Randleman alum Snipes seeks more success in college with home-state visit

Ja’Quan Snipes (Courtesy of Hampton)

Former Randleman football player Ja’Quan Snipes will be scheduled to play in his home state for the final time as a college player Saturday afternoon.

If he’s recovered from an injury, the Hampton running back will try to lead the Pirates in their Coastal Athletic Association game at Elon’s Rhodes Stadium.

Described as the center piece of Hampton’s offense, Snipes missed last weekend’s game vs. Howard with a leg injury.

Before the season, Snipes noted that there are often hurdles.

“Since I’ve been here, there has always been a little adversity,” he said, pointing to injuries getting in the way.

So entering that season, showing durability was one of his objectives.

“Getting ready to play the whole season, that’s one of my goals,” he said.

While there has been a glitch in that regard, there should be more opportunities ahead.

Snipes and his teammates turned out to be part of one of the top rushing attacks in the CAA last season. The Pirates are looking to expand on that.

“It’s very fun. It’s a bit of a challenge, but I’m up for the challenge,” Snipes said. “We are trying to transfer our game into being a more dynamitic passing team also.”

Snipes has been his team’s top running back with 234 rushing yards. With three touchdowns, he’s the only Pirate with more than one TD this year.

Hampton (1-3, 0-1 CAA) defeated Elon (2-2, 0-0) last year in a home game.

Snipes’ recent venture close to home didn’t end well. Hampton was stunned two weeks ago with a 33-30 double-overtime loss to North Carolina A&T in Greensboro. That came with the Aggies wiping out a 10-point deficit in the final minute of regulation.

Previously, Snipes was chosen to the 20-player preseason watch list for the Stats Perform HBCU National Player of the Year Award. The award will honor the outstanding player from the 21 HBCU programs in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Snipes stepped into a starting role midway through last season after several injuries in the Pirates’ backfield and rushed for a team-best 531 yards and six touchdowns. He ran for at least 80 yards in four games, including 117 yards and 2 touchdowns against Howard and 106 yards and a touchdown vs. Elon. Snipes started five games for Hampton in 2024.