Know Your Foe: Alabama State Hornets
2024 Record: 1-1 - (W vs Miles College, 24-3)
Head Coach: Eddie Robinson Jr. (3rd year)
Last Meeting: Alabama State W, 31-28 (October 10, 1991)
TV: ESPN+
Kick Off: 6:00pm CT
Line: Samford -11.5, O/U 46.5
Fun Fact: Samford is playing Alabama State for only the fourth time in program history.
Samford is finally home for the first time in 2024 in the newly renovated Pete Hanna Stadium. The new field turf has been laid down and ready for a football game. The Bulldogs are coming off of a 45-7 loss to the Florida Gators (Samford DID cover the 38.5 point spread). Samford is looking to avoid their first 0-3 start since 1985 per the Samford game notes.
The Alabama State Hornets are coming down from Montgomery as this is Samford's last non-conference matchup until they host Tennessee Tech on November 9th. The Hornets are coming off of a 24-3 home win over Miles College. Alabama State is a defensive first football team who has had some injury issues with multiple quarterbacks on the offensive side.
The Hornets come into Homewood with some confidence following their first win of the season. It is always entertaining throughout college football when in-state teams square off and Saturday night should be also.
ASU has leaned on the run for the first two games of the season. They have ran 112 plays so far and 83 of those have resulted in runs. In fact, the Hornets ran for 191 yards in their win last week.
Look out for RB Daquon Kincey who had 137 yards rushing last week. The senior running back was a transfer from Clark-Atlanta. Kincey will get the bulk of the carries but freshman running back Jamarie Hostzclaw also has 13 rush attempts on the season.
In the first two games of the season, the Hornets have played four quarterbacks. QBs Andrew Body and Jonah O’Brien played against North Carolina Central in their season opening loss. True freshmen James Hayes and Zach Sims were the two to play against Miles.
Body is reportedly out for the season with a shoulder injury and O’Brien is nursing an injury also. Hayes received the bulk of the work throwing for 88 yards with two touchdowns and an interception on 11 attempts.
Alabama State head coach Eddie Robinson told local media earlier this week that the reps will be split between both freshmen Hayes and Sims.
Sophomore WR Asa Grey is the team’s leading receiver with 74 yards and 60 of those came from one touchdown last week
Should it be a repeat of last week, James Hayes will play the most, however no matter who starts at QB, it all starts with stopping this Hornet rushing attack for Samford.
On defense, the Hornets were able to turnover the Miles College offense four times last week and had four sacks. 2024 Preseason All-SWAC LB Treqwan Thomas had a monster game against Miles. Thomas led the Hornets with six tackles, three sacks, and three forced fumbles last week. This performance earned him the SWAC Defensive Player of the Week and the HBCU+ National Player of the Week.
DBs James Burgess and Amon Scarbrough each had three tackles and an interceptions each last week. Burgess was a member of the Preseason All-SWAC first team with Thomas and Scarbrough was on the All-SWAC second team.
LB DeMarkus Cunningham leads the defense in total tackles with 13 who was also on the preseason All-SWAC first team and was the second leading tackler in 2023.
Alabama State has many skilled players on this defense for a team picked to win the SWAC in the preseason.
For the Samford offense, they need to limit the turnovers. On defense, Samford must stop the run. Iis imperative to have success and force this Alabama State offense into obvious passing situations.
Saturday night should be a great atmosphere under the lights in Pete Hanna Stadium. Rain is in the forecast for over the weekend in Birmingham, so let’s hope it goes away come kick off. The Samford Bulldogs finally get to play a home game in 2024.
