SAN MARCOS– When it comes to the defensive side of the ball, Texas State will see plenty of turnover and plenty of new faces in San Marcos this season. Gone are two of last year’s most productive pass rushers in defensive end Ben Bell and defensive tackle Dominique Ratcliff. They will be missed, but the Bobcat defense looks ready to reload without skipping a beat. Let’s take a closer look at the key additions set to bolster the defense this fall.
Defensive Line
The defensive ends on either side this year will be led by Jo’Laison on the left and Kalil Alexander on the right — both familiar faces who were in the shadow of Ben Bell and Dominique Ratcliff last season. Landry put together an impressive 4.5 sacks, 7.5 TFL and 33 TOT as a sophomore. He’ll look to add to his resume after a successful freshman campaign. Alexander, now a junior, was equally productive last season with 6.5 sacks, 11 TFL and 39 TOT. Make no mistake: this duo is poised to wreak havoc on opposing offenses.
Depth at defensive end will come from transfer Kenard Snyder as well as Jeremy Jackson Jr., Tymere Jackson and Blake Isbell. Snyder, a senior transfer from Iowa State, brings valuable experience. In 2023 at Louisiana-Monroe, he tallied 5.5 sacks, 14.5 TFL and 60 TOT. Last season at Iowa State, he added two sacks, two TFL and eight TOT.
At defensive tackle, a host of new faces have come in via the transfer portal. The two projected starters are Michael Nwokoch and Kamren Washington. Nwokoch began his career at Tyler Junior College before transferring to Syracuse, and now arrives in San Marcos for his senior season. The 312-pounder is expected to add a strong interior presence. Washington, a junior, is a familiar face from last year’s roster and will step into the starting role after limited action in 2024. Providing depth will be transfers Charlie Leota, Devarrick Woods, Jordan Sanders, Nathan Huerta and Kyra Bourda, who played at Arizona State last season. Sanders is a sophomore defensive lineman from Cal Poly who racked up eight sacks and 16 tackles in three seasons with the Mustangs. Sophomore defensive tackle Devarrick Woods comes over from Hinds Community College after a stellar 2024 campaign with 26 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks in nine games.
Linebackers
At linebacker, Ayden Jones (sophomore) and Terrence Cooks (senior) headline the group. Ayden Jones joins Texas State from Prairie View A&M. The redshirt freshman had 27 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one interception in 11 games last season. Defensive tackle Charlie Leota arrives from West Texas A&M. The Auckland, New Zealand native logged six tackles and one tackle for loss in 11 games in 2024. Cooks arrives as a transfer from TCU. Backing them up are Treylin Payne, Cole Niles and Chantz Johnson. Payne is a returner who notched two interceptions and 28 total tackles last season and looks ready for a breakout senior campaign. Johnson is a 6 foot 1, 228-pound sophomore transfer from Texas A&M. Edge defender Kenard Snyder also comes to San Marcos by way of Iowa State.
Defensive backs/ Cornerbacks
On the perimeter, experienced cornerbacks Trez Moore and Oregon transfer Khamari Terrell will aim to lock down opposing wideouts. Moore, a senior, posted two interceptions and 26 tackles last season, while Terrell, a junior, looks to add to his résumé. Depth at cornerback will come from Malik Willis, Camden Grogan, Amarion Atwood, Jaden Rios and Craig Royal. Rios comes in from Texas A&M Commerce, where he picked off four passes, one returned for a touchdown, and added two forced fumbles, 10 pass breakups and 25 total tackles. One of the most exciting names is junior college standout Craig Royal Jr. The highly touted defensive back committed to Texas State after a breakout season at Butler Community College, where he established himself as one of the most dynamic playmakers at his level. The secondary will also add redshirt freshman Jaylen Bohem Peterson from Iowa Western Community College. Bohem Peterson appeared in all 12 games last season, posting 25 tackles and one interception.
Safeties
Patrolling the back end at safety will be seniors Ryan Nolan and Darius Jackson. Jackson recorded one interception last season, and the duo combined for nine tackles in 2024. Both will look to elevate their production as they embrace larger roles. Providing depth at safety will be Bobby Crosby, Kameron Pearson, Javis Mynatt, Will Mitchell and Tice Williams. Crosby had a strong showing last year with one interception and 18 total tackles.
Special Teams
The special teams unit will be led by punter David Nunez. Transfer Austin Turner steps in as this year’s long snapper, along with Darian Snell. On kick returns, the Bobcats will feature Torrance Burgess Jr., Mavin Anderson and Tyrin Smith. Beau Sparks and Tyrin Smith will also handle punt return duties, giving Texas State plenty of speed and explosiveness in the return game. Kicker Mason Shipley, the most accurate in program history with an 88.6% field goal percentage, is headed to UT. Texas State does not currently have a place kicker listed on the roster.
With experienced playmakers returning and a deep pool of talent added, Texas State’s defense and special teams look primed for a strong campaign. Anchored by proven contributors on the defensive line, a new wave of linebackers ready to make their mark, ball-hawking defensive backs and a special teams unit loaded with game-changers, this Bobcats squad is built for success. Now it’s all about putting it together on the field, and if this group reaches its full potential, they’ll be a force to reckon with in the Sun Belt.
