The Morgan State University Bears football team made their return to home turf on the evening of Thursday, April 17, for their annual Blue and Orange Spring Game.
Students, families, and supporters filled the stands of Hughes Stadium with excitement and anticipation as they witnessed the annual intrasquad scrimmage, offering fans a first look at the 2025 football season.
“We had some guys defensively that showed up today and made some plays, which was good to see,” said head coach Damon Wilson. “We didn’t play some of our skill guys, but we gave some other guys opportunities to show what they can do.”
The Bears finished the 2024 season on a high note, earning their most victories in a single season since 2014, with six wins.
Senior linebacker Erick Hunter shared his thoughts on staying competitive in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. After finishing third in the MEAC last year, Hunter believes the Bears are poised to build on last year’s success and make an even stronger push for the top spot this season.
“Recruiting—replacing the guys that we had last year to make sure we can continue the program’s progression,” Hunter said.
With the addition of 29 new student-athletes to the roster this offseason, expectations around the program are reaching levels not seen in Baltimore in over a decade.
With the program experiencing renewed success, several senior players have begun to embrace leadership roles both on and off the field. Sophomore wide receiver Malique Leatherbury spoke about one in particular.
“Jojo (Joseph Kennerly Jr.) on and off the field, he’s always on everybody, making sure they’re doing what they have to do, even when he’s not there,” said Leatherbury.
Coach Wilson emphasized the team’s energy, growth, and commitment to improvement, noting that what has stood out most to him this spring is the players’ focus, strong work ethic, and how quickly they’ve come together as a unit.
“Guys having more time to spend together,” said Wilson. “Just the continuity of the ball club, and the guys’ understanding of what we were trying to get done schematically.”
Morgan State football is set to kick off its 2025 season on Saturday, August 30, with a road matchup against the FBS-level South Alabama Jaguars at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.
