NORFOLK — Talking season officially began in the MEAC on Tuesday with the conference’s annual media day.
Representatives from all six teams in the conference — including Norfolk State head coach Dawson Odums and tight end Ikeem Wright and defensive back Devon Allen — all gathered to meet with the media and discuss their outlooks on the 2024 football season.
The Spartans finished 3-8 last season, but Odums believes his team is in the right spot after a good spring and summer.
“It went well,” Odums said of Norfolk State’s summer workouts. “Guys got a chance to come in and bond together. We got ahead with install and it makes it kind easier for us that we got a lot of guys that have played coming back. We thought we picked up right where we left off from spring football. (We’re) just gelling as a team and really working on what is it going to take for us to be successful and just trying to hone in on that over the summer.”
After Norfolk State’s spring game in March, Odums said he felt the Spartans were “just a couple guys away” from being in a spot where they could have lots of success. Ahead of fall camp, which opens Wednesday, Odums feels his roster is “on the right path”.
“We’re still trying to put this puzzle together,” Odums said. “ … If we can keep guys in our locker room together and we can develop, I think that’s the calling card of what I bring to college football and what my history and my legacy has been about — is developing players. It takes time to develop. We’ve been blessed, we’ve kept a lot of our guys and we’ve went through some things together. Now I think guys can draw from those experiences and I think that’s what’s gonna propel us going forward.”
The Spartans were picked to finish fifth in the MEAC preseason poll for the second year in a row on Tuesday. Odums, along with both Wright and Allen, all said they don’t read too much into the preseason polls.
“It’s challenging, a little bit, but it’s just extra motivation honestly,” Allen said.
Allen last season landed on the All-MEAC second team and was one of the highest-rated FCS corners in the country by Pro Football Focus. The Ocean Lakes High product entered the transfer portal in December but ultimately decided to return to Norfolk State and went through all of spring practice and summer workout with the Spartans.
“It feels good to be here to finish what I started,” Allen said. “So it feels good to be back with my brothers.”
Norfolk State had 12 different players named to the Preseason All-MEAC reams on Tuesday. Quarterback Otto Kuhns, defensive lineman Keshawn Lynch, linebacker AJ Richardson and defensive back Terron Mallory were all first-team picks.
Heading into fall camp Wright feels like there’s plenty of momentum to be carried from spring ball and fall camp for Norfolk State.
“I think we can dominate on both sides of the ball,” Wright said.
Both Allen and Wright are excited to put the pads back on with Norfolk State’s first game of the year just over a month away.
“I’m really excited to get back to football,” Allen said. “Everybody is ready to get back.”
MEAC preseason poll (first place votes)
1. North Carolina Central (4)
2. Howard (4)
3. Morgan State (1)
4. South Carolina State (2)
5. Norfolk State (1)
MEAC Preseason Players of the Year
Offensive Player of the Year: Jarett Hunter, Howard
Defensive Player of the Year: Kenny Gallop, Jr., Howard
Norfolk State’s All-MEAC selections
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QB Otto Kuhns, First Team Offense
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DL Keshawn Lynch, First Team Defense
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LB AJ Richardson, First Team Defense
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DB Terron Mallory, First Team Defense
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RB Kevon King, Second Team Offense
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C Garrison Wheatley, Second Team Offense
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OL Vincent Byrd Jr., Second Team Offense
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OL Samuel Eskridge, Second Team Offense
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LB Daylan Long, Second Team Defense
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P Noah Tracey, Second Team Defense
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PK Grandin Willcox, Second Team Defense
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RS Jaylen White, Second Team Defense
Michael Sauls, michael.sauls@virginiamedia.com, (757) 803-5774
Virginian Pilot
