DeSean Jackson’s first season as Delaware State football coach has been one of the biggest stories in college football this season, as the Hornets, now 7-3 in 2025, secured their first winning season since 2012 with a heart-stopping 14-12 win at Morgan State Friday night.
Jackson said during Monday’s MEAC coaches’ conference that his team, who won a total of two games combined the previous two seasons, has come to embrace what it takes to be winners.
“The reality is there’s a small percent of guys on this team who have had success, like 10-15 percent; maybe even less than that,” he explained. “I have seniors on my team that have been here four and five years and have never had a winning season. You’re having guys go through something that’s not normal for them.”
Jackson said that those guys have been at the front of line when he and his coaching staff have pushed them to want more.
“When we’re talking about success, the daily grind and asking them to do things they’re not used to doing, some of these guys are falling in love with that process because that feeling of winning is addictive,” he said. “It’s a real thing these young men are witnessing right now.”
With their final two games of the season at home, leading off with Howard this Saturday, Jackson wants his team to understand how this home stretch will be the most important one in their football careers – and lives.
“You’re seeing guys cherish these moments. They’re coming to the realization this may be their last bit of football,” he said. “As a coach, you just try to make sure they’re present in the moment because this time may not come again in your life. We have a chance to do something very special.”
The Hornets are currently tied with South Carolina State for first place in the MEAC with a 3-0 record. They’ll face a Bison team that just lost to that same SC State team 42-12 this past Saturday.
