Tigers Look Forward to Success in 2024
 
Full 2024 Football Media Guide - (Here)

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Savannah State enters the 2024 campaign fresh after a 2023 season that was filled with ups and downs.

In a brief recap of last year, SSU started the season winning two of their first three games but closed out the year with a seven-game losing skid. Four of the losses were by seven points or less. In addition, the Tigers hung tough with a FCS opponent for more than three quarters.
 
How do you forget about having a losing season? The answer, of course, is to have a winning season. That is the goal of Savannah State head football coach Aaron Kelton and his Tigers.

The mood around the team this year is that they are ready to turn things around and return to their winning ways.
 
The last time Savannah State had a winning season was in 2021 when they were 8-2. The following year, Kelton's first year at the helm, SSU finished .500 with a 5-5 mark.
 
A good indication of how the team will turn their fortunes around happened in the Annual Orange & Blue Spring Game which ended in a 34-34 tie.
 
After the game, defensive back Hudson Primus summed up the previous season and gave a goal of the team for what's to come in 2024.
 
"Every game is going to be a proving point for us to show why last year, that wasn't our team. This year will be completely different. I can promise you that," said the graduate transfer from Pitt.
 
Anchoring the defense will be All-SIAC First Team defensive back Deandre Creary.
 
Last year, the Marietta, Georgia native led the Tigers in interceptions (3) and pass breakups (7). He was second on the squad in solo tackles (27) and fourth in total tackles (33). The rising junior also had a pair of tackles for loss.
 
Creary was a member of a Tiger defensive unit that ranked third in the SIAC in pass defense, allowing 196.1 yards per game.
 
Back to join Creary in the secondary are Ahlik Booker (32 tackles, one sack, one interception), Kirk Smith (17 tackles, one fumble recovery) and Keion Bryant (16 tackles).
 
Top linebackers include Gary Davis, Tavare Brewton and Uchenna Nwoha.
 
Davis and Brewton led the team in tackles with 54 and 49 stops respectively while Nwoha had 25 tackles.
 
In the defensive trenches, the Tigers return William Jones, Ameer Phillips, Pearce Brown and Xavier Esquillien.
 
Jones had 41 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and four sacks while Brown had 27 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack. Phillips was in on 23 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks and one forced fumble and Esquillen had 22 stops, five tackles for loss and one sack.  Nathaniel Chisholm is set to return after having his season cut short due to injury.
 
Mid-year transfers Micah Monds (St. Thomas), Bruce Mattox (Morgan State), Todd Lark (Howard) and Ronald Graves (North Carolina A&T) all participated in spring drills with SSU which will give them added depth on the defensive side.
 
The offense will center around the return of quarterback Jadon Adams who was the Tigers leading passer (1,526 yards & 9 touchdowns) and rusher (415 yards & 5 touchdowns) last season.
 
Pushing Adams in camp will be Christian Burks, Austin Williams and Garvin Douglas.
 
When SSU throws the ball, Da'Shun Mitchell will be the top target. Mitchell led the Tigers in receiving last season with 50 receptions for 650 yards and four touchdowns. Randy Scott (16 catches for 152 yards) and Demeke Colbert (14 catches for 103 yards) also return as does Khiry Wallace and Elijah Stephens.
 
Mid-year transfer wideouts who learned the system during spring drills include Ronnie Faison (Mercer), John Dickerson (Shorter) and Nick Deve (Lake Erie).
 
Khristian Clark and Jalil Calhoun will battle for the tight end spot along with mid-year transfer Braylon Fowler who comes to SSU from UNC Pembroke.
 
Anchoring the running attack will be veteran Shamarcus Poole who ran for 368 yards and three scores. Also seeking more carries will be Alie "AJ" Brown (3.4 yards a carry) ) and Joe Hampton (3.8 yards a carry).
 
Up front, opening up holes for the running backs or providing pass blocking will be the offensive line.
 
Kason Hodges, Dominick Kellings, Christian Hubbard, Tre Samuel, Amarian Brown, Bryce Favor, Keshawn Palmore, Nicolas Garcia and Marquis Jordan all return from a year ago. Key newcomers include Jaxson Philipenko, a mid-year transfer from Wiregrass Ranch High School in Land O' Lakes, Florida.
 
With specialist Kenneth Lockhart graduated, Michael Becton (kicker) and Lexington Matthews (punter) are expected to step in right away.
 
Transfers Tracy Todd and Chesten Lytch will bring experience to the team and Kelton will be counting on it with them in the fall.  Todd comes to Savannah State from Oklahoma Panhandle State University while Lytch is transferring in from Livingstone College.
 
Joining the team from the high school ranks will be offensive linemen Cameron Thompson (Dutchtown HS/Hampton, GA), Justyn James (Monsignor Pace HS/Miami, FL), Jayden Hilson (Minor HS/Adamsville, AL) and Arnez Jones (Foley HS/Foley, AL); defensive linemen William Lampley (Goshen HS/Troy, AL), Adonis Brazil (Upson Lee HS/Thomaston, GA), Malachi Fils-Aime (Golden Gate HS/Naples, FL), Robert Horsley (Peach County HS/Fort Valley, GA) and Emlison Emiclar (Hiram HS/Hiram, GA); wide receiver Jahziah Alvilez (Warner Robins HS/Warner Robins, GA); tight end Ivan Kynes (McEachern HS/Powder Springs, GA); defensive back Carlos Moore (Minor HS/Adamsville, AL); and quarterback Levi Watson (Harris County HS/Hamilton, GA).

Full 2024 Football Media Guide - (Here)