HAMPTON, Va. – The Pirates returned to campus on Saturday, Aug. 6, and moved into their dorms. They picked up their equipment and met with the trainers to ensure that they were in tip-top shape as they get set to start the season with a clean slate.
 
Hampton is coming off its first winning season since 2011 when they went 7-4 and they are looking to build upon last season success.
 
It has been 261 days, since the Pirates walked off the field at Ted A. Wright Stadium in Savannah, GA against Savannah State, and the players and coaches are ready to show everyone that they can pick up where they left off.
 
The 2015 season showed us the things to come and what can be expected of a Connell Maynor coached team, as the Pirates finished the season 6-5. Despite their 6-5 finish the Pirates had a chance to three of the five games had it not been for a few mental errors on the part of the Pirates.
 
"Defensively, we weren't very good at times. Depth was a big issue for us; we'd play well enough in stretches, but we'd get worn down in the second half, down the stretch, and we just couldn't execute."

Toward the end of the season, some hints were shown that the Pirates were showing improvements with a Senior Day shutout of Florida A&M (33-0) and a win on the road at Savannah State (42-3).  They closed by allowing 10 points or fewer in four of the last six games.
 
While on offense, the Pirates will have to replace not only second team All-MEAC David Watford behind center but leading rusher Christopher Dukes.  Options are abundant in the quarterback spot as 2014 quarterback Jaylian Williamson returns after a season completing over 63 percent of his passes and setting a school record for passing yards in a game with 407 at Old Dominion.
 
Still, Maynor wouldn't go so far as to name Williamson the starter, saying there would be an offseason competition between he, redshirt freshman Wesley Wolfolk, and graduate Malik Watson – who will transfer into the program from San Jose State.
 
"(Williamson) knows the offense as well as anybody," Maynor said.
 
Whoever winds up behind center will also have plenty of options when it comes to throwing the ball – not the least of which is returning Black College All-American Twarn Mixson. Mixson, who was also a First Team All-MEAC selection a year ago, is coming off a 2015 season that saw him catch 59 passes for 1,027 yards and nine touchdowns. Mixson is just the second Pirate ever to record a 1,000-yard receiving season (Jeremy Gilchrist had 1,043 receiving yards in 2007).  He is a pre-season first team All-MEAC selection this year.
 
But the focus will undoubtedly be on Mixson – "T.J.'s gonna demand a double team," Maynor said. "I hope (other teams) don't double-team him, but I'm assuming they will." – which could open things up for the rest of the Pirate receivers – including the likes of Rashawn Proctor, Leon Shorter, and Shakim Alonzo.

Proctor was third on the team in receiving last season, with 21 catches for 326 yards and four touchdowns, while Leon Shorter was fourth on the team in receiving. Proctor and Shorter averaged 15.5 and 12.1 yards per reception, respectively, last season – while three of Alonzo's eight receptions last season were for touchdowns.
 
But the key to it all might be up front; redshirt senior Michael Young, who was a Second Team All-MEAC performer on the offensive line last season, will return to anchor the front line. Hampton's offensive line helped the Pirates rush for nearly 131 yards per game last season, and the Pirates were second in the MEAC in total offense (359.1 yards per contest).
 
Both of the Pirates' kickers in 2016 are veteran returners: rising senior Adam Brown will handle the kickoff duties, while Christian Faber-Kinney will once again trade in his track suit for pads to serve as the Pirates' punter.
 
"It takes all three aspects to win: offense, defense, and special teams," Maynor said. "When you've got two good kickers, you're so far ahead of the game."
 
Brown made six of his seven field goal attempts in 2015, including a season-long 39-yarder against Florida A&M. Brown, who was also 36-for-38 in extra points last season, was a perfect 6-for-6 in field goals ranging between 30 and 39 yards, while also handling kickoff duties.
 
"He just didn't have a lot of (field goal) attempts last year," Maynor said.
 
Along with being a track & field standout (he won the MEAC championship in both the indoor heptathlon and outdoor decathlon last season), Faber-Kinney was a First Team All-MEAC selection at punter for the second straight year. He led the conference in punting last season, averaging almost 41 yards per boot and recording just two touchbacks on the season.  Faber-Kinney is a first-team pre-season All-MEAC selection heading into his senior campaign.
 
The Pirates will hold five two-a-days and two scrimmages during camp. Practices are closed to the public, but members of the media who want to attend any practices may contact that Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811 (24 hour notice is required).