It didn’t take long for University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff football coach Alonzo Hampton to reach a decision on the future of the starting quarterback position.
“Christian Peters is still our starter,” Hampton said. “It’s no big deal. The young man is a grad transfer, smart kid, (Division II) All-American. He’s got ice in his veins, so that’s really no big deal there.”
Questions arose about the position after Peters was benched at halftime of Saturday’s 34-8 win against Lincoln (Calif.) following three first half interceptions. DJ Stevenson played the second half.
Hampton did not commit to a starter moving forward during his postgame news conference on Saturday, instead saying he felt UAPB (1-2) had two quarterbacks it could trust to lead the team.
Two days later, having had time to review the film and think about it, he made it clear Peters will start when UAPB returns to the field in two weeks to face Alcorn State in the Southern Heritage Classic in Memphis, which will be both teams’ conference opener.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Hampton said Peters had played well in UAPB’s first two games and the interceptions weren’t all on him.
“He got hit on the play, threw a ball up,” Hampton said. “Probably should have just took the sack, and their guy made a great play. Then, (another) one, it wasn’t even his fault. Obviously, quarterback gets all the praise, gets all the blame. On the other interception, the (defensive back) made a great play, an excellent play.”
All three interceptions occurred in Lincoln territory, with two being made in or near the end zone. Peters completed 14 of 23 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown in the first half, which began with UAPB scoring on each of its first two possessions.
Although Hampton endorsed Peters to remain the starter, he also said the Golden Lions aren’t afraid to switch to Stevenson during a game if needed, as they did on Saturday.
On the other side of the upcoming Sept. 27 matchup in Memphis, Alcorn State (0-3) head Coach Cedric Thomas was also asked on Monday about his starting quarterback position.
Junior quarterback Jaylon Tolbert, a Howard transfer, has been the Braves starter this season, completing 53 of 95 passes for 430 yards and a touchdown with three interceptions. He threw two picks with no touchdowns in Alcorn’s season-opening loss at Northwestern State, a team which had lost 20 straight games dating back to 2022.
Tobert played the entire first half and Alcorn’s first drive of the second half in Saturday’s 63-0 loss at Mississippi State before he was replaced by junior Charlotte transfer Andre Washington. Pine Bluff native Achilles Ringo, a Mills graduate, played Alcorn’s final two drives in the fourth quarter.
Thomas did not hesitate to state Tolbert is still Alcorn’s starter.
“He’s playing at a high level,” Thomas said. “We’ll do some things for the backups, kind of just have some packages ready. We know it’s a long season, so we’ll definitely get those guys some reps. But right now, Jaylon commands it. (He) played well. Some of the hidden yardage not there just from some of the drops that he had, but we like him leading us. We know he gives us a chance to win every Saturday.”
Tolbert completed 11 of 18 passes for 80 yards with an interception against Mississippi State. He also rushed three times for six yards, his first time finishing a game this season with positive rushing yardage. His lone passing touchdown this season came on Sept. 6 in Alcorn’s 41-31 loss at Alabama A&M.
Washington completed 2 of 3 passes for 7 yards against MSU in his only appearance this season. Ringo did not attempt a pass.
Both UAPB and Alcorn State are off this week.
JENNINGS NAMED NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
UAPB junior running back Jaylen Jennings was named one of two SWAC Co-Newcomers of the Week on Monday.
Jennings rushed for 226 yards and four touchdowns against Lincoln, which was tied for the fourth-most rushing yards in a single game in UAPB history. He transferred to UAPB from East Mississippi Community College in the offseason.
He shared the honor with Jackson State quarterback Jared Lockhart, who completed 15 of 21 passes for 254 yards, a touchdown and an interception in JSU’s 30-0 win against Tuskegee. Lockhart also rushed 12 times for 44 yards and two touchdowns.