After finishing 2-8 last season, Shaw University is using the early days of fall camp to build the foundation for a bounce-back 2026 season.

Second-year head coach Lamar Manigo said he has already seen noticeable progress from the Bears through the first five practices, though he knows there is still plenty of work to do.

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“I definitely seen the team grow from day one to day five,” Manigo said. “Still got a lot of work to do. I definitely seen the team grow, so I’m excited about the future.”

Much of that growth has come from the team’s veterans, particularly on offense. Manigo said the older players have taken on greater responsibility in helping teammates understand not only the offensive scheme, but the reasoning behind it.

The quarterbacks and wide receivers have also been working closely together, giving the passing game an opportunity to develop chemistry early in camp.

“We kind of got the quarterbacks and the wide receivers in the room at the same time right now, so they really get to know each other and get a good mesh of what’s going on from a passing game standpoint,” Manigo said.

The Bears are also looking for more physicality as camp goes on. With players transitioning into full pads, Manigo wants to see the intensity increase while younger players become more comfortable with the demands of college football.

“I just want to see the physicality of the practice get a little bit better, a little more intense,” he said. “Seeing our young guys, our freshmen step up and get involved in the college game.”

One of the more competitive position groups has been the secondary, where Manigo said several players are making a push for playing time — including freshmen.

“Especially in the back end of the secondary, we got a lot of good athletes,” Manigo said. “Our safety positions, cornerback positions, those guys doing a great job competing.”

Manigo also pointed to several young players who have made strides from last season, including running back Fabian Diggs, wide receiver Reggie King and cornerback Jayonte Wilson.

With the Bears coming off a two-win season, Manigo believes that continued development and competition will be critical as Shaw works toward a better result in 2026.