Marshall Faulk, Southern face tough test versus ascendant Alabama State

The start of the football season is upon us, and Marshall Faulk is already ready for his biggest test yet: a matchup against the ascendant Alabama State Hornets, led by coach Eddie Robinson Jr. and star quarterback Andrew Body. I circled this game the moment it was announced back in February, as it’s a matchup sure to answer a lot of critical questions about Faulk and what will happen in his first season in the SWAC.

Faulk landed in an ideal situation when he accepted the Southern University job. Southern is a proud HBCU football program with plenty of football accolades. From Pete Richardson, who led Southern University for 16 years, to Dawson Odum’s reign of success and even Southern’s appearances in the SWAC championship over the past few seasons. The Jaguars have proven that they can be a contender in any era of HBCU football.

But still, there’s a lot that’s undefined about Faulk as he starts his tenure. We know he wants a fast and quick offense. Even though he made his Hall of Fame career as a running back and boasts one of the most explosive tailbacks in Trey Holly, he wants an active passing game. Is that really going to work? Especially when we know that heading into the season, Marshall Faulk didn’t know who was going to start at quarterback. And to be honest, do we know now? If we don’t know now, will we know before the huge matchup on Saturday?

Well, here’s one thing I can predict: Andrew Body is going to be the best quarterback on that field, no matter who else is out there for Southern. I can guarantee that. And I’m so happy Andrew Body decided to come back. He could’ve gone to another institution. He stayed in the transfer portal long enough that there could’ve been FBS offers, places where he could’ve shown his talent to NFL scouts.

But he came back to Alabama State, and he said he did it because he wants to show that HBCU football can produce players who make it. Andrew Body had a phenomenal year last year that was, unfortunately, cut short by injury. He’s had a lot of injury concerns throughout his career, and we’re hoping and praying he has a healthy final year at Alabama State, and that he becomes the first quarterback out of the HBCU ranks to really make it to the NFL. I think that return starts with this game.

Alabama State is on a SWAC championship trajectory, and their road won’t be easy. They have to face tough matchups to start October against Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M. They then have their final two games of the season against Jackson State, which could decide who makes the SWAC championship for the East, and then a matchup against the potential SWAC West champion in Prairie View A&M.

Alabama State needs to start the season with fervor and beat Marshall Faulk in his first game, with all eyes on the matchup because of Faulk’s status as a Hall of Fame running back. Could be what’s needed. Body and Alabama State proved their competitiveness in their first game against the University of Alabama Birmingham last year. This could be another showcase of the possibilities of Alabama State’s potent offense with Body under center.

Southern will have its own advantages, with Trey Holly still a playmaking running back Faulk could likely unlock. Their running back room will be incredibly strong, even with the loss of former Texas A&M standout Ronnie Crosby, but it’s unlikely that they will be able to contain Alabama State’s firepower if the Hornets play as they did in 2025.

My prediction: Alabama State wins this game, perhaps by two or more touchdowns.

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