Midway through their first season as head coaches, former NFL standouts Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson find themselves on opposite trajectories in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).

Jackson and Delaware State (4-3 overall) have found early success, while Vick and Norfolk State (1-6 overall) have struggled to find their footing. Here are midseason analyses for both programs as they begin conference play Saturday:

High-ceiling Hornets

Jackson had arguably the hardest rebuilding job in the MEAC, taking over a Delaware State team that had won but one game in each of its past two seasons and finished 2-13 in conference play over the past three seasons.

In his first four games, Jackson tripled the program’s win total from a season ago. Seven games into the season, the Hornets boast a 4-3 record and are tied with reigning conference champion South Carolina State for the second-best overall record in the MEAC. In July, Delaware State was predicted to finish last in the MEAC in a preseason poll.

“I just want to remind everybody you know what the predictions were before the season,” Jackson said during the weekly MEAC call on Oct. 13. “We still feeling how we’re feeling. We’re ready for it. So I hope y’all understand that. … We ain’t apologizing because everybody predicted us to be bottom last.”

Jackson’s Hornets aren’t the same old Delaware State squad that MEAC opponents have scheduled for homecoming and run over like roadkill in the past two seasons. Under NFL veteran and running backs coach Clinton Portis, the Hornets have the No. 1 rushing offense in FCS football (2,289 rushing yards) and lead the MEAC in scoring offense, with 268 total points.

For comparison, in 2024 the Hornets scored 212 points in 12 games, ranking last in the MEAC. Delaware State’s rushing attack carries most of the offensive load; the only weakness on the offense has been the passing attack. Kaiden Bennett has thrown for 784 yards, which ranks next to last among MEAC quarterbacks, and four touchdowns, which ties for the fewest by a conference quarterback.

While Delaware State’s offense has shown flashes of promise under Jackson’s leadership, the defense remains a major concern and is struggling to find consistency. The Hornets rank fifth out of six teams in total defense, and their passing defense is last in the conference. If the passing defense doesn’t improve, they could struggle against conference teams such as North Carolina Central and South Carolina State, who are No. 1 and No .2 respectively in passing yards.

“We’re a hell of a run team. We understand that even when teams know that, they still load the box on us, and we still are able to be successful in the run game,” Jackson said. “I’m challenging my guys in the pass game as well. I’m challenging my defense. I’m challenging my special teams because I feel like in order for us to take the step we need to take, all three phases [have] got to be playing at a high level.”

Delaware State is entering conference play on an 11-game MEAC losing streak. Reaching five wins overall in one season would match the program’s highest win total in a decade, tying with the 2022 season, when the Hornets finished 5-6. Two wins in MEAC play would tie a program high for most conference wins in a season since 2022.

Jackson’s first opportunity to make a statement in conference play will come against North Carolina Central on Saturday.

“All season we feel like these games were going to get us warmed up and get us ready to go into MEAC play because we understand our goal and our mindset,” Jackson said. “There hasn’t been a championship here since, I think, 2007. That is too long – it’s overdue.

“We know it’s gonna be a challenge. We know we’re gonna play some teams, but we feel like all the teams we played got us warmed up and got us ready to go.”

Regardless of how the rest of the season goes, Delaware State already has accomplished enough under Jackson for his first season to be considered a success.

Struggling Spartans

Seven games into the Vick era, Norfolk State hasn’t lived up to the lofty expectations and has struggled to find its identity on the field. The program’s 1-6 overall record has revealed the inconsistencies of both the offense and the defense.

The Spartans’ only win of the season came against Division II opponent Virginia State in Week 2. Norfolk State is heading into conference play on a five-game losing streak and is one of two MEAC teams, along with Morgan State, without a win against a Division I team this season.  

After starting the season alternating between quarterbacks Otto Kuhns and Israel Carter, Vick made Kuhns the starter before the Spartans’ Week 3 game against Rutgers. However, their offensive struggles have continued. While their passing offense under Kuhns ranks No. 3 in the conference, generating 1,482 yards and eight touchdowns, the offense is one-dimensional, hindering Norfolk State’s effectiveness.

Norfolk State’s rushing offense ranks fourth in the MEAC, with the team’s running backs accounting for over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns. The Spartans rank next to last in the conference in scoring offense, with 140 points this season. Three of the Spartans’ losses were by single possessions, and they have scored more than 30 points just twice.

The Spartans are ranked last in the conference in scoring defense and rushing defense, and second to last in passing defense. The defense has struggled to help Norfolk State close games. In the team’s 18-13 loss to Wagner, the defense gave up 18 straight second-half points. In a 31-14 loss to Wofford, the defense allowed 17 second-half points.

“If you’re hearing rumors, you’re hearing rumors for a reason, right? You know, we don’t sugarcoat it,” Vick said on Oct. 13. “When it comes down to it, I’m gonna look at everything that’s happening, and my job as the leader of this team is to be super observant, be critical of myself first, and then let that spread throughout. And then, I gotta always make tough decisions. I’m learning that very early.”

On Tuesday, Vick confirmed that he had made changes to his defensive coaching staff, saying that some are no longer with the team, but declined to specify names.

Vick spent the bye week recruiting. He said the bye week is a crucial time for reflection and adjustments, viewing the first seven games as a learning period for the team. He emphasized the importance of making the right decisions to get his team focused and back on track. The team will open MEAC play against reigning conference champion South Carolina State on Saturday for Norfolk State’s homecoming.

Last season, Norfolk State finished 4-8 overall (2-3 MEAC). Despite starting the second half of the season with a lopsided record, Vick said his team is still motivated heading into conference play. The next five games still gives the Spartans the opportunity to match – and potentially exceed – last year’s record.

“We stay motivated by looking at what’s in front of us,” Vick said. “Obviously trying to implement some form of change that they can see, that can be consistent and aligned with the vision of what we set out to do from Day 1, and that was to go [and] try to win the MEAC championship. We can’t lose sight of that. That has to be the common goal. 

“It’s about getting together, understanding what needs to happen moving forward, how we’re going to do it, and how we’re going to be competitive and not give the game away.”

The post Year 1 has gone in opposite directions for coaches Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson appeared first on Andscape.