HBCU Football: Can Delaware State contend for MEAC title in 2021?

The last decade has not been kind to HBCU football’s Delaware State Hornets. The Hornets have just one winning season since 2010 and one playoff appearance since 2000. Current head coach Roderick Milstead Jr. came back to his alma mater in 2018 to coach the Hornets.

Since taking the job, Milstead has had the daunting task of building a program that has not had much success in the last 20 years. Coach Milstead, however, has done an excellent job of recruiting off of the beaten path, including going north of the border to find talented players like Thomas Bertrand-Hudon (Quebec) and offensive lineman Matthew Derks (Ontario).

This past spring, the Hornets went 2-3, and two of their three losses were on-possession games. Coach Milstead wants to build the trenches, which is evident by watching Delaware State this spring. The offense is not flashy; Hornets offensive coordinator Steve Azzanesi intends to change that, however.

The defense took strides this spring, allowing 30 points just twice. It is a small sample size, but improvement is an improvement. What has coach Milstead and his staff excited is there is a balance of young players and veterans on the roster this fall.

Even the younger players got valuable playing experience this spring against live competition. That experience, coupled with an entire offseason, is a net positive.

How will the Hornets fare in the newly shuffled MEAC? Here is a look at the offense, defense, and a prediction of their season.