By Ed Hill, Jr.
NORFOLK, Va. (July 25, 2024) – Howard University football team was picked to finish second in the preseason poll for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced Tuesday (July 23) at the annual conference football meetings.
The Bison picked up 92 points behind preseason favorite, North Carolina Central, which had 110 points. A year ago, the two rivals finished tied but the Bison were the official champion by virtue of their win over the Eagles.
Entering the 2024 campaign, the Bison are coming off a season where they captured the MEAC regular season title that allowed them to play in the program’s first Celebration Bowl last December.
Also, for the first time in recent history, Howard boasts the MEAC Preseason Players of the Year in graduate running back Jarett Hunter (Mineral, Va.) and graduate All-America safety Kenny Gallop Jr. (Portsmouth, Va.).
A native of Mineral, Va., Hunter led the team in rushing with over 600 yards and nine TDs while grabbing 25 passes for 257 yards and two TDs.
A native of Portsmouth, Va., Gallop is regarded as the best defensive back in HBCUs and one of the best in the FCS. The reigning conference player of the year finished 2023 with 65 tackles, four tackles for losses, two interceptions and a forced and recovered fumble.
Both players were named to the first team, along with junior running back Eden James (627 yards rushing), senior wide receiver Kasey Hawthorne (535 yards receiving, 185 yards rushing & 8 total TDs); senior guard Darius Fox, senior defensive lineman Jamel Stewart (29 tackles, three tackles for losses, 2.5 sacks, five QB hurries) and senior placekicker Dylan West (36-of-38 on PATs). It must be noted that it is the first time that two Howard running backs have been named to the preseason first team.
Five Bison players were named to the second team: senior wide receiver Richie Ilarraza (Clearwater, Fla.); redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Tim Artis Jr. (Charlotte, N.C.); junior defensive lineman Noah Miles (Tampa, Fla.); senior linebacker Terrance Hollon (Cleveland) and fifth-year defensive back Carson Hinton (Detroit).
All awards and poll were voted on by the MEAC’s head football coaches and sports information directors.
The Bison officially start practice Monday (July 29) and the season opener is August 29 at Rutgers. That is a Thursday night game at 6 p.m., and it will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
