NORFOLK, Virginia -- It's no secret that Norfolk State featured a young football team in 2017.
In fact, last year's Spartans were, by most any measure, among the youngest teams in the MEAC. Thirty-eight players among the 80 on the roster were freshmen – either true freshmen or redshirt freshmen who did not play the previous year. That figure was the highest of any MEAC team. Fifty-five of the 80 were freshmen or sophomores, and 30 players saw their first collegiate action in 2017.
The results were indicative of a young, but talented team – enough talent to play with anyone in the MEAC, but at times some inconsistency in closing out games. NSU lost three games in 2017 by four points or less, the difference between a 7-4 season and the team's actual mark of 4-7.
Nowhere was that youth more evident than on the offensive side of the football. True freshmen took every snap at quarterback last season, and the offensive line featured only one player – Wes Jones, a junior in 2017 – who was not a freshman or sophomore.
That youth translates into a 2018 offense that returns full-time starters at essentially every position, including all five spots on the offensive line and the team's leading passer, rusher and receiver from last year. That experience and growth potential has head coach Latrell Scott optimistic about his team heading into the season.
Below is the first of a two-part season preview of the Spartan football team, with a position-by-position focus on the offensive unit. Check back next week for an in-depth look at the defense and special teams.
QUARTERBACK
By the time Juwan Carter played every down of a win at Delaware State in the season's fourth game, passing for 292 yards and two scores, it became apparent that the Spartans had found their man at quarterback. Carter went on to pass for 1,827 yards and 13 touchdowns against just six interceptions in 2017, showing a knack for spreading the ball around and avoiding mistakes. Following a successful freshman campaign and offseason in the program, coaches are looking for even bigger things from Carter this season.
"Pootie has really matured a lot since he got here," Scott said. "He knows what he's doing out there – he understands why to throw certain places now. Plus, he's a natural leader."
Coaches also expect freshman mid-year enrollee D'Andre Thomas from Fork Union Military Academy to push Carter for time. Thomas is a promising 6-4 prospect with a strong arm. Acclaimed freshman Isaiah Wilson arrived this summer from Delaware with a strong high school pedigree, giving the Spartans good depth at the position.
RUNNING BACK
NSU welcomes back nearly all of its skill position players from a year ago. At running back, the Spartans got by without a lot of depth in 2017, but that should not be the case this season. Leading rushers Aaron Savage (427 yards, 3 TD) and C.J. Jones (145, 1) return along with sophomore Malik Butts. Savage showed the ability to get tough yards between the tackles, but also provided big plays. He finished off the season strong, rushing for 188 yards and all three of his touchdowns in the final two games despite playing through a nagging injury. Now healthy, Savage is poised for a strong 2018 and was named to the preseason All-MEAC third team.
Jones showed the ability to be effective as both a rusher and pass-catcher out of the backfield, while Butts will look to climb the depth chart entering his third year in the program.
That trio will be joined by a trio of transfers that should help solidify the position. Juniors Cameryn Brent and Gerald Hulett are both coming off 1,000-yard seasons as junior college sophomores. Brent was the nation's leading rusher, averaging 152.6 yards per game at Holmes Community College in Mississippi. A Virginia native, Hulett ran for 895 yards and 18 touchdowns while adding 307 more yards and two TDs as a receiver out of the backfield for a Fullerton College (Calif.) team that went undefeated and was named the JC national champion by two organizations.
Also in the mix is Kevin Hicks, a local product, spent two seasons at the U.S. Military Academy (Army) and will also challenge for time.
RECEIVER/TIGHT END
The Spartans have three of their top four receivers back from last year, led by senior Marcus Taylor. Taylor was a second-team All-MEAC pick at kick returner and third-team at receiver last year, when he led the MEAC in all-purpose yardage (1,392) and paced the Spartans with six total touchdowns (five receiving, one on returns). Taylor has received several preseason accolades, including first-team preseason All-MEAC honors as a kick returner, second-team preseason All-MEAC mention at receiver, and was named to the watch list for the Black College Football Player of the Year Award.
Sophomore Isaiah Winstead came on strong toward the end of his freshman season in 2017. Winstead caught 29 passes for 344 yards and three scores despite starting just twice. He showed consistency as a freshman, catching at least one pass in every game.
Coaches look for redshirt junior Chuma Awanna to continue the year-to-year progression he's shown since enrolling at NSU. He caught 18 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns, with both scores coming in a road win at Delaware State. He and Winstead are both 6-3, giving NSU's quarterbacks big targets on the outside.
Scott also expects redshirt sophomores Justin Smith and Marcque Ellington, redshirt freshman Stuart Anderson and true freshman Quentin Greene to have an impact on the passing game. Smith and Ellington both saw action last year and have showed continued improvement in the offseason, while Anderson's size and athleticism and Greene's speed will also be assets to the receiver corps.
At tight end, Anthony Williams started five times last season, splitting time with graduated senior Demetreus Ferebee. Williams was NSU's top pass catcher at the position last year, snagging eight passes for 102 yards. He will be joined by freshmen Sean Rettzo and Kareem Burgess.
OFFENSIVE LINE
NSU did not have a senior start a single game along the offensive line last year, with seven underclassmen combining for all 55 possible starts in the trenches. This year, the unit gets a new leader in former Canadian Football League line mentor Kris Sweet. One of the unit's goals is to help NSU improve its rushing offense, creating the sort of run-pass balance that Scott prefers.
The unit will be led this year by junior tackle Kenneth Kirby, a third-team All-MEAC pick last year, and senior center Wes Jones, who has started 22 straight games. Kirby and Jones were both named to the preseason All-MEAC second team last month.
Jalen Powell started all 11 games at left guard as a true freshman a year ago, while Craig Rodwell started 10 times at right guard. Junior Dominic Jordan has 10 career starts as can play either guard or center positions, while talented redshirt freshman Justin Redd also helps give the Spartans a wealth of depth at the interior line spots. Sophomore Ian Williams and redshirt freshman Colby Byrd are other names to keep an eye on.
At tackle, sophomore Kyree Jones and redshirt sophomore Taro Lipscomb combined to start all 11 games last year. Another redshirt sophomore, Josh Culberson, and newcomer D'Montre' Smith will also compete for snaps.
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
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