HAMPTON — Hampton University’s football season opener at Jackson State ended in defeat, but it gave the Pirates their first look at the quarterback who could define their season.
Isaiah Freeman, a transfer from Lincoln University (Pa.), got the start and made an immediate impact, breaking free for a 63-yard run on Hampton’s first drive that set up the game’s opening touchdown.
He later added a 30-yard scoring strike to Marshawn Ferguson, finishing with 73 rushing yards and a touchdown pass in Hampton’s 28-14 loss.
For Freeman, the night in Jackson was the payoff to a transition he admits wasn’t easy. He was leaving Lincoln, a Division II program where he had built strong ties. Meanwhile, he was joining a Hampton program in the middle of its own transition. That wasn’t something he took lightly.
“Leaving Lincoln was very hard to do,” Freeman said. “My heart was attached to it, a great place with a great group of people. But I wanted to see if I could play at a higher level.”
Hampton offered that chance and more. Freeman said he connected with head coach Trenton Boykin — now in his first full season leading the program — and the vision he laid out for its future. But what stood out most was the tight-knit community.
“What sold me was the family-like atmosphere and the all-inclusiveness,” Freeman said. “The goals they had really aligned with my morals. The guys were just good people. It was a win-win situation for me.”
Still, Freeman had to win again — this time, the starting job.
HU came into fall camp with an open quarterback competition, and Boykin gave all four quarterbacks on the roster a chance to win the spot. Entering Week 1, he had narrowed the choices to two: Freeman and Syracuse transfer Braden Davis.
But in the end, Freeman got the start. He didn’t put much stock into it, though.
“The starter title doesn’t mean too much for me,” Freeman said. “It’s more about my opportunity and what I do with it. It felt good just to be out there on the field with my team playing the game I love.”
Part of that is likely because the QB battle with Davis isn’t over. Both QBs got snaps against JSU. Freeman played the first quarter, while Davis played the second. Freeman finished the game behind center.
Freeman also welcomes the competition.
“We’ve built a brotherhood in our quarterback room,” Freeman said. “When I’m on the sideline, I’m cheering for him. When I’m in the game and he’s on the sideline, he’s cheering for me. It’s not about who’s in the game. It’s about making plays when you are.”
Boykin liked what he saw from both signal-callers in a tough environment.
“They both managed the offense well,” Boykin said. “Isaiah just runs the ball better, and when you have a quarterback that’s a threat to run, it’s 11 on 11.”
Still, Freeman knows there’s more growth ahead. He went 10-of-17 passing for 117 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
“I think I played OK,” he admitted. “There’s a lot I left out there, but that’s life. You watch the film, correct it, and get better.”
His goals for Hampton are simple: consistency, hard work and leadership.
“I just want to be the best teammate and quarterback I can be,” Freeman said. “At the end of the day, I want to leave this place better than I found it.”
