Quarterback Darius Ocean is the engine driving Johnson C. Smith’s undefeated run

After Johnson C. Smith survived a scare in its 21-14 homecoming victory on Oct. 19 against Shaw, a game in which the Golden Bulls needed all three touchdown passes from their junior quarterback, Darius Ocean, to keep JCSU’s perfect season intact, Ocean knew whom he wanted to thank.

“I appreciate you for everything you’ve done for me,” the 22-year-old’s message to quarterbacks coach Tyrell Jackson read.

Jackson responded: “That’s what I’m here for.”

After multiple college stops, Ocean has found a home in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is the biggest catalyst behind Johnson C. Smith (8-0, 5-0 CIAA) sitting undefeated this late into the season, its best start in program history, after a 24-15 win over Winston-Salem State on Saturday.

Ocean leads the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association in total passing yards (1,965) and passing yards per game (245.6) while sitting at No. 2 in the league in passing touchdowns (15) behind Shaw’s Christian Peters (19).

As Johnson C. Smith prepares for its upcoming Senior Day game against Fayetteville State, Ocean’s success in coach Maurice Flowers’ pass-heavy offense is a continuation of what Jackson started and what Flowers, a 1991 JCSU alum and former Golden Bulls quarterback himself, envisioned when he took over his alma mater in 2022 following two seasons as coach at Fort Valley State.

Jackson spent two years as a quarterback under Flowers at Fort Valley State before following his coach to JCSU, where concussions shortened his time under center for the Golden Bulls. He sought a medical retirement from college football in December 2023 and joined Flowers’ coaching staff after graduating from JCSU earlier this year.

“He’s really like a security blanket in knowing this offense,” Flowers said. 

Ocean said Jackson’s presence on the coaching staff has been invaluable in learning Flowers’ scheme. 

“He [Jackson] brings an element of new school mixed with what Coach Flowers is telling me, as well as things that Flowers may not see,” Ocean said. “Coming to JCSU is the best thing that could have ever happened to me.”

It also helps that Ocean joined a Johnson C. Smith team that that finished 7-4 in 2023 and returned four of its five offensive linemen, top receivers Brevin Caldwell and Brian Morgan and dynamic running backs. Flowers’ squad also returned nine out of 11 starters on defense, a stingy unit that currently ranks No. 1 in the CIAA in points allowed (12.1), total yards allowed (234.9) as well as rush defense (75.3 yards) per game.

After Johnson C. Smith accomplished a winning season but lost to Fort Valley State in the 2023 Florida Beach Bowl, Flowers knew the key to his program reaching its greatest potential was a veteran quarterback.

For Flowers, who called plays for several historically Black college programs as offensive coordinator, including his alma mater from 2010-2011, a subpar passing game was unacceptable. That’s why when Ocean emerged in the transfer portal, Flowers seized the opportunity.

“Darius fit the bill, and it has been a good marriage for us,” Flowers said. “He attacks every day the same way. His ball placement, football IQ, film study – he’s truly a student of the game.” 

Johnson C. Smith linebacker Benari Black, who leads the league in tackles, agrees.

“He gets everybody better each day,” Black said. “The way he reads schemes and leads by example is consistent with a leader.”

But if Ocean hadn’t bet on himself, he wouldn’t be part of a JCSU program that will have back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2011-12 and is on the cusp of competing for a CIAA title.

Ocean never experienced what it felt like to be the No. 1 option under center in college football before arriving at Johnson C. Smith. However, the Raleigh, North Carolina, native’s competitiveness and confidence in his football acumen propelled him into the transfer portal in search of becoming a starting quarterback.

Ocean started his college career at Western Kentucky in 2020 but rarely saw the field as a backup to current NFL signal-callers Bailey Zappe (Cleveland Browns) and Austin Reed (Chicago Bears).

He went to Valdosta State in 2023, a Division II football powerhouse in South Georgia, only to compete for the starting job with current VSU signal-caller Sammy Edwards. Frustrated yet in full pursuit of his goal, Ocean entered the portal for a second time in December 2023 following his only season at VSU.

His top three choices were Barton College, a private liberal arts school in Wilson, North Carolina, Fort Valley State or Johnson C. Smith. 

Flowers, who was a tenured high school football assistant and head coach in North Carolina, Texas and South Carolina before entering to the college ranks, had the luxury of watching Ocean play during his senior year at William Amos Hough High School, roughly 200 miles from Charlotte.

“When I saw him, I said that’s a D-I [Division I] quarterback,” Flowers said. “You know a big-time quarterback when you see one.”

Although Ocean didn’t know much about JCSU initially, his father Jason was no stranger to historically Black college football. Jason Ocean played for the Golden Bulls’ rival Livingstone, earning CIAA Rookie of the Year honors as well as becoming an All-America linebacker.

So, the HBCU pedigree was there. The only thing left was for Ocean to make the decision, one he said Flowers made very enticing.

In a pass-heavy offensive scheme, Flowers’ signal-caller is like the engine to a car. However, Flowers said, he was clear with Ocean in his recruiting pitch, discussing Johnson C. Smith’s recent football success after narrowly averaging more than two wins per season for more than 40 years.

After talking to his father about playing at an HBCU, Ocean headed back to Charlotte in January to pursue his dream, a decision that was heavily rooted in Flowers’ confidence in his skill set.

“I’d heard so many bad things about HBCUs often and what it was like playing at schools like the CIAA versus PWIs [predominantly white institutions],” Ocean said. “In listening to the plan he [Flowers] had for this year’s team, it sounded amazing. I made my own decision to attend JCSU, but my dad reminded me that wherever I want to go [professionally] out of this league, I can do it.”

When Ocean returned to Charlotte in the spring, Flowers didn’t guarantee him the starting quarterback position. According to Flowers, Ocean outperformed five other signal-callers for the job based on his attention to details, his consistency on ball placement in his passes and his eagerness to constantly excel on the field.

“We never promise a starting position, but we do promise a fair opportunity to show your skills,” Flowers said. “He [Darius] never looked at things like he had it made. He had to earn it. As a quarterback, you’re leading everyone, not just the offense.”

Each week, Ocean has become more comfortable in the Golden Bulls’ offense. Although Ocean came to JCSU with limited Division I playing experience, Flowers has been meticulous about expanding the playbook, ensuring that Ocean is not overwhelmed when adjustments and checkdowns have to be made on the field.

Currently, JCSU is averaging 26 passing attempts in an offensive unit that averages the second-highest scoring offense (29.9 points) and total offense (408.5 yards) per game in the CIAA. More than 255 of those yards come in the Golden Bulls’ passing attack, which leads the league.

“As a former quarterback and offensive coordinator, I’d love to throw the ball 50 times a game,” Flowers said with a laugh. “But this is the first time [Darius] was really given the keys to the car as a starter with the offensive show in his hands. We wanted to ease him into the offense. Now, our passing attempts are increasing because he’s getting more comfortable with the offense.”

Flowers’ approach to the Golden Bulls’ offense is in no way far-fetched to Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference commissioner Anthony Holloman, one of Flowers’ teammates at Johnson C. Smith and the person responsible for hiring him at Fort Valley State. Holloman said Flowers is an “offensive savant” who has always been detail-oriented in his preparation offensively.

“He understands modern athletes,” Holloman said. “I’ve always been impressed with the development of his quarterbacks and how they’ve had a strong command of the offense. [Darius] is no different.”

JCSU leads the CIAA in first downs (21.6) per game, with a large part of that success coming from Ocean’s accuracy in the passing game, ranks third in third-down conversion percentage (43.1%) and fourth in rush offense (153.1 yards per game).

Surprisingly, nearly 65% of JCSU’s red zone touchdowns have come on the ground when Ocean and the Golden Bulls cross the 20-yard line, which speaks to the strength of the running backs — Quavaris Crouch, Avante George and Kamarro Edmonds — combined with Ocean’s production.

“Them boys [the running backs] make my job easier,” Ocean said.

At the start of Ocean’s football career in seventh grade, he started out at wide receiver before transitioning to quarterback in eighth grade after his father noticed how well he threw routine corner routes. Years later, Ocean is still delivering darts on those corner routes with his father, Jason, his mom, Tiffanie Cotten, and his four brothers cheering him on from the bleachers on Saturdays.