WASHINGTON (October 18, 2024) – Howard University football team squares off against the Tennessee State (TSU) Tigers for the 100^th edition of HU Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m., at Greene Stadium.
 
GAME INFO
 
GAME 7
Tennessee State (Tigers) vs Howard (Bison)
Saturday, October 19, 2024
3:30 p.m.
William H. Green Memorial Stadium (7,500)
Washington, D.C.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
TENNESSEE STATE
 
Tennessee State (5-2) is coming off a 41-7 win over Eastern Illinois Saturday (Oct. 5) for its third straight win. TSU piled up 435 yards of totals on offense while recording eight tackles for loss and two sacks in the win.
 
HOWARD
 
Howard (3-3) comes into the game with a 21-14 win over Sacred Heart (SHU) last weekend (Oct. 5). The Bison used a strong second half of defense to hold off SHU, limiting them to a total of 68 second half yards of total offense en route to posting a shutout in the final two quarters.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
 
WATCH: ESPN+ | Lynnell Willingham (Color Analyst) & Melissa Kim (Play-by-Play)
LISTEN: WHBC | Trevin A. Jones (Play-by-Play), Nathaniel Henry (Color Analyst) & Sareyah Rudd (Sideline Reporter)
IN-GAME: LIVE RESULTS
 
THE SERIES
 
This is the second meeting between the two schools. TSU blanked the Bison, 45-0 in the Circle City Classic in Indianapolis (2001).
 
THE COACHES
 
TSU is coached by former NFL standout running back and Heisman Trophy Winner Eddie George (Ohio State, '95), who is in his fourth season at the helm. Howard is coached by Larry Scott (USF, '00) who is in his fifth season.
 
WHAT THE COACHES ARE SAYING
 
LARRY SCOTT
 
"It is an exciting time with a big-time opponent coming in and It is important that we narrow out focus because it is truly a balancing act. We need to be where our feet are in meetings, practice while executing our assignments with the understanding that homecoming is built around the football game. Tennessee State is a good team and well coached. They do a good job schematical on both sides of the ball."
 
ON BOOGIE TROTTER
 
"Boogie is really active and he can cover. He is always around the ball and has the ability to impact the game."
 
KEY PLAYERS
 
SCOUTING TENNESSEE STATE
 
The offense is led by graduate quarterback Draylen Ellis (126-of-212 for 1,483 yards & 13 TDs).
 
The run game is powered by the trio of running of junior Jaden McGill (52 carries for 237 yards & 2 TDs), redshirt senior C.J. Evans (44 carries for 184 yards & 2 TDs) and sophomore Jordan Grant (43 carries for 153 yards & a TD).
 
The receiving targets are led by redshirt junior Karate Benson (28 catches for 431 yards & 3 TDs), senior Jalan Dean (24 catches for 306 yards & 4 TDs) and junior Bryant Williams (26 catches for 263 yards & 2 TDs).
 
Defensively, the tough and opportunistic Tigers are led by All-America candidate, junior defensive back Boogie Trotter (31 total tackles, 3 interceptions & a FF), graduate DL Keandre Booker (25 total tackles, 9.0 TFLs, 5.5 sacks & a FF), senior linebacker Ahmed Nelson (44 total tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 0.5 sacks & a FF), sophomore defensive lineman Eriq George (29 total tackles, 9.0 TFLs, 3.5 sacks & a FF) and freshman linebacker Sanders Ellis (42 total tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks & a FR).
  
SCOUTING THE BISON
 
On offense, the Bison will rely on their comparable two-headed offensive attack of redshirt sophomore Ja'Shawn Scroggins (38 carries for 273 yards; 43-of-76 for 426 yards & 1 TD) and senior Jaylon Tolbert (58-of-96 for 602 yards, 4 TDs & 2 INTs).
 
The run game is led by the duo of graduate Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason Player of the Year Jarett Hunter (103 carries for 449 yards & 4 TDs; 10 receptions for 51 yards) and his backfield mate junior Eden James (53 carries for 246 yards & 2 TDs; 12 receptions for 106 yards).
 
The passing game will be bolstered by senior wide receivers Isiah Williams (18 catches for 214 yards & a TD) and Kasey Hawthorne (20 receptions for 234 yards & 3 TDs).
 
The offensive line is anchored by senior all conference guard Darius Fox (Washington).
 
Defensively, All-American Kenny Gallop Jr. (Portsmouth, Va.) leads the team in tackles (58 total tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 2.0 sacks & a FR).
 
Gallop has plenty of help in senior linebacker Terrance Hollon (29 total tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 2 FFs & 2 FRs), seniors Xavier Robiou (26 total tackles & a PB) and Robert Jones III (21 total tackles, team-leading 4 PBs & a FR).
 
Up front, the trio of junior Noah Miles (20 total tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 6.0 sacks & a FF), sophomore Ishaun Abdul-Ali (21 total tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, a FF, a FR & a block kick) and senior Jamel Stewart (15 total tackles, 3.0 TFLs & 1.5 sacks) rank among the tops in FCS in tackles for loss, sacks and forced fumbles.
 
STATISTICAL RANKINGS
 
TSU - NATIONAL STATS
 
TSU leads the FCS in tackles for loss (8.4 per game).
 
Individually, Booker and George are tied for 20^th in tackles for loss; Spencer Roof is tied for 10^th in forced fumbles; Booker is tied for first in fumbles recovered and tied for 21^st in sacks.
 
TSU - CONFERENCE STATS
 
TSU leads the conference in forced fumbles (9) and fumble recoveries (8).
 
Individually, Trotter leads the conference in fumble recoveries; Booker leads the conference in sacks; senior defensive lineman Chris Walker is eighth in TFLs; and George is eighth in sacks; Drayden is third in passing and total offense; Benson is fifth in receiving; redshirt senior James Lowery is sixth in field goals and ninth in scoring; and senior Dayron Johnson is fourth in punt returns and ninth in kick returns.
 
HOWARD – NATIONAL STATS
 
As a team, Howard is seventh in team sacks.
 
Individually, Gallop is tied for third in solo tackles and 11^th in total tackles; Miles is ninth in sacks; Hollon is tied for 10^th in forced fumbles and tied for third in fumble recoveries and Abdul-Ali is tied for 26^th in fumble recoveries.
 
HOWARD – CONFERENCE STATS
 
As a team, Howard ranks first in sacks and fumble recoveries.
 
Individually on offense, Hunter is third in rushing, fourth in all-purpose, ninth in total offense and 10^th in scoring; James is 10^th in rushing...sophomore Anthony Reagan Jr. (Camden, N.J.) is second in kick returns; Williams is 12^th in receiving and Hawthorne is 10^th in receiving; Scroggins is third in total offense, fifth in pass offense, sixth in rushing and seventh in all-purpose yards.
 
Defensively, Gallop leads the conference in tackles and fumble recoveries; Hollon sixth in tackles and first in forced fumbles; Miles is first in tackles for losses and sacks and fourth in fumble recoveries; Abdul-Ali is fifth in fumble recoveries and sixth in both sacks and tackles for losses; Stewart is seventh fumble recoveries and 11^th in sacks; Jones is second in fumble recoveries and sixth in pass breakups.
 
NOTES
 
TSU
 
Eriq George is the son of head coach, Eddie George...The Tigers quartet of Nelson, George, Ellis and Booker have created havoc for opponents with 31 tackles for loss and 11 sacks among them. On offense, receivers Brenson, Dean and Williams have accounted for nine TD receptions among them. 
 
HOWARD
 
James and Hunter were both named preseason MEAC first team in the backfield, a first in program history...Hunter and Hawthorne have been two of the most productive players in recent history...Hunter has amassed over 2,700 yards and 25 TDs in a Bison uniform...Hawthorne has accounted for over 2,000 yards and 21 TDs with his receiving, rushing and passing...James has put up some good numbers in his first two seasons, rushing and receiving for almost 1,500 yards while averaging over 5.0 yards per carry....13 different Howard players have caught at least one pass and 12 have scored at least one TD...senior punter Jaydon Green (Chicago) had his best day in a Bison uniform, averaging over 40 yards per punt with three landing inside the opponents' 20-yard line...Scroggins, who has missed three games, was named the MEAC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.
 
OTHER NOTES
 
This game features two of the top defensive teams in FCS in negative yards...it also features perhaps two of the top defensive backs in the country in Trotter of TSU and Gallop of Howard... James is the son of former Edgerrin James and George is the son of former All Pro running back, Eddie George.
 
KENNY GALLOP JR. WATCH
 
CAREER STATS
 
188 solo tackles, 107 assists for 295 tackles
10.0 tackles for losses, 2.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions, a return of a blocked kick for a score.
 
NEXT UP
 
Howard travels to Norfolk State to play the Spartans for their conference opener. It will be homecoming for Norfolk State. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
The Tigers have a bye before resuming conference play Saturday (Nov. 2) when they host UT Martin at 5 p.m.
 
For more information visit the official Howard Athletics website www.hubison.com.