HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — Fall football camp is underway at Hampton University, and while the CAA preseason poll picked the Pirates to finish in 12th place in the 16-team league, the Pirates’ players and coaches have higher expectations despite a big off-season change.

Enter interim head coach Trent Boykin. He replaces Robert Prunty who resigned his position.

Boykin has been an assistant at Hampton since 2020 and he admits he wants to shed that interim tag.

The transition seems to be a smooth one. Boykin said a lot of the players aren’t even aware of his interim status.

He’ll have a chance to earn the job full-time with the help of returning players like quarterback Chris Zellous and All-Conference First-Team running back Elijah Burris.

Hampton went 5-6 last season and 3-5 in conference play. HU had big wins over the likes of Richmond, Howard and Maine but there were several disappointing losses including a home setback against rivals Norfolk State.

Boykin is a 1995 graduate of Youngstown State where he played wide receiver and was a part of three FCS national championship teams.

After college he got into coaching where he spent 10 years at the FBS level as a position coach at Akron, Ball State and Boston College.

At Hampton he was running backs coach, now he’s in charge of the entire team.

“Doing this as long as I have you kind of prepare yourself for this one day happening,” Boykin said. “I don’t feel overwhelmed.”

Hampton opens the season at home on Aug. 31 against Morgan State.