2021 season: 5-6, 3-4 in the Big South (3rd in the Big South)
Head coach: Sam Washington (5th season)
Once again, it will be a season of transition for North Carolina A&T in 2022. After just one fall season in the Big South following a move from the MEAC, the Aggies are on the move again, this time to the Colonial Athletic Association. Before then, though, head coach Sam Washington's team has one last chance to make some noise in the conference, and it seems poised to do just that.
Last year was not the best for the Aggies, who posted their first losing record since 2011 in a foreign environment. Their fairly even mark in conference play was good for third place, however. Now, another year removed from its spring season cancellation in 2020-21 and likely a bit more at home in the Big South, North Carolina A&T should be prepared to contend for a title.
With undefeated reigning champion Kennesaw State off to the Atlantic Sun Conference, there is a power void atop the conference, and the Aggies should join Bryant and Campbell in vying to fill it. A big part of whether they will succeed in doing so is the play of redshirt senior quarterback Jalen Fowler. The 6-foot-3 Fowler stepped into the starting role for the first time in 2021 and showed glimpses, racking up an impressive 7.8 yards per completion, without ever breaking out. He remains an exciting prospect, but North Carolina A&T will need better than a 5-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio to rise to the top.
Luckily for the Aggies, they have a defensive tandem to lean upon in junior linebacker Jacob Roberts and redshirt senior defensive end Jermaine McDaniel Jr. Roberts came into his own as a sophomore, starting 10 games and collecting a team-leading 84 tackles. Meanwhile, McDaniel gives North Carolina A&T something that very few teams have in a pass rusher that must be accounted for on the edge. With those two leading the way, the Aggies—who fielded the conference's third-best scoring defense—should only become a stronger challenge for opposing offenses.
In terms of scheduling, the Aggies have one Power Five matchup schedule at in-state foe Duke. Beyond that, it is one last Big South gauntlet for North Carolina A&T before moving on once again.
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Jonathan Levitan is a Trinity senior and was previously sports editor of The Chronicle's 118th volume.