Howard University’s Greene Stadium was the stage for the football team’s annual spring game, an opportunity to showcase the results that have come from winter conditioning and preseason practice. The spring game consisted of one on one competition drills, a seven on seven period and lastly a live scrimmage.
During the scrimmage, offense showed echoes of the 2024 season with a slow start and early interception by redshirt sophomore safety, Kaleb Gallop.
The offense found its rhythm with a long run by freshman running back Rufus Ferguson II, which set up a touchdown by pass by junior quarterback Sean Mitchell, in addition to multiple deep passes caught by redshirt sophomore receiver Breylin Smith, thrown by his classmate Ja’Shawn Scroggins.
Graduating senior Madison Firle is optimistic for the team’s upcoming season.
“I just hope to see more wins. I hope to see more success following those championships in 2021 and 2022—I hope to see something of the same,” said Firle.
Defensive coordinator Troy Douglas is just one of the three coordinators who will not be returning for the season this fall. Head Coach Larry Scott was blunt about the staff turnover.
“We went through a hard reset, and that’s what we talked about—a hard reset,” Scott said. “We went back to what our culture was built on, which is true accountability to yourself first and then to your teammates.”
The spring game is also an opportunity for Howard coaches to connect with recruits, and show off their unique competitive culture.
“We saw the facilities and then we got to see a little bit of the weight room stuff, and it’s been really good. I like it—I like the culture, the energy and I just like how everything looks,” said Jaylen Carter, a 2026 linebacker recruit from Colonial Forge High School.
Fifth-year senior linebacker Jay Jones II believes that this season, an energy shift will be one of the major changes as the Bison look to go chasing a championship ring.
“Bringing more energy, wanting us to get more involved in the community as well as on the field. Just wanting us to attack the day every single day. As far as defense, our mindset is striking fear into everybody,” said Jones.
Jones continued with a message for Howard University supporters, teasing an increased level of intensity for the 2025 season. “Bison nation, expect to see 101 percent effort… everyone flying around doing what we got to do. And at the end of the day, our end all, is to host that MEAC championship and [win] a Celebration Bowl.”
Copy edited by Aniyah Genama
