2017 Howard Bison football team

The 2017 Howard Bison football team represented Howard University in the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by first-year head coach Mike London. The Bison played their home games at William H. Greene Stadium. They were a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).

2017 Howard Bison football
ConferenceMid-Eastern Athletic Conference
2017 record7–4 (6–2 MEAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBrennan Marion (1st season)
Co-defensive coordinatorVince Brown (1st season)
Co-defensive coordinatorChip West (1st season)
Home stadiumWilliam H. Greene Stadium
(Capacity: 7,086)
2017 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 7 North Carolina A&T $  8 –0     12 –0  
Howard  6 –2     7 –4  
Bethune–Cookman  6 –2     7 –4  
North Carolina Central  5 –3     7 –4  
Hampton  5 –3     6 –5  
Norfolk State  4 –4     4 –7  
Savannah State *  3 –5     3 –8  
South Carolina State  2 –6     3 –7  
Florida A&M *  2 –6     3 –8  
Delaware State  2 –6     2 –9  
Morgan State *  1 –7     1 –10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • * Florida A&M, Morgan State and Savannah State ineligible for postseason due to APR violations
Rankings from STATS Poll

The Bison kicked off the season by defeating UNLV, a 45-point favorite, in the biggest upset in college football history by point spread.[1] They would finish the season 7–4, 6–2 in MEAC play to finish in a tie for second place.

Previous season
Main article: 2016 Howard Bison football team

The Bison started 2016 play with a Big Ten doubleheader: they opened the season at Maryland, losing by nearly 40, and then traveled to Rutgers, only to lose by 38. They recorded two more losses, against Hampton and Morgan State before notching their first win at Norfolk State. Five more losses then followed, and the Bison finished a dismal season with a win against last-place Delaware State. They finished tenth out of eleven in the MEAC.[2][3]

Before the season

Recruiting
See also: American football positions, Glossary of American football, and Recruiting (college athletics)

On National Signing Day, Howard signed 23 athletes out of high school for their 2017 recruiting class.[4]

Coaching staff
2017 Howard Bison coaching staff

Head Coach

Offensive Coaches

  • Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks – Brennan Marion
  • Special Teams Coordinator/ Running Backs – Kenny Lucas
  • Run Game Coordinator/ Offensive Line – Darryl Bullock
  • Wide Receivers – Mike London Jr.
  • Halfback/Slot Wide Receivers – David Clowney

Defensive Coaches

  • Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers/Assistant Head Coach – Vince Brown
  • Co-Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks/Recruiting Coordinator – Chip West
  • Safeties/Assistant Recruiting Coordinator – Cato June
  • Defensive Line – Keenan Carter
  

Administrative Staff

  • Athletic Director (A.D.) – Kery Davis
  • Director of Football Operations – Bryce Bevill

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 29:00 p.m.at UNLV*
STADIUMW 43–4015,667
September 93:30 p.m.at Kent State*
ESPN3L 31–3820,312
September 162:00 p.m.at No. 8 Richmond*
CSN MA+L 21–688,217
September 231:00 p.m.Bethune–Cookman
WHBCW 26–242,217
October 71:00 p.m.North Carolina Central
  • William H. Greene Stadium
  • Washington, D.C.
WHBCL 7–131,532
October 142:00 p.m.at Delaware State
WDSU-TVW 52–233,337
October 211:00 p.m.Morgan State
  • William H. Greene Stadium
  • Washington, D.C.
SPORTSfever TV
ESPN3		W 39–142,700
October 281:30 p.m.at South Carolina State
FloFootballW 28–2015,096
November 44:00 p.m.at Florida A&M
RVW 37–2617,234
November 111:00 p.m.Norfolk State
  • William H. Greene Stadium
  • Washington, D.C.
WHBCW 28–241,678
November 181:00 p.m.at Hampton
L 17–208,142

Roster
2017 Howard Bison Roster (Source)

Wide Receivers

  •  1 Guy Lemonier Jr. – Senior
  •  8 Antoine Murray – Freshman
  • 12 Jequez Ezzard – Sophomore
  • 13 Jordan Scott – Freshman
  • 14 Evan Brooks – Junior
  • 80 Damion Gillespie – Sophomore
  • 81 Kyle Anthony – Sophomore
  • 82 Tamlin Antoine – Freshman
  • 83 Jaelin Ferdinand – Freshman
  • 83 Chanse Pullen – Freshman
  • 84 David Terrell, Jr. – Freshman
  • 85 Justin Dooley – Freshman

Offensive Line

  • 61 Alec Damier – Sophomore
  • 62 Branden Johnson – Freshman
  • 63 Gerald Wright – Senior
  • 65 Aaron Hutchins – Senior
  • 67 Jordan Dunham – Senior
  • 68 Demontre Buckson – Sophomore
  • 70 Tyler Shadrach – Senior
  • 73 James Holmon – Junior
  • 75 Sean Smith – Sophomore
  • 78 Phillip Flemming – Sophomore

Tight Ends

  • 53 Tyrone Ramsey – Sophomore
  • 55 Howard Warren – Senior
  • 87 Mason Jordan – Freshman

Fullbacks

  • 4 Da'Vaun Johnson – Freshman

  

Quarterbacks

  • 2 Ramar Williams – Freshman
  • 3 Caylin Newton – Freshman †
  • 10 Jason Collins – Junior
  • 15 Kalen Johnson – Senior
  • 16 John Petricca – Sophomore

Running Backs

  • 7 Anthony Philyaw – Senior
  • 11 Jordan Aley – Freshman
  • 20 Dezmond Wortham – Graduate Student
  • 22 Ricquaz Brannon – Junior
  • 30 Quinton Hill – Freshman
  • 33 Jamonne Williams – Freshman
  • 44 Amir Lewis – Freshman
  • 45 Jamal Francois II – Junior

Defensive Line

  • 50 Ken Larkin – Sophomore
  • 90 James Newell – Freshman
  • 92 Aaron Motley – Freshman
  • 93 Mukuka Kusaba – Junior
  • 96 Tyler Fuller – Sophomore
  • 98 Saevon Dinkins – Freshman

Defensive Ends

  • 52 Richard Johnson – Senior
  • 94 Isaiah Fludd – Junior
  • 99 Tyree Leonard – Freshman

Punters/Kickers

  • 41 Isaiah Moore – Freshman
  • 42 Dakota Lebofsky – Senior †
  

Linebackers

  • 19 Elijah Anglin – Senior
  • 26 Dominique Smith – Junior
  • 28 Marcellos Allison – Sophomore
  • 31 David Lee – Senior
  • 35 Devin Hurtado – Sophomore
  • 38 David Hudson – Junior
  • 40 Devin Rollins – Senior
  • 46 Leon Fields II – Junior
  • 47 Semaj Everett – Freshman
  • 50 Brian Witter – Freshman
  • 57 Matthew McGill – Freshman
  • 58 Zuri Godfrey – Freshman
  • 59 Garrett Reaves – Freshman

Defensive Backs

  •  6 Bryan Cook – Freshman
  • 17 Tye Freeland – Freshman
  • 18 Travon Hunt – Senior
  • 21 Alonte Dunn – Senior
  • 23 Ibrahim Conteh – Senior
  • 24 Malcolm Johnson – Senior
  • 25 Leland Lassiter – Senior
  • 27 Aaron Walker – Freshman
  • 29 Yoseff Banks – Senior
  • 32 Merrick Sims – Sophomore
  • 34 Jayson Robinson – Freshman
  • 36 Taejuan Gray – Freshman
  • 37 Charles Robinson – Junior
  • 48 Jayson Heyward – Freshman
  • 49 Dimitrius Hutcherson – Freshman
† Starter at position     * Injured; did not play in 2017.

Game summaries

at UNLV
See also: 2017 UNLV Rebels football team
Howard at UNLV
1 234Total
• Bison 7 14715 43
Rebels 6 14137 40
  • Date: September 2, 2017
  • Location:
    Sam Boyd Stadium
    Whitney, NV
  • Game start: 9:06 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:29
  • Game attendance: 15,667
  • Game weather: Temperature: 108 °F (42 °C), Wind: 5 mph ESE, Weather: Clear/Hot
  • Referee: Vidal Jones
  • TV announcers (Stadium): Tony Cordasco and Joe Arrigo


The Bison opened their 2017 season on the road against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent UNLV in Whitney, NV. Despite being a 45-point underdog to the Rebels, the Bison were able to leave Las Vegas with their first win over a Division I FBS opponent in the program's history.[5][6] Following the win, media outlets immediately hailed it as the greatest upset in college football history against the spread.[1][7]

In his collegiate debut, freshman quarterback Caylin Newton completed 15 of 26 passes for a total 190 yards; he threw 1 touchdown, a 1-yard pass in the 2nd quarter, and 1 interception. Newton was also able to display his abilities on the ground by leading in rushing yards with 21 carries, 190 yards and 2 touchdowns. Senior running back Anthony Phillyaw ran for 71 yards on s completions for 2 touchdowns. Phillyaw was also the top receiver with 3 receptions, 62 yards, 20.7 yards per reception.[5][8]

at Kent State
See also: 2017 Kent State Golden Flashes football team
Howard at Kent State
1 234Total
Bison 7 7107 31
• Golden Flashes 14 7215 38
  • Date: September 9, 2017
  • Location:
    Dix Stadium
    Kent, OH
  • Game start: 3:35 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:47
  • Game attendance: 20,312
  • Game weather: Temperature: 66 °F (19 °C), Wind: 8 mph NNE, Weather: Partly Cloudy
  • Referee: Matt Packowski
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Michael Reghi and Jerod Cherry


After their first win over an FBS team in program history, the Bison were looking to make lightning strike two weeks in a row with a win over Kent State. Kent State's fourth quarter rally, and an interception by Kent State's Demetrius Monday gave the Golden Flashes the win.[9] The Bison recorded 432 yards of total offense, including 226 yards passing and 206 yards Rushing. Quarterback Caliyn Newton threw 9 for 22 completions with a total 225 yards passing including 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Other standout performers include: Running Back Anthony Philyaw who ran for 147 yards rushing on 20 carries, including 1 touchdown and receiver Jequez Ezzard who recorded 120 yards.[9][10]

Ranking movements
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Final 
STATS NR RV RV RV RV RV NR NR NR RV RV RV RV Not released 
Coaches  
BoxToRow Media Poll and Coaches Poll (BTR) NR 6 5 8 5 6 10 9 8 6 6 5

References
  1. Thompson, Chris (September 3, 2017). "Cam Newton's Brother Led The Largest Point-Spread Upset In College Football History". deadspin.com. Deadspin. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  2. "Howard Bison 2016 Football Schedule". hubison.com. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  3. "Howard Bison Schedule – 2016". espn.com. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  4. "Howard Inks 23 on National Signing Day". Howard University Athletics. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  5. "Howard vs. UNLV – Game Recap – September 2, 2017 – ESPN". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  6. Kirshner, Alex (September 3, 2017). "Cam Newton's little brother just led the biggest Vegas upset in college football history". sbnation.com. SB Nation. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
  7. Bromberg, Nick (September 3, 2017). "Howard's win over UNLV is biggest upset vs. spread in college football history". sports.yahoo.com. Yahoo Sports. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
  8. "Howard vs UNLV – Box Score". www.hubison.com. Howard University Athletics. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  9. "Howard vs. Kent State – Game Recap – September 9, 2017 – ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  10. "Howard vs Kent State – Box Score". www.hubison.com. Howard University Athletics. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
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