Loaded Grambling Squad Shooting for Another Title

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

Depending on your perspective, things could be looking great for the Grambling football team or quite daunting for the Tigers in 2017.

Great because they are coming off a 2016 season in which they went 11-1, losing only to FBS Pac 12 Arizona in a game they easily could have won, went undefeated in winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference title, defeated North Carolina Central in the Celebration bowl, and then being crowned FCS HBCU national champs.

Daunting because everyone expects them to do it all again this season.  They are the favorites to win the SWAC title again this season and are nationally-ranked in a number of publications.

But Grambling head football coach Brandon Fobbs said focus will be the first order of business this season.

“Last season was a tremendous roller coaster ride for our players, and, also for our coaches. That’s behind us,” Fobbs said during the SWAC Media Day. “We’re excited for 2017.  At the end of the day, it’s going to be a lot of people ready to go to work.

“I don’t really think it matters, the expectations,” he said.  “At the end of the day, we start at the starting line at the same place.  Because you finished first, because you got all these kids on the All-Conference, that means absolutely nothing….  So, we all have to start at the starting line at the same place.  But at the end of the day, the champion is crowned when you win…. For us, it’s about continuing to do the work we have to do in order to be where we want to be and win.”

On offense, there is a bit of rebuilding to do. Grambling lost three starters on the offensive line, their three top receivers including star wide out Chad Williams, and reliable running back Jestin Kelly to graduation. But the conference’s preseason Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback DeVante Kincaide returns after a monster year in which he threw for 3,022 yards, 31 touchdowns and just four interceptions.  He is one of five offensive Tigers on the preseason All-SWAC first team – last season’s leading rusher in running back Martez Carter, wide receiver Devohn Lindsey, and offensive linemen Trent Scott and William Waddell.  Tight end Jordan Jones was named to the second team.

The SWAC’s top defense lost seven starters, including their two leading tacklers and three All-Conference defensive linemen.  But they have six defenders quality defenders returning who were named to the 2017 preseason All-SWAC team.  De’Arius Christmas is back at linebacker, while three members of the SWAC’s top secondary – Derrick Dixon, Deaumante Johnson and Ja’Terious Pouncey – return. Deontae Hatter and Malcolm Williams rejoin Christmas at linebacker.  Christopher Johnson and Brandon Varner are preseason All-SWAC defensive line replacements for 2017.

All that to say that Fobbs’ team is loaded again.

“Of course, everyone is chomping at the bit because every game is going to be a championship game for us,” he said.  “But that also presents a challenge that I’m interested in as well, because it allows us to play at a different level, and we know that. 

“We have to get better, just like everyone else in the conference is getting better,” Fobbs said.  “In order to get the same result, we can’t play the same way. We have to play a different way and we’re looking forward to that.”