(Photo Credit: Godofredo A. Vasquez)
Key Players Returning:
QB Keegan Shoemaker, RB Zach Hrbacek, WR Noah Smith, WR Al’vante Woodard, DE Jevon Leon, DT Chris Scott, LB Kavian Gaither, LB Jaylen Phillips, CB Jordan Morris, NB Da’Veawn Armstead, NB Caleb Weaver, SS Donovan Adkins, KR Chris Hicks and PT Jadon Cardell.
Key Players Departing:
WR Cody Chrest, OC Daniel Melendez, OG Jalen North, OT Moses Johnson, OT CJ Marsh, DE Tyler Moore, DE Briceon Hayes, DE Toby Ndukwe, DT Ellison Hubbard, LB Trevor Williams, CB Trey Smith, DS BJ Foster, FS Darrel Hawkins-Williams and PK Seth Morgan.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: QB Xavier Ward (Washington State transfer), RB John Gentry (Utah State transfer), DS Jamarie Wiggins (Waco, Texas), WR Lonnie Adkism (Corus Christi, Texas), CB Chantson Prox (Canton, Texas), CB Dakerric Hobbs (Kilgore, Texas), OT Rhett Larson (SMU transfer), RB Coco Brown (Denton, Texas), OT Kolt Dieterich (Riesel, Texas) and DL Akeem Smith (Georgia State transfer).
2022 Results:
G01 @ #6 Texas A&M L 0-31
G02 NORTHERN ARIZONA L 3-10
G03 TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE W 27-17
G04 vs. Stephen F. Austin W 17-16
G05 @ Eastern Kentucky W 25-17
G06 @ Utah Tech W 18-13
G07 @ Tarleton W 40-21
G08 ABILENE CHRISTIAN L
G09 SOUTHERN UTAH L 7-17
Team Info:
2022 Overall: 5-4
Home: 1-3
Away: 3-1
Neutral: 1-0
WAC: 3-2
Non-WAC: 2-2
Head Coach: KC Keeler
Sam Houston: 85-27
Career: 259-100-1
Bowls: 0-0
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Keegan Showmaker (95-204, 1122 yards, 46.6%, 5.5 avg., 6 TD, 5 INT)
Rushing: Zach Hrbacek (86 car., 495 yards, 5.8 avg., 3 TD)
Receiving: Al’vontre Woodard (16 rec., 215 yards, 13.4 avg., 2TD)
TD’s Scored: Zach Hrbacek (3)
Sacks: Kavian Gaither (3)
Tackles: Kavian Gaither (79)
Interceptions: David Fisher (2)
Pass Deflections: David Fisher (4)
Tackles For Loss: Kavian Gaither (11.5)
Forced Fumbles: Da’Veawn Armstead/Kavian Gaither (2)
Kick Returns: Zach Hrbacek (4 ret., 91 yards, 22.8 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Zach Hrbacek (2 ret., 33 yards, 16.5 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: None
Punting: Jadon Cardell (44 punts, 1717 yards, 39.0 avg., 14 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 5 Keegan Showmaker (SR)
RB: 00 Zach Hrbacek (RS SO)
TE: 37 Jax Sherrard (GR/TR)
WR: 2 Ife Adeyi (RS SR)
WR: 6 Noah Smith (SR)
TE: 89 Elijah Sohn (SR/TR)
LT: 59 Graceson Jackson-Smith (RS SO/TR)
LG: 73 MarKendrick Beall (JR/TR)
OC: 57 Ethan Hagler (SR/TR)
RG: 71 James Dawn II (SO)
RT: 52 D’Ary Patton (RS SO)
KR: 00 Zach Hrbacek (RS SO)
PK: 47 Colby Sessums (RS SO/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 94 Jevon Leon (SR)
DT: 97 Chris Scott (SR)
NT: 00 Akeem Smith (GR/TR)
DE: 33 Markel Perry (GR)
LB: 1 Trevor Williams (GR)
LB: 14 Kavian Gaither (JR)
NB: 39 Caleb Weaver (RS SO)
CB: 9 Jordan Morris (RS SR/TR)
CB: 5 David Fisher (RS SO)
FS: 4 Isaiah Downes (GR/TR)
SS: 12 Donovan Adkins (JR)
PR: 21 Zach Hrbacek (RS SO)
PT: 43 Jadon Cardell (RS SO)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: B
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/02 @ BYU Cougars | First meeting between schools.
09/09 VS. Air Force Falcons | First meeting between schools.
09/23 @ Houston Cougars | Sam Houston trails the series 2-4. The Bearkats lost (10-31) the last meeting between schools in 2005.
09/28 JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOCKS | Sam Houston leads the series 6-5. The Bearkats won (42-7) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
10/05 @ Liberty Flames | First meeting between schools.
10/11 @ New Mexico State Aggies | First meeting between schools.
10/18 FIU PANTHERS | First meeting between schools.
10/25 UTEP MINERS | Sam Houston trails the series 0-2. The Bearkats lost (14-59) the last meeting between schools in 2003.
11/04 KENNESAW STATE OWLS | Sam Houston won (34-27) the only prior meeting between schools in 2017.
11/11 @ Louisiana Tech Bulldogs | Sam Houston trails the series 0-2-1. The Bearkats lost (17-55) the last meeting between schools in 1999.
11/18 @ WKU Hilltoppers | Sam Houston won (54-24) the only prior meeting between schools in 2004.
11/25 MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS | The series is tied 1-1. The Bearkats lost (19-20 OT) the last meeting between schools in 1991.
Predictions:
Home: 1-5
Away: 0-6
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 0-8
Non-CUSA: 1-3
Overall: 1-11 (9th in CUSA)
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