Hemsley Returns Home to Play for Bowie State

After three years of football at Division II California of Pennsylvania, Terrance Hemsley wanted to change positions on the defensive side of the ball.

A product of the Upper Marlboro Boys and Girls Club, Hemsley played outside linebacker and inside linebacker for the school about one hour south of Pittsburgh.

"I talked to the coaches about changing positions," Hemsley said Monday. "They were not willing to do that."

So Hemsley, 22, changed schools and got to come home in the process. He is now a senior linebacker for Division II Bowie State University, which opens the season Saturday on the road at Assumption in Worcester, MA. Assumption was 6-5 last season.

The Bulldogs figure to use Hemsley, listed at 6-foot-3, 223 pounds, as a weakside linebacker this season.

"It feels good to be back home," Hemsley said during practice on Monday, "and play in front of my family. They were not able to get to Pittsburgh to see me play" on a regular basis.

Last season, he played in 10 games at California and had seven solo tackles and 10 assists.

The year before he played in 15 games with 12 solo tackles and seven assists for a team that was 11-4, and advanced to the Division II national semifinals.

As a freshman in 2008, he played in 12 games with 13 solo tackles and five assists.

Hemsley helped lead Gwynn Park High to a state title in 2005. He will join forces with senior linebacker Delano Johnson (6-4, 262 pounds), who is from Dunbar High in Baltimore and on the radar of NFL scouts.

"He is dedicated to the sport," Hemsley said of Johnson. "He is also dedicated to the team and the coaches."

"He is the heart and soul of the team," junior defensive back William Bailey, of Upper Marlboro, said of Johnson.

Damon Wilson, the head coach for Bowie State, expects big things from Hemsley.

"I expect him to contribute right away. He has a knack for getting the quarterback," said Wilson, standing on the field during workouts on Monday as students moved into dorms nearby.

Hemsley played for the Mustangs in the Upper Marlboro Boys and Girls and then played football and basketball at Gwynn Park.

The Bullogs were Eastern Division champs in the CIAA in 2009, but failed to return to the title game last year, finishing the year 6-4 with three losses in a row to end the season.

The first home game for the Bulldogs is Sept. 10 against Benedict.

"This is the year. This is our year," said Bailey, who also runs track at Bowie State.