After the conclusion of the 2024 football season, coach Alonzo Hampton said the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff made progress in his second year, but not enough.
“We’re better, but we got to be way better,” Hampton said. “Offensive line, defensive line. We didn’t get any sacks. We couldn’t get any pressure on the quarterback. We couldn’t knock people off the ball on fourth down too many times. We have to play perfect games.”
The Golden Lions finished the season 3-9 with a 2-6 SWAC record, both a one-game improvement from Hampton’s debut season in 2023.
Both seasons, UAPB defeated a non-Division I opponent: Miles College in 2023, and Arkansas Baptist in 2024. Last year, the Golden Lions won one SWAC game, a 35-34 comeback effort at Texas Southern. UAPB won twice in conference play this year, a pair of home games against Prairie View A&M and Mississippi Valley State.
Statistically, UAPB made slight improvements in points scored and allowed in SWAC play. The Golden Lions’ offense jumped from 11th in total yards per game to sixth, and from 12th to 10th in total defense.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The biggest jump came in the passing offense, where UAPB rocketed from 11th last year to fourth this year following the hire of new offensive coordinator Tony Hull. The pass defense also improved from 12th to seventh.
Last year, when the Golden Lions went 1-7 in SWAC play, UAPB regularly lost games by three or more possessions. This year, UAPB turned three of those losses into 10 points or fewer.
Hampton said the Golden Lions were in every game except Arkansas and Jackson State and had chances to win the others.
“We made improvements in winning and (being) competitive, but we gotta get over the top,” Hampton said. “Next year, as I told the coaches, man, we gotta evaluate everything about this program and see what we need to do to get better and be able to compete for the SWAC championship. We’re close, but yet, you’re far, because everybody’s looking for the same thing.”
In his first season, Hampton had a roster largely made up of players recruited by his predecessor, Doc Gamble. Prior to this season, Hampton brought in numerous players out of the transfer portal and signed his first real high school recruiting class.
Some of those freshmen played noteworthy roles this season. Linebackers Kyle Vocque and Jonathon Goins Jr. missed most of SWAC play with injuries but excelled when healthy. Vocque was UAPB’s leading tackler through four games with 25 but didn’t play afterward. He has since declared his intention to transfer. Goins had 15 tackles, one for loss and a forced fumble in six appearances.
Hampton noted those two along with a pair of freshmen cornerbacks as the young players who most impressed him. He said Amyrion Mingo was on pace to have an all-conference season before spraining his ankle. He still finished with three interceptions and 17 tackles in seven games.
Zach Williams, a former walk-on, was the one freshman out of the four to remain healthy. In 11 games, he intercepted a pass, broke up two more and made 38 tackles with 1.5 for loss.
Hampton said though the wins didn’t come as quickly as he hoped, he believes this program is close to a breakthrough.
“We’re going to compete for the SWAC championship next year,” Hampton said. “Ain’t no ifs, ands or buts about it. We’re going to say it. We’re going to believe it. We’re going to get in this weight room. … We’re going to do what’s best for us moving forward and get the guys that want to be here, and we’ll go from there.”