HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — As the Hampton Pirates were on the practice field Wednesday, coach Trent Boykin had four different quarterbacks taking equal reps. He hopes to name a starter after Saturday’s scrimmage.

Last season the Pirates went 5-7. Five of those seven losses were by one possession.

Whoever gets the nod at quarterback, Boykin said decision-making could make the difference in some of those one-score games.

“I don’t need hero ball,” Boykin said. “Sometimes I just need you to throw the five-yard out and complete it. Sometimes it’s throw the ball away and punt instead of forcing something and it’s a turnover. It’s OK to punt.”

Boykin loses seven starters on offense and defense. He said his team is young, eager, aggressive and hungry.

Running back Ja’Quan Snipes is expected to lead the rushing attack, but guys like Donovan Shephard and others will be called on to help carry the run game.

Will Hicks was Hampton’s leading tackler last season. The junior defensive back from New Orleans is one of the team leaders and he says staying healthy is one of the keys to a successful season.

“We had a lot of guys go down at significant times last year,” Hicks said. “Just staying healthy is biggest thing with us, and discipline.”

Hampton opens the season on the road against SWAC power house Jackson State. One of HBCU’s marquee programs, the Tigers average an FCS-best 27,000 fans per game.

“They have a lot of eyes on them,” Hicks said. “So just shutting those guys down would be a big confidence booster.”

Said Boykin: “It’s a great opportunity for us to go down there. The atmosphere that you expect from college football, they’re gonna have it, so it’s gonna be exciting.”

Hampton’s home opener is Saturday Sept. 6 against Elizabeth City State.