HBCU Gameday’s 2015 Jackson State Football Preview

2015 will mark the second year in the Harold Jackson era for the Jackson State Tigers. The 2014 season was a disappointing one, and the Tigers should be hungry for a strong season to revitalize the program. 

JSU showed flashes of potential in a win against eventual SWAC Champion Alcorn State in the last week of last season, giving fans hope that JSU will be a legitimate threat to win the SWAC East and compete for a spot in the Heritage Bowl.

JSU returns most of the players that made up the majority of offensive production from last year. Look for their offensive unit to be much more productive in 2015 as quarterback La Montiez Ivy now has a full-year of college football experience. Aiding Ivy will be his top target, and preseason 1st Team All-SWAC performer Dan Williams, who led the SWAC in receptions last season.

Defensively, the Tigers return a solid group of returning players that will attempt to adapt to a new defensive system, led by the new coordinator, Alonzo Lee.

JSU’s schedule is quite top-heavy. Winning one of the first two games against FBS Middle Tennessee State and long-time rival Tennessee State will be crucial to momentum of JSU’s season, being that conference play begins against defending SWAC West champion Southern. The first three games of the season, none of which are in Jackson, Miss., will likely dictate JSU’s success for the rest of the season.

WR Dan Williams: Williams is arguably the bestreceiver in the SWAC. He either led or was near the top of every receiving category in 2014. Expect Williams to have an even more productive year this year given that the offense has had time to get acclimated to Offensive Coordinator Timmy Chang’s air run-and-shoot offense.

LB/DE Javancy Jones: Jones is JSU’s most versatile player who can wreak havoc from anywhere he lines up. The team’s leading tackler last season with 108 stops Jones appears poised for a monster junior season after already established himself as one of the SWAC’s premier defenders. 

Best case scenario: 9-2

Worst case scenario: 7-4