Reggie Barlow sees progress at Tennessee State spring game, offense shows life

Tennessee State’s spring game offered a first look at how much ground Reggie Barlow’s program has covered since a 2-10 season ended with the Tigers tied for last in the OVC-Big South at 0-8. Barlow left the day encouraged, saying spring football had been good, the team had improved and he was proud of the work the players and coaches put in.

That optimism carries weight because Tennessee State still has to climb out of the hole left by last fall, when the Tigers finished 0-8 in league play and closed the season with a loss to Charleston Southern on Nov. 22, 2025. The spring game did not erase that backdrop, but it did give Barlow something he can point to as he tries to reset the program in his second season in charge.

The biggest signs of life came on offense, where new coordinator Matt Leone drew praise from Barlow for getting the unit moving. Leone arrived in Nashville after being hired on Jan. 13, 2026, and Tennessee State moved to give him the keys after his track record building productive offenses at the FCS and NAIA levels. Barlow also said Winston-Salem State transfer Daylin Lee and South Florida transfer Marcelis Tate stood out during spring practice, giving the Tigers multiple quarterback options as the offense works to find a rhythm.

That competition matters because Tennessee State needs more than cosmetic improvement. It needs cleaner execution and a steadier passing game to match a roster that now has more new pieces and a clearer identity. The Tigers added about 20 players who can help the roster, including Tate in the 10-man 2026 signing class announced on Feb. 4, while Lee is already listed on the 2026 roster. For a team that finished last in the official league standings, the difference between a middling spring and a meaningful one will be measured by whether that quarterback room can translate practice progress into fall production.

Barlow’s staff changes were built to support that turnaround. Cedric Thornton, his former Alabama State teammate, was promoted to defensive coordinator on Jan. 20, 2026 and remains associate head coach, giving Tennessee State another veteran voice on the sideline. With the 2026 schedule already released and a Week 0 opener against Jackson State on Aug. 29, Barlow does not have long to wait for a real test. The spring game suggested Tennessee State is better than it was a year ago. The schedule will show whether that improvement is enough to matter.