Bethune-Cookman’s goal for 2022 football season: Erase memory of last season’s 2-9 record

There’s no need to remind him.

Bethune-Cookman coach Terry Sims always feels the pain of last season’s 2-9 record — like a toothache that won’t go away.

The Wildcats went 7-4 in 2019 but then missed 2020 due to COVID protocols, and that void, Sims said, directly contributed to last year’s disappointment.

“We are looking to redeem ourselves,” Sims told the Herald in a recent phone interview. “We had a setback last year after having not been together as a team for 20 months. No workouts, no meetings, no practices, no nothing.

“The first time we saw our team following the end of the 2019 season was on August 1 last year.

“This year, we have grown closer as a team. We’re going to be an aggressive, attacking football team.”

Sims, who is 36-30 with four winning seasons in six years at Bethune-Cookman, recently named Jackson State transfer Jalon Jones to start at quarterback Saturday at Miami (3:30 p.m., ACC Network). Jones won the job over East Carolina transfer Walter Simmons and Tyrone Franklin. Jr.

“We’re looking for the guy who has the best grasp of the offense and who can lead us,” Sims said during training camp, when the quarterback job was still up for grabs. “Not a lot of coaches say this out loud, but we want the quarterback the rest of the guys will follow.”

Bethune-Cookman’s most acclaimed player is 6-6, 260-pound senior tight end Kemari Averett, who made first-team All-SWAC last year. He led B-CU receivers in nearly every category, catching 52 passes for 888 yards (a 17.1-yard average) with 11 touchdowns.

Darryl Powell leads the wide receivers. He caught 22 passes last year for 471 yards and a team-best 21.4 average.

Other top pass-catchers are Marcus Riley (15 receptions); Dylaan Lee (13); Jonathon Thomas; and tight end Kahlil Overton (nine).

“It’s a veteran group,” Sims said.

The Wildcats, whose base offense is three wide receivers, one tight end and one running back, also have experience weapons in the backfield.

Leading rusher Que’shaun Byrd returns after running for 618 yards, a 4.9 average with five touchdowns. Jimmie Robinson III ran for 229 yards and just a 3.9 average, but he led the team with six touchdown runs.

Aaron Thompson is Bethune-Cookman’s third veteran back, and the Wildcats have added a couple of bruisers in Brandon McDonald and James Evans.

Bethune-Cookman’s offensive line is led by center Arelious Dunn, the team’s “anchor,” according to Sims.

Former Miami Norland star Cedrick Jackson is in his sixth year at B-CU. He has had a couple of season-ending injuries, but he should start at guard now that he’s healthy.

Other offensive linemen to watch include Kyler Edwards, Louisville transfer Desmond Daniels and South Carolina transfer Jordon Carty.

The strength of B-CU’s 4-2-5 defense is its secondary with players such as Omari Hill-Robinson and Caleb Sutherland. Hill-Robinson’s four interceptions tied for the SWAC lead, and he added eight pass breakups.

In addition, the Wildcats added two key transfers to their secondary in Jaquan Jackson (Jackson State) and Reyan Blake (Connecticut).

At linebacker, the Wildcats brought in two impactful transfers: Rosendo Louis Jr. (South Carolina) and fifth-year player Demetrius Hudson (Shippensburg). Amarie Jones Jr. is a young linebacker to watch.

Up front, the Wildcats are led by defensive tackles Judas McKenzie and Reginald Pearson. At end, Conroy Cunningham II and Oregon transfer Ge’mon Eaford have been moved up from outside linebacker.

“We’re looking for great things from Conroy,” Sims said, “and Eaford is showing a lot of promise.”

On special teams, Ben Lennon returns after averaging 42.1 yards per punt last year. The kicker is Dylan Moghaddam.

Add it all up, and the Wildcats hope to “redeem themselves” — as Sims puts it — following last year’s poor record, which included a 46-21 loss to main rival Florida A&M.

Bethune-Cookman, though, has won nine of the past 10 games in the annual Florida Classic.

“It’s like battling with your brothers,” Sims said of the FAMU rivalry. “These are two great programs, and it’s always a physical and exciting matchup.”