SAN MARCOS– Football season is approaching fast, and with all the noise surrounding Texas State potentially joining the Pac 12, this could be the most exciting year yet for the Bobcats. Two consecutive First Responder Bowl championships, which were also the first bowl appearances and victories in program history, have finally put Texas State on the national radar after years of underachievement.
Head coach GJ Kinne, entering his third season at the helm, has already cemented himself as the most successful coach in Texas State history. After back-to-back 8-5 finishes, he’s accomplished what no Bobcats coach ever had before: making a bowl game and winning one.
That said, last season felt like a mixed bag for some Bobcat faithful. High expectations followed a hot start, especially after Texas State’s emphatic, long awaited home win over archrival UTSA — a blowout victory that sent the crowd in San Marcos into a frenzy. However, struggles down the stretch dulled some of that early shine, especially given the preseason talk of a potential College Football Playoff run. Ultimately, those aspirations didn’t pan out, but last season was still a significant step forward for the program.
Now, as we turn the page to the 2025 season, the focus is on the future. The Bobcats kick off at home against Eastern Michigan at UFCU Stadium on Aug. 30, and while the offseason hype may be quieter than last year, that might be a blessing in disguise. With the transfer portal transforming rosters every year, Texas State is welcoming some exciting new faces, especially at quarterback, a position that will draw plenty of attention after the departure of former Sun Belt Player of the Year Jordan McCloud.
Quarterbacks
Leading the way under center will likely be Brad Jackson. Jackson, the 6 foot, 200 pound redshirt freshman, looked sharp last season in his limited action, especially against Southern Miss, where he threw for 102 yards, completed 66.7% of his passes and tossed a touchdown. Sources say Jackson had a standout spring, making big strides positioning him to earn the starting quarterback role. That leaves two talented newcomers in the mix, both ready to compete for their piece of the pie. Auburn transfer Holden Geriner and Pitt transfer Nate Yarnell. These quarterbacks don’t arrive with the same resume as McCloud, but that’s OK — they all bring skill sets that complement Kinne’s system. Geriner, who has two years of eligibility remaining, even shares a connection to Texas State, having been teammates with former Bobcat quarterback TJ Finley at Auburn. Geriner also brings depth and SEC experience after spending the last two years with the Tigers as a backup quarterback.
Pittsburgh transfer Nate Yarnell also joins the Bobcats, bringing two years of eligibility with him. Originally from Lake Travis High in Austin, Yarnell committed to Pitt in 2021 and put together an impressive season last year, throwing for more than 1,000 yards and notching 10 touchdowns.
With the additions of Yarnell and Grenier, the Texas State quarterback room is poised to be one of the most competitive on the roster, a sharp contrast from last season, when the acquisition of Jordan McCloud all but guaranteed he’d be the guy. It will be interesting to see who gets the nod as the starter and how head coach GJ Kinne manages his quarterbacks this fall.
Running Backs
One name that the Bobcat faithful did not want to see enter the transfer portal was Ismail Mahdi. Mahdi, beloved by fans, will no longer be part of Texas State, but his legacy will endure. Filling the void will be none other than Lincoln Pare, who is expected to carry much of the load this season as Kinne’s top option in the running back room. Pare had a breakout year last season, racking up 554 yards on 95 carries (5.8 average) and eight touchdowns. Pare thrives under the bright lights when the stakes are high. Two of his best performances came against archrival UTSA, where he ran for 109 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries (9.9 average), and in the First Responder Bowl against North Texas, when he exploded for 143 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries (6.8 average).
Backing Pare is a talented stable of running backs, including UNLV transfer sophomore Greg Burrell. Burrell averaged 5.6 yards per carry for 366 yards last season and will have the chance to learn from a seasoned veteran like Pare. Familiar face Torrence Burgess Jr. also returns as a senior and remains a home run threat every time he touches the ball. Burgess chipped in 367 yards on the ground (6.1 average) and scored two touchdowns last year, including one against UTSA. One of his most well rounded performances came against the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, where he posted a balanced 65 rushing yards and 49 receiving yards.
Rounding out the running back room is junior Jaylen Jenkins, whose opportunities were limited last season due to injury. This year’s group features a strong mix of proven veterans and younger players eager to make their mark, a dynamic that should give head coach GJ Kinne plenty of creative options on offense.
Wide Receivers
Out on the perimeter under wide receivers coach Randy Martinez, Chris Dawn Jr. returns as the X receiver and the primary target for the Bobcats’ passing game. Dawn was a reliable threat last season, compiling 418 receiving yards and six touchdowns. By far his best performance came against UTSA, when he torched the Roadrunners for 150 yards and two scores. Still only a junior, Dawn looks poised to take another step forward this season.
Also back is Beau Sparks, a familiar face who hauled in 25 passes for 271 yards (10.8 average) and two touchdowns last year. Sparks is another player who thrives under pressure with his most productive outing coming against Arizona State, as he caught five passes for 60 yards and a touchdown. Together, Dawn and Sparks provide veteran leadership and set a strong example for the newcomers.
That next wave of talent features freshman Jordan Martin from Dallas, Quincy Brown, Marvin Anderson, a transfer from Cal, and Shemar Kirk, who joins the Bobcats after starting his career at Miami. Kylen Evans and Tyrin Smith round out the unit.
Smith, a senior wide receiver and Cincinnati transfer, brings a dynamic skill set to San Marcos. Standing 5 foot 7 and 165 pounds, he’s a twitchy, explosive player who plays in a similar mold to former Bobcat Koe Wilson. Injuries have limited Smith’s production the past two seasons, but in 2022 he showed exactly what he’s capable of, putting up more than 1,000 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. In his college career Smith has an impressive 1,832 yards logged and 12 touchdowns. Before his stop at Cincinnati, Smith also spent time at Texas A&M, and the Cibolo native now returns to the Hill Country looking to make an immediate impact.
Quincy Brown is a junior wide receiver who spent the past two seasons at Nicholls State and will sport Bobcat maroon and gold this fall. Brown began his career at TCU, appearing in every game as a freshman and earning starts in his last nine contests. However, his sophomore campaign was cut short by an injury sustained in the second game that sidelined him for the remainder of the year.
Last season at Nicholls State, Brown bounced back with 25 catches for 305 yards and three touchdowns. Now looking for a fresh start in San Marcos, he brings proven hands and big game experience to a deep and talented Bobcat receiving corps. With so much new talent in the mix and veterans like Dawn and Sparks leading the way, this group of receivers is poised to give the Bobcats a versatile, high upside attack.
Like the running backs, the receiver room strikes a balance between experience and youth. Even with last year’s departures of Mahdi and Kole Wilson to the transfer portal, there’s no shortage of talent looking to step up and earn reps. The competition is wide open, and with so much opportunity on the table, Kinne and his staff will have plenty of options as they craft this year’s offensive identity.
Offensive Line
Filling out the anchors of the offense, the big guys up front are led by a familiar face at left tackle: senior Dorion Strawn. Last season, Strawn was a key part of keeping quarterback Jordan McCloud upright, and he looks to continue his dominance on the offensive line this fall.
Beside him at left guard is senior Emeka Obigbo, who returns ready to lock down the interior. Another experienced face up front is Lysander Moeolo, a transfer who played at Syracuse and Navarro College and will add valuable depth at guard. At center, the Bobcats return a dependable trio in Ezra Dotson Oyetade, Brock Riker and Ian Langford, all ready to battle in the trenches against the opposition. On the right side, Sully Burns and Bami Badusi will hold it down at tackle, bringing strength and consistency to the edge.
Where there’s greater turnover is at tight end. Fan favorite Konner Fox decided to enter the transfer portal, opening the door for Titus Lyons to step into the starting role. Joining him is Ty Stamey, a transfer from Sun Belt rival Louisiana, as well as Jake Simpson and Blake Smith, all of whom will be called upon to contribute this season. With a deep mix of returning talent and promising new additions, the Bobcats’ offensive front is poised to set the tone and lead the way in 2025. Landon Keopple has been promoted to offensive coordinator after serving as the Bobcats’ assistant quarterbacks coach and director of recruiting. Keopple is a familiar face to head coach GJ Kinne, having worked alongside him during stops at Incarnate Word and Hawaii.
Texas State also added former Cal staff member Cole Johnson to the program. Johnson, who previously served as an offensive analyst at Cal, will hold the same role in San Marcos as part of the Bobcats’ offensive support staff. With Keopple’s promotion and Johnson’s arrival, Texas State looks to build on its offensive momentum and continue evolving its attack this fall.
With a loaded quarterback room, a balanced backfield, experienced playmakers out wide and a rebuilt but talented offensive line, Texas State looks poised to light up the scoreboard this season. Under head coach GJ Kinne’s direction and the added expertise of Landon Keopple and Cole Johnson, the Bobcats’ offense will lean on a deep mix of returning leaders and impact transfers to take the next step forward in 2025.
While losing a few big names to the portal created some offseason questions, the talent assembled in San Marcos should give this unit all the tools it needs to succeed. If this diverse group can find its rhythm early, Texas State has the potential to be one of the most explosive offenses in the Sun Belt and give Bobcat fans plenty to cheer about all season long.
