Winston-Salem State’s football schedule may look identical to last season’s, but that’s one of the few things that hasn’t changed from last season.
Much of the cast of characters that starred in WSSU’s 2014 CIAA Championship Game have moved on, including Arizona Cardinals quarterback Phillip Sims and defensive end Alfy Hill, who just came off a stint with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Kienus Boulware heads into his second season with a defense that returns zero starters from 2014 and and offense that’s missing both Sims and quarterback Rudy Johnson, who helped the team win 19 games in two seasons. Also gone is Maurice Lewis, who is among the school’s career leaders in rushing yards.
So who do the Rams have coming back? Linebacker/defensive end Michael Bloomfield recorded 6.5 sacks last season as a reserve and figures to be the leader defensively. On the offensive side of the ball, receiver Marcel Caver (40 catches, 578 yards, 2 TDs) is back and Rashan Williams is available after missing last season due to eligibility issues.
The Rams also added another jolt of former Division I transfers to fill in the gaps left by the recently departed Rams.
Players To Watch:
Offense
WR, Rashan Williams: Williams missed last season after he was declared ineligible. The 6’3, 215 pound receiver has great size and decent speed, and he made WSSU’s defensive backs pay in 2014’s spring game. He and Caver should form a potent receiving corp for whoever plays under center.
Defense
LB/DE, Michael Bloomfield: Bloomfield wasn’t technically a starter last season, but he was one of the Rams best defenders and always on the field in crunch time. No reason to believe that will change in 2015.
Worst Case Scenario: 6-4
Best Case Scenario: 9-1
Homecoming: Oct. 31 vs. Shaw
Biggest Game: Sept. 12 vs. Valdosta State
| SEPTEMBER | |||||
| Thu. 3 | at UNC Pembroke | 7:00 PM | Live stats | Live stats | Audio | Tickets | ||
| Sat. 12 | Valdosta St. | Cobb County Clash (Powder Spring, Ga.) | 6:00 PM | Tickets | |
| Sat. 19 | at Tuskegee | 2:00 PM | Tickets | ||
| Sat. 26 | at Elizabeth City St. * | 18th Annual Down East Viking Football Classic | 4:00 PM | Tickets | |
| OCTOBER | |||||
| Sat. 3 | Chowan * | HORN$ Appreciation, Education Day, Football Alumni Weekend, Student Appreciation Day | 1:30 PM | Tickets | |
| Sat. 10 | Johnson C. Smith* ^ | Scout Day, Youth Day, Hall of Fame | 1:30 PM | Tickets | |
| Sat. 17 | at St. Augustine’s* | 1:00 PM | |||
| Sat. 24 | at Livingstone * ^ | 1:00 PM | |||
| Sat. 31 | Shaw * ^ | Homecoming 2015 (Televised) | 2:00 PM | Tickets | |
| NOVEMBER | |||||
| Sat. 7 | Fayetteville St. *^ | Military Day, Senior Day | 1:30 PM | Tickets | |