WASHINGTON (August 28, 2024) - This is the season opener featuring the Bison of Howard University (0-0) against the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers (0-0).
 
GAME INFO
 
GAME 1
Howard University (Bison) at Rutgers (Scarlet Knights)
Thursday, August 29, 2024
6 p.m.
SHI Stadium (52,454)
Piscataway, N.J.
 
Both teams are coming off postseason play in 2023. Howard (6-6 overall, 4-1 MEAC) played in the Cricket Celebration Bowl against Florida A&M, dropping a 31-26 decision in Atlanta. Rutgers (7-6 overall, 3-6 Big Ten) defeated Miami, 31-24, in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl game.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
 
WATCH: Big Ten Network
LISTEN: WHBC | Trevin A. Jones (Play-by-Play), Nate Henry (Color Analyst) & Sareyah Rudd (Sideline Reporter)
IN-GAME: Live Stats
 
THE SERIES
 
The Scarlet Knights hold a commanding 5-0 lead over the Bison with the last matchup in 2016. Rutgers prevailed, 52-14.
 
THE COACHES
 
Howard is coached by Larry Scott (USF, 2000), who is in his fifth year at the helm, while Rutgers is led by Greg Schiano (Bucknell, 1987), who is in his second stint with the Scarlet Knights.
 
KEY PLAYERS
 
SCOUTING THE BISON
 
On offense, the Bison will have a new quarterback under center in either redshirt sophomore Ja'Shawn Scroggins (Las Vegas) or grad transfer Zachary Yeager (Minneapolis) and they will be handing the ball to the backfield tandem of graduate Jarett Hunter (Mineral, Va.), who was named preseason All-MEAC First Team after rushing for 626 yards and nine TDs while also catching 26 passes for 257 more and two TDs a year ago, and junior running back Eden James (Indianapolis), who was named preseason first team all-conference after leading the team in rushing with 627 yards and two TDs. Fifth-year senior Kasey Hawthorne (Sebring, Fla.) chipped in with 185 yards and five TDS.
 
The pass game balances the run attack with Hawthorne grabbing 38 passes for 535 yards and two TDs. Senior Richie Ilarraza (Clearwater, Fla.) also proved to be a threat with 32 catches for 311 yards.
 
The offensive line is bolstered by senior Darius Fox (Washington), a three-year starter and preseason first team all-conference selection and redshirt sophomore Tim Artis Jr. (Charlotte, N.C.).
 
Defensively, the strength of the team is in the secondary where consensus FCS and Black College All American Kenny Gallop Jr. (Portsmouth, Va.) leads the way. The reigning and preseason player of the year recorded 65 tackles, four tackles for losses, two interceptions, a forced and a recovered fumble.
 
Carson Hinton (Detroit), a fifth-year senior, also has some impressive stats with 47 tackles to his credit. Senior cornerback Robert Jones III (Fairwood, Md.) is also a solid part of the unit as he recorded a team-leading five broken up passes.
 
Senior Terrance Hollon (Cleveland) paced the linebacker core with a team-leading 67 tackles while senior defensive lineman Jamel Stewart (Richmond, Va.) holds down the front line with a career-high 29 tackles.
 
SCOUTING RUTGERS
 
The Scarlet Knights offense is led by RB Kyle Monaangai, who rushed for 1,262 yards, wide receiver Christian Dremel (36 receptions for 468 yards) and placekicker Jai Patel, one of the top kickers in the country after converting on 15-of-18 field goals a year ago.
 
Defensively, defensive lineman Aaron Lewis (148 career tackles) holds down the front, along with Wesley Bailey. Linebacker Mohammed Toure and defensive back Robert Longerbeam are some of the bests at their position for Rutgers.
 
WHAT THE COACHES ARE SAYING
 
LARRY SCOTT
 
"Rutgers is big and fast. Under Coach Schiano, they will be disciplined in their approach. They run the ball and pass equally well. The keys for the Bison this coming weekend consist of minimizing penalties, taking care of the football, scoring points and getting off the field on third downs."
 
GREG SCHIANO
 
"They are a really well coached team. They really challenge you schematically. They got some really good players. This is going to be challenging and we got to get our guys ready to play."
 
BISON NOTES
 
Hunter and Gallop were named MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively, the first time that it has happened at Howard ... James and Hunter were both named to the MEAC Preseason First Team in the backfield, another first ... Hunter and Hawthorne have been two of the most productive players in recent history ... Hunter has amassed over 2600 yards and 21 TDs headed into his final campaign in a Bison uniform ... Hawthorne has accounted for 1,855 yards and 18 TDs with his receiving and rushing ... James has put up some good numbers in his first two seasons, rushing and receiving for 1,202 yards while averaging 5.2 yards per carry ... Ilarraza has quietly made an impact with 81 career receptions.
 
NEXT UP
 
Howard plays its home opener Saturday (Sept. 7) at 7 p.m., in Greene Stadium against first-time opponent Mercyhurst.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.