North Carolina A&T head coach Shawn Gibbs believes the Aggies’ biggest improvement this offseason can’t be measured by recruiting rankings or roster additions.
It’s a change in mentality.
After navigating an injury-plagued first season in the Coastal Athletic Association that saw the Aggies go 2-10 overall, Gibbs says his program is ready to stop trying to prove it belongs and instead return to the standard that once made A&T one of the nation’s premier FCS programs.
“We’ve been trying to prove that we belong and that we can play in this conference,” Gibbs said at CAA Football Media Day on Thursday. “That’s no longer our approach. Our approach isn’t to prove anything to anybody. Our approach is to honor and glorify who we’ve always been. We’re a championship football program.”
The Aggies enter Gibbs’ second season with increased optimism after rebuilding nearly every position group through player development and the transfer portal.
“We’ve made a lot of progress in a number of ways,” Gibbs said. “We’ve brought in a lot more talent, and the guys that were here last year have developed and become better players.”
Bigger, deeper, and more competitive across the board
That optimism begins at quarterback, where Gibbs said five players with college experience are competing for the starting job. Incumbent Kevin White has impressed during the offseason, while transfer Braxton Thomas has added competition after attending the prestigious Manning Passing Academy.
Jy Walls, Long, Kevin White and Alston Hooker all received long looks in practice and in the spring game.
“No one’s going to feel safe about their job,” Gibbs said. “You’ve got to earn it every day.”
The offensive line was another major offseason emphasis after A&T failed to produce a 100-yard rusher in 2025.
Calling that statistic “embarrassing,” Gibbs said the Aggies are determined to reclaim the physical rushing identity that once earned the program the nickname “RBU.”
“We’re a lot bigger, a lot stronger and we’re going to be a lot meaner than we were last year,” Gibbs said.
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 all will compete for spots on the line.
A mindset shift, not a rebuild
The defense also expects to look significantly different.
Safety Steven Davis, who was limited to eight games while recovering from a torn ACL but still recorded 28 tackles, returns healthy and believes the Aggies have assembled one of their most athletic defensive units in recent years.
The defense also needs more impact from players such as Amondi James, Cameren Dalrymple, Steven Davis II and Terien George.
“We got a lot bigger, especially up front,” Davis said. “We got bigger in the secondary too. We’ve got a lot of length and athleticism. I feel like we’re a complete defense.”
Personally, Davis has his sights set on becoming one of the CAA’s elite defensive backs after earning preseason recognition.
“I’m fully healthy, and I’m looking to make an impact,” he said. “I’m looking to be one of the best defensive backs in the CAA.”
