It has been a rough go for North Carolina A&T, to say the least.
Coming off a third straight 10-loss season in 2025, the Aggies under second-year head coach Shawn Gibbs will look to show a semblance of progress.
But do the Aggies have enough talent to advance from the bottom of the CAA and actually be competitive in 2026?
Is there a reason for optimism at all? Let’s dive in.
It all starts upfront
The biggest reason for optimism is Gibbs’ roster overhaul and a push to get bigger and more physical up front. That approach makes sense after a 2025 season in which A&T struggled badly on both sides of the ball. For the Aggies to improve, they need a sturdier line, cleaner quarterback play, and a defense that can hold up longer in games.
Several names could help make that happen. The transfer additions of Ahmarion McLeod, Eli Williams, and Desmond Jackson were brought in to add size and physicality to an offensive line that allowed 44 sacks and was a big part of an offense that only averaged 2.5 yards per carry and 4.6 yards per play last season.
On the returning side, CJ Ragland, Noah Okoye, Tim Hammonds, and Phinnell Marshall are worth watching because the offense cannot take a step forward without more dependable line play. If those players stabilize the front, A&T can be more efficient in both the run and pass game.
“I think our offensive line has gotten better. I’ve seen a lot of progress in the way they do things,” said Gibbs after the Aggies spring scrimmage. “I think (first-year offensive line coach Donovan Jackson) has done a good job in the short amount of time he’s had them because we have a bunch of new guys up there. But even over there, we have three or four guys who are out due to injury.”
The defense also needs more impact from players such as Amondi James, Cameren Dalrymple, Steven Davis II and Terien George. A&T allowed more than 43 points and nearly 468 yards per game in 2025, so any improvement from that group could change the season’s tone quickly.
Can the running back room help?
The North Carolina A&T offense was rather punchless, averaging 20.5 points per game, and failing to crack the 20-point mark during a season-ending four-game losing streak.
The hope is that running back Shimique Blizzard, a senior, will make a jump in 2026. But there will be depth behind him. used the combination of JT Smith, Hicks, Shimique Blizzard, Teriq Mclaughlin, and Jayden Williams, who converted from linebacker to running back, to contribute.
We’ve got to find a way to create some more explosive plays,” said Gibbs. “We had some good runs, but that’s not A&T running back football. We don’t settle for 20-yard runs. We are used to 40- and 60-yard touchdowns. So that’s what we’ve got to get to.”
What about the quarterback?
A&T’s quarterback battle is shaping up to be one of the most compelling storylines heading into August. Four passers — Jy Walls, Long, Kevin White and Alston Hooker — received long looks in practice and in the spring game.
We might not know who the QB is until right before the season opener against Morgan State
What has to happen for NC A&T to contend?
For NC A&T to have a good season, the Aggies need three things to happen at once: the offensive line has to stop the bleeding, the quarterback room has to produce a steadier answer, and the defense has to cut the explosive plays that turned too many games into blowouts in 2025.
If Gibbs can get A&T to run the ball with enough consistency, protect the quarterback just enough to avoid constant pressure, and provide some resistance on defense, the record can move in the right direction, though climbing to the top of the CAA will be a long process.
