JC Smith football has reason to feel bullish for 2024

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Running back Quavaris Crouch’s arrival at Johnson C. Smith is driving anticipation for a breakthrough season for the Golden Bulls, who went 7-4 last season.

This is the season of anticipation for Johnson C. Smith football.

The Golden Bulls, who were picked to finish fourth in the CIAA coaches’ preseason poll, return 14 starters from a team that won seven games in 2023 and signed several high-profile transfers. Even with those expectations, there are questions, especially at quarterback. Among the topics to navigate leading up to 2024’s opener against Tuskegee on Sept. 1:

Eight-win standard

JCSU’s 7-4 record in 2023 was one win short of the school record, which has happened on four occasions, the last in 1975. Can this year’s squad match or exceed it?

Navigating the hype

JCSU was picked to finish fourth in the CIAA, a sign of respect for coach Maurice Flowers’ accomplishments through two seasons. After last year’s success, the expectation is that the Golden Bulls will be in the mix for a spot in the conference title game for the first time since 1971. Is it a burden or incentive for a program that has historically been a CIAA have-not?

Quarterback competition

Six quarterbacks are on campus, and no one has a leg up on starting position. The top contenders are Darius Ocean and Kennique Bonner-Steward, a pair Division I FBS transfers and Hough High graduates, along with redshirt sophomore Cam Kromah, an Independence High alumnus who has been in Flowers’ system for three years.

If the Golden Bulls can get consistently competent quarterback play, they’ll have a leg up in the CIAA, where the top teams consistently rely on the ground attack.

Defensive leadership

JCSU, Division II’s top overall defense last season, is stout along its front seven due in large measure to linebackers Benari Black and Jack Smith.
Black, a West Charlotte High graduate and preseason All-CIAA pick tallied 82 tackles, including 13 for loss in 2023. Smith, who tallied 68 tackles, including 10 for loss last year, is expected to be fully recovered from offseason ankle surgery.

Stacked in the backfield

The most anticipated arrival in JCSU is running back Quavaris Crouch, who was the nation’s top-ranked player as a senior at Harding High. Crouch was miscast as a college linebacker at Tennessee and Michigan State, but at 6-2, 235 pounds, has the potential to lift JCSU’s ground game attack to new levels with breakaway speed and power.

As if having Crouch on the roster isn’t enough, the Golden Bulls added Kamarro Edmunds, a former four-star recruit who played at North Carolina and East Carolina.

Offensive line certainty

The Golden Bulls have continuity up front with four returning linemen. Left guard Tyler McBeth’s for an extra season along with left tackle Kyle Estep, center Josh Beatty and right tackle Ethan Saunders. JCSU has depth as well, the result of three years of building up front.

Make a difference on special teams

The Golden Bulls kicking teams were major contributors last year, and they’ve gotten an upgrade.

Alejandro Morillon-Garcia was one of the CIAA’s best kickers last year, connecting on 7-of-8 field goals and all 23 extra points. Josiah Boyd, who earned All-CIAA recognition as a Fayetteville State freshman last year, transferred to JCSU. Boyd averaged 37.2 yards per punt in 2023, with 13 kicks inside the opponents’ 20.

The kicking and punt returning duties will be handled by someone new with Dirk Cureton’s graduation. Among the returning options are defensive back Latrae Bass and receiver Jaden Lockhart.

Packed on the perimeter

Brevin Caldwell, JCSU’s top receiver last season (51 catches, 579 yards, three touchdowns), returns for his junior campaign. He’ll be joined by 6-3, 215-pound Deandre Proctor, who caught 31 passes for 402 yards and three scores last year at St. Augustine’s.

Tyrek Williams, who showed promise as a freshman with three touchdowns on 16 catches and 14 yards per reception is also big target like Proctor.
Donte Baker and Lockhart will compete for targets as well.

Home field tests

The three teams picked ahead of JCSU in the CIAA – Virginia Union, Virginia State and Fayetteville State – all come to Charlotte. If ever there was a time for the Golden Bulls to take develop an edge at McGirt Field, this is it.

This article corrects the date of JCSU's season opener vs. Tuskegee.

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