Despite the Bison’s preseason accolades, they finished second to last place in MEAC football standings, a far cry from expectations.
The 2023 MEAC football champion Bison entered this season predicted to finish in the top two in the conference, with many impact players set to return, including conference preseason Offensive Player of the Year Jarett Hunter and Defensive Player of the Year Kenny Gallop Jr.
The latter half of the season was largely unsuccessful for the Bison, as they lost five out of their last six games and won just one conference game throughout the season. Staying competitive was a struggle for the team this year, as their losses came by an average of 17 points per game.
Last year’s championship team was not flawless, but they went into conference play with competitive non-conference games against Hampton, Eastern Michigan and Northwestern. This propelled them to a 4-1 conference record and a Celebration Bowl appearance.
Howard, what happened?
With several veterans departing to chase professional careers, including quarterback Quinton Williams, offensive tackle Anim Dankwah and running back Ian Wheeler, the team’s offense regressed.
As opposed to the 28.5 points the Bison averaged in their last championship season, they put up just 19.8 points per contest this year, led by redshirt sophomore quarterback Ja’Shawn Scroggins.
The offensive line was not as stout, as the team allowed four more sacks than last year with one less game played and hurried Scroggins into quick decisions. Scroggins finished the season with just nine touchdowns through the air and nine interceptions for a struggling pass offense.
The running game also saw a diminished output, with Hunter and Scroggins shouldering the load, as opposed to 2023’s three-headed running back monster that was Hunter, Eden James and Wheeler. James’ production took a step back this season, averaging just 35 yards per outing as opposed to his previous 62, while Hunter had a career year.
Defensively, the Bison allowed 26 points per game, a slight increase from the previous year, although their defensive numbers largely remained steady. Six defensive players—Gallop Jr., Terrance Hollon, Noah Miles, Robert Jones III, Jamel Stewart and Anthony Reagan Jr.—made 2024 All-MEAC teams.
Penalties, however, are an area in which the Bison struggled this year. They committed 94 penalties this season, a dramatic 29-flag increase from the previous year.
As the Early National Signing Day on Dec. 20 looms, the Bison will look to reload with playmakers that can help them reclaim the MEAC title.
Copy edited by Jalyn Lovelady
