By Brittany Webb, Sports Editor
Posted 10:05 AM EST, Thurs., March 2, 2017
With 150 years of excellence comes the need for new beginnings and new faces. And that is what the Howard University Department of Athletics is preparing for, as it pertains to the football team.
After the announcement that former Howard Bison Football Head Coach Gary Harrell’s tenure with Howard University would to conclude this past November, Head Coach Mike London was hired to take the program in a new direction.
London was formerly the associate head coach and defensive line coach for the University of Maryland football team.
Upon being introduced at a press conference in January, London said “I can tell the guys that are here, the players, that we are here to win championships. We’re here to win on the field, to win off the field and we’re going to win in the community. The old days and old ways are now the new days and new ways.”
To assist London in changing the dynamics of the program and making old things new are 23 athletes who committed to the university on National Signing Day.
These players include David Terrell Jr. (Loyola Academy), Tyree Leonard (Mt. Zion High School) and Aaron Motley (Highland Springs High School). Caylin Newton, who was a four-year starter at Grady High School and is the brother of Carolina Panther quarterback Cam Newton, will also be joining the team come Fall.
“Get ready for something special for the next four years at HU,” Newton said in a tweet.
Also joining the football program is retired NFL/CFL wide receiver David Clowney IV. Clowney will be serving as the running back/slots coach for the team. Clowney was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 2007 NFL Draft and later played for the New York Jets. During his undergraduate years, Clowney played football for Virginia Tech.
London also hired Brennan Marion to be the offensive coach for the Howard Bison. Marion is a former wide receiver for American football, having been signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent. He attended the University of Tulsa for his undergraduate studies.
“Extremely blessed and grateful to be in DC. Very humbled for this opportunity… can’t wait to get this O rolling!!! Howard OC!!!” Marion tweeted.
While the football team has been around for a little over 100 years, it is sure to be a new program come fall.
