HBCU Football: 3 Keys to Victory for Jackson State and Florida A&M

2. Which “new look” defense makes the most plays.

Jackson State: Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders revamped a defense that allowed 150 rushing yards or more three times (MVSU had 146) and over 240 passing yards three times, including 440 against Alabama A&M in the season finale.

Defensive lineman Coynis Miller and outside linebacker Abdul-Malik McClain should be eligible to play and will help Jackson State’s front seven. South Carolina transfer Shiloh Sanders was brought in to shore up the secondary.

Sanders and fellow transfers Javorrius Selmon (Mississippi State), Keveric Wiggins (Louisiana-Monroe) should be a good matchup against one of the better receiver rooms in the SWAC.

Florida A&M: The Rattlers’ defense in 2019 was not much better than Jackson State’s last spring. The Rattlers had six one-possession games last season, going 5-1 in those contests. FAMU surrendered 25 points or more in five of those games.

Jackson State comes into this game with new personnel offensively, including at quarterback and wide receiver. It will be interesting to see how FAMU counters an offense with so many new pieces.

As a team, the Rattlers gave up 365 yards of total offense and almost 28 points per game. As FAMU breaks in a new quarterback, it is imperative that the defense play better. The Rattlers’ defensive front versus Jackson State’s new-look offense is going to be an interesting matchup to watch.