It’s been a whirlwind of an offseason for North Carolina A&T in the offseason after the Aggies went just 1-10 in 2023 in Coach Vincent Brown’s first year as the new head coach after the university decided to parted ways with the successful Sam Washington.
Brown went through last season dealing with transitioning the team from an old system to a new one which put more onus on the players which demanded more accountability and focus not just only on the football field but more so in the classroom.
He also went through the usual growing pains for first time head coaches in trying to get a new staff all on the same page and mindset as the head coach.
Things didn’t go well on the offensive side of the ball and to his credit Brown acknowledged that the failure was directly attributed ineffective coaching.
Out with the old and in with David Marsh, the former offensive coordinator at Texas Southern and the original architect of Campbell University’s high scoring offense.
His offensive scheme is based on the intricate “Air Raid” offense and is known for a strong spread running game coupled to a fast up-tempo quick strike passing attack.
Brown is hoping that an updated and unpredictable offense will emerge to ride alongside what should be an improved above average defense that now has a year of experience under its belt and a lot more depth and size than last season.
With that being said we are pleased for the 22nd consecutive year to present to you the Bluedeathvalley.com’s 2024 preseason preview of North Carolina A&T Football.
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If there is one area where A&T matches up with the very best in the CAA and it is in the running back room. The big difference from last year is the there’s a lot more maturity and growth in the backfield along with the increased competition for playing time, with more diversity in both styles and depth. The Aggies have largely moved away from using a true fullback in the new offense which will require more versatile athleticism and pass catching abilities out of the running backs.
The Aggies are blessed to have their three top rushers return; Kenji Christian (6-2, 205, Jr.) led A&T in rushing a year ago with 718 yards on 133 carries with 6 TDs after transferring from Va Tech, Wesley Graves (5-10, 225, Jr.) with 435 yards and sophomore Shimique Blizzard (5-8, 190). Another veteran who should contribute in some measure is a much-slimed down Charlie Dixon (6-2, 225, R-So.).
The barn will be full of new horses with the addition of 3-star freshman Daniel Coles (6-1,210) who had a dozen FBS offers and had verbally committed to Penn State before deciding to sign with A&T last February on national signing day.
Redshirt freshman Jailen Hicks (6-3, 200, 4.4) is the son of former A&T great Maurice Hicks who sat out last year because of injury. Hicks is an explosive runner who had offers from several Ivy League and SWAC schools coming out of Dudley HS right here in Greensboro.
Shifty Navy Academy transfer Cameren Dalrymple (6-0, 170, R-So.) is a former 2-time All-State selection and Shrine Bowler who ran for over 3,000 career yards at Wallace-Rosehill (NC) High School.
A&T’s quarterback play last year could be summed up in one word – inconsistency. There were a lot changes immediately following the end of last season at the position with the mass exodus into the portal of three of the four quarterbacks on the 2023 roster. Gone are Alston Hooker (FAMU), Eli Brickhandler (Houston Christian), and Zach Yeager (Howard).
The new offensive scheme is far more quarterback centric than anything A&T has used in the past so the challenge will be which quarterback or perhaps quarterbacks will best grasp the new concepts and execute them the best with minimal problems. Once that separation occurs then a lot of questions about the offense can and will be answered.
A&T did retain its starting signal caller in K.J. White (6-0, 180, So.) who, as a true freshman, took over as the starter near mid-season and showed some flashes of what could be as a true freshman. The dual threat quarterback amassed 507 yards and 2 TDS through the air on 45-85 passing along with 272 yards rushing and 3 TDs on 58 carries over 7 games before injuries forced him to the sidelines.
He’ll share time with experienced grad transfer Justin Fomby (6-4, 225) who comes in from Houston Christian. In 2022, Fomby threw for 2,297 yards and 16 TDs in starting 10 games there. His passing yardage ranked third in the Southland Conference and is the third-most passing yards in a single season in program history. The former 3-star high school prospect was slowed in 2023 by injury coupled with a change in offensive philosophy appearing in only 3 games. Fomby also played one year at Northern Illinois where he started 3 games there as a freshman hitting on 33-52 (63.2%) on his passes for 433 yards.
Another portal pickup is former 3-star Noah Sanders (6-2, 215, R -So.) who made the transition over the summer to Greensboro from fellow CAA member Delaware. Sanders played sparingly with the Blue Hens behind two veterans in 2023. Sanders is promising dual threat prospect who earned a 3-star rating out of Stafford HS (VA).
The staff is very high on incoming freshman Braxton Thomas (6-3, 220) from Sarasota, Fl. Thomas is a prototype physical specimen with a cannon for an arm and deceptively elusive runner. He racked up nearly 3,600 passing yards and 35 touchdowns over his high school career. The Aggies beat out newest ACC member SMU in the recruiting battle for his services.
The wide receiver position has been a big question mark going into preseason camp after a less than auspicious performance last season. A&T returns two of its leading pass catchers along with a key component that was missed because of injury. To be blunt A&T’s passing game was simply awful in 2024.
Junior Ger-Cari Caldwell (6-4, 200, with 15 catches) began to show some signs of what made him an SEC (South Carolina) prospect a few years ago coming out of high school. The best and most consistent of the wideouts without question was Amonte Jones (5-11, 170, R-Jr.) who had 18 catches for 298 yards and a TD. Jamison Warren (5-11, 185, R-Jr.) is back in the lineup after sitting out all of 2023 rehabbing from a knee injury and is expected to help give the Aggies a legitimate deep pass threat.
There’s a lot of explosive incoming talent that has been added to the receiving corps so the potential for some different faces who could become game changers in 2024 is quite high. Redshirt freshmen Rory Jones-Amen-Hetep, and Jayvonne Dillard (6-2, 205) had solid spring practices along with Butler transfer Thomas Brown (6-3, 190), sophomore Lequan Veney and junior Derrick Brinton.
A gifted trio of true freshman signees who could contribute right away are Southwest Guilford product Corbin Wilson (6-3, 205), Michael Carlock-Williams (6-4, 190), and Cortez Lane (5-11, 185). Each of the three had outstanding senior seasons in high school with over 1,000 yards in receptions apiece with plenty of postseason honors.
The tight end post will be held down by a pro prospect in senior Nick Dobson (6-5, 255) who is a very reliable down field pass catcher and fierce blocker. He’ll be backed up by the experienced Joshua George (6-4, 240), and sophomores Antoine Bell (6-4, 230) and Anthony Rucker (6-4, 225).
The A&T offensive line will be one of the more experienced groups in the CAA and their return should bode well for the running game once again. The Aggie front will be one of the bigger ones size wise but it is the game experience that should the offense benefit them the most. O-line coach Ron Mattes has a very solid group of linemen who all got extensive playing time last year and while the passing game was not anything to write home aboutt the running game was quite good despite the offense being one-dimensional.
So upon entering this season A&T will continue to primarily run the football but the manner in which they do it will look and feel very different in the new “Air Raid” offense versus what it did in the old traditional lead block sets that Aggie Fans have become so accustomed to over the last decade.
Guards Brock Stukes (6-3, 320, So.) and Korian Sharpe (6-4, 315, R-Jr.) are a pair of earth movers who played a ton of minutes a year ago and are exceptionally strong run blockers. Team captain Cesar Minarro (6-4, 300, Gr.) commands the center position while the tackles will be manned by fifth year starter Jason Ivey (6-5, 305) and incoming Georgia Tech transfer R. J Adams (6-4, 325, R-Jr.).
That previous game experience also trickles down into the second rotation with tackles Jonathan Cannon (6-5, 300, R-Jr.), Sterling Wiggins (6-6, 310, R-Fr.) and guards Calvin Cunningham (6-2, 300, R-Jr.) and Spencer Webb (6-4, 310, R-Fr.).
It will be extremely interesting to see how quickly a heavily influenced run blocking line will adjust to new offensive coordinator David Marsh’s modified “Air Raid” offense made famous by the late Mike Leach at Washington State and later Mississippi State.
B.J. Turner who made all-CAA last year as a one-man wrecking crew is gone but the linebacker corps will probably be much better overall because there been substantial improvement among those freshmen of a year who were thrown into the fire early and some additional upgrades added in the offseason.
Sophomores Kade Moledor (6-0, 235) and Josh Iseah (6-3, 240) were on the “learn on the job” track a year ago it turned out well for both youngsters. Moledar, who didn’t become a starter until late in the season, ended with 49 tackles (25 solo) while Iseah started most of the year and was third in tackles with 59 tackles (33 solo) along with 4TFL and 2 sacks while being named an FCS freshman All-American by Hero Sports.
David Mack (5-11,235, So.) has most likely earned himself a starting spot this year after laboring through an injury as a freshman. A former all-state performer and Shrine Bowl pick at West Forysth HS, Mack is now completely healthy and should be a dynamo on the inside against the run.
The linebackers will have considerable depth with Terrian George (6-3, 225, R-So.), graduate Malich Jacobs (6-2, 240) and Jayden Williams (6-0, 220, Fr.) on the inside while Valdosta State transfer Terrell Dudley (6-0, 220, Jr.), Sincere Burnette (6-1,200, R-Fr.), Bryce Enlow (6-0, 220, R-Fr.) and Jonathan Kimbrough -Campbell (5-11, 200, R-So.) on the outside.
If there is one place where A&T must indeed improve right away to put last season completely in the history books it is surely here. While the Aggies were vastly undersized and had very little if no depth the defense still managed to keep them well within striking distance against most of their opponents. Still, it was often worn down because of an ineffective A&T offense and the physicality of the CAA. That made closing the size disparity and depth concerns as a top priority.
Defensive coordinator Josh Zidenberg managed to obtain a lot more physicality and some battle tested experience through the portal to help ease their transition. An intensely vigorous off season training regimen was instituted immediately at the end of last season and fruits of that labor are clearly visible in the notable changes in the physical stature of the returning defensive linemen.
The Aggies hit the portal and brought in grad transfer and former Appalachian State 2-year starter DeAndre Dingle-Prince (6-0, 280). Dingle-Prince is as versatile of a down lineman one could ask for and can and has played every position along the defensive front, an aggressive disruptor, and should be an immediate impact player.
Joshua Hardy is another transfer (Boston College) who comes in as prime designated edge rusher. The 6-4, 250-pound red shirt sophomore who is noted for his outstanding speed and technique was the #3 recruit in the state of Maryland just two years ago and should fit well with an already deep group of defensive ends.
Speaking of ends, A&T is in very good shape with senior leader and returning starter Henry Daniel (6-2, 265) and the other likely starter Javon Armstrong-Grady (6-3, 255, R-Jr.). Expect veterans Mitchell Ethridge (6-3, 235, R-Jr.), Rashaud Pernell (6-4, 250, R-So.) and Giovanni Divers (6-4, 250, R-Fr.) to play a lot of minutes in the rotation allowing for fresh legs off the edge throughout the season.
The noticeable increase in size is more evident on the inside more than anywhere else. Returning up front will Kelvin Broadhurst (6-1, 275, R-So.), Chris Abraham (6-2, 290, R-So.) Chris Allen (6-4, 300, R-So.). All have bulked up considerably from a year ago. Another interesting change has been made moving former fullback Malik Ward (6-1, 260, Sr.) over to the defense to gain additional physicality.
Where the rubber may hit the road by conference time will be if and just how fast the incoming newbies will be able to adapt the college game. A&T signed some hefty freshmen defensive lineman who will probably see action most likely sooner than later.
Chris Kinsey (6-1, 280) was one of the top prep defensive tackles in the North Carolina in 2023 and will see action right out the gate. Jacob Jenkins (6-3, 325) is a prototypical DT/NG that commands double teams. Keon Webb is loaded with potential being long with very athletic pro type size at 6-6 and 290 pounds. Tyrick Hall (6-2, 285) is an “under the radar recruit” from Southern Wayne HS who has a great upside with excellent feet and a good upper body.
This is by far the strongest and deepest group on the team and two big reasons are the return of both senior starting corners in All-CAA Karon Prunty (6-2, 196) and Aaron Harris (5-11,185).
Unlike a lot of corners Prunty is not afraid to stick his nose into the pile as evidenced by his 43 tackles last year with 33 being solo, 5 pass breakups, and one sack. Prunty does not fear being on an island, he relishes it.
Harris suffered a lower leg injury at midseason against Norfolk State and was lost for the season. He has all the necessary speed and tools to run step for step with the opposition’s best deep receivers and doubles as one of the better kick returners in the league.
Grad student Carl Maddox (6-1, 205) who is a tenacious hitter who plays sideline to sideline has transferred in from Dartmouth and is expected to immediately start at the rover position which was vacated by All-CAA Avarion Cole who is now at App State via the portal.
Ty Williams (6-1, 185) is the third senior among the starters at strong safety and is poised to have a memorable final season. David Laney (6-1, 180, Jr.) came into his own as a sophomore after earning a starting spot that resulted in 36 tackles on the year including an 82-yard pick six against Hampton.
Fifth-year senior Janaz Sumpter (6-0,185) is the Swiss army knife of the secondary and can play both corner and/or safety and will be a main piece of the puzzle.
There are some exciting new faces playing behind the starters featuring red-shirt freshman Steven Davis (6-1, 170), sophomore Greg Featherstone (5-11, 170), Treston Ward (6-0, 215, Fr.), Tre Mittman (6-1,180, Fr.) and Carter Powell (6-0, 180, Fr.).
The big news here is the return of one of the better field goal specialists in college football in Andrew “Money” Brown (5-10,170, R-Jr.). Brown missed all last season because of knee surgery but returned for fall camp and now looks every bit as good if not better than he did last playing in 2022 when he made 14 of 19 (.737) field goals and 35 of 38 extra points (.921) which led the Big South Conference in both categories. Behind him will be junior Jay Higgins and red-shirt freshman Josiah Abraham.
Punter Caleb Brickhouse (6-3, 220) is back as a grad student after averaging 40.3 yards per punt but he will need to hold off the impressive freshman D.J. Page (6-0, 185) from Lithia, Fl.
With the graduation of All-American Taymon Cook, the return specialists’ jobs are wide open but expect senior corner Aaron Harris to handle most of the kickoffs this season. There are several other options among the running backs to help in that regard but wide receiver Amonte Jones will be the primary deep man on most of the punt returns.
