(WR Noah Smith – NCAA Photos/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
RB John Gentry, WR/KR Malik Phillips, WR Noah Smith, OC Ethan Hagler, OG MarKendrick Beall, OG James Dawn II, OT Graceson Jackson-Smith, DE Jevon Leon, LB Kavian Gaither, LB Issiah Nixon, CB/PR Emon Allen, CB Da’Veawn Armstead, CB David Fisher, NB Caleb Weaver, PK Colby Sessums and PT Jadon Cardell.
Key Players Departing:
QB Keegan Shoemaker, WR Al’vante Woodard, OT D’Ary Patton, DE Markel Perry, DT Chris Scott, NT Akeem Smith, LB Trevor Williams, CB Isaiah Downes, CB Dakerric Hobbs, CB Jordan Morris, FS Donovan Adkins, and SS Da’Marcus Crosby.
(QB Jase Bauer – 247Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: DT Quardale Patt (Athens, Texans), QB Jase Bauer (Central Michigan transfer), TE Fernando Garza III (Texas A&M transfer), DS Jaylon Jimmerson (Liberty transfer), ATH Railyn Adams (Newton, Texas), TE Cooper Stevens (Cypress, Texas), WR Fatu Mukuba (Austin, Texas), LB Dean Ford (Katy, Texas), QB DJ Bailey (DeSoto, Texas), and WR Karson Maynard (Melissa, Texas).
2023 Results:
G01 @ BYU L 0-14
G02 vs. Air Force L 3-13
G03 @ Houston L 7-38
G04 JACKSONVILLE STATE L (OT) 28-35
G05 @ Liberty L 16-21
G06 @ New Mexico State L 13-27
G07 FIU L (2OT) 27-33
G08 UTEP L 34-37
G09 KENNESAW STATE W 24-21
G10 @ Louisiana Tech W 42-27
G11 @ Western Kentucky L 23-28
G12 MIDDLE TENNESSEE W 23-20
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 3-9 (7th in CUSA)
Home: 2-3
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-1
CUSA: 2-6
Non-CUSA: 1-3
Head Coach: KC Keeler
Sam Houston: 88-36
Career: 262-109-1
Bowls: 0-0
(LB Kavian Gaither – San Houston Athletics)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Grant Gunnell (14-22, 100 yards, 63.6%, 4.5 avg., 0 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing: John Gentry (119 car., 392 yards, 3.3 avg., 3 TD)
Receiving: Noah Smith (79 rec., 782 yards, 9.9 avg., 6 TD)
TD’s Scored: Noah Smith (8)
Sacks: Issiah Nixon (5)
Tackles: Kavian Gaither (72)
Interceptions: Caleb Weaver (2)
Pass Deflections: Da’Veawn Armstead (5)
Tackles For Loss: Issiah Nixon (5.5)
Forced Fumbles: Kavian Gaither (2)
Kick Returns: Malik Phillips (18 ret., 368 yards, 20.4 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Emon Allen (11 ret., 98 yards, 8.9 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Colby Sessums (11-14 fg/fga., 79%, 27-28 xp/xpa., 60 pts.)
Punting: Jadon Cardell (74 punts, 3059 yards, 41.3 avg., 20 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 8 Jase Bauer (RS JR/TR)
RB: 9 Jay Ducker (GR/TR)
WR: 2 Ife Adeyi (RS SR)
WR: 11 Malik Phillips (SR/TR)
WR: 6 Noah Smith (RS SR)
TE: 86 Thomas Jewett (RS SO)
LT: 59 Graceson Jackson-Smith (RS JR/TR)
LG: 73 MarKendrick Beall (SR/TR)
OC: 57 Ethan Hagler (RS SR/TR)
RG: 71 James Dawn II (JR)
RT: 78 Orion Irving (RS SO)
KR: 11 Malik Phillips (SR/TR)
PK: 47 Colby Sessums (RS JR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 94 Jevon Leon (RS SR)
DT: 97 Dylan Frazier (RS SO/TR)
NT: 99 Quincy Wright (RS SO/TR)
DE: 18 Issiah Nixon (SR/TR)
LB: 8 Sincere Jackson (RS SR/TR)
LB: 14 Kavian Gaither (SR)
NB: 3 Caleb Weaver (RS JR)
CB: 2 Da’Veawn Armstead (RS JR/TR)
CB: 5 David Fisher (RS JR)
FS: 13 Ny’Quee Hawkins (GR/TR)
SS: 4 Jaylon Jimmerson (GR/TR)
PR: 7 Emon Allen (RS JR)
PT: 43 Jadon Cardell (RS JR)
(WR Ife Adeyi – Sam Houston Athletics)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: D
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: B
Kickers: B
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/31 @ Rice Owls | Sam Houston trails the series 1-16. The Bearkats lost (13-14) the last meeting between schools in 1993.
09/07 @ UCF Knights | First meeting between schools.
09/14 HAWAII RAINBOW WARRIORS | First meeting between schools.
09/21 NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES | Last season’s 13-27 loss was the first meeting between schools.
09/28 vs. Texas State Bobcats | Sam Houston trails the series 37-50-5. The Bearkats won (36-14) the last meeting between schools in 2011.
10/03 @ UTEP Miners | Sam Houston trails the series 0-3. Last season’s 34-37 win was the first meeting between schools in 2003.
10/16 WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS | The series is tied 1-1. The Bearkats lost (23-28) last season’s meeting between schools, and they won (54-24) the inaugural meeting in 2004.
10/22 @ FIU Panthers | Last season’s 27-33 loss was the first meeting between schools.
10/29 LOUISIANA TECH BULLLOGS | Sam Houston trails the series 1-2-1. Last season’s 42-27 win was the first meeting between schools since 2023.
11/16 @ Kennesaw State Owls | Sam Houston leads the series 2-0. The Bearkats won (24-21) last season’s meeting between schools, and they won (34-27) the inaugural meeting in 2017.
11/23 @ Jacksonville State Gamecocks | The series is tied 6-6. The Bearkats are 2-2 since 2014, and their last series win (42-7) was in 2021.
11/29 LIBERTY FLAMES | Last season’s 16-21 loss was the first meeting between schools.
Predictions:
Home: 3-2
Away: 3-3
Neutral: 0-1
CUSA: 4-4
Non-CUSA: 2-2
Overall: 6-6 (5th in CUSA)
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