Prairie View A&M Spring Football: Panthers Hungry and Still Hunting

Not Starting Over. Building Forward.

Jackson addressed speculation directly. With roster turnover and new faces in the building, some wondered if Prairie View A&M was hitting a reset button after losing key contributors from its 2025 championship run.

Not a chance.

"We're not starting over," Jackson said emphatically. "This is not a start over. This is a building forward. Moving forward. We understand exactly what we came here to do. It hasn't changed."

Jackson said the program has three tiers of players: starters, contributors, and "blackshirts" —  the scout team players who wear black jerseys regardless of unit. Competition is open at every level.

"You want to be a starter? Just because you were yesterday doesn't mean you are today," Jackson said.

The Identity: Energy as a Weapon

Senior wide receiver Rodny Ojo and defensive lineman Molik Mason —  both members of the program's Unity Council —  spoke alongside Jackson and offered an inside view of what makes Prairie View A&M's culture tick.  The council members went “through an application process,” said Coach Jackson.  They become eligible for the single-digit numbers on the team jerseys and lead the team’s agenda each week.

For Ojo, the answer is simple: energy.

"We feed off energy," Ojo said. "We've outplayed a lot of teams last year just based off of energy. I don't think we're always better than the other team. I think we just always out-enthusiasm other teams. It's the chants and the culture we build in the program that carries us to win football games."

Mason echoed the sentiment, pointing to sideline film as evidence. "Every time we got a stop or we scored, everybody was cheering, clapping, hugging. It makes us play at another level, which most teams didn't have when they played against us."

Jackson tied it back to discipline. "Being a dog... disciplined, obedient, having a lot of grit," he said. "If you don't have those three things, we find that out very quickly. This program will expose you."

The Anti-Complacency Mandate

Both returning starters were asked a pointed question: coming off productive seasons and a championship, how do you stay hungry?

Ojo, who stepped into a larger role in Year 2 of the offense, didn't hesitate.

"Complacency. To not get complacent... that's the new mindset I have," Ojo said. "It's very easy. You can make a play and think you're good. Next thing you know, you drop a ball. We've all seen that happen."

Mason, a returning starter on the defensive line, said nobody's role is safe — including his own. "Just because a lot of people come back as returners, people get too comfortable," he said. "There's always going to be competition. There's always going to be someone better at something. So I try to always look for something else to improve on."

He's not wrong about the competition. Jackson said he's seen transfer portal additions from Power conference programs, marveling at the urgency in Panther practices.

Spring Standouts: Who's Turning Heads

When asked about under-the-radar players making noise this spring, both Mason and Ojo had answers ready.

On defense, Mason spotlighted defensive end Elias Sanders and nose tackle Kerry North. "Elias is very technical with his pass rush," Mason said. "We've seen him win a lot of one-on-one battles. Kerry North at the nose —  you have to be a dog in that position. He's been doing his thing."

On offense, Ojo pointed to wide receiver William Taylor and Germonie Davis. "Will Taylor is always in the weight room, always working out," Ojo said. "Germonie Davis has been balling out this spring."

Jackson backed those picks, noting that Taylor was a scout team "blackshirt" a year ago and is now pushing for a real role. "The guys that take the scout team in stride and go get better —  Will Taylor was the biggest one that stood out," Jackson said.

Jackson also highlighted Xylan Williams, a true-freshman defensive lineman, and pass rusher Jaden Allison, who was ineligible last season, as players ascending within the program.

Year 2 Offense: 'Next Level'

Ojo, who works under new receivers coach Darrell Colbert after last year's coordinator departure, is excited about what a more seasoned offensive system can do.

"Last year was just a year-one offense," Ojo said. "It's a year-two offense. We can elaborate. We can schematically do stuff against other teams. I think we'll take it to the next level."

Ojo credited Colbert -- who has NFL experience -- for elevating the approach beyond the field. "Coach Colbert is a pro," Ojo said. "He's not just a coach about ball. He's a coach in life. He talks about focusing on the basics and working on the things you're not good at."

Jackson also addressed the addition of offensive line coach Manny Martinez -- a longtime coaching colleague dating back to their D-Line vs. O-Line battles at a previous stop. "This dude has been around the block," Jackson said. "He's coached hard, loved hard, recruited hard. We've tried to make it work for years. Now here we are."

Football Week and Ring Ceremony Cap the Spring

Prairie View A&M is capping spring ball with a first-of-its-kind "Football Week" -- a multi-day campus celebration that culminates in the spring game and a ring ceremony for the 2025 SWAC champions.

The idea, Jackson said, came from his time working under Coach Johnny Cole, who brought similar events to every stop in his career.

"We needed to do a better job of connecting with the university and the student body," Jackson said. "If we get the student section rocking, that gets out. Next thing you know, people want to come see our band, our student section, and the game. It becomes all-inclusive."

Events include a block party, pie-a-football-player ($10 a pie, Jackson warned with a laugh), a 90s-themed party in the baby dome, and a senior draft for the spring game in which players —  not coaches — select their teammates. The ring ceremony takes place at halftime of the spring game.

"I told the players: you get 30 days to wear your rings," Jackson said. "After that, put it in the case. It's over with. We come back May 23rd, and we get to work."

The Bigger Picture: Life After Football

Both Mason and Ojo were asked about their post-football plans, and both pointed to the Houston market and Prairie View's proximity to it as a competitive advantage, not just on the field, but in life.

"PV has a lot of connections down here in Houston," Ojo said. "I'm a business management major. There are a lot of opportunities, especially with how close PV is to the city."

Mason cited the platform that comes with winning. "After winning the SWAC Championship and getting the ring... it gave us even more exposure to companies out there," he said. "I want to make deals and build a brand."

Same Goals. Bigger Expectations.

Jackson's stated mission for 2026 is clear: win the SWAC West, host and win the SWAC Championship Game, and return to Atlanta for the Celebration Bowl... this time as the home team through the entire bracket.

"It is imperative that we host the SWAC Championship Game," Jackson said. "That contributed to some things that made us uncomfortable last year. We want to leave Prairie View, fly to IAH, get on a plane, and go win in Atlanta."

Fall camp opens July 27, the earliest in Jackson's coaching career, driven by the program's Week 0 schedule. The Panthers check in for summer workouts on May 23.

The Panthers aren't defending a title. They're hunting a new one.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - PVAMU FOOTBALL

Who is Prairie View A&M's head football coach?

Tremaine Jackson is the head football coach at Prairie View A&M University. He led the Panthers to the 2025 SWAC Championship and Celebration Bowl appearance.

Who are Prairie View A&M's spring standout players in 2026?

Emerging contributors this spring include WR William Taylor, DE Elias Sanders, NT Kerry North, WR Germonie Davis, and pass rusher Jaden Allison, who was ineligible in 2025.

What is Prairie View A&M's goal for the 2026 SWAC season?

The Panthers aim to win the SWAC West division, host and win the SWAC Championship Game, and return to the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta.

What is Football Week at Prairie View A&M?

Football Week is a campus-wide celebration culminating in the spring game and 2025 SWAC championship ring ceremony. Events include a block party, pie-a-football-player, a 90s-themed dome party, and a player-run senior draft.

When does Prairie View A&M begin fall camp in 2026?

The Panthers open fall camp July 27, 2026 — the earliest start in Coach Jackson's career, due to Prairie View A&M's Week 0 game on the schedule.