Hampton University coaching staff confident Pirates have addressed depth issues, QB race is a ‘dead heat’
HAMPTON — Despite the grueling summer heat that has hit Hampton Roads, spirits were high during coach Robert Prunty’s and the Hampton University football team’s practice Monday.
Prunty and his staff planned to address depth concerns across the roster this offseason, and after just a few weeks of camp, the coaches are pleased with their progress.
“We got the depth we need,” Prunty said. “We worked towards getting there and we got there.”
Offensive coordinator Zack Peterson said the offense was looking to address depth concerns at the running back, wide receiver and offensive line spots this offseason. Hampton has 18 wide receivers listed on its roster, and 11 are brand-new to the team.
The Pirates brought in three graduate transfer wideouts: Paul Woods, who has played for Rutgers and Rhode Island; Bizzett Woodley (Delaware State) and Dorrian Moultrie (Georgetown).
“I know that’s been a big point of emphasis, is just building depth,” Peterson said. “You’re really starting to see some guys kind of fill into some roles and really show that they can compete at this level and be guys that we can count on.”
Last year, HU’s offense averaged just 20 points per game. In fall camp, Peterson said the Pirates are working to be more efficient.
“The biggest improvement I think for us is putting more points on the board,” Peterson said. “You always want to score more. … Our yards per play was pretty good. We just need to keep working on our efficiency on first down, third down. And then always when we get across the 50, we want to find ways to get the ball in the end zone.”
In 2022, quarterback Malcolm Mays was at the helm, leading Hampton with 1,574 passing yards along with 15 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Mays started nine of the 11 games he played in and was often supplemented by Christopher Zellous, who logged snaps in six games, including one start.
Although Mays might seem like the probable starter, Prunty and Peterson stressed that the starting quarterback job is still wide open.
“Right now, at every position, it’s a competition,” Peterson said. “I wouldn’t say that Malcolm has a leg up on anybody. We’ve got Chris Zellous, who played a little bit for us last year, who had an injury towards the end of the season. We have Jared Lewis, who transferred in from Delaware State. So we got a lot of guys that are hungry to compete in that quarterback room.”
Prunty added that the quarterback competition is in a “dead heat” at the moment and naming a starter will likely be a “game-time decision.”
On defense, co-coordinators Todd McComb and Brandon Williams are down seven starters from last year’s team. Williams, who is also the defensive backs coach, returns three experienced starters in the secondary in Corey Wilson, Byron Perkins and Stanley Garner.
The trio combined for 90 tackles last season, and Perkins and Garner both nabbed an interception.
“They’ve been progressing, they’ve been doing a great job,” Williams said of the defensive backs. “Last year was their first time being in the (CAA), so for them to get that one year under their belt, it’s been huge. Now we’re transforming, going into the second year, which will be a much better year for us. The guys’ pre-snap communication, post-snap communication, all those different things come into play once you have put that time in on the field.”
Apart from being impressed with the depth the defense has built, McComb said the Pirates are focusing on keeping opponents from converting on third downs.
“That’s what we’ve studied all offseason, how to get off the field on third down,” McComb said. “We’ve put together some things that are gonna help us this fall once we get into it.”
Michael Sauls, michael.sauls@virginiamedia.com, (757) 803-5774
