NFL
By Bill Carroll
Menelaus, the legendary king of Sparta, belongs to Greek mythology, but what is all too real is that the Spartans of Norfolk State have started their own Odyssey, the 2025 season. Like the Third Battle of Mantinea (207 BCE), the Spartans were crushed, this time not by the Achaean League and rather than Machanidas, the Spartans were led by rookie coach Michael Dwayne Vick.
Norfolk State Spartans 2025: Roster Analysis
Roster Overview
The first game of the 2025 Norfolk State Spartans football team, of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, was emblematic of a program in transition. The squad, led by Head Coach Michael Vick in his inaugural season, blends new transfers, high school recruits with returning upperclassmen in pursuit of a new and more competitive culture.
| Position Group | Key Players and Transfers | Class/Stats | Previous School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterback | Otto Kuhns, Israel Carter, Earl Woods III, Vinson Berry (So.) | Gr./R-So./So./Fr. | Eastern Illinois, USF, Kennesaw St. |
| Running Back | Kiron Benjamin, Jaylen Laudermilk, Kevon King, Jaylen White | R-Sr./Sr./Sr./Sr. | East Miss CC, Sequoias/Merrimack |
| Wide Receiver | DreSean Kendrick, JJ Evans, Kymari Gray, Kam’Ryn Thomas, Jahee Blake | Sr./Gr./Sr./Sr./Jr. | W&M, North Alabama, Hampton |
| Offensive Line | Daniel Ademisoye, Vincent Byrd Jr., Tyler Leinberger, Ryan Nolan | Jr./Sr./Jr./Jr. | Sierra Canyon, Hampton, ODU |
| Linebackers | Terique Miles, Kendric Nowling, Khalib Gilmore, Miguel Rijo | Gr./Gr./Gr./Jr. | Palmetto Prep, Eastern Michigan |
| Defensive Backs | BJ Blake, Jayden Smith, Corey Chapman, Kahleef Jimmison | Jr./Gr./R-Sr./Gr. | Louisiana Tech, Freedom HS, ODU |
| Defensive Line | Major Dillard, David Ojiegbe, Kyree Moyston | Jr./R-So./R-Jr. | Chowan, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati |
| Special Teams | Marco Peery (K), Noah Tracey (P/K), Toby Willis (LS), Evan Helfrich | So./Jr./Sr./Fr. | Marshall, ProKick Australia, etc. |
Offense
The roster reveals a heavy reliance on transfer talent, particularly at key quarterback positions (Kuhns, Carter, Woods III), linebacker, and the wide receiver corps. Several starting defenders and offensive linemen also arrive from FBS or high-level programs, reflecting a rapid, strategic attempt to add experience and physicality.On the field, these personnel moves suggest a renewed focus on versatility and adaptability on both sides of the ball. For example, DreSean Kendrick, a senior receiver transferred from William & Mary, caught 11 passes for 125 yards against Towson, immediately asserting himself as a focal point of the offense. His wing-man Kam’Ryn Thomas had seven catches for 105 yards as both cracked century mark.
Defensive Line
Defensively, Chowan transfer, Major Dillard (DL) and Red-shirt Sophomore, Clemson and Pitt transfer, David Ojiegbe (DE) anchored the line with multi-tackle games and key pass rush contributions.
Despite this, the 2025 Spartans are still building chemistry and cohesion, a challenge reflected in the game’s outcome.
Depth Chart and Experience Considerations
Norfolk State’s roster for 2025 has been radically remodeled, with a significant proportion of potential starters and depth contributors arriving through the transfer portal, and many expected to play immediately. The rapid turnover this off-season, including the loss of key offensive linemen, the top two 2024 running backs, and veteran defenders, translates to an “inexperienced but talented” profile for the current squad.
Importantly, the blue-chip ratio remains low and only a handful of recruits carried top-tier prep ratings, meaning the team’s upper ceiling is more reliant on development and coaching identity than on raw recruiting pedigree.
This level of roster turnover is like army bringing in multiple outside mercenaries and newly promoted officers ahead of a campaign, which requires time to integrate into a cohesive, effective force, this was true also in ancient Sparta when they at times had a consortium of allies versus a core pf hardened professionals. This can play a decisive role in football and combat.
Norfolk State Spartans 2025 Coaching Staff
Leadership and Staff Structure
The new Norfolk State coaching staff is headlined by Michael Vick, who was one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in modern football but is a neophyte coach at the collegiate level. Vick is joined by a group of former NFL players and respected collegiate strategists, all assembled in his first hire cycle:
| Role | Coach | Experience Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Head Coach | Michael Vick | NFL Pro Bowl QB, OC at Atlanta Legends (AAF) |
| Offensive Coordinator | Brian Sheppard | QB Coach/OC at Towson, Steton&VMI |
| Defensive Coordinator | Terence Garvin | 6-year NFL veteran, former FAMU Co-DC |
| Offensive Line Coach | Elton Brown | NFL (Cardinals), college OC |
| Linebackers/Asst. ST Coach | LaRoy Reynolds | 9-year NFL LB, Seahawks/Cowboys fellow |
| Defensive Backs Coach | Jameel “Jabo” Smith | FMU co-DC, DB specialist |
| Defensive Line Coach | Izaan Cross | Georgia Tech, NFL exp., coaching youth |
| Running Backs Coach | Dre Kendrick | FCS assistant; detailed RB specialist |
| Special Teams Coordinator/NFL Liaison | Tory Woodbury | NFL vet, Howard STC, Super Bowl experience |
| Asst. Head Coach | Darryl Bullock | HBCU coaching pedigree, OL focus |
| Wide Receivers Coach | Tim Smith | Retained; Valparaiso, Lincoln (PA), HS exp. |
| Safeties Coach/Recruiting | Wilson Appleton | Auburn QB, SEC Academic All-American |
| Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator | Steve Adams | Versatile coordinator and recruiter |
| Strength & Conditioning | Cedric Quinn Sr. | HBCU S&C veteran, 2x Celebration Bowl winner |
| Director of Football Operations | DeMarcus McMillan | Project manager, ops specialist |
Coach Vick’s hiring generated national buzz, with analogies drawn to the recent appointments of high-profile ex-NFL stars, Deion Sanders (Jackson State/Colorado), Eddie George (Tennessee State), and Trent Dilfer (UAB), whose leadership approaches have posed both risks and new energy for HBCU and Group of Five programs.
Playing Philosophy and Approach
Coach Michael Vick has set a tone of collaboration and adaptability, aiming to create a “winning culture” rooted in flexibility and leveraging the experience and talents of his assistant coaches.
In early interviews Coach Vick emphasized:
- Culture over scheme: Vick draws inspiration from his former coaches (Andy Reid, Mike Tomlin), focusing on building player rapport, discipline, and accountability.
- Flexibility in quarterback usage: Both Otto Kuhns and Israel Carter saw action in the opening game, indicating that Vick intends to use game flow and opponent weaknesses to dictate personnel decisions.
- Attention to detail and fundamentals: The presence of NFL-experienced position coaches and a strength and conditioning leader with a championship HBCU pedigree shows intent on reducing errors through enhanced preparation.
Vick’s public comments after the Towson loss emphasized limiting self-inflicted wounds (penalties, red-zone inefficiency, failure to capitalize on turnovers), displaying self-awareness and responsiveness that could encourage mid-season growth. In part two we will look forward to how the Spartans can prevail versus rival Virginia State.
