HAMPTON — When starting running back Ja’Quan Snipes went down with an injury three weeks ago, Hampton University’s backfield suddenly belonged to the freshmen. In stepped Gracen Goldsmith and Jah’Kei Chavis — two first-year backs who have quietly turned opportunity into production.
Goldsmith led the Pirates in rushing in Saturday’s 41-34 win over Norfolk State in the Battle of the Bay, carrying 11 times for 75 yards and his first career touchdown.
“I’ve been waiting on it for a long time, but it came,” Goldsmith said. “I just waited my turn, and I put on.”
Chavis continued his steady stretch as well, adding 42 yards and a score after running for a career-high 94 yards and a touchdown the week before at Elon.
“They’ve done a great job,” said head coach Trenton Boykin, whose teams hosts Campbell at 2 p.m. Saturday. “It’s not so much shocking to us in-house — we recruited these young men because we thought they were pretty special. With Snipes being out, they’ve just gotten more reps at practice and more game time, and you’re seeing what we saw when we recruited them out of high school.”
In the three games without Snipes, Hampton has averaged 181 rushing yards per game — a slight dip from the 225 it averaged when dual-threat quarterback Isaiah Freeman was under center. But even with a more pass-oriented offense led by Braden Davis, the Pirates’ run game has remained central to their identity.
“It’s been great,” Boykin said. “We’ve had a chance to make teams play the full width and length of the field. We’ve got guys who can run it, guys who can catch it, and a quarterback who can do both. It’s made us a lot more balanced offensively.”
That balance was on full display in Hampton’s win over Norfolk State — a much-needed result after three straight losses. Boykin said the victory was less about rivalry bragging rights and more about validation for the work being put in behind the scenes.
“You work hard, and you want to see the fruits of your labor,” Boykin said. “To get that win, it just shows them that what we’ve talked about — the effort, the details — it pays off. Hopefully it’s a springboard to more to come.”
Beyond the win, Boykin believes the freshmen’s emergence bodes well for Hampton’s future. Both Goldsmith and Chavis have shown they’re capable of carrying the load when called upon, and that could shape recruiting pitches going forward.
“It means a lot because it shows we’re hitting on the right young men,” Boykin said. “If a guy is good enough to play, he’ll play. That helps us build this program the right way.”
At 1-1 in CAA play, the Pirates still have plenty to play for. And with their backfield depth on full display, they might just be finding their rhythm again.
