NORFOLK, Va. – As the parking lots filled with excited fans wearing green and gold, playing cornhole, and throwing the pigskin back-and-forth, you would've thought the Spartans' home opener against Hampton had arrived a few months early.
 
But the NSU faithful showed out in droves to get a glimpse of the 2022 NSU football team for the first time at the team's instrasquad scrimmage on Saturday afternoon.
 
"It was a great atmosphere," defensive lineman Sage Beuchert-Irvine noted. "It was great to get back with the fans and get back out here for spring ball."
 
NSU looked sharp defensively from the get-go, plugging up run lanes and clamping down wide receivers. Irvine was one of many players on the defense looking to prove themselves, filling big shoes like those of graduated All-MEAC ends De'Shaan Dixon and Chris Myers.
 
"I had to gain some confidence in myself to be able to go out here and perform," Irvine said. "All last season, [Dixon and Myers] were leaders and coaches for us. They taught me a lot about pass-rush moves, hand placements, and they really helped me."
 
While the defense looked staunch on Saturday, NSU displayed flashes of explosiveness on the offensive side of the ball. Ryan Meyers, in his first season as the Spartans' offensive coordinator debuted an effective, balanced rushing and passing attack.
 
"I thought they moved the ball," NSU head coach Dawson Odums said. "Early on, they went three and out and then they got into a groove. I think we've got a chance to be really, really special and I think we can score some points, it's just a matter of getting the right guys out of there. We've got to get some more depth in the offensive line, but when we're healthy and got our best five out there, we think we can play with anybody."
 
After a few possessions of stout defense, the offense got going with transfer quarterback Otto Kuhns under center. The 6-3 quarterback from Carroll, Ohio found Collis Pride on a deep slant for a 25-yard gain, before picking up another first down to Sivon Pleasants on a short throw moments later.
 
"[Kuhns] is getting better," Odums said. "I think he's learning the offense, going the right way with the football. We're still a little off with our timing, but that's coming. I really think this offseason is gonna be big because I still think there are some weapons and things we can do to really help this offense become explosive."
 
Kuhns connected with Da'Quan Felton for the first touchdown of the day, the wide receiver making the grab near the sideline, spinning past a defender and running 40+ yards for the score.
 
"Felton is as advertised," Odums said. "He's probably one of the best in the country."
 
After a red zone stand by the NSU defense, Kuhns got the offense rolling again on the next possession, finding Tremayne Talbert streaking down the seam for a 55-yard bomb that gave the offense another seven points.
 
"I just follow my technique, do what my coach says, run my route, catch the ball, and do what I do," said Talbert, another returner assuming a larger role after the graduation of key upperclassmen from last season.
 
After his first kick of the day was tipped at the line of scrimmage, Carson Wilt converted on his next field goal attempt. Witt knocked a line drive through the uprights after the NSU defense stalled a drive deep in its own territory.
 
The team ended the day with reps in the red zone. The Spartans' secondary kept the quarterbacks from making any more touchdown throws, but Brent Stratton slipped through the middle of his linemen for a 22-yard touchdown, the team's last score of the day.
 
The Spartans have three more spring practices on deck, inching closer and closer to the team's 2022 season opener at Marshall on September 3. 
 
"We'll go clean up this," Odums said. "We're going to really focus on our execution and look at some things that we may see going forward from other teams that we didn't get a chance to see until practice 12."