DeSean Jackson, Hornets relish chance to be better as MEAC football begins

Delaware State has already shown considerable improvement on the football field under new coach DeSean Jackson, the former NFL standout.

Starting this week, the true measure of the Hornets’ progress can be charted.

DSU (4-3) plays the first of its five Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference games that will close the season.

And it’s a tough one, as Oct. 25 foe North Carolina Central won 27 games the last three years. The Eagles are 4-2 this season and have won five straight over DSU, including 52-10 last year.

But this is not the same DSU team, as Jackson’s hiring and his hustle have allowed the Hornets to build a deeper, better roster of players who’ve benefitted from the coaching staff’s direction.

“When we do things good, we gotta do them better,” Jackson said. “When we do things great, we gotta do them greater.”

Kickoff is at 1 p.m. at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, where the Eagles will be celebrating homecoming.

“Delaware State has improved,” said NCCU coach Trey Oliver. “That makes the whole conference better . . . And I think that they’re a very well-coached football team. He’s done a great job putting a staff together and I’ve been impressed with them.”  

These are six ways the Hornets can compete for their first MEAC title since 2007 when they begin league play.

Keep pounding the football

Delaware State is by far the leading rushing team nationally in FCS, averaging 327 yards per game, more than 60 yards ahead of anyone.

Two of the Hornets’ four wins have come against Division II schools, including the record-smashing romp over Southern Connecticut State Oct. 11. But they’ve run the football well against everybody, including getting 200 yards against FBS Delaware, which has only allowed more than that once in six games.

“This is probably the most efficient running team I’ve seen in my coaching career,” Oliver said. “They’re averaging over seven yards a carry. That’s almost a first down every time they run the ball.”  

 Milford High grad Marquis Gillis is 11^th nationally with 105.9 yards per game and James Jones is 18^th with 91.3. Jayden Jenkins (8.4 yards per carry) and Kobe Boykin (9.1) give the Hornets other potential breakaway threats, and Kaiden Bennett is the leading rusher among MEAC quarterbacks.

This is a hard offense to stop, and has benefitted from stellar play up front that should actually improve as players return from injuries.

But Jackson feels the run game can be better.

“We feel like we’re leaving stuff on the table,” said Jackson, adding that missed reads are among areas where DSU could improve.

Improve the passing game

DSU has the fewest pass completions in the league and just a 56.5 completion percentage.

Certainly, the run game’s effectiveness means less need for the passing game.

 But because opposing defenses have to bear down so much to thwart that vaunted running attack, it should create opportunities that the Hornets and proven quarterback Bennett need to take better advantage of.

Defend the pass better

DSU has allowed a MEAC high 277.6 passing yards per game. While the Hornets also have by far the most passes against, the 66.3 completion percentage of opposing quarterbacks is way too high.

That’s not just a back-end issue. The Hornets have just 12 sacks on the year, so better pressure on the quarterback would translate to better coverage deep.

MEAC STANDINGS: Conference play set to start

Keep doing this

DSU has been better defensively in the red zone than any MEAC team, limiting foes to 16 touchdowns and three field goals on 28 trips inside the 20. That has included the Hornets getting four takeaways.

Playing that well all over the field would be beneficial.

Cut down on penalties

Jackson recognized and mentioned early that his team sometimes lacks discipline and it carries over onto the field.

Sure enough, DelState has committed more penalties (72) than any FCS school except Merrimack but its 678 yards penalized are the most nationally.

“We’ve stressed that all year,” he said. “I think in the beginning of the year we dealt with it a little more. We’ve cleaned it up a lot.”

Embrace the opportunity

Delaware State has never played in the Celebration Bowl, which has matched the champions of the MEAC and SWAC – the two Division I leagues made up of Historically Black Colleges and Universities – since 2015.

The game has become a cultural phenomenon and cherished competitive target, with crowds of roughly 40,000 packing Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The Hornets have been greatly motivated by the lack of preseason appreciation they received, though being picked last in the MEAC wasn’t a surprise after back-to-back winless league seasons.

DSU is better than it’s been and the league appears potentially balanced enough for the Hornets to dream big.  

Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and our DE Game Day newsletter.