. / St. Frances Academy
12 Gregory Reddick DB 5-10 190 R-So. Miami, Fla. / Coral City
14 Larmar Frazier DB 6-1 175 R-Fr. Sunrise, Fla. / Piper
7 Jordan Slaiby P 6-2 210 Sr. Bristow, Va. / Alderson Broaddus
40 Aidan Cirulli K/P 180 R-Fr. Wyomissing, Pa. / Wyomissing
4 Donnell Brown DL 6-3 240 R-So. Upper Marlboro, Md. / Riverdale Baptist
2 Al-Ma’Hi Ali DB 5-11 175 R-Fr. Philadelphia, Pa. / Old Dominion
59 Brayden Bowers LS 5-10 175 Fr. York, Pa. / Central York
88 Daniel Card R-Fr. WR 180 Webster, N.Y. / Webster Thomas
85 Jake Bruno R-Fr. TE 6-5 240 Amherst, N.Y. / Williamsville
89 Daniel Faccone R-Fr. WR 6-1 190 Crystal Lake, Ill. / Midwest Prep Academy
96 Gavin Thomas R-So. DL 5-11 335 Clifton, Va. / Centreville
46 Daniel Fondong TE 6-1 245 R-Fr. Middletown, Del. / Appoquinimink
71 Carmen Barone DL 6-3 255 R-So. Williamsport, Pa. / Loyalsock Township
83 Alvaro Lora R-So. WR 5-11 185 Ventnor, N.J. / Holy Spirit
ST. FRANCIS ROSTER
78 Malachi Ford OL 6-4 345 R-Fr. Altoona, Pa. / Altoona
18 Dawson Snyder WR 6-4 190 R-So. Berlin, Pa. / Shanksville-Stonycreek
84 Jonathan Bagley Fr. TE 210 Lansdowne, Pa. / Imhotep Institute Charter
20 QuaSean Holmes RB 5-11 195 Jr. Charlotte, N.C. / ASA College
22 Tobee Stokes RB 5-10 170 So. York, Pa. / William Penn
NO. NAME POS. HT. WT. YR. HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL
15 Makai Jackson WR 6-0 190 Fr. Croydon, Pa. / Harry S. Truman
63 Jake Kumfert OL 6-5 320 Fr. Greencastle, Pa. / Greencastle-Antrim
35 Lucas Winters LS 6-2 200 Fr. Lakewood, Ohio / Lakewood
82 Casey McKinney R-Fr. WR 5-11 175 Clarksburg, Md. / Clarksburg
13 Justin Sliwoski QB 6-2 195 R-Jr. Greensburg, Pa. / Pitt
97 Chauncey Kratee R- So. DL 6-0 255 Penndel, Pa. / Wesley College
40 Charles Tart DB 5-10 180 R-Fr. Ellicott City, Md. / Howard
10 Marcel Mami LB 215 R-Fr. Demascus, Md. / Demascus
33 Joe Toepfer LB 6-0 235 R-Fr. Cincinnati, Ohio / Archbishop Moeller
45 Colt Jennings LB 6-3 235 R-So. Cleveland, Ohio / Kent State)
RT 70 Cole Graham 6-6 315 So.
QB 13 Justin Sliwoski 6-2 195 R-Jr.
Subject to change
CB 2 Brandon Savage 5-11 165 R-Sr.
RG 71 Egan Atkins 6-3 323 Sr.
POS. NO. NAME HT. WT. YR.
WR 15 Makai Jackson 6-0 190 Fr.
FS 12 Gregory Reddick 5-10 190 R-So.
DE 12 T.J. Stevenson 6-4 228 R-Fr.
NT 95 James Watkins 6-2 320 R-Sr.
FS 0 Stuart Anderson 6-2 219 Gr.
K 37 Alex Schmoke 5-9 160 R-So.
St. Francis Special Teams
LG 66 Vincent Byrd Jr. 6-3 306 Fr.
WR 18 Dawson Snyder 6-4 190 R-So.
RT 55 Baron Franks 6-5 264 R-Fr.
PR 10 Tremayne Talbert 5-8 183 R-Jr.
P 61 Grandin Willcox 5-11 220 Fr.
ZWR 25 Collis Pride 6-2 180 R-So.
WR 82 Casey McKinney 5-11 175 R-Fr.
NSU OFFENSE
NSU DEFENSE
HLD 28 Mark Conrad 6-2 190 R-Jr.
NSU Special Teams
DE 55 Dwayne Majors 5-11 260 R-Jr.
TE 81 Ademola Faleye 6-7 235 So.
LT 53 Tre’Quan Dorsey 6-4 305 R-Sr.
SS 2 Al-Ma’Hi Ali 5-11 175 R-Fr.
POS. NO. NAME
P 7 Jordan Slaiby 6-2 210 Sr.
NG 95 Levontae Jacobs 6-3 285 So.
QB 4 Otto Kuhns 6-3 194 So.
YWR 10 Tremayne Talbert 5-8 183 R-Jr.
POS. NO. NAME
HT. WT. YR.
C 74 Colby Byrd 6-3 297 R-Sr.
RG 68 Wylie Spiker 6-3 310 So.
TE 19 Hunter Brown 6-4 245 R-So.
KR 82 Casey McKinney 5-11 175 R-Fr.
DE 4 Donnell Brown 6-3 240 R-So.
-or- 59 Brayden Bowers 5-10 175 Fr.
OLB 9 Sebastian Benjamin 6-4 230 R-So.
When St. Francis Has the Ball
LG 69 Jesse Ramil 6-5 295 R-Fr.
LS 45 Toby Willis 6-3 211 Fr.
HLD 0 Stuart Anderson 6-2 219 Gr.
CB 11 Kendal Marks 5-11 155 Fr.
ROV 28 R.J. Coles 5-10 193 R-Jr.
LS 35 Lucas Winters 6-2 200 Fr.
ILB 10 Marcel Mami 6-0 215 R-Fr.
CB 21 Kerry Galloway 5-7 145 R-Jr.
HT. WT. YR.
ILB 44 Wille O’Hara 6-2 235 R-Sr.
RB 7 Lovell Armstead 5-9 170 R-Jr.
6
WLB 11 Tyler Long 5-11 222 R-Jr.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
DE 39 Imani Bey 6-2 235 R-Sr.
MLB 56 Marquis Hall 6-3 230 R-Sr.
POS. NO. NAME
RB 15 J.J. Davis 5-9 172 R-So.
XWR 5 Da’Quan Felton 6-3 205 R-So.
SFU DEFENSE
C 66 Seth Osborne 6-4 310 R-Jr.
LT 78 Lamar Robinson 6-4 289 Fr.
HT. WT. YR.
OLB 23 Kesean Dyson 6-1 220 So.
When Norfolk State Has the Ball
PR 82 Casey McKinney 5-11 175 R-Fr.
CB 6 Justin Toler 5-10 175 R-Jr.
KR 15 J.J. Davis 5-9 172 R-So.
POS. NO. NAME HT. WT. YR.
DT 52 Anthony Blume 6-1 268 R-So.
POS. NO. NAME
SFU OFFENSE
SAM 7 Tayvion Land 5-8 180 R-Jr.
HT. WT. YR.
K 61 Grandin Willcox 5-11 220 Fr.
7
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.
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.
PRESIDENT
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
Javaune Adams-Gaston, Ph.D.
PresidentState.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.
NorfolkPresidentState University
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
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.
UNIVERSITY
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.
Norfolk State was also selected to host four NCAA Track & Field Indoor Championships from 2023-26, including the Division I championship
Inathletics.”herfirst
AIncorporated.nativeofChicago, 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.
M
“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
8 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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Melody Webb Director of Athletics
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 WebbNCAA.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,
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.
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
