# 2017 Howard Bison football team

The 2017 Howard Bison football team represented Howard University as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) during the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by first-year head coach Mike London, the Bison compiled an overall record of 7–4 with a mark of 6–2, tying for second place in the MEAC. Howard played home games at William H. Greene Stadium in Washington, D.C.
The Bison opened the season by defeating UNLV, a 45-point favorite, in the biggest upset in college football history by point spread.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 9:00 p.m. | at UNLV* | Sam Boyd StadiumWhitney, NV | Stadium | W 43–40 | 15,667 |
| September 9 | 3:30 p.m. | at Kent State* | Dix StadiumKent, OH | ESPN3 | L 31–38 | 20,312 |
| September 16 | 2:00 p.m. | at No. 8 Richmond* | E. Claiborne Robins StadiumRichmond, VA | CSN MA+ | L 21–68 | 8,217 |
| September 23 | 1:00 p.m. | Bethune–Cookman | William H. Greene StadiumWashington, DC | WHBC | W 26–24 | 2,217 |
| October 7 | 1:00 p.m. | North Carolina Central | William H. Greene StadiumWashington, DC | WHBC | L 7–13 | 1,532 |
| October 14 | 2:00 p.m. | at Delaware State | Alumni StadiumDover, DE | WDSU-TV | W 52–23 | 3,337 |
| October 21 | 1:00 p.m. | Morgan State | William H. Greene StadiumWashington, DC (rivalry) | SPORTSfever TV, ESPN3 | W 39–14 | 2,700 |
| October 28 | 1:30 p.m. | at South Carolina State | Oliver C. Dawson StadiumOrangeburg, SC | FloFootball | W 28–20 | 15,096 |
| November 4 | 4:00 p.m. | at Florida A&M | Bragg Memorial StadiumTallahassee, FL | RV | W 37–26 | 17,234 |
| November 11 | 1:00 p.m. | Norfolk State | William H. Greene StadiumWashington, D.C. | WHBC | W 28–24 | 1,678 |
| November 18 | 1:00 p.m. | at Hampton | Armstrong StadiumHampton, VA (The Real HU) | | L 17–20 | 8,142 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||

## Ranking movements

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Final |
| STATS | — | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | RV | | Not released |
| Coaches | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| BoxToRow Media Poll and Coaches Poll (BTR) | — | 6 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | | | |

## Game summaries
### At UNLV

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bison | 7 | 14 | 7 | 15 | 43 |
| Rebels | 6 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 40 |
The Bison opened their 2017 season on the road against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent UNLV in Whitney, NV. Despite being a 45-point underdog to the Rebels, the Bison were able to leave Las Vegas with their first win over a Division I FBS opponent in the program's history. Following the win, media outlets immediately hailed it as the greatest upset in college football history against the spread.
In his collegiate debut, freshman quarterback Caylin Newton completed 15 of 26 passes for a total 190 yards; he threw 1 touchdown, a 1-yard pass in the 2nd quarter, and 1 interception. Newton was also able to display his abilities on the ground by leading in rushing yards with 21 carries, 190 yards and 2 touchdowns. Senior running back Anthony Phillyaw ran for 71 yards on s completions for 2 touchdowns. Phillyaw was also the top receiver with 3 receptions, 62 yards, 20.7 yards per reception.

### At Kent State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bison | 7 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 31 |
| • Golden Flashes | 14 | 7 | 2 | 15 | 38 |
After their first win over an FBS team in program history, the Bison were looking to make lightning strike two weeks in a row with a win over Kent State. Kent State's fourth quarter rally, and an interception by Kent State's Demetrius Monday gave the Golden Flashes the win. The Bison recorded 432 yards of total offense, including 226 yards passing and 206 yards Rushing. Quarterback Caliyn Newton threw 9 for 22 completions with a total 225 yards passing including 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Other standout performers include: Running Back Anthony Philyaw who ran for 147 yards rushing on 20 carries, including 1 touchdown and receiver Jequez Ezzard who recorded 120 yards.

## Personnel
### Recruiting

On National Signing Day, Howard signed 23 athletes out of high school for their 2017 recruiting class.
US college sports recruiting information for 2017 recruits :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Jordan Aley RB | King George, VA | King George HS | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Bryan Cook CB | Mount Healthy, OH | Mount Healthy | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Saevon Dinkins OL | Waldorf, MD | St. Charles HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 265 lb (120 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Justin Dooley WR | Lee's Summit, MO | Lee's Summit West HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Samaj Everett LB | Paramus, NJ | Paramus Catholic | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jaelin Ferdinand WR | Madison, AL | Madison Academy | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Tye Freeland S | Dinwiddie, VA | Dinwiddie HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Taejon Gray CB | Waldorf, MD | Thomas Stone HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Quinton Hill RB | Jefferson Hills, PA | Thomas Jefferson HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Malik Hyatt TE | Gastonia, NC | Ashbrook HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Branden Johnson C | Olney, MD | Our Lady of Good Counsel | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Malcolm Johnson S | Springdale, MD | Charles H. Flowers HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Tyree Leonard RB | Jonesboro, GA | Mount Zion HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Aaron Motley DE | Highland Springs, VA | Highland Springs HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 243 lb (110 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Antoine Murray WR | Miramar, FL | Miramar HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Caylin Newton QB | Atlanta, GA | Grady HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| James Newell DE | Akron, OH | Buchtel HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 245 lb (111 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jayson Robinson CB | Sterling, VA | Dominion HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jordan Scott ATH | Montvale, NJ | St. Joseph Regional HS | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) | 163 lb (74 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| David Terrell Jr. WR | Wilmette, IL | Loyola Academy HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Aaron Walker S | Washington, D.C. | Friendship | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jamonne Williams S | DeSoto, TX | DeSoto HS | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 178 lb (81 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Brian Witter LB | Miramar, FL | Miramar HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: |||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 9, 2017. |||||||