Kyle Jackson had a year of professional growth most people, let alone football coaches, dream of.
In a span of three months, he went from Bowie State linebackers’ coach to defensive coordinator before finally being named head coach once Damon Wilson accepted the Morgan State job.
Even as Jackson and his returning players were getting used to the change in leadership, the Bulldogs finished 6-4 overall and 5-3 in the CIAA North, missing the championship game for the first time since 2018, but not by much.
With the 2022 season still fresh on the minds of the players and staff, Jackson is confident and eager for the 2023 season, which opens at Division I Delaware State on Sept. 2, to get underway.
“Our guys approached winter workouts and spring practice with a different mindset,” Jackson says. “Coming from a three-time championship program, they don’t know what losing is because we’ve won for so long. Losing four games is new to them. They don’t like the taste in their mouths last season left, so I’m happy they’ve come in ready to work.”
Jackson understood that replacing someone like Wilson meant that he would have to establish himself as a leader with his own methods but still able to keep the tradition of Bowie State football success going, a challenge he has accepted with enthusiasm.
“When you follow behind a guy like Coach Wilson, it could be a lot of expectations projected onto a coach,” he explains. “I had to remind everyone I’m not Coach Wilson, but I still plan to elevate the program. The season was a lot of growth, personally and professionally. It was a situation where you have to grow as you go.
And he’ll be moving forward with quite a few returning pieces on both sides of the ball, most notably safety Keith Williams, who Jackson calls “the brains of the operation” on defense, as well as defensive linemen Cameron Chesley, Cameron Proctor, as well as linebacker Uvel Paul Jr. and corners Devon Williams and Rodney Patterson.
“We had to adjust based on personnel and learn together as we went through the season,” he said. “I’m thankful for the way it finished, we were three plays away from being back in the conference title, so we’re right where we want to be. I’m excited to move forward.”
Offensively, the Bulldogs return four of their five starting linemen, including tackles Kennedy Johnson and Miles Griswold, center Caleb Chester and left guard Cameron Porter. Jackson also cited wide receiver J.J. McNeil and tight end Elijah Saunders as having great spring practices.
With so much talent returning and with so much to prove, Kyle Jackson is excited for Bowie State football to return to glory, one game at a time.
“I don’t want to go into a situation where anything was given to us,” he says. “Last season, we had a target on our back. Those four losses were like the Super Bowl for other teams, so we’re going in week by week to compete and dominate and then focus on the next week we’re going to approach everybody the same way.”
I FULLY EXPECT THE BSU BULLDOGS TO DOMINATE THE CIAA….AGAIN!
SIGNED, “CIAA-FAN”