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HBCU Football: Will Norfolk State be among MEAC’s elite in 2021?

By Jarrett Hoffman

HOUSTON, TX - AUGUST 30: Head coach Dawson Odums watches the Houston Cougars play against the Southern University Jaguars in the first half on August 30, 2013 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. Houston won 62 to 13. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - AUGUST 30: Head coach Dawson Odums watches the Houston Cougars play against the Southern University Jaguars in the first half on August 30, 2013 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. Houston won 62 to 13. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images) /
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ATHENS, GA – SEPTEMBER 26: Southern University Jaguars head coach Dawson Odums reacts on the sideline in the second quarter of the game against the Georgia Bulldogs on September 26, 2015 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA – SEPTEMBER 26: Southern University Jaguars head coach Dawson Odums reacts on the sideline in the second quarter of the game against the Georgia Bulldogs on September 26, 2015 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

Norfolk State storylines going into the 2021 season

  • How will Dawson Odums impact the Norfolk State Spartans?

Prior to Odums becoming head coach, the Southern Jaguars were going through a three-year drought without a season with a record above .500. In the latter year of their drought, Odums took over as interim coach becoming the official head coach the very next season.

The Jaguars went from finishing 4-7 record with Odums posting a 4-5 record taking over as interim coach in 2012 to finishing with a 9-4 record and winning the SWAC championshipin in his first full season as head coach in 2013.

Odums will have a more uphill battle building the Spartans into a contender as they have had much more of a sustained drought without a winning season.

However, when looking at the Spartans’ roster, he has a lot to work with and that could lead to replicating his first year as head coach with Southern.

  • Do the Spartans have the best offense in HBCU football?

As previously mentioned, Juwan Carter had an incredible 2019 season that saw him rank high across all passing categories in the MEAC. The question will now not only be will he be able to back that performance up but also how does the rest of the offense stack up.

Norfolk State ranked third in the MEAC in rushing yards per game in the 2019 season despite not having a player rank in the top 10 individually in rushing. Both of Norfolk State’s leading rushers, sophomores Kevin Johnson and Rayquan Smith, have the potential to be the best running back tandem in HBCU football.

In addition, the Spartans also did not have a top five individual receiver in 2019 but were still able to have the second-best pass offense in the MEAC.

If the Spartans offense is able to replicate their performance from the 2019 season, they could stake their claim as the best offense in HBCU football.

  • How does the Spartans defense fit into the equation?

For all the hype that the Norfolk State offense is deservedly receiving, their defense was not as good the last time they stepped on the field. They ranked in the bottom half of the conference in scoring defense and total defense.

However, there were some positives individually on defense that could turn into success for the 2021 season.

Spartans senior defensive lineman Chris Myers tied for the most sacks in the MEAC along with two other players who finished in the top 20.

In the secondary, sophomore Devyn Coles tied for the most interceptions in the MEAC. As a team, the Spartans were one of three MEAC teams to return multiple interceptions for touchdowns.

Coles will be paired in the secondary with former four-star transfer from Liberty University sophomore Tayvion Land.

While they would not be considered to be an elite defense, they could be good enough to inch the Norfolk State Spartans team closer to becoming a true contender in the MEAC.

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