Sam Houston Bearkats 2025 Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: Houston Chronicle)

Key Players Returning:

QB Hunter Watson, WR Qua’Vez Humphreys, WR Michael Phoenix II, OG James Dawn II, OT Graceson Jackson-Smith, CB/PR Emon Allen, and PK/PT Christian Pavon.

Key Players Departing:

RB Jevyon Ducker, RB/KR Zach Hrbacek, RB DJ McKinney, WR/KR Ife Adeyi, WR Simeon Evans, WR Noah Smith, OC Ethan Hagler, OG MarKendrick Beall, OT Orion Irving, DE Kendrick DuJour, DE Briceon Hayes, DE Jevon Leon, DE Chris Murray, DE Richard Outland, DT Denver Warren, LB Trey Fields, LB Kavian Gaither, LB Sincere Jackson, LB Issiah Nixon, CB Da’Veawn Armstead, CB David Fisher, FS Caleb Weaver, NB Jaylon Jimmerson, DS Isaiah Cash, and PT Jadon Cardell.

Top 10 Recruits:

3 Star Recruits: 
DS Braylen Wortham (College Station, Texas), QB Landyn Locke (Rockwall, Texas), QB Mabrey Mattauer (Wisconsin transfer), OL Logan Cahill (Prosper, Texas), DS CJ Brown (Bowling Green transfer), QB Mabrey Mettauer (Wisconsin transfer), OL Logan Cahill (Prosper, Texas), EDGE Keelan Cox (Texas Southern transfer), RB Jerrian Parker (Southern Illinois transfer), and DS Trey Harris (Cornell transfer).

2024 Results:

G01  @ Rice  W  34-14
G02  @ UCF  L  14-45
G03  HAWAII  W  31-13
G04  NEW MEXICO STATE  W  31-11
G05  vs. Texas State  W  40-39
G06  @ UTEP  W  41-21
G07  WESTERN KENTUCKY  L  14-31
G08  @ FIU  10-7 
G09  LOUISIANA TECH  W  9-3
G10  @ Kennesaw State  W/OT  23-17
G11  @ Jax State  L  11-21
G12  LIBERTY  W  20-18
BOWL  vs. Georgia Southern  W  31-26

Team Info:

2024 Overall:  10-3 (3rd in CUSA)

Home:  4-1
Away:  4-2
Neutral:  2-0
CUSA:  6-2
Non-CUSA:  4-1

Head Coach:  Phil Longo

Sam Houston:  0-0
Bowls:  0-0
Career:  7-14

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing: 
Hunter Watson (175-281, 1811 yards, 62.3%, 6.4 avg., 12 TD, 8 INT)
Rushing:  Hunter Watson (168 car., 647 yards, 3.9 avg., 9 TD)
Receiving: 
Qua’Vez Humphreys (20 rec., 385 yards, 19.3 avg., 4 TD)
TD’s Scored: 
Hunter Watson (9)
Sacks: 
None
Tackles: 
Emon Allen (12)
Interceptions:  Jaiden Scott (1)
Pass Deflections: 
Emon Allen (1)
Tackles For Loss: 
Emon Allen (2)
Forced Fumbles: 
None
Kick Returns: 
None
Punt Returns: 
Emon Allen (5 ret., 2 yards, 0.4 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: 
Christian Pavon (14-24 fg/fga., 58%, 35-35 xp/xpa., 77 pts.)
Punting: 
None

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  10  Hunter Watson  (RS SR/TR)
RB:  00  Elijah Green  (RS SR/TR)
WR:  7  Qua’Vez Humphreys  (RS SR/TR)
WR:  4  Michael Phoenix II  (RS SR/TR)
WR:  00  Kaleb Black  (RS SO/TR)
TE:  89  Fernando Garza III  (RS SR/TR)
LT:  79  Kolt Dieterich  (RS SO)
LG:  70  Rhett Larson  (RS JR/TR)
OC:  00  Zo’maryon Bryan  (JR/TR)
RG:  71  James Dawn II  (SR)
RT:  59  Graceson Jackson-Smith  (RS SR/TR)
KR:  7  Qua’Vez Humphreys  (RS SR/TR)
PK:  49  Christian Pavon  (RS SR)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  00  Keelan Cox  (RS SR/TR)
DT:  00  Zeiqui Lawton  (RS SR/TR)
NT:  00  AJ Sargent  (SR/TR)
DE:  42  Ca’lub Holloway  (RS JR)
LB:  28  CJ Johnson  (RS SR/TR)
LB:  00  Antavious Fish  (GR/TR)
NB:  00  Alonzo Edwards  (GR/TR)
CB:  7  Emon Allen  (RS SR)
CB:  00  Jace Arnold  (RS JR/TR)
FS:  00  Trey Harris  (GR/TR)
SS:  00  Cecil Powell  (GR/TR)
PR:  7  Emon Allen  (RS SR)
PT:  49  Christian Pavon  (RS SR)

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  C
Running Backs:  C
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  C

Defense

Defensive Line:  C
Linebackers:  C
Secondary:  C

Special Teams:

Kick Returners:  C
Punt Returners:  C
Kickers:  B
Punters:  C

Schedule:

08/23 
@ Western Kentucky Hilltoppers  |  Sam Houston trails the series 1-2.  The Bearkats lost (14-31) last season’s meeting, and they lost (23-28) the prior meeting in 2023.

08/30  UNLV REBELS  |  First meeting.

09/06  @ Hawaii Rainbow Warriors  |  Last season’s 31-13 win was the first meeting between schools.

09/27  @ Texas Longhorns  |  Sam Houston lost (3-56) the only prior meeting in 2006.

10/02  @ New Mexico State Aggies  |  The series is tied 1-1.  The Bearkats won (31-11) last season’s meeting, and they lost (13-27) the inaugural meeting in 2023.

10/09  JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOCKS  |  Sam Houston trails the series 6-7.  The Bearkats are 1-3 since 2015, and their last series win (42-7) was in 2021.

10/15  UTEP MINERS  |  Sam Houston trails the series 1-3.  The Bearkats won (41-21) last season’s meeting, and they lost (34-37) the prior meeting in 2023.

10/31  @ Louisiana Tech Bulldogs  |  The series is tied 2-2-1.  The Bearkats won (9-3) last season’s meeting, and they won (42-27) the prior meeting in 2023.

11/08  @ Oregon State Beavers  |  First meeting.

11/15  DELAWARE BLUE HENS  |  First meeting.

11/22  @ Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders  |  Sam Houston leads the series 2-1.  The Bearkats won (23-20) the last meeting in 2023, and they lost (19-20 OT) the prior meeting in 1991.

11/29  FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL PANTHERS  |  The series is tied 1-1.  The Bearkats won (10-7) last season’s meeting, and they lost (27-33 2OT) the prior meeting in 2023.

Predictions:

Home:  5-1
Away:  0-6
Neutral:  0-0
CUSA:  3-5
Non-CUSA:  2-2

Overall:  5-7 (6th in CUSA)