3 Takeaways From The Alabama State Football Scrimmage

The Hornets have a decision to make at quarterback ahead of their season-opener against Southern, but the defense and running game looks solid.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama State football will host its season opener against Southern for the Labor Day Classic two weeks from today. The Hornets are preparing for its first matchup against the Jaguars since 2016 with an early morning open scrimmage, where fans and media got to see this year's team for the first time.

Eddie Robinson's second year leading the program comes with questions about the most critical position on the field - the quarterback. But other aspects were on display that are key to success in 2023.

Stewart Shines While Davis Struggles

The starting quarterback position has been a two-man race between last year's starter Dematrius Davis and UAB transfer Damon Stewart.  

It was a clear difference in offensive philosophy between the two signal callers; under Davis, the offense was more compact, with a heavy focus on the run and short passing game. With Stewart, the offense was more spread out with empty-backfield sets and five wide receivers in the shotgun.

Neither quarterback was terrific, but the offense performed much better with Stewart. He converted more throws, including two 30-yard passes in tight coverage, including one that went for the day's only touchdown.

Here’s the touchdown throw from UAB transfer Damon Isaiah Stewart during the ASU scrimmage @hbculegends @ktmoze @sttewww

📸: @Jerryhump3 pic.twitter.com/xjuVsfmXca

— Mason Smith (@Masont_Smith) August 19, 2023

Stewart was also a much more decisive runner, not hesitating to pull the ball down and run when the pass wasn't there. He had consecutive plays where he scrambled for first downs.

It's a point to mention that Stewart had more opportunities to show off his arm talent than Davis. That said, the second-year quarterback did not look good, struggling to complete passes and looking more frantic when the pocket collapsed.

Two specific passes encapsulated Davis' day throwing; one pass was for a wide receiver on a 15-yard comeback that would've been a first down, but it was several yards short and bounced in the dirt. The other was a throw into double coverage that got batted up in the air and was ultimately intercepted.

Signs still point to Davis starting Week 1, but if the scrimmage was any indication, it'll be hard to keep Stewart on the sidelines for long.

The Running Back Room Is Deep Again

Ja'Won Howell is the starting running back for Alabama State. Robinson said that at media day, he said it after the scrimmage, and Howell proved it by running hard and consistently producing positive yardage.

But the running backs behind him also showed their skills during the scrimmage, namely junior Austin Gavin and sophomore Jaylen Sulton.

"They're just as ready as me," Howell said about the other running backs. "They get the same training I get; they see what I do. And I try to teach them well. They're always prepared whether I need a breather or it's their time to shine. When I come out, there isn't any dropoff."

Robinson also Mentioned Marcus Harris II and Tacaris Bozeman, who looked good in the backfield. A deep running back room is a massive advantage for a team committed to the run game.

Expect The Defense To Be Elite Again

The defense is the most surefire thing about the football program. The Hornets are loaded with talent on that side of the ball, from All-American linebacker Colton Adams to defensive backs Adrian Maddox and Jakobi Robinson. 

However, Adams didn't hold back about his unit's performance, saying, "I thought we came out flat, but we cranked it up towards the end. We had a really progressive day.

The senior linebacker and the front seven were able to apply pressure to both quarterbacks, but the secondary made a lot of plays today, from the interception to a clean pass breakup by Robinson near the sideline. Adams had similar sentiments: "The secondary is one of the strongest points of the defense." It will be tough for any defense to find holes against that secondary.