The HBCU soccer season is quick approaching and there’s a lot to stay up for.
Parity is excessive among the many HBCU conferences, creating alternatives for some packages at the moment flying under-the-radar to creep their method into rivalry.
Listed below are 5 groups which have the most effective alternative to do some harm this fall.
Albany State
Prefer it in previous years, the SIAC is open for the taking with none actual favourite to say the convention title.
The departure of Sam Shade from defending champion Miles and David Wright III being denied eligibility from Clark Atlanta makes competitors for the convention’s prime spot extra fascinating.
A group that has a fantastic probability to profit from that is Albany State, which might have been one-half of the SIAC championship contributors if the celebs had aligned in 2024.
The Golden Rams’ loss of their penultimate contest of the 2024 season towards Savannah State put an finish to their hopes of showing in a second straight SIAC championship sport.
With star quarterback Isaiah Knowles, reigning SIAC Freshman of the 12 months Tiant Wyche and main receiver Jamill Williams all returning in 2025, it will be no shock to see them taking part in deep in November.
Alabama A&M
The final time a SIAC championship coach departed for a head teaching job at a Division 1 HBCU, he helped lead his group to a convention title.
Whereas that’s not a assure for Sam Shade and the Alabama A&M Bulldogs, they’re making strides in the precise course this offseason.
Along with many key members of the Miles SIAC championship unit now at Alabama A&M, the Bulldogs added former Arkansas-Pine Bluff quarterback Mekhi Hagens, who completed second within the SWAC in passing final 12 months.
If Hagens can replicate his manufacturing from 2014, he can be in rivalry for the SWAC Offensive Participant of the 12 months award, and the Bulldogs might shake issues up within the SWAC East.
Morgan State
When taking a look at how the 2024 season transpired for the Morgan State Bears, it will be comprehensible to underestimate them in 2025.
Morgan State took a slight step again from the earlier 12 months, equaling their convention win complete however with lower than equal manufacturing from their defensive unit.
Offense is all the time the elephant within the room for the Bears, and it creates important stress for his or her protection to carry up.
With profession sack chief Elijah Williams now out of the door, all eyes can be on Erick Hunter, who’s coming back from an injury-riddled 2024.
Defensive lineman Lance Byndon and defensive again Jadon Carter are gamers to look at that might have breakout seasons.
Tennessee State
The Tennessee State Tigers can be an fascinating group to look at this 12 months in what can be their first season beneath head coach Reggie Barlow.
The Tigers had an incredible season in 2024, clinching a share of the Huge South-OVC title for the primary time since 1999 and earned an FCS postseason berth.
Regardless of the departure of former head coach Eddie George and lots of of their prime gamers, together with star quarterback Draylen Ellis, the Tigers discovered a approach to have a productive offseason.
TSU added 12 FBS transfers, together with 4 energy convention transfers and confirmed FCS abilities equivalent to former Southern working again Kendric Rhymes.
With Barlow’s championship repute, seeing Tennessee State replicate its success from final 12 months wouldn’t be a complete shock.
Winston-Salem State
Final season ended a three-team race for the CIAA crown between Virginia Union, Virginia State and Johnson C. Smith.
Whereas these groups will undoubtedly be within the combine as soon as once more this 12 months, they may have some stiff competitors.
This contains Winston-Salem State, which notched their first profitable report since 2018.
Like Albany State, WSSU will see a lot of its prime stars from the earlier 12 months return in 2025, together with beginning quarterback Daylin Lee.
Don’t be too fast to rely the Rams out as a result of they’re constantly rising and are assured of their capacity to compete towards the most effective.
