The final game of the 2025 football season for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will send the Golden Lions to one of 2024’s top Southwestern Athletic Conference teams.
UAPB will face Alabama State on Nov. 22 at ASU Stadium in Montgomery, Ala.
Bama State (7-5, 5-3 SWAC in 2024) tied for second in the SWAC East Division last season thanks in large part to its defense. The Hornets led the conference in scoring defense, total defense, and rushing defense. ASU was third in passing defense.
Quarterback injuries held the Hornets back. ASU had the fourth-best rushing offense in the league but ranked 11th in passing.
Eastern Illinois transfer Jonah O’Brien and Texas Southern transfer Andrew Body played in ASU’s season opener against North Carolina Central. Body led the Hornets in rushing with 146 yards and two touchdowns, but neither had much success through the air.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Injuries sidelined both quarterbacks, with neither playing again the rest of the season. Three others played periodically the rest of the way, with converted wide receiver Kareem Keye becoming ASU’s top passer in 2024. The former high school quarterback threw for 1,355 yards with 11 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Keye, who ASU lists on its 2025 roster as both a quarterback and wide receiver, returns this season alongside Body and backup Zach Sims. The Hornets also signed two Football Bowl Subdivison transfers, Te’Sean Smoot from Jacksonville State and Braylen Ragland from Georgia State, to compete for the starting job. Neither played at their prior schools.
The Hornets must replace their leading rusher and receiver from last season but bring back several others in both categories.
At running back, Jamarie Hostzclaw and Marcus Harris II return after combining for 720 yards and three touchdowns. At receiver, ASU loses leader Robert McMinn but brings back the next four leading pass catchers plus tight end Derick Harden. Those five accounted for eight of ASU’s 14 receiving touchdowns last year.
The Hornets signed Wofford wide receiver Dylan Djete, who was that team’s third leading receiver last year and caught two touchdowns. ASU also signed Mississippi State tight end Joshua Washington and Alabama running back JR Gardner.
All-SWAC first team offensive lineman Arelious Dunn is gone, but second team selection Desmond Daniels returns.
ASU’s SWAC-leading defense loses eight of its top nine tacklers from last season, including all five of its All-SWAC First Team defenders.
UAPB transfer Rico Dozier and fellow linebacker DeMarkus Cunningham were ASU’s top two tacklers, with Dozier ranking second in both tackles for loss and sacks. With both gone, the one notable returner at linebacker is Rhoody Jean-Louis, who made 22 tackles with two interceptions.
Alcorn State transfer Kayvon Henderson, UTSA transfer Corey Lucius and Central State transfer Jalil Lenore will try to help ASU fill the void at linebacker.
The Hornets must replace their top five defensive linemen, including Treqwan Thomas, who led the team in tackles for loss (16.5) and sacks (12). ASU will need to rebuild that group around top returner Terrell Lightfoot Jr. and Prairie View A&M transfer Davier Farrow.
Safeties Keane Lewis and Dwight Jacobs Jr. are the leading returning tacklers. Lewis, a Second Team All-SWAC selection, had two interceptions and 40 tackles last season. Eight of ASU’s 17 defensive interceptions last season were made by Amon Scarbrough and James Burgess, who are both gone.
Georgia Southern transfer Deontre Morris made 36 tackles with an interception and a fumble recovery last year. In 2023, he led Kennesaw State in tackles with 48 and intercepted two passes. He and Vanderbilt transfer Alan Wright will look to fill the gaps in the secondary.
UAPB (3-9, 2-6) last played ASU in the 2022 season finale, beating the Hornets 19-14 in Montgomery.