Last year saw the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff make a big improvement in the passing game, but not so much in the rushing attack.
With the starting quarterback and leading wide receivers from that team gone, UAPB’s top two running backs now have an opportunity to lead a resurgence on the ground.
Junior running back BJ Curry said he and redshirt sophomore Za’Marion Webber make a great tandem.
“I think it’s going to be exciting,” Curry said. “A lot of people in the locker room, they either say Judkins and Henderson or Sonic and Knuckles.”
Comparing Curry and Webber to former Ohio State running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, both of whom are now in the NFL after helping the Buckeyes win a national championship last year, is high praise from their UAPB teammates.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Curry was UAPB’s leading rusher last season with 509 yards and four touchdowns, while Webber was second with 334 yards and a score. Curry, who was named preseason second team All-SWAC last month, is also UAPB’s leading returning receiver after catching 13 passes for 199 yards.
Webber said knowing either of them can make plays when asked takes pressure off each of them.
“I feel like we can both just thrive off each other and motivate each other,” Webber said. “When I see him break one, I want to break one, too. So, it’s always competitive, and it’s always love at the end of the day.”
The biggest thing holding them back last year was UAPB’s offensive line, which struggled to create lanes for them while also struggling to protect the quarterback.
The Golden Lions hired a new offensive line coach, Donovan Jackson, during the summer. Head coach Alonzo Hampton said Jackson has brought a new level of toughness to the line.
“He’s done a really good job in a short amount of time,” Hampton said. “He’s only been here a couple of weeks. We’re excited to see those guys gel together, but at the end of the day, man, when you play a game like (Texas Tech) first game out of the bat, you’re going to know pretty soon what you’re dealing with.”
Hampton said UAPB will likely play eight to nine linemen, in part due to the Golden Lions’ desire to play up-tempo offense.
Redshirt senior Jeremiah Rodgers is the only returning starter on the offensive line. The Golden Lions brought in several transfers, including junior college products TyEric Bernal and Aydan Blair and Division II transfers Elijah Pullins and Frank Bean.
UAPB also brings back backups such as Bryce Lusk and Randall Davis and signed freshman Nick Carter in February.
Webber said he and Curry should be better able to show what they can do this season than they could last year.
“I’ve been very impressed (with the offensive line),” Webber said. “With our new O-line coach coming in, it’s been a lot of improvement. It’s been very great, honestly, running behind them. Actually have a lot of fun with it, not gonna lie.”
A big improvement in the rushing attack would be help an offense replacing its starting quarterback and top five wide receivers.
UAPB has yet to name a starting quarterback, though graduate transfer Christian Peters seems to be leading the race. Hampton also mentioned DJ Stevenson and Tysan Robbins on Saturday during UAPB’s media day.
The Golden Lions brought in several transfers at receiver to fill the void left by multiple departures.
Arkansas Tech transfer Jordan Jackson, a Pine Bluff native, said despite losing so many players from last year, the wide receiver room still has a lot of depth.
“We’re a unit,” Jackson said. “If one guy go out, the next guy come in and do the same thing the first guy was able to do. One take it deep, the next one take it deep. One guy take it short, 5 yards for a touchdown, the next guy come in and do the same thing. That’s the good part about our offense. We able to spread the ball around, and we looking to put on a show this year.”
UAPB will kick off its 2025 season on Saturday at Texas Tech.