WASHINGTON (March 27, 2023) - Howard University football team finished its first week of spring drills Saturday (March 25) under different circumstances than what head coach Larry Scott and his staff were faced with a year ago.
 
Last year, the Bison had to get players accustomed to a different way of doing things. A year later, Howard's spring opener got off to a much faster start as the Bison wasted little time getting back into a rhythm on the practice field.
 
Scott is very pleased with how the team is looking so far.
 
"I'm very proud of how the team performed this week," Scott said. "I am looking forward to accomplishing our goal of making it to the Celebration Bowl."
 
Howard lost just two starters from a squad that posted a 4-1 mark in MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) play and won a share of the MEAC Championship with North Carolina Central. The Bison capped its second full year under Scott with a 35-6 win at Morgan State (Nov. 19, 2022).
 
The team is pleased to welcome back their three-year starting quarterback, Quinton Williams (Upper Marlboro, Md.), as well as celebrate the All-Americans they have on defense.
 
"I am excited to have switched Ray Williams from safety to corner," Scott added.
 
He feels this is the switch the team needs to give them a defensive edge on the field.
 
In addition to some of the personnel changes, the team has also welcomed two new coaches: Arthur Ray, offensive lineman coach, and Greg McGhee, quarterback coach.
 
Lindsey Lamar was recently promoted to offensive coordinator after serving as wide receiver coach since 2020.
 
"I saw a positive response from the guys," said Director of Football Operations David Davis. "I'm excited about the upcoming week with the first scrimmage on April 1. The guys are eager and it's been a great start to quarter two overall."
 
Howard will use the spring to continue to grow and develop the roster, both physically and mentally.
 
"We are bigger, stronger, faster and more focused than this time last year," Davis said. "Our strength and conditioning coach, Lucas Lopez, did a phenomenal job with our guys this offseason."
 
All-in-all, Scott said the theme of the first week of practice is consistency.
 
He gives the team a B+ to start but says there is always room for growth. He is confident they can get to A+ with the proper practice, focus and dedication by the end of spring ball.
 
"It's really a progression of what we do every day," Scott said of spring practice. "The progression of what we do every day is building on the things that go to being successful. I thought they did a really good job last week."
 
BISON NOTES
 
The Bison return 20 starters from last year's championship team, which delivered Howard's first MEAC championship since 1993 and third in school history…Howard had the second-highest graded HBCU special teams in 2022, behind Jackson State…Quarterbacks coach Greg McGhee was a four-year starter for the Bison and was named the 2014 MEAC Offensive Player of the Year…Howard returns to the practice field Monday (March 27) and will also practice Wednesday (March 29) and Friday (March 31) before hosting the HU Coaches Clinic and first scrimmage this weekend.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.