The 2025 HBCU soccer season is across the nook and the Alabama State Hornets enter the brand new season with a roster that blends in-state dedication with savvy switch portal additions. Head coach Eddie Robinson Jr., now getting into his third yr, has leaned closely on Alabama roots whereas additionally increasing his recruiting blueprint by way of the HBCU and FBS ranks. The outcome: a veteran-laden workforce primed to climb the SWAC standings.
Alabama Roots Nonetheless Run Deep
A breakdown of the 2025 Hornet roster reveals that Alabama stays central to this system’s identification. Over 30 gamers on the roster hail from inside state traces, together with key hubs like Birmingham (8), Cellular (5), Pike Highway (3), and Prattville (2). From highschool signees to veteran transfers, native expertise varieties the bedrock of Robinson’s imaginative and prescient.
Past Alabama, ASU’s regional attain is clear in key Southern recruiting territories:
Alabama – 35+ gamers
Florida – 24 gamers
Georgia – 12 gamers
Texas – 14 gamers
Mississippi – 4 gamers
This Southern-heavy focus displays Alabama State’s conventional HBCU recruiting footprint.
Veteran Transfers Bolster Each Sides of the Ball
The Hornets additionally made robust strikes within the portal this offseason, including a variety of confirmed veterans from each Energy 5 and HBCU applications. At the very least 30 transfers populate the roster, lots of whom deliver rapid influence potential.
Switch Breakdown by Degree
FBS (Soccer Bowl Subdivision): 12 transfers(Examples: Baylor, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Mississippi State)
FCS (Soccer Championship Subdivision): 9 transfers(Examples: Kennesaw State, Montana, Prairie View A&M)
Division II HBCUs: 6 transfers(Examples: Fort Valley State, Central State, Lenoir-Rhyne)
JUCO/CC: 3 transfers(Examples: East Central CC, Northwest Miss. CC)
These additions give the Hornets depth, dimension, and maturity throughout each unit.
Developments to Watch in 2025
Quarterback Depth & DecisionsASU lists 5 quarterbacks, together with Andrew Physique, a confirmed dual-threat from Texas Southern. He’ll battle with Zach Sims, Te’Sean Smoot, and incoming freshman James Hayes, with Physique’s SWAC expertise giving him a possible edge.
Vast Receiver ArsenalRobinson has surrounded his QBs with size and expertise. Former Energy 5 gamers Elijah Bean (Baylor), Tyree Saunders (VT/ECU), and Nicholas Williams (Montana) headline a deep, bodily group.
HBCU-to-HBCU PipelineThe Hornets are an instance of inter-HBCU mobility thriving underneath the switch portal. Gamers like Kayvon Henderson (Alcorn), Ian Shark (SC State), Manny Thompson (FVSU), and Davier Farrow (PVAMU) present how HBCUs are actually sharing and recycling high-level expertise.
Power Up FrontWith eight offensive linemen over 310 kilos, Alabama State is clearly prioritizing trench dominance. Graduate switch Zach Perkins, who’s performed at South Florida, Hampton, and Maryland, brings Energy 4 expertise to the unit.
Conclusion
Alabama State’s 2025 roster reveals a program that is aware of its identification—one rooted in Alabama highschool soccer however enhanced by the strategic use of the switch portal. Eddie Robinson Jr. is constructing with intent, balancing long-term improvement with rapid contributors. With veteran weapons at key positions and a robust base of native expertise, ASU is poised to be a consider a loaded SWAC East.
