Mercer, Mercer Me…Things Ain’t What They Use to Be. Wildcats Blasted 31-2 by the Bears.

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Credits: The Daytona Beach News-Journal

Mercer, Mercer Me…Things Ain’t What They Use to Be. Wildcats Blasted 31-2 by the Bears.

Remember the good old days when Bethune-Cookman was a perennial Top 25 program and frequent visitor to the FCS playoffs? The days when the Wildcats would roll into your trap and take over your trap. Well these ain’t them days. At least not at this early juncture of the season they are not.

Saturday’s contest against the Mercer Bears, who won a FCS playoff game last season and are currently ranked 24th in FCS Coaches’ Poll, was the first genuine opportunity of the Raymond Woodie era to see how close the BCU football program was to returning to those former days of glory. The test results were emphatic—BCU still has a ways to go to close the gap on the top teams at this level.

Heck, if you’re just looking at the 31-2 scoreline, it would suggest BCU failed the first early season test miserably. But football is a situational game and a play or two here or there changes the entire complexion of the contest. After watching that game live on Saturday, and re-watching it online two additional times on Sunday, my conclusion is this: there is no need to hit the panic button, but there are reasons to be concerned.

So how did we get here? How did this Cookman team, who had elevated expectations coming into the season, end up on the wrong side of a completely lopsided scoreline?

Well for starters, Mercer is a really good football program. Like really, really good.  Much respect to the coaching staff and players from the Middle Georgia school. Bethune won’t be the only team on the wrong side of the win/loss column against Mercer.

The Bears demonstrated what good football programs do.

They make the critical plays when they are there to be made.

They weather adversity.

They make the right adjustments.

They win the situational game.

The Wildcats did none of these things quite so well on Saturday.

Mercer quarterback, DJ Smith connected with slot receiver Bryden Smith on a wheel route for a 50-yard touchdown at the 6:06 mark of the second quarter to open the game’s scoring.

Smith’s, bubble screen to Parker Wroble ended as a 14-yard TD with 1:25 left in the second quarter. And 23 seconds later, Mercer turned a BCU interception into a 21-0 lead when Smith tossed his third TD pass of the half to wideout Kelin Parsons.

If you are keeping up at home, the score went from 0-0 to 21-0 in 4:41 of game time. YIKES. And that still only reveals a part of the story.

Too Aggressive, Too Soon

Trailing 14-0 with 1:20 left in the half, BCU took over at its own 29 yardline. The Wildcats were still very much in the contest and playing well at this point. Conventional wisdom say you play the percentages, take a knee, and get to halftime trailing by only 2 scores. This is specifically true since BCU was set to  receive the ball to begin the 3rd quarter. However, the Wildcats threw caution to the wind and came out aggressive. Mercer made BCU pay for the decision by intercepting a Cam Ransom pass and returning it BCU’s 15 yardline.

The Bears scored on the next play pushing the lead to 21 and killed off the game at that point.

42-point swing

As wild as it sounds, BCU could have just as easily taken a 21-point lead into halftime instead of trailing by as many.

On its opening possession of the game, the Wildcats drove the ball to the Mercer 6-yard line before fumbling it away on 2nd and goal. It was an 100% avoidable error by the BCU offense. The ball was not stripped, it was simply bad ballhandling by QB Cam Ransom.

Let’s assume BCU scores a TD on that drive. That’s 7 points you left on the field.

On the next possession, Ransom found Lorenzo Jenkins on a deep post and 5 yards behind the nearest defender. Unfortunately for BCU, Jenkins dropped what would have been a certain 87-yard TD reception.

To add to the missed opportunities, on BCU’s first possession of the second quarter, Ransom found Corey Turner streaking down the middle of the field and delivered a perfect pass into the hands of Turner. Actually, he delivered a perfect pass through the hands of Turner who was about 7 yards behind the nearest defender when he dropped a surefire touchdown. When that ball hit the turf, so too did the air from the team and the 8,484 Wildcat fans in attendance.

There are not very many teams who are good enough to overcome squandering three gimmie touchdowns. Mercer went on to score on their next three possessions of the first half.  

Speaking of Mercer’s first half touchdowns, on each of those scores, you can clearly see blown coverages by BCU’s safeties who were way out of position and their eyes locked in the backfield.

The bad news is the six plays I just described saw a 42-point swing in the game. Instead of nursing a 3-score lead, the Wildcats entered halftime chasing a 21-point deficit.

The good news is that each of those six plays are easily correctable. All six were unforced errors by BCU. But that’s the difference between being a playoff team and a team still finding its way at this level. The Mercer type teams make those plays and punish other teams’ mistakes, while teams who are in a bad run of form like Bethune-Cookman come up just short.

Some things are easily correctable, others not so much!

I don’t know the analytics on this but I will go on record as saying that teams with a 42-point swing in their favor win more than 90% of those games. Wildcat fans can take some solace in that fact knowing that they were a half dozen plays away in this contest. What’s worrisome for BCU fans is a) they are not making those plays; and b) the overall lack of production of the offense.

Cookman ran the ball 26 times for 29 yards in the contest. That’s a dreadful 1.1 yard per rushing attempt. DREADFUL! I don’t know how you fix that but offensive coordinator, Joe Gerbino, is going to have to figure it out real soon if BCU is to have their first winning season in 4 years.

And just to stress the point, it’s not like the running stats were low because the passing game was clicking. The Wildcats only completed 48% of their pass attempts and only managed 127 yards through the air. They were 0 for 12 on 3rd down conversions and only eclipsed the 100 yards of total offense mark on the 2nd to last play of the game. BCU ended the night without an offensive score and they are still looking for their first offensive touchdown of the season. The lone Wildcats score of the night came on an Orin Patu sack which ended in a safety.

So I’ll say it again, DREADFUL! I don’t know how you fix that but offensive coordinator, Joe Gerbino, is going to have to figure it out real soon if BCU is to have their first winning season in 4 years.

It is still early in the season. All of BCU’s season goals are still in front of them so the panic button is safely locked away. The Mercer test was a bit too much to overcome but there is plenty of time to improve that grade. If BCU can make the plays when they are there to be made, correct the alignment and eye discipline miscues on defense, and get some production from its offense, they will be fine. If not, then just play the Marvin Gaye tunes because things just ain’t what they use to be.

Bethune-Cookman vs. USF: Season Opener Review and Standout Performances

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Credits: The Oracle/ Alejandra Martinez

Bethune-Cookman’s season opener against the University of South Florida concluded with a lopsided 48-3 scoreline. While the outcome was tough, it’s important to remember that these “money games” are a necessary part of the journey for FCS programs and despite the result, the ultimate objective is to gain valuable experience and prepare for the season ahead.

With that in mind, the Wildcats avoided any significant injuries—a critical win in its own right, given the challenge of facing a FBS team in Week One. Running back and kick returner Darnell Deas appeared slightly hobbled in the second half, but overall, the team emerged relatively unscathed.

We hoped the defense could have kept USF under 50 points and the offense would have scored at least 20 but only half of that mission was accomplished. USF was held under the half century mark, but the Wildcats couldn’t find the end zone, and managed to only score a field goal. The lack of offensive production was a letdown, but we will delay our early season assessment of the offense until next Saturday’s contest against FCS opponent Mercer. 

On the positive side, there were several individual performances that stood out. Here are a few:

1. Dearis Thomas showed why he’s a 2nd Team All-SWAC performer, recording 8 tackles;  2 of which were for losses. Thomas was not included in the starting lineup but his impact was felt the moment he stepped onto the field, and his consistent play-making ability was a bright spot in the game. He is one of those guys who fly around and always end up around the ball. Not only was Thomas BCU’s best defensive performer, he may have been the most impressive defensive player of the night for either team.

2. Caleb Blake also flashed on both special teams and defense. His athleticism and presence on the field were noticeable throughout the night. Blake made plays in space where some other secondary players struggled. He also ran down a USF punt returner from behind saving a certain touchdown. Actually that play was brought back due to a holding penalty but neither Blake or the ball carrier knew that as the play was happening. The transfer graduate student from Missouri State looks to be a player who could contribute significantly as the season progresses. Since we are talking about secondary players making plays in space, shout out to Shawn Russ for also making a couple of big tackles with a lot of grass behind him once he got into the game. 

3. Quarterback Cam Ransom took over the quarterback duties from starter Micah Bowens midway through the 2nd quarter.  Ransom led BCU on its only scoring drive of the contest and he looked rather comfortable running the offense. Ransom, who played high school football not too far from Raymond James Stadium at Seffner Armwood, finished the contest a respectable 12 for 19 through the air.  His ability to move the offense, even in a tough match up, is something for the offense to build on moving forward. 

4. Sophomore wide receiver, Lorenzo Jenkins, led BCU in receiving. The 6’3” Jenkins  hauled in 5 catches for 53 yards in his first official contest for the Wildcats after transferring in from the Pitt Panthers. Jenkins managed to get separation throughout the night and made a pair of tough catches, showing good hands and body control in doing so. 

5. This may seem strange when considering the final scoreline but we think acknowledgement of the defensive front seven is appropriate. Yeah I know, USF had over 200 yards rushing and they scored 48 points. Having said that, the front seven wasn’t getting blown off the ball, there weren’t running lanes the size of the Gulf of Mexico, and members of the front seven often won their individual match ups. The defense was able to get off the field in a few key short yardage and goal to go situations. So while their performance was far from perfect, we saw enough from the front seven to make us feel encouraged about how they can match up against teams at the FCS level. 

In conclusion, the scoreline was harsh but BCU achieved some of the objectives the HailWildcats.com staff was eyeing going into the game. There’s work to be done, but the Wildcats have a foundation to build on as they move into Week Two of the young season.

Next week Mercer University comes to town and we will learn a lot more about the 2024 edition of the Fighting Wildcats at that time. 

2024 Bethune-Cookman Football Preview: A New Era Dawns

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Credits: BCU Athletics

It’s game week Wildcat fans and we are more excited than “a single woman sitting in the front row at an Usher concert”. To say that there is a sense of renewed optimism in Daytona Beach headed into the 2024 season is an understatement. Bethune-Cookman enjoyed a successful offseason bringing in a highly rated recruiting class to go along with key returners from last year’s squad. This, along with several other intriguing storylines, has fans believing the Wildcats can turn things around this season.

A Quick Look Back: The 2023 Season

The 2023 season was one of rebuilding and recalibrating for Bethune-Cookman. Despite flashes of promise, the Wildcats struggled to find consistency, particularly on offense. The team averaged just 18.5 points per game, ranking near the bottom of the SWAC in most offensive categories. Defensively, the unit showed promise but often found itself on the field too long due to the offense’s inability to sustain drives.

Nonetheless, the silver lining came in the form of BCU’s competitiveness and emergence of young talent. One possession losses against Alabama State and Jackson State on the road; and Preseason 2nd Team All -SWAC honors for guys like Dearis Thomas attest to these facts.

A Strong 2024 Recruiting Class

Coach Raymond Woodie and his staff had a heck of an offseason and did an amazing job of upgrading the talent on this roster. The Wildcats secured a top-tier 2024 recruiting class, featuring several players who are expected to contribute right away. One late addition to the squad is that of transfer quarterback Micah Bowens from Oklahoma/Charlotte, who brings a dual-threat skillset with him, and has fans excited about the potential for a more dynamic offense. Other notable additions include the likes of Raymond Woodie III, Orin Patu, Dallaz Corbitt, and Trey Mejia-Paster, all of whom add playmaking ability to a defense that showed flashes of potential last year.

Top 5 Storylines for the 2024 Season

1. Quarterback Play: Who Will Take the Helm?

Bethune-Cookman enters the 2024 season with a crowded quarterback room. Luke Sprague, Walt Simmons, Tylik Bethea, and Cam Ransom all return from last year’s squad. Simmons, however, has switched positions to wide receiver, adding versatility to the offense. The big addition to the QB room is Bowens, a transfer who brings experience from Power 5 programs. The battle for the starting job will be one of the most closely watched through the first four games as BCU tune up for SWAC play. We expect that the job is Luke Sprague’s unless someone else can wrestle it away. Sprague is a capable starter who returns for year two in this offense. Sprague’s 2023 season was derailed and ultimately ended prematurely after sustaining a shoulder injury in the Miami game and then re-aggravating the injury in the Southern game. Whoever wins the job will need to improve upon last year’s offensive struggles but there certainly are options at the QB position this time around.

2. More Offensive Woes 🫣 or New Offensive Whoas 🙌?

The Wildcats’ offense was their Achilles’ heel in 2023. Ranking near the bottom of the SWAC in total yards and points per game, improvement is critical if Bethune-Cookman is to compete this year. The good news is that the offensive line returns four starters, providing stability up front. Additionally, the running back room has been bolstered by transfers Courtney Reese (UNLV) and Cross Patton (Nevada); as well as the return of JoJo Bazil from an early season injury which caused him to miss the bulk of the 2023 campaign. If the line can gel and the running game can take off, it could open up opportunities for the rest of the offense. The bad news is last year’s struggles are still fresh in mind so the offense will need to prove early that it can consistently move the ball and score points to eliminate doubt from creeping in.

3. Newcomers on Offense and Defense: Immediate Impact?

In addition to some of the names mentioned earlier, guys like Surafel Seyfu and Cameron Vaughn will look to strengthen the offensive line. Caleb Blake (Missouri State) and Andrew Volmer (Louisiana Monroe) were starters at the Group of Five level before transferring to BCU and both will look to help fortify the defensive secondary.

Wide receiver is perhaps the position group that is most in need of an emerging star. Quite a few guys showed flashes in Fall Camp, including a couple of true freshmen. However, we still don’t have a good handle on who will emerge as the top pass catcher or playmaker among the receivers.

4. 7 Wins in 3 Years: Could This Year’s Team Match That Total?

BCU has won just seven games over the last three seasons. (Ouch!) However, there’s a growing belief that this year’s squad could perhaps match that win total in one season alone. The combination of returning talent, impact transfers, and a full offseason under the leadership of Coach Woodie gives the Wildcats a realistic shot at a winning season. If the team can stay healthy and the newcomers contribute as expected, the Wildcats could be in for a significant turnaround.

5. New Excitement: A Buzz Around the Program

There’s a renewed excitement around Bethune-Cookman football heading into 2024. From the energy of the new recruits to the potential of a retooled offense, fans have reason to be optimistic. Head coach Raymond Woodie Jr. has emphasized a culture of competition and accountability, and it’s clear that this year’s team has bought in. The Wildcats will have opportunities early in the season to prove they’re a different team from last year. After the season opener against South Florida, BCU hosts Mercer in Daytona Stadium. Mercer not only made the FCS playoffs a season ago; they also won a playoff game. If Cookman can find a way to beat Mercer and prove to themselves that they can win games against quality opponents, the boost in confidence could translate into the type of season that fans have been longing for since joining the SWAC. Two weeks after the Mercer contest, BCU face DII Clark Atlanta before entering conference play against Alabama State. It is not realistic to believe BCU could enter SWAC play at 2-2 on the season.

Conclusion

Simply put, the 2024 Wildcats have the potential to exceed expectations and make a statement in the league. While challenges remain, the pieces are in place for a successful campaign. In a few short days, we will get our first glimpse into what this year’s version of Bethune-Cookman football has in store.

Bethune-Cookman Football: Projected Starters for the 2024 Season

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The 2024 season is fast approaching, and the excitement is palpable among Wildcats fans as we anticipate the resurgence of our beloved football program. While we’re still waiting for the official roster and two-deep depth chart from the university, the HailWildcats.com squad has been hard at work analyzing returning players from last season, Spring football highlights, and Fall camp reports to give you our best projection of who might emerge as the starting 11 on both sides of the ball.

Let’s be extremely clear about this, this list is purely speculative and not an official depth chart. What it is is a glimpse into some of the guys that we expect to make a strong impact on the 2024 season of Wildcat football based on the potential and progression we have observed.

The great news is that we only have a few more short weeks before we all get to see how these talented players, as well as others not named on this list, will step up and make their mark on the field of play.

Offense:

  • Quarterback (QB): Luke Sprague
  • Running Back (RB): Courtney Reese/ JoJo Brazil
  • Wide Receiver (WR-X): Jalen Brown
  • Wide Receiver (WR-Z): Lorenzo Jenkins
  • Wide Receiver (WR-Y): Omari Stewart
  • Left Tackle (LT): Cam Vaughn
  • Left Guard (LG): Surafel Seyfu
  • Center (C): David Poutasi
  • Right Guard (RG): Christopher McAlpin
  • Right Tackle (RT): Trevaris Hammond
  • Tight End (TE): Thomas Nance

Defense:

  • Defensive End (DE): Dallaz Corbitt
  • Defensive Tackle (NT): Adrian Hall
  • Defensive Tackle (DT): Dario Melendez
  • Edge: Orin Patu
  • Linebacker (LB): Dearis Thomas/ Kevin Washington 
  • Linebacker (LB): Trey Paster
  • Cornerback (CB): Andrew Volmer
  • Strong Safety (SS): Joshua Thornhill / Shawn Russ
  • Free Safety (FS): Raymond Woodie III
  • Cornerback (CB): Johnnie Harris
  • Nickle (STAR): Stephen Sparrow

Specialists:

  • Punter: Max Tulen
  • Kicker: Anthony Frédérique
  • Long Snapper: Clayton Thomas
  • Kick Returner: Darnell Deas
  • Punt Returner: Ray Woodie

Stay tuned for updates and let’s get ready to cheer on the Wildcats! 🏈 #AllHail

Wildcats hold first scrimmage

/ J Bell / 1 Comment

What’s up Wildcat Fans. HailWildcats.com is back at it for the 2024 season, and it’s gonna be a great one

Sure, we’ve been quiet lately laying low, taking in all the off-season news, and waiting for the right moment to add our twenty-five cents to the jukebox. Well, consider the quarter inserted. We’re excited to bring you in-depth Wildcats coverage all season long.

To kick things off, here’s a recap of the Wildcats’ first scrimmage, courtesy of Bryan Harvey, BCU’s Assistant Sports Information Director.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Football went 17 periods in blistering heat Friday afternoon as the Wildcats held their first scrimmage of Fall Camp at John L. Bryan Sr. Practice Field.

Second-year head coach Raymond Woodie Jr. watched his team participate in the first live scrimmage of #CatsCamp 2024 with the team working out in temperatures hovering in the low-90s, humidity at 64 percent, and winds out of the south southwest at seven miles per hour.

“Going into year two, it seems like the guys know what to expect,” expressed Woodie afterwards. “You can tell by them coming out executing the way they did today. I saw some good things from the group.”

Offensively, the Wildcats used a trio of quarterbacks getting reps with the first- and second team groups. Luke Sprague had several nice touches of the ball to receivers through the air. Meanwhile, running back Dennis Palmer, a freshman from Jensen Beach, Florida, had several good runs, including a 10-yarder on the right side for a score.

“I’m excited to get in and watch the film because I did see some things on defense that we need to clean up,” continued Woodie. “Defensively, there were some missed tackles. We have to wrap-up. Those are the things we talk about all the time. Technique. Fundamentals. Details.”

Also present for the scrimmage were officials from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). They were able to instruct the players and coaches about rule changes, as well as assisting with down and distance on drives.

“I always want to educate these players about the nuances of what they’re going to face,” stated Woodie. “It’s always good to have SWAC referees around to say what they’re looking for. It just helps the overall knowledge of the game.”

Additionally, on the defensive side of the ball, the defensive backs had several good breaks on the ball through the air. The linebackers were good in pass-rush, getting into the backfield a number of times for quarterback sacks.

“Raymond [Woodie III] is a guy that’s a leader on the defensive side of the ball,” added Woodie. “He speaks, and the defense listens. Also, a guy like Adrian Hall, as he is starting to demand respect with what they say and how they say it – and the team follows.

After the scrimmage, Woodie talked about the biggest improvements he has seen from the beginning of fall camp last week to the first scrimmage on Friday afternoon.

“It’s just doing the little things right,” remarked Woodie. “With these guys, it’s all about discipline. We don’t have any off-the-field distractions, and that’s a big step. If you do the little things right off the field, then the bigger things on the field will come natural to you.”

Credits: BCU Athletics
Credits: BCU Athletics

Bethune-Cookman Recruiting Roundup

/ J Bell / Leave a comment

National Signing Day 2024 is right around the corner, and you would be hard-pressed to find another HBCU program that’s riding a higher wave in recruiting than the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats are at this moment.

Credits: BCU Athletics

It’s quite amazing when you consider that at this time last year, BCU was the only Division One program in the country who entered National Signing Day without a head coach in place. One full rotation around the sun and Head Coach Raymond Woodie is absolutely crushing it with his first recruiting class.

Coach Woodie has addressed every checkbox on a recruiter’s wish list – from injecting speed into the squad to locking up players with significant size, college playing experience, and winning high school pedigrees. The Wildcats have successfully landed talented players from the transfer portal, JUCO, and high school ranks, some of whom boast impressive star ratings for those who appreciate such metrics. On top of this, Coach Woodie and staff have done an amazing job of recruiting their current roster and have had very few key players from last year’s squad jump in the portal.

Ahead of National Signing Day, let’s take a closer look at the promising 2024 recruiting class. The list below is unofficial and based on information gathered from various official and unofficial sources.

The Wildcats are expected to land 28 new arrivals on Signing Day – 14 Transfer/JUCO players and 14 high schoolers. 14 of the new additions also hold star ratings from national recruiting services – 4-four stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, 7-three stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️, and 3-two stars ⭐️⭐️.

The positional breakdown is as follows: thirteen (13) defensive players (6 defensive backs, 5 defensive linemen/edge, 2 linebackers); and fifteen (15) offensive players (8 offensive linemen, 1 quarterback, 3 running backs, 3 wide receivers).  

Bethune-Cookman 2024 Signing Class
Transfer Portal (10)PositionSchoolRating
Raymond Woodie IIIDBCalifornia⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shawn RussDBArizona State⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Terrance AlexanderDBJacksonville State
Dallaz CorbittDLUCF⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thomas NanceDLUSF⭐️⭐️⭐️
Orin PatuEdgeArizona⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trey PasterLBColorado State⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lorenzo JenkinsWRPittsburg⭐️⭐️
Maleek HugginsWRGardner-Webb
Courtney ReeseRBUNLV⭐️⭐️⭐️
JUCO (4)
Surafel SeyfuOLContra Costa CC
Isaiah MaumaiangaOLEllsworth⭐️⭐️
Dario MelendezDLMyrtle Beach⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kevin WashingtonLBFresno City College⭐️⭐️
High School (14)
Nahseem DeasQBLincoln (Queens, NY)
Jaylen BookerOLTrinity Christian
Melvin PuckettOLMonarch
Truth MoodyOLSpruce Creek
William Roberts IIIOLSt. Thomas Aquinas⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vernon ClarkeOLNorland
Tremayne CarsonOLNorthwestern
Kenny JacksonWRMission Oaks, CA⭐️⭐️⭐️
Juan RodriguezRBNorland
Alvin JohnsonRBVenice
Cornelious BassEdgeEdgewater
Gabriel CashDBNorland
Jayden CummingsDBHillsborough
Matthew McKenzieDBBenjamin School⭐️⭐️⭐️

Immediate Impact Signees

Here is our best guess at the guys who will have the greatest opportunity to see the field next year.

Defensive Backs

The Wildcats graduate three of their starting defensive backs from a season ago leaving a huge hole on the backend of their defense. The most glaring loss is that of 3-time All-SWAC First Team cornerback, Omari Hill-Robinson. We expect Ray Woodie III, Shawn Russ, and Terrance Alexander to compete for playing time immediately in the secondary. Woodie, as I am sure you know, is the son of the head coach bearing the same name. The 6’0”, 200-pound safety transfers to BCU from Cal-Berkley. Woodie was a 4-star recruit out of high school and originally signed with Florida State and has made starts for both the Seminoles and Cal Bears. Woodie has proven to be both an active run defender and viable in pass defense in his 44 collegiate games played.

Shawn Russ transfers in from Arizona State after one year with the Sun Devils. While he doesn’t have as many collegiate snaps as Ray Woodie, his upside is tremendous. Russ is another 4-star addition to BCU’s defense and was one of the top defensive players in the State of Florida as a prep player at Dunbar High School. He checks all of the boxes athletically and can be a big playmaker much like the aforementioned Omari Hill-Robinson.

Joshua Thornhill, Nick Rawls II, Johnny Harris III, and Steven Sparrow return to bolster the BCU secondary, and all have started in multiple contests for BCU. Add Anthony Alonzo into the mix as a returning player who showed promise last season.

Matthew McKenzie from The Benjamin School in Palm Beach Gardens is 6’3”, 200 pounds and can play corner and safety. His size and athleticism will allow him to compete physically from day one. Rather he finds his way onto the field as a freshman is yet to be seen but the lack of physicality won’t be an issue in that decision.

Linebackers

Dearis Thomas was the leading tackler on the squad last year and was flanked by Shelton Quarles Jr. at the other linebacker position in Robert Wimberly’s 4-2-5 scheme. Both Thomas and Quarles return this season and will be joined at the position by new arrivals Trey Paster from Colorado State and Kevin Washington Jr. from Fresno City College. Paster and Washington add much needed size to the linebacker core for Bethune; yet both have shown on film they are athletic enough to make plays in space. Both Paster and Washington play violently, and we mean that in the best football way possible.

Defensive Line

The defensive line was objectively BCU’s best positional group on either side of the ball in 2023; yet it is highly possible that that unit may be even better in the 2024 campaign. Amarie Jones, Adrian Hall, Ejike Brown, Ebenezer Dibula, Jeffson Lafontant, Payton Doucet, and Jeremy Graves all return along the defensive front. Four-star Edge defenders Orin Patu (Arizona) and Dallaz Corbitt (UCF); along with three-star defensive lineman Dario Melendez will look to elevate and already stout defensive front. Melendez is a “twitchy” interior lineman who possess the skillsets you look for in a 3 technique. Patu and Corbitt are explosive Edge players with the requisite athleticism to run down backs and quarterbacks.

Running Back/Receivers

Explosive plays were scarce to nonexistent for Bethune last season, and as a result, the Wildcats ranked near the bottom of the SWAC in most significant offensive categories. The good news is BCU return 4 starting offensive linemen as well as their top 4 signal callers.

Maleek Huggins transfers in from Gardner-Webb and immediately provides BCU with a big play option. Huggins is a legitimate 4.4 guy and can stretch the field vertically or take a dump off, make a guy miss, and flip the field for you. Courtney Reese is a similar type option at the running back position. Reese, a three-star transfer from UNLV, demonstrated his big play ability when he rushed for 142 yards on 11 carries against Notre Dame in 2022. One of Reese carries was a 74-yard burst that setup the Running Rebels first score against the Fighting Irish.

Kenny Jackson is another incoming freshman who was highly recruited and possess the physical qualities necessary to compete for snaps immediately. Jackson is a 6-foot, 190 pound three-star athlete  who holds offers from San Jose State and Fresno State. When you put his game film on, you can’t help but think of Deebo Samuels. No, we are not saying Jackson will be a NFL Pro Bowler, however, his size and playing style are very reminiscent of the 49er’s superstar.

Offensive Line/Quarterback

As mentioned earlier, Bethune returns 4 starters along the offensive line and its top 4 quarterbacks from a season ago. This year’s signing class seems to focus on building depth at the offensive line position and securing their quarterback for the future in Nahseem Deas.

Deas picked up All-State honors in the State of New York and chose BCU over several MAC schools including Bowling Green and Toledo.

Isaiah Maumaianga and Surafel Seyfu join the Wildcats from the JUCO ranks and have the best chance of making an immediate impact in the trenches.

Did we miss someone? Are you eyeing another potential immediate impact guy? Are you still unsure about this signing class? We would love to hear from you. Feel free to contact us via our socials. You are also welcome to join us on @HailWildcat Spaces this upcoming Monday night, February 5th at 7:30pm to discuss this year’s signing class in more detail.

Hail Wildcats!

Sorted by Position
NamePositionSchoolRating
Raymond Woodie IIIDBCalifornia⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shawn RussDBArizona State⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Terrance AlexanderDBJacksonville State
Gabriel CashDBNorland
Jayden CummingsDBHillsborough
Matthew McKenzieDBBenjamin School⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dallaz CorbittDLUCF⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thomas NanceDLUSF⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dario MelendezDLMyrtle Beach⭐️⭐️⭐️
Orin PatuEdgeArizona⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cornelious BassEdgeEdgewater
Trey PasterLBColorado State⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kevin WashingtonLBFresno City College⭐️⭐️
Surafel SeyfuOLContra Costa CC
Isaiah MaumaiangaOLEllsworth⭐️⭐️
Jaylen BookerOLTrinity Christian
Melvin PuckettOLMonarch
Truth MoodyOLSpruce Creek
William Roberts IIIOLSt. Thomas Aquinas⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vernon ClarkeOLNorland
Tremayne CarsonOLNorthwestern
Nahseem DeasQBLincoln (Queens, NY)
Courtney ReeseRBUNLV⭐️⭐️⭐️
Juan RodriguezRBNorland
Alvin JohnsonRBVenice
Lorenzo JenkinsWRPittsburg⭐️⭐️
Maleek HugginsWRGardner-Webb
Kenny JacksonWRMission Oaks, CA⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sorted by Star Rating
NamePositionSchoolRating
Raymond Woodie IIIDBCalifornia⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shawn RussDBArizona State⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dallaz CorbittDLUCF⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Orin PatuEdgeArizona⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Matthew McKenzieDBBenjamin School⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thomas NanceDLUSF⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dario MelendezDLMyrtle Beach⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trey PasterLBColorado State⭐️⭐️⭐️
William Roberts IIIOLSt. Thomas Aquinas⭐️⭐️⭐️
Courtney ReeseRBUNLV⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kenny JacksonWRMission Oaks, CA⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kevin WashingtonLBFresno City College⭐️⭐️
Isaiah MaumaiangaOLEllsworth⭐️⭐️
Lorenzo JenkinsWRPittsburg⭐️⭐️
Terrance AlexanderDBJacksonville State
Gabriel CashDBNorland
Jayden CummingsDBHillsborough
Cornelious BassEdgeEdgewater
Surafel SeyfuOLContra Costa CC
Jaylen BookerOLTrinity Christian
Melvin PuckettOLMonarch
Truth MoodyOLSpruce Creek
Vernon ClarkeOLNorland
Tremayne CarsonOLNorthwestern
Nahseem DeasQBLincoln (Queens, NY)
Juan RodriguezRBNorland
Alvin JohnsonRBVenice
Maleek HugginsWRGardner-Webb

Bethune-Cookman’s Rocky Start in SWAC Play and the Upcoming Homecoming Clash

/ J Bell / Leave a comment

Bethune-Cookman is off to a slow start in conference play, and if you listen closely, you can already hear the troubling winds of murmuring and doubt beginning to blow among the Wildcat faithful. The goal for Coach Raymond Woodie and his staff is to find a way to secure a win at this week’s homecoming clash against Texas Southern and help prevent that doubt from creeping into his football team.

Photo by David Campbell/Alabama State University

There were high hopes for this program at the onset of the season. Coach Woodie brought with him an enthusiasm this program has been missing for years. Along with him came over 50 new players, a brand new coaching staff, and the promise of a return to BCU’s winning ways. Yet the Wildcats find themselves in a challenging spot, having begun conference play 0-2. 

The first blow came from Jackson State on the road, where despite a strong defensive performance and a chance to get the ball back and take the lead in the waning moments of the contest, the Wildcats failed to make the plays necessary to win and succumbed 22-16 to the reigning conference champs.

Their subsequent game against Alabama State in Montgomery was a rinse and repeat of the JSU game. BCU had the ball first and goal from the 10 yard line and trailed by just 5 points with under 2:00 left in the game. Yet again, the Wildcats could not find the right ingredients to close out the game and fell 14-19 to the Hornets.

So here we are; scratching our heads and wondering “is this last year, again”? Are the Wildcats destined for another historically bad season? Is the rebuilding process still on track and did someone put a “Color Purple”, Ms. Ceile curse on the Wildcats due to all the negativity surrounding the university?

Whatever is going on right now, the product on the gridiron needs some immediate attention. A win this weekend for the Wildcats, in front of a homecoming crowd, keeps the rebuild on schedule and cools the feelings of discontentment.  A loss this weekend and…well let’s just say BCU will have BIG PROBLEMS. 

BCU’s Defensive Dominance

One thing that cannot be denied is BCU’s formidable defense. The Wildcats rank first in pass defense, giving up just 146 yards per game against conference opponents. They are also  limiting SWAC opponents to just 20.5 points a game. The stout defensive performances have kept BCU competitive in every conference game they’ve played. Linebacker Dearis Thomas leads the team in tackles (43) and tackles for loss (7).

Offensive Struggles

On the flip side, the offense has been a sore point. In last week’s contest against ASU, Bethune managed to pass for a measly 75 yards and were held to a pedestrian 198 yards of total offense. In the game prior, BCU passed the ball a little better gaining 176 yards through the air but only managed 58 rushing yards against JSU’s defense. 

The Wildcat offense simply has not been good enough to win games at this level. Period. There is no way to sugarcoat it.

Injuries haven’t helped the cause on offense. Starting running back, Jouvensly Bazil, went down midway through the first half against JSU and the Wildcats are depleted along the offensive line. But the biggest blow has come at the quarterback position, the pivotal role for any football team’s offensive success.

QB1, Luke Sprauge, and QB2, Talik Bethea, both suffered shoulder injuries in the Miami game and neither has taken a snap against SWAC opponents this season. The injuries have forced the Wildcats to go with third string quarterback Walter Simmons. Most teams in the country struggle playing with their 3rd string QB and the Wildcats are no different. Bethune’s offense has struggled through the injuries and rank last in passing offense, last in offensive efficiency, last in first downs gained, last in 3rd down conversions and next to last in total offense. 

Yikes!

Perhaps the question we hear most murmured from Wildcat fans is “when is Luke returning?” There is a strong feeling among the Wildcat faithful that Bethune would be 2-0 in SWAC play if they had the full service of starting quarterback Luke Sprauge. We think so too but we don’t know that for sure. We also do not know when Luke will return. Therefore the onus is on offensive coordinator, Joe Gerbino, to come up with a scheme that fits the  personnel he has at his disposal.

For as much as BCU’s offense has struggled with Simmons at QB, I do not place all of the blame at Simmons’ feet. Coach Gerbino has to do a better job of tailoring the offense to match his quarterback’s skillset. Simmons’ running ability is his strength. Asking him to read the entire field and go through 4 or 5 progressions just isn’t his game. Trying to force Simmons to run that type of offense is more of a failure of the offensive coaching staff than it is the player. 

I know coaches tend to get very defensive when fans, journalists, and bloggers report on what’s not working; but you don’t need a bunch of talking heads to state the obvious. Just check the results and stats for all the proof you need. BCU ranks at the bottom of the league in virtually every offensive category. Gerbino has to either tailor his offense to the guy that is available to him under center; or put someone else out there who can operate this offense more efficiently.  

The Road Ahead

A win is crucial to keep Coach Woodie’s rebuild project on the right trajectory. And look at what the Lord ordered up for the Wildcats; a Texas Southern team who are also struggling this season. TSU is without their All-Conference quarterback Andrew Body. The Tigers have been as bad on defense as the Wildcats have been on offense. Like BCU, TSU has failed to win close games against conference opponents and secured their lone win of the season against a Division 2 foe. 

If there were ever a perfect opponent for a get right game, this is it. The problem is, both teams are thanking Jesus for this gift and think they have found the perfect opponent to get things back on track.

Cookman has the fortune of playing this game in front of a homecoming crowd. A win on homecoming can rally the fans and players and restore belief in the direction of the team. A loss would stir the already troubled waters and cast shadows over the future of the program.

The time for excuses is over, Wildcats. It’s time to get it done. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00pm. The game can also be viewed on HBCUGo.

Hail Wildcats!

Wildcats Clash with Tigers in SWAC Opener

/ J Bell / Leave a comment
Credits: BCU Athletics

Saturday’s SWAC East clash between Bethune-Cookman and Jackson State presents an interesting narrative. The two teams share numerous off-field storylines this season but the expectations of the two programs are drastically different.

BCU and JSU are currently under the leadership of first-time head coaches, both of whom are proud alums and former players of their respective universities. The Wildcats and Tigers are adapting to new offensive and defensive coordinators, integrating new quarterbacks, and assimilating an influx of over 50 new players into their systems.

Adding to the parallels, both suffered one sided 40+ point losses to FBS adversaries just last week and both were recently led by NFL hall of famers, albeit not in an official capacity in BCU’s case. 

Jackson State has a pretty good idea of their identity under their revamped management. The Tigers have already played three games against FCS opponents this season going 2-1 in that span. In contrast, Saturday’s matchup will be the first time the Wildcats face a FCS adversary this season and the first real glimpse into what type of team BCU will be in year one of the Raymond Woodie regime.

It won’t be easy for the Wildcats as their starting lineup heading into Veterans Memorial Stadium has been dealt a blow. Starting quarterback, Luke Sprague, sustained a shoulder injury in the first series of the game against Miami last week and will be unavailable against JSU. Sprauge sports an impressive 76% completion rate, 2 touchdowns, and zero interceptions this season. Additionally, backup QB Talik Bethea, injured in the same game, will likely be a minimal presence at best against JSU. This thrusts Walter Simmons into the spotlight as Bethune’s projected primary quarterback.

Bethune-Cookman cannot allow themselves to wallow in self-pity though. As Dan Hawkins once famously put it, “it’s Division I Football,” and injuries, unfortunately, are part and parcel of the sport.

Keys to victory for the Wildcats

If BCU want to leave Mssissippi’s capital city with a win, they must a) establish the line of scrimmage, b) not turn the ball over, and c) get guys on the ground..

Block. Protect the football. Tackle. It’s Football 101.

Simmons only has three collegiate starts under his belt and has not yet demonstrated that he can win a game on his own. The offensive line will need to help Simmons by establishing the line of scrimmage in the run game and keeping him upright in the passing game.

Despite his inexperience, it is worth noting that Simmons orchestrated Bethune’s only scoring drive against UM last week.

Running back Jouvensly Bazil, the transfer from Washington State, has displayed flashes of what he can be with the ball in his hands. Bazil scored on his first two touches in the matchup against Savannah State and hauled in an explosive 40 yard reception against the Hurricanes. I look for BCU to attempt to establish Bazil early against JSU in his SWAC debut.

The Wildcat defense is talented but youthful. The offense needs to follow that old football adage of ending every drive in a kick —be it an extra point, field goal, or punt—to prevent putting their defense in challenging positions.

Speaking of defense, defensive coordinator Robert Wimberly has rolled out a bend but don’t break approach with this unit early in the season. It’s not the typical vanilla “bend but don’t break” model, but rather a modification that allows the defense to pressure opposing offenses with three and four man fronts, but still limit big plays by playing zone and off coverage behind the pressure. The key to this approach is to tackle ball carriers when you get to them and limit yards after contact.

What would a victory mean for BCU

We posed this question to BCU Hall of Famer and longtime radio voice, Larry “The Professor” Wesley on Thursday night’s Hail Wildcats Gridiron Radio Show. Wesley, a historian of all things Wildcats athletics, stated a win this weekend would be similar to the 2010 triumph over Buddy Pough’s SCSU Bulldogs in Orangeburg.

If you recall, that win occurred in Brian Jenkins’ first season and the Bulldogs were the defending conference champions at the time. That 2010 victory was an announcement to the HBCU world that the Wildcats were indeed back after a subpar season the year prior. BCU finished that season with a share of the conference crown.

Will history repeat itself? We will find out on Saturday night at 7:00pm EST. Tune in to ESPN+ to catch the contest. You can also follow along with HailWildcats.com on the app formerly known as Twitter as we will be in the house, as always, rooting on the Wildcats.