(Photo Credit: Missouri State)
Key Players Returning:
QB Jacob Clark, WR Jmariyae Robinson, TE Lance Mason, OC Cash Hudson, OG Mark Hutchinson, OG Hutson Lillibridge, OT Christian Loaiza, DE Caleb Dietlin, DT Giles Tchio, LB Michael Teason, LB Kanye Young, FS Todric McGee, SS JJ O’Neal, and PK Yousef Obeid.
Key Players Departing:
RB/KR Jayden Becks, RB Jacardia Wright, WR D’Vontae Key, WR/PR Hunter Wood, WR Jacardia Wright, OT Grant Goodson, DE Jalen Williams, DE Darion Smith, LB Tahj Chambers, LB Dallas Winner-Johnson, CB Kaleno Levine, CB Lemondre Joe, CB Avery Powell, FS Tavier Williams, SS PJ Hall, and PT Grant Burkett.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: TE Jackson Kohl (St. Louis, Missouri), DL Kheaton Kinney (Atlanta, Texas), QB Deuce Bailey (Bowling Green, Kentucky), RB Josh Joyner (Washington State transfer), LB Jalen Brooks (Campbell transfer), DS Haydon Caston (Iowa Colony, Texas), CB Gionni McBride (Kansas City, Missouri), DL Dezmond Barnes (Millbrook, Alabama), CB Jordan Dunbar (Bowling Green transfer), and QB Drew Viotto (Eastern Michigan transfer).
2024 Results:
G01 MONTANA L 24-29
G02 @ Ball State L 34-42
G03 LINDENWOOD W 28-14
G04 @ UT-Martin W 31-24
G05 YOUNGSTOWN STATE W 38-31
G06 @ Illinois State W 41-7
G07 INDIANA STATE W 46-21
G08 @ Northern Iowa W 49-42
G09 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS W 38-17
G10 @ Murray State W 59-31
G11 @ North Dakota State L 21-59
G12 SOUTH DAKAOTA STATE L 9-45
Team Info:
2024 Overall: 8-4 (4th in MVFC)
Home: 5-1
Away: 3-3
Neutral: 0-0
MVFC: 6-2
Non-MVFC: 2-2
Head Coach: Ryan Beard
Missouri State: 12-11
Bowls: 0-0
Career: 12-11
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Jacob Clark (262-376, 3604 yards, 69.7%, 9.6 avg., 26 TD, 6 INT)
Rushing: Iverson Young (8 car., 59 yards, 7.4 avg., 1 TD)
Receiving: Jmariyae Robinson (38 rec., 585 yards, 15.4 avg., 4 TD)
TD’s Scored: Jmariyae Robinson (7)
Sacks: Caleb Dietlin (3.5)
Tackles: Michael Teason (51)
Interceptions: 4 Tied (1)
Pass Deflections: JJ O’Neal (6)
Tackles For Loss: Michael Teason (7)
Forced Fumbles: Caden Wiest (2)
Kick Returns: None
Punt Returns: Dash Luke (3 ret., 100 yards, 33.3 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Yousef Obeid (11-12 fg/fga., 92%, 53-54 xp/xpa., 86 pts.)
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 12 Jacob Clark (SR)
RB: 2 Shomari Lawrence (SR)
WR: 10 James BlackStrain (SR)
WR: 0 Jmariyae Robinson (JR)
WR: 9 Ronnel Johnson (JR)
TE: 85 Lance Mason (SR)
LT: 76 Christian Loaiza (JR)
LG: 72 Mark Hutchinson (SR)
OC: 71 Cash Hudson (JR)
RG: 58 Hudson Lillibridge (SR)
RT: 74 Erick Cade (SR)
KR: 1 Dash Luke (SR)
PK: 36 Yousef Obeid (SO)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 17 Davon Townley Jr. (SR)
DT: 50 Mitchell Toney (SO)
DT: 57 Gilles Tchio (JR)
DE: 7 DJ Wesolak (JR)
LB: 21 Jashawn Cooper (SO)
LB: 6 Jared Lloyd (RS JR)
LB: 28 Michael Teason (RS SO)
CB: 14 Thomas Anderson (RS SR)
CB: 5 Navonn Barrett (SO)
FS: 0 Maguire Neal (SR)
SS: 16 JJ O’Neal (SR)
PR: 1 Dash Luke (SR/TR)
PT: 25 Stewart McDonald (RS FR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: A
Kickers: B
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/30 @ USC Trojans | First meeting.
09/06 @ Marshall Thundering Herd | First meeting.
09/13 SMU Mustangs | First meeting.
09/20 UT-MARTIN SHYHAWKS | Missouri State leads the series 3-2. The Bears won (31-24) last season’s meeting, and they lost (31-38) the prior meeting in 2023.
09/27 WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS | Missouri State trails the series 0-6. The Bears lost (14-17) the last meeting in 2006, and they lost (28-37) the prior meeting in 2005.
10/08 @ Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders | First meeting.
10/22 @ New Mexico State Aggies | First meeting.
10/29 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL PANTHERS | First meeting.
11/08 @ Liberty Flames | First meeting.
11/15 UTEP MINERS | First meeting.
11/22 @ Kennesaw State Owls | Missouri State lost (24-35) the only prior meeting in 2019.
11/29 LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS | First meeting.
Predictions:
Home: 2-4
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 2-6
Non-CUSA: 2-2
Overall: 4-8 (12th in CUSA)
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