Savannah State Update:
- Thomas Howard prioritized the offense, signing several massive offensive linemen to add size and depth to rebuild the trenches.
- The class includes dual-threat QB Cayden Benson, whose prolific passing and rushing production offers a potential answer at signal caller.
- Added three running backs and two wideouts to restore depth and scoring; transfers like Joshua Okeleye bolster the passing game.
From the moment he was named Savannah State University’s 28th football head coach, Thomas Howard knew he’d have some significant ground to make up on the recruiting trail. Hired late into the recruiting cycle on December 22nd, 2025, coach Howard had around six weeks to scout and bring talent to the Marsh.
Over the course of the six weeks, coach Howard was able to put together a class of 28 incoming Freshman, and Five Mid-year signees.
If we begin our breakdown with the mid-year signees, one thing was extremely clear: There was an expressed focus on the offense, more specifically the offensive line. Four of the five mid-year signees are OL, with the lone exception being a Wide Receiver. In an interview with the Assistant Athletic Director for Communications, Joshua Jackson, Coach Howard said, “The trenches are big, so we have to do a good job with the O-line and D-line because that’s where it all begins.”
One can only assume he meant big in the figurative as well as physical sense. What stands out about this group of linemen is the actual size; an average height and weight of 6’5 and 323 pounds. Dakari Sumter, a South Carolina native and Louisburg college transfer, leads the way at a staggering 6’8, 380 pounds. In addition to the four transfers, the Tigers will also welcome in five more Freshmen to help bolster the O-line.
Last year the Tigers offense found much of its success on the ground. Now this isn’t saying much when you factor in that the Tigers were bottom three in the SIAC in rushing yards per game (79.6). Despite the lack of yards on the ground they were T-8th in the conference in total rushing touchdowns (10). The nine newcomers to the front five should only help to improve these numbers for SSU in the coming season.
Shifting focus to the skill positions, we’ll start with arguably the most important position on the field: Quarterback (QB). It’s no mystery that Savannah State struggled mightily at the Signal caller spot last season. It also shouldn’t be a shock to know that the Tigers ranked in the bottom half of the conference in a slew of Offensive statistics. Some of the major ones included being 2nd in thrown Interceptions (16) and last in Passing Touchdowns (7).
Now oddly enough the Tigers did a good job of keeping their QBs off the ground with a top five distinction in sacks allowed, so the lack of production in the air wasn’t necessarily a matter of how much time the QB had in the pocket. One could point to the lack of consistency at the Quarterback position because the Tigers featured three different QBs throughout the 10 game schedule.
What is currently a mystery, is who will be the main man under center come Saturday. After the Spring game, a clear front-runner had not emerged so the competition for the QB spot is alive and well. The Tigers will be welcoming two QBs as a part of the 2026 recruiting class. The first of the two, Ryan Henson comes outta Fairburn, Ga and Lovejoy highschool. He is listed as a 6’1 Athlete (ATH), and what stands out about him is his ability to extend plays and generate offense with his legs. Arguably the biggest talking point of this entire class is the next QB, Cayden Benson.
Benson comes in as a 3-Star ATH, who also possesses dynamic ability on the ground. Most notably, he rushed for two touchdowns and nearly 150 yards on the ground, and threw for 163 yards with a touchdown, leading the Creekside Seminoles to a 42-39 GHSA class 4A state title. A storybook ending to an extremely solid high school career. In two seasons as the starter he finished with 5200 yards in the air and 68 passing TDs, as well as 1600 yards and 24 TDs on the ground. There is a lot to be excited about when it comes to the next potential Signal Caller for the Tigers.
Alongside the QBs the Tigers are bringing in, there will also be a trio of Runningbacks (RB) coming to the Marsh. Isaiah Davis comes in as 5’11 RB from Jonesboro, Ga and Jonesboro high school. Albert Gooding hails from Lithonia, Ga and Lithonia highschool. He actually played against fellow commit Cayden Benson in the GHSA class 4A state playoff, but Benson’s Seminoles would leave victorious.
In just two seasons Gooding was a workhorse with a nose for the endzone and cemented himself as the Lithonia Bulldogs’ all-time leader in rushing yards and touchdowns. Completing the trio of recruits is Kentavious DeBruce, the 5’9 Coffee high school product out of Douglas, Ga. DeBruce averaged over 100 yards per game his senior year and tallied 11 scores on the ground. With Joseph Hampton and David Gardner Jr. graduating, the running back room needed reinforcements, and these recruits arrive ready to restore depth and production
Our last position group on this list of offensive recruits will be the pass catchers. During the regular season the passing game appeared to be the Tigers’ achilles heel. It will be interesting to see how much the Tigers lean toward the passing game, if at all, during the first year of coach Howard’s tenure. Regardless, the Tigers have brought in a pair of Wideouts. If you recall earlier, I mentioned how one of the five mid-year signees played Wide Receiver (WR). Joshua Okeleye is the first of two new wideouts, and a Georgia Military College transfer. Kenneth Gladden rounds out the duo of new catchers and hails from Decatur, Ga and Miller Grove high school.
The Tigers open the regular season against defending HBCU national champion South Carolina State, Saturday Aug 28. This will be quite the order for the Tigers, but a great opportunity to test themselves against the best of the best in the HBCU world.
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