BOWIE, MD – Bowie State football will open the 2023 season at FCS opponent Delaware State on Saturday, Sept. 2 from Alumni Stadium in Dover, Del. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. and the game will air live on ESPN+.
When: Saturday, Sept. 2 – 1 p.m.
Where: Alumni Stadium – Dover, Del.
Watch: ESPN+
Radio: HSRN
Live Stats: Not Available
Follow on Twitter: @BSU_Sports_Info
Follow on Instagram: @BowieStateBulldogs
Tickets
Game tickets are available here with general admission at $25. Gates and the ticket booth will open at 12 noon. Parking is available at 10 a.m.
The Series
Saturday's game marks the second meeting between the two teams. BSU is 0-1 against the Hornets after falling 32-24 in the last outing which occurred on Sept. 4, 2021 at Alumni Stadium. BSU trailed 26-3 to Delaware State at halftime. The Bulldogs outscored DSU in the third quarter (14-6) and 7-0 in the fourth quarter.
CIAA Preseason Poll
Bowie State football has been selected to finish second in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), as announced by the league office at the annual CIAA football media day in July. The All-CIAA Preseason Team was voted upon by the CIAA Football Coaches Association and Sports Information Directors. Of the 18 returning players from 2022, BSU had a pair of Bulldogs named to the CIAA Preseason Team including Keshane Hinckley and Jadon Carter. Amongst the CIAA Divisions, Bowie State was projected to win the Northern Division while Fayetteville State, the 2022 defending champions was picked atop in the overall preseason poll and Southern Division.
BOXTOROW Preseason Poll
The Bulldogs were voted sixth in the 2023 Preseason HBCU Division II Coaches Poll powered by BOXTOROW announced early August. The HBCU Division II Coaches Poll is administered by FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW, and is voted on by the HBCU NCAA Division II coaches.The Tigers of Benedict received 17 first place votes for the top spot while the Broncos of Fayetteville State claimed second with three first place votes, followed by Virginia Union at No. 3 and Tuskegee at No. 4 who both claimed one first place vote each. Fort Valley State rounds out the top five.
Hinckley on the Black College Football Hall of Fame Watchlist
Bowie State wide receiver Keshane Hinckley was officially announced as one of the names on the official watch list of the 2023 Black College Football Player of the Year Watchlist, the Black College Football Hall of Fame announced in July. The Award is presented annually to the most outstanding football player from a Historically Black College & University.
Hinckley is one of 11 student-athletes listed from the CIAA. The Laurel, Md., native led Bowie State and the CIAA in total receptions (56) in 2022. He registered a team-high (686) receiving yards (2nd in the CIAA) and a team-high (5) TDs last season.
Four finalists will be unveiled after the season. The winner of the Black College Football Player of the Year Award, which will be announced during halftime of the 2024 Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl, will be presented with the Deacon Jones Trophy. The Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl takes place on Saturday, February 24, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The game will be broadcast live on NFL Network.
The Jackson Era
The 2023 season will embark the first official season for first-year head coach Kyle Jackson. Jackson was officially named the 10th head football coach in Bulldog history on Jan. 23, 2023. The decision followed Jackson after serving in the role as interim in the 2022 season, where he led the team to a 6-4 record and eight players earned CIAA All-Conference honors, with Joshua Pryor being named the 2021 CIAA Defensive Player of the Year and five First Team All-CIAA selections. Additionally, Pryor and Jordan Griffin were both selected First Team and Second Team All Super Region Two honorees. Jackson also had five Bulldogs participate in the second Annual Black College Football HBCU Legacy Bowl in New Orleans.
The Defense
Uvel Paul, Jr. (Severn, MD) led the CIAA in total sacks (8.5) in 2022, the graduate senior will return and serve as one the anchors of the Bulldogs defense that ranked fourth in fourth down conversion percentage defensively (.300). Amongst first down defense, the Bulldogs made the top-20 (16th) with opponents first downs (166).
A New Offensive Look
The Bulldogs will look a little different this year with former quarterback and program leader in most yards in a game (433) in Dion Golatt, Jr. gone. BSU will likely see action from three of its five quarterbacks for the 2023 slate. Most likely, the Bulldogs will likely start with sophomore transfer Amir Jenkins, a native of Baltimore, Md., who did not see action in 2022 at Sacred Heart. Last season, the Bulldogs ranked first in the CIAA for offensive total, averaging 424.4 per game (4,244 total yards of offense). Through the air, BSU also ranked first in the league with 2,853 passing yards.
The Northern Division
The CIAA Northern Division is made up Bowie State, Elizabeth City State, Lincoln (PA), Virginia State, Virginia Union and newly membered Bluefield State. The Bulldogs are predicted to win the North and have won the division three out of the last four years.
Scouting the Hornets
The Delaware State Hornets are coming off a 5-6 overall record and 2-3 mark in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in 2022. The Hornets were also 3-4 at home and ended last year's season on a two-game losing skid. DSU had six Hornets garner All-MEAC Preseason Honors while as a team, the Hornets were predicted to finish fifth behind N.C. Central (defending MEAC Champion), Howard, South Carolina State, Morgan State and Norfolk State, respectively. Delaware State introduced its 24th head coach in Lee Hull back on Dec. 20, 2022. This will be his first season at the helm after serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach aT Howard University since 2020.
Next on Tap
Bowie State travels to Caledonia, MI, to take on the Davenport Panthers on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 1 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State University Athletics and its 13 varsity sports teams, please visit www.bsubulldogs.com.
