By D. Orlando Ledbetter

Here’s a quick look at some of the key HBCU Spring Games wrapups:

Rebuilding at Jackson State: The Tigers lost 40 players to graduation and the transfer portal, including 19 starters.

The new players participated in the Blue and White game at the Walter Payton Center on April 11.

Offensively, running back Nate Blount IV ran with power and flashed some speed on the perimeter. Micah Gay, a transfer from Tennessee State, could help to anchor the defense.

The highlight of the game was sophomore quarterback Jared Lockhart, who was SWAC co-freshman of the year last season, connecting with wide receiver Jabari Jones, who played at Langstron Hughes in Fairburn, Ga., on a deep ball.

“Jabari really stepped up,” Jackson State coach T.C. Taylor said. “He made the great explosive play, catching the ball with his hands. He played a little bit for us last year, but he knows he’ll have a bigger role this year.”

The Tigers are hoping for big things from the 6-foot-5 Lockhart this upcoming season.

“We’ve got to understand that he’s just a sophomore,” Taylor said. “He played a lot football for us….but (when) you talk about the measurables, he’s gotten really strong in the weight room. We’ve got to continue to put weapons around him. When you have got that size and that kind of arm strength,  that kind of talent, you want the other 10 to be really good on the field for him.”

Mentality change at Norfolk State: Norfolk State coach Mike Vick was pumped after the Spartans spring game.

“It’s my mentality now,” Norfolk State coach Michael Vick said. “It’s a championship mentality”

He wants to put his 1-11 first season in his rear view mirror.

“It’s a mind-changing, goal-setting, milestone achieving mentality,” Vick said. “That’s what we are on. We aren’t stopping. We are going to be so head strong, mentally head strong that we can’t be broken.”

The defense dominated during most of the Green and Gold game, which was held at Dick Price Stadium on April 11.

Vick is reshaping the quarterback room and took a full-contact approach throughout the scrimmage.

Ted White debuts at Howard: The White team beat the Blue team 36-32 in Howard’s spring game under new coach Ted White.

Washington Commanders executive Doug Williams attended the game. He played with Howard offensive coordinator Jimmie Johnson in the NFL.

-Savannah State in clean up mode: Coach Thomas Howard spoke to the media after the Tigers held their Spring Game.

“I know that there is work that has to be done,” Howard said. “That’s the biggest thing right now. We have to get in and down the work.”

The Tigers went 4-6 overall and 3-5 in the SIAC last season.

“Our offense has to continue to work,” Howard said. “You won’t be successful without work. That’s what we’ve got to do. We’ve got to take the ball away on defense. But the tough thing, is that on offense we can’t give it away.”

Howard is in his first year. He was most recently the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Fayetteville State

“We are working on the details,” Howard said. “Still a lot of mistakes on defense, just like we had on offense. Some of the offsides penalties and things like that. We can’t do that. Those are things that kill you. Especially when you’re going to have a young and new football team.”

The “New-Look” Hampton Pirates: Under first-year coach Van Malone, the Hampton fans got a chance to see the “new look” Pirates at the annual Spring Showcase at Armstrong Stadium on April 18.

Malone, who spent the last seven years as the assistant head coach at Kansas State, has revamped the roster with more than 30 newcomers.

The Pirates open the season against at 6 p.m. Aug. 29 against Virginia-Lynchburg before traveling to play at Maryland on Aug. 5.