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NC A&T football has something to prove in its new conference

A&T picked 10th in conference’s preseason poll, aiming higher

Published

July 26, 2023

NC A&T put three players on the CAA's preseason all-conference list, Karon Prunty, Tairiq Stewart and Taymon Cooke. (Photo/graphic courtesy of NCATAggies.com)

(From NCATAggies.com & staff reports) – NC A&T is one of the new kids on the block in the Coastal Athletic Association (formerly the Colonial Athletic Association).

Once a heavyweight in the MEAC and more recently the Big South, the Aggies now have to navigate a crowded and competitive new conference home, with opponents from as far away as Maine, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.

🏈 "We are working towards creating a new standard of what success looks like in the Coastal"

We are happy to have Coach Vincent Brown and @NCATFootball in #CAAFB! pic.twitter.com/jVh2avslV8
— CAA Football (@CAAFootball) July 25, 2023

The CAA features 15 schools in all with the addition of A&T and Campbell this season – the FCS equivalent of a mega-conference like the soon-to-be 16-team Big Ten or SEC.

A&T was picked to finish 10th in its first season in the CAA. That placing likely caused some shock for folks who follow a program that counts eight black college football national championships to its credit. When has A&T been 10th place in anything related to football?

But the back-of-the-pack preseason placing serves as motivation as well.

“We must take the A&T brand, which is nationally and globally known, and build a program that can go in and compete with Richmond, William & Mary, Towson, Delaware, and Villanova because that would be a game-changer for HBCUs,” first-year head coach Vincent Brown said. “We are trying to make sure our kids understand the level of commitment it takes to succeed in this conference.”

Last season, CAA Football had five teams make the FCS Playoffs. The Aggies are coming off a 7-4 season in which they went 4-1 in the Big South Conference, losing the de facto Big South championship game at Gardner-Webb in the 2022 regular-season finale.

One thing not being lost as A&T takes aim at a new conference? The long-time “Aggie-Eagle rivalry” with NC Central. That series will resume in week two of this season, on Sept. 9 at A&T. The teams have games scheduled through at least 2030, with the 2027 edition being played in Charlotte as part of the Duke’s Mayo Kickoff Classic.

Central won last year’s meeting 28-13 in Charlotte.

“Our fan base is very passionate – very, very passionate,” Brown said. “They have made it clear to me that this Aggie-Eagle rivalry is something that we take very seriously. Coach (Trei) Oliver has built a tremendous program there. We are looking forward to one game at a time but absolutely excited about the chance to match up against our rivals up the road.”

Before facing the Eagles, the Aggies first visit UAB, a member of the FBS American Athletic Conference, on Thursday, Aug. 31. A&T’s conference opener is Sept. 16 against an opponent that could soon be a fierce new rival, Elon, located just a short drive away.

Aggie Trio Make All-CAA

Junior cornerback Karon Prunty was the only Aggie listed on the CAA’s preseason defensive team, and graduate offensive tackle Tairiq Stewart was the lone Aggie on the offensive team. Senior Taymon Cooke made the preseason All-CAA honorable mention team as a kick returner.

Prunty – featured earlier this summer by NC Football News HERE – was new to the Aggies after transferring in from the University of Kansas last season. But now he stands as a known A&T commodity after earning All-Big South honors before earning preseason third-team All-America recognition from BlueBloods. Prunty finished second in the conference in interceptions with four. He made 32 tackles, including 23 unassisted. Prunty also had seven passes defended. Prunty earned Big South defensive player of the week after earning two interceptions against Bryant.

“With Prunty, we potentially have one of the best secondaries in all of FCS Football and potentially three of the best defensive backs in the CAA,” said Brown.

Stewart helped the Aggies have the best rushing attack in the Big South in 2022. He is a tenacious run blocker who had 40 domination blocks in 644 snaps played. In addition, Stewart had 452 positive plays during the season.

“A part of the success of the A&T ground attack last year, I believe, started up front,” Brown said. “With most of those guys back, that’s a real plus. It’s comforting to have that piece addressed because games are won up front on both sides of the ball. You have a strong foundation on the offensive line. It allows you to play the game you want to play.”

Cooke is a vital part of the Aggies offense, but he has proven to be one of the best returners in the league. He returned 13 kicks for 345 yards and a touchdown. Cooke returned a kick 95 yards for a touchdown against Charleston Southern on Nov. 12 for the Aggies only first-half score. He ranked third in the Big South in combined returns, and Cooke ranked eighth nationally in TD kickoff returns.

“I’m looking forward to putting all the pieces together,” said Brown about the opening of preseason camp on July 31. “We have so many new faces coming to camp. You can watch them run around the track or back and forth on the field, but until you put the pads on, you don’t know how all the pieces fit. So, putting the pieces together is the most exciting part.”