2022 North Carolina A&T football season preview

2021 season: 5-6, 3-4 within the Huge South (third within the Huge South)

Head coach: Sam Washington (fifth season)

As soon as once more, it is going to be a season of transition for North Carolina A&T in 2022. After only one fall season within the Huge South following a transfer from the MEAC, the Aggies are on the transfer once more, this time to the Colonial Athletic Affiliation. Earlier than then, although, head coach Sam Washington’s workforce has one final probability to make some noise within the convention, and it appears poised to do exactly that.

Final 12 months was not the perfect for the Aggies, who posted their first dropping file since 2011 in a international setting. Their pretty even mark in convention play was good for third place, nonetheless. Now, one other 12 months faraway from its spring season cancellation in 2020-21 and certain a bit extra at dwelling within the Huge South, North Carolina A&T ought to be ready to contend for a title.

With undefeated reigning champion Kennesaw State off to the Atlantic Solar Convention, there’s a energy void atop the convention, and the Aggies ought to be a part of Bryant and Campbell in vying to fill it. A giant a part of whether or not they are going to achieve doing so is the play of redshirt senior quarterback Jalen Fowler. The 6-foot-3 Fowler stepped into the beginning position for the primary time in 2021 and confirmed glimpses, racking up a powerful 7.8 yards per completion, with out ever breaking out. He stays an thrilling prospect, however North Carolina A&T will want higher than a 5-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio to rise to the highest.

Fortunately for the Aggies, they’ve a defensive tandem to lean upon in junior linebacker Jacob Roberts and redshirt senior defensive finish Jermaine McDaniel Jr. Roberts got here into his personal as a sophomore, beginning 10 video games and amassing a team-leading 84 tackles. In the meantime, McDaniel offers North Carolina A&T one thing that only a few groups have in a move rusher that have to be accounted for on the sting. With these two main the way in which, the Aggies—who fielded the convention’s third-best scoring protection—ought to solely develop into a stronger problem for opposing offenses.

By way of scheduling, the Aggies have one Energy 5 matchup schedule at in-state foe Duke. Past that, it’s one final Huge South gauntlet for North Carolina A&T earlier than transferring on as soon as once more.