HBCU Football: Bowie State is Ready for the 2024 CIAA Season.

Maryland HBCU, Bowie State University is preparing for the 2024 season under head coach Kyle Jackson . Last season, the Bulldogs finished with a 6-4 record. While it wasn’t what they hoped for, the team learned valuable lessons and showed growth. Coach Jackson sees this as a foundation for the upcoming CIAA season.

“Last season was a blessing,” Jackson said. “We finished six and four. Not ideally what we set out to be, but those four games were lessons. Losing a game by five points and turning the ball over five times, playing six quarterbacks, most without prior experience. Still, we managed six wins. That’s something to be proud of, but we know our standards and expectations.”

The Bulldogs were picked to finish fifth in the CIAA preseason predicted order of finish . Jackson takes this in stride. “Make sure you say the fifth preseason ranked Bowie State University Bulldogs. Rankings are cool, but the game still has to be played. It’s about execution. I know my guys are watching, the community is watching. We’ve got a chip on our shoulder.”

Spring practice was important for the Bulldogs, giving younger players a chance to step up. “Spring was great. It gave us an opportunity to evaluate our roster and see who can help us. It opened our eyes to where we are and where we need to get to.”

Bowie State isn’t avoiding tough competition this season, starting off against Davenport and Lenore-Rhyne, two strong programs outside the CIAA. “We want to put our program in the national spotlight, show that Bowie State football can play with any team. It’s bigger than just Bowie State. It’s about putting HBCU football on that platform.”

Jackson is optimistic about the upcoming season. “These past two years were a lesson. You gotta go through it to grow through it. The guys are hungry to get back to winning ways, and we’ve got a job to do. It’s go time.”

With standout defensive back Devin William s, the Bulldogs are poised to make a significant impact. With 11 breakups and three interceptions last season, Williams is ready to elevate his game even further.

The CIAA Football Championship is set for November 16th in Salem, Virginia, and Bowie State aims to be there. Coach Jackson and the Bulldogs are ready to show what they’re made of. Get ready for an exciting season of HBCU football!

The post HBCU Football: Bowie State is Ready for the 2024 CIAA Season. appeared first on HBCU Gameday .