Football Preview: Prairie View A&M
Marq Mitcham
One could assume that at Prairie View A&M University, these are the good days. The Panthers emerged from the infamous losing streak decades ago to winning the 2009 SWAC championship, but the real sign that the program has made a full recovery will be unveiled when they host Texas Southern in the Sunday, Sept. 4 season opener.
After playing its 2015 home schedule off campus, the Panthers are set to move into their new $61 million on-campus home, which includes a 15,000-seat stadium, a new field house and artificial turf.
Built on the site of the antiquated 6,000-seat Blackshear Stadium — the Panthers' longtime home — the new facility was constructed to accommodate an eventual 15,000-seat expansion.
On the field, the Panthers' fortunes continue to rise. Coming off of an 8-2 (8-1 SWAC) campaign under first-year head coach Willie Simmons, PVAMU was picked to win the Western Division in the preseason coaches poll.
Despite the loss of All-American running back Johntå Hebert and three offensive linemen, the Panthers return plenty of firepower from the league's best offense. Seven starters are back from a collection which led the SWAC in scoring (44.9 points per game), passing (278 yards per game), total offense (487.5 ypg), third down conversion percentage (44.1) and ranked second in rushing (209.5 ypg). In addition, the Panthers' plus-7 turnover margin (19-12) was tops in the conference.
Senior quarterback Trey Green returns to direct the offense after completing nearly 60 percent of his passes for 2,459 yards, 20 touchdowns and only three interceptions in 288 attempts. Also a threat to run, he finished third on the team with 215 rushing yards and six TDs.
Jovante Ham (9 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD) is the top returnee in a backfield depleted by the losses of Hebert (154-937-7; 47 receptions, 575 yards, 4 TDs) and Courtney Brown (90-492-5)
Junior KhaDarel Hodge (28 receptions, 499 yards, 3 TDs) and seniors Demarquo Lastrappe (19-366-3) and Anthony Wiltz (15-196-1) head up a deep group of receivers.
Junior Shawn Pierce and senior Josiah Freeman bring experience to a mostly untested offensive line.
Second-year defensive coordinator Ralph Street welcomes back 10 starters from a unit which showed dramatic improvement down the stretch while holding three of its final four foes to under 80 yards rushing.
PVAMU ranked third in the SWAC in scoring defense (33.1 ppg), third against the run (157.9 ypg), ninth against the pass (263.5 ypg) and sixth in total defense (421.4 ypg).
Eight of the top nine tacklers are back for an encore, including junior linebacker Jalan Coleman (71 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks).
End Ahkeem Barton (19 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 6 sacks), tackle DeVohn Reed (44 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 6 sacks) and nose guard James Harper (34 tackles, 7.5 TFL) — a trio of juniors — are the holdovers up front.
Among the other proven veterans are junior linebacker Shafique Neloms (30 tackles, 5 TFL, 1.5 sacks), junior nickel backs Foster Brown II (33 tackles) and Damond Jackson (30 tackles, 1 INT), senior rover Marquice O'Leary (51 tackles, 2 INTs), sophomore cornerback Dominiqe Weaver (27 tackles, 3 INTs) and sophomore free safety Will Skinner (48 tackles).
Junior Owen Hoolihan will continue to handle all of the kicking duties. Last year, the Australian booted 16 kickoffs for touchbacks, averaged 39.4 yards on 34 punts and converted 4-of-6 field goals.
2016 PRAIRIE VIEW A&M SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT TIME
Sept. 4 Texas Southern* (Sun.) 5 p.m.
Sept. 10 at Texas A&M 11 a.m.
Sept. 17 at Alabama A&M 6 p.m.
Sept. 24 at Mississippi Valley* 4 p.m.
Oct. 1 vs. Grambling* (at Dallas) 4 p.m.
Oct. 8 Alabama State* 2 p.m.
Oct. 22 at Rice TBA
Oct. 29 at Jackson State* 2 p.m.
Nov. 5 Alcorn* 1 p.m.
Nov. 12 Southern* 1 p.m.
Nov. 19 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff* 2:30 p.m.