MEAC Football: Norfolk State might lose star QB to transfer portal

Quarterback Juwan Carter is considering the transfer portal if the program goes to a total rebuild.

Norfolk State senior quarterback Juwan Carter has a huge decision to make this fall. The Spartans have an opportunity to have one of their best teams in a long time and contend in the MEAC.  Carter is also a pre-season all MEAC quarterback with a chance to take the NSU to heights not seen since Willard Bailey was head coach.

Spartans head coach Latrell Scott resigned as head coach to become the tight ends coach at East Carolina and assistant coach William Sherman is the current interim head coach. Norfolk State athletic director Dr. Melody Webb has said that the university has hired a search firm to find the next head coach.

There has been no indication that Sherman will have an opportunity to interview to become the permanent head coach. Though that does not mean that the firm and university will not interview Sherman, it puts Carter in a unique position.

For Carter, a new regime means starting over, and, as a senior, that is something Carter has little interest in doing. “I might even transfer if he doesn’t get the job,” Carter said. “I might enter the portal. I really don’t want to start over.”

The Richmond, Virginia, native has an opportunity to approach records for the Spartans. Carter sits behind only Aaron Sparrow in yards, completions and touchdown passes in Norfolk State history. Carter’s proximity to the record books is primarily due to a 2019 campaign where Carter led the MEAC in passing yards, total yards and total touchdowns.

Carter has made it no secret that he wants to break Sparrow’s records. The question for Carter is whether or not he wants to do it with a new coaching staff.

Carter does understand the decision from his former head coach. “It was a business move for him. It’s a business move now,” he said. “I want to win. I know with the team that we have now, we have that chance of winning the MEAC.”

Could this be a start playing expressing frustration over a coach who he’s grown with leaving? That cannot be dismissed. However, this could be a star player who has no desire to start over with a new coaching staff.