Norfolk State Gives Roster A Virginia Feel
HARRISONBURG — In the first three weeks of the upcoming college football season, Norfolk State will take on three opponents from the state of Virginia – Division II Virginia State, William & Mary and James Madison.
Over the last three years since taking over as Norfolk State coach, Latrell Scott has revamped his program by infusing his roster with Virginia natives.
When Scott and his Spartans come to Harrisonburg on Sept. 16 for a 3:30 p.m. showdown with defending FCS champion JMU, the game could serve as an important tool in recruiting, he said.
Norfolk State finished 4-7 in 2016.
“We want to play tough competition that’s local and I think it’s a great football game for all of us that are involved,” Scott said. “Those are the types of games we want to play. It makes sense for us and it makes sense for the state of Virginia.”
Before he became Norfolk State’s coach and between his stints as coach at Richmond (2010) and coach at Virginia State (2013-14), Scott was the tight ends coach at JMU under former coach Mickey Matthews.
In all his most recent stops, he said he’s learned the importance of leaning on a strong in-state recruiting base.
“We wanted to, and we want to continue to, build our roster with Virginia kids because we feel that way about the caliber of football in the state, and it just makes sense for us to do it that way,” Scott said.
As for Scott’s squad that will invade Bridgeforth Stadium in September, he said he’s hoping his team will show growth from his first two seasons at the school.
Though the Spartans finished three games under .500 last fall, they won three of their last four, knocking off Morgan State, South Carolina State and Hampton.
Scott said there are only eight players on the roster that his staff didn’t recruit, so Norfolk State is young.
“When you look back at last year, we lost three conference games by an average of about six points, and if you win those games, it kind of changes your season,” Scott said. “I really do believe we have a group of kids who understand the possibilities and now are putting the work in. I think we can kind of control what our possibilities are now.”
The Spartans will have a new quarterback behind center in the fall as 2016 starter Greg Hankerson has graduated. Scott said freshman Tripp Harrington, sophomore Tyre Givers-Wilson and freshman Juwan Carter all will compete for the job during August training camp. Carter begins his Norfolk State career after starring at Highland Springs High School in Richmond, where he was the 5A state player of the year.
Aside from a new signal-caller, the offensive line returns four of its five starters from last year. Norfolk State’s top two receivers are back and so is running back Quintreil Chung.
The offense averaged 280.5 yards and 15.82 points per game last year.
“It’s a group that is battle tested and hopefully through experience and maturation, the wins will come,” Scott said.
On defense, Scott said he’s excited about bringing back the unit’s best player – senior defensive lineman Chris Lee. At 6-foot-3, 280 pounds, Lee was the team’s leader in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (13) last year.
North Carolina State transfer nose guard Deshaywn Middleton started six games for Norfolk State last season and has improved, Scott said. Between Lee, Middleton and redshirt sophomore defensive end Nigel Chavis, who had 55 tackles in 2016, the Spartans consider their front to be a strength.
Last week the school announced the addition of another N.C. State transfer, cornerback J.J. Givens. Givens will be immediately eligible.
“I’m optimistic about our ability to turn the corner,” Scott said. “And when you play people like James Madison, you’ll definitely have the opportunity to know pretty early in the season how good you’ll have a chance to be.”