NORFOLK, Va. – Six hundred fifty-one days.

That's how many days will have passed between Norfolk State football games once the Spartans take the field this Saturday. The wait is almost over, though, as NSU opens the 2021 season this Saturday at the University of Toledo.

Since playing their last game on Nov. 23, 2019, the Spartans have hired a new coach in former Southern University head man Dawson Odums. Odums, who was hired in late April, has wasted no time instilling his values and putting his fingerprint on a roster which returns a heavy dose of veteran experience.

"Normally you wouldn't be able to see a difference this quick," said Odums of his installing his system. "Normally it takes about six to eight months to get everything implemented. But we're on schedule, and that's a testament to our assistants and players buying into the culture we're trying to establish."

Offensively, the Spartans feel they can match up with anybody thanks to a veteran quarterback, experience along the offensive line and a bevy of talented skill position players. Pulling the strings will again be Juwan Carter, who enters his fourth year as the starter behind center. Carter, the preseason MEAC Offensive Player of the Year, is within shouting distance of breaking many of the school's long-standing passing records.

Carter was one of seven preseason All-MEAC selections for the NSU offense, six of which were first-team choices. Receivers Da'Kendall James (first-team All-MEAC) and Justin Smith (second team) were the team's leading receivers in 2019, combining for five 100-yard receiving games. Along with super senior Marcque Ellington, NSU returns all three of its starting wideouts from a passing game which ranked second in the MEAC in yards per game in 2019.

Young receivers Tremayne Talbert, Da'Quan Felton and Demani Ward are among other names to watch from the receiver corps. Tight ends Shawn McFarland and Anthony Williams give NSU an embarrassment of riches in the passing game.

Sophomore running backs Kevin Johnson and Rayquan Smith are both returning after combining for roughly 900 yards rushing in part-time starter roles in 2019. Johnson earned third-team All-MEAC honors after tallying 11 touchdowns as a rookie, while Smith came on strong down the stretch with two 100-yard games to give NSU a formidable, youthful rushing threat two years ago. Add in redshirt senior Cameryn Brent is back after missing the 2019 season with an injury, and speedy redshirt freshman transfer J.J. Davis from the University of Cincinnati, and NSU has a dynamic quartet of options to carry the ball.

The offensive line includes four players with starting experience. Guards Justin Redd and Jalen Powell both earned All-MEAC honors in 2019 and have started more than 20 games in their careers. Tackle Taro Lipscomb and center D'Montre' Smith also started multiple games that season, while UConn transfer tackle Jeff Woods will also battle for a starting role.

Upperclassman Colby Byrd and Josh Culberson and rookies Dyral McMillan, Desmond Kelly and Baron Franks will also vie for key roles.

Put it all together, and the pieces are in place to threaten the 2019 team's single-season Division I program scoring record of 28.9 points per game.

"Offensively, we have been as advertised," Odums said. "As the O-line goes, that's how we will go. If we can protect (Carter), he has some weapons and can deliver the ball. Our skill positions are very talented."

Defensively, the Spartans return plenty of experience up front and in the back. Senior defensive ends Chris Myers and De'Shaan Dixon combined for 13.5 sacks two years ago in earning All-MEAC honors. Both have received several preseason accolades, as well. Remy Feltes is back to help anchor the interior and will be aided by D.J. Djonkam and freshman Anthony Blume, Mac Petit, Levontae Jacobs and Noah Wallace, along with Glenville State transfer Amadeu Vital.

The secondary welcomes back its two primary starters at cornerback from 2019 in Brandon Savage (60 tackles, two interceptions) and Devyn Coles (38 tackles, MEAC-leading five interceptions). Both were preseason All-MEAC selections in their own right. Virginia Tech transfer Tyree Rodgers and Liberty transfer Tayvion Land inject some new talent into the unit. Justin Toler and R.J. Coles, who both missed most of 2019 due to injury, and Stuart Anderson, who switched to defense from wideout, will also help lead a unit which is long on youth and athleticism.

The linebacker unit will be led up by fifth-year senior Matt Hodges and redshirt junior Marquis Hall. Hodges has seen plenty of time at both linebacker and on special teams and is ready to assume an even larger role. Hall showed flashes of star potential in 2018 before an injury set him back in 2019. Lackawanna College transfer Tyler Long and Palmetto Prep School standout Terique Miles will also play key roles for NSU.

The Spartans' kicking game is in good hands with preseason All-MEAC kicker Josh Nardone and punter Ryan Richter. Both are returning to the roles they excelled in during the 2019 campaign, when Nardone made 9 of 11 field goals and Richter averaged nearly 40 yards per punt.

Odums can't wait for his team to get the chance to hit players in a different colored jersey for the first time in 20 months.

"We just want to stay healthy and keep improving on our discipline," Odums said. "If we do that, this team is going to continue to get better and have the chance to do something special."