Benedict College and Fayetteville State University meet this Saturday in a clash of two HBCU powers. The Tigers enter the matchup with a dominant defense and new faces at quarterback, while the Broncos bring experience under center and a hunger to bounce back after a rare down year. The game will be nationally televised on HBCUGO.
Benedict College: Defense Defines the Tigers
Benedict enters 2025 with one of the toughest defenses in HBCU football. Two linebackers, Ty’Metrius Patterson and Isaiah Stephens, landed on the Black College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List.
- Patterson was the SIAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year after recording 13 tackles for loss in 2024.
- Stephens led the team with 68 tackles and continues to be the heart of the defense.
The secondary gets a boost with Cam Williams, a transfer from Miles College who was first-team All-SIAC in 2024 and is now on the D2Football.com Elite 100 Watch List.
Up front, Israel Nwokocha is a proven pass rusher, and Jaxon Williams returns as one of the best kick returners in Division II. Together, they give Benedict impact players at every level of defense and special teams.
Who Will Start at Quarterback for Benedict?
Benedict’s quarterback situation is the biggest storyline heading into the season. Last year’s starter, Charles “Tre” Simmons, has moved to wide receiver.
That leaves several contenders for the starting role:
- Darius Ocean, a transfer from Johnson C. Smith, brings experience with 2,301 passing yards and 16 touchdowns last year.
- Josef “Tre” Manley, a transfer from Chowan, impressed in spring practice and is pushing hard for the job.
- Bryce Conover and Jackson Jensen add depth but remain less proven.
The key for Benedict’s offense will be limiting mistakes and letting its elite defense control the game.
Fayetteville State: Broncos Looking to Bounce Back
The Fayetteville State Broncos are out to prove they still belong among the CIAA’s elite. After a 4–5 record in 2024, they were picked to finish fourth in the CIAA preseason poll…