ATLANTA – Same goals. Same expectations.
While some names have changed, the target remains the same.
Begin in Atlanta. End in Atlanta.
Tiger great
T.C. Taylor begins his tenure as head coach at his alma mater as the two-time defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champions will open the 2023 season in the Cricket MEAC -SWAC Challenge Kickoff Saturday night against South Carolina State.
GAME INFORMATION:The Taylor era begins on the same ABC stage where the 2022 season concluded a few miles away at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Taylor, the 22
nd head coach in program history, looks to become the eighth JSU football since 1976 to win his first game as head coach.
• W.C. Gorden (16-12 over Tennessee St. 11/6/76 after taking over with two games left in season)
• James (Big Daddy) Carson (30-0 over Tuskegee 9/5/92)
• Robert (Judge) Hughes (35-21 over Howard 9/4/99)
• Rick Comegy (44-20 over Paul Quinn 9/2/06)
• Harold Jackson (22-17 over Florida A&M 8/30/14)
• John Hendrick (34-28 over Prairie View 11/3/18 after taking over with three games left in season)
• Deion (Coach Prime) Sanders (53-0 over Edward Waters 2/21/21 in Spring SWAC Season due to corona virus)
Jackson State football has been the dominant program in the SWAC over the past two seasons, posting a 23-3 record with back-to-back Celebration Bowl appearances. The Tigers have gone unbeaten in conference play since Fall 2021 with back-to-back 8-0 campaigns. Including the final game of the Spring 2021 season, JSU has won 17 consecutive SWAC games and 20 straight contests against conference teams.
The new-look Tigers with more than 70 new players into the program but still have veteran presence among the returning lettermen.
J.D. Martin (36 carries, 177 yards, 4 TDs) is expected to carry the load at running back, while TE D. J. Stevens (37 receptions, 376 yards, 4 TDs) and
Rico Powers (23-219-3) are the top returning receiving threats.
Defensively,
Jeremiah Williams (32 tackles, 3.0 sacks),
Devonta Davis (21 tackles, 2.0 sacks) and
Antonio Doyle (eight tackles, 1.0 sacks, two forced fumbles) will anchor the defensive line. In the secondary, Ke'Vric Wiggins (14 tackles, 1 INT, three pass breakups), and
Jalin Hughes (11 tackles, 1 INT, two pass breakups) lead the unit.
The rematch of the 2021 Cricket Celebration Bowl will be the sixth matchup between the teams, but only the second since 1994. Buddy Pough is in his 22
nd and final season as head coach, announcing Thursday his intentions to retire from at his alma mater after the season. The Bulldogs look to bounce back from a 3-8 campaign in 2022, which included a win over North Carolina Central.
