Tag: Texas State

Oregon Ducks extend offer to transfer portal OT from Texas State

In an attempt to shore up offensive line depth for 2025, the Ducks have extended an offer to former Texas State OT Alex Harkey.

When it comes to incoming players via the transfer portal, Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks rarely miss.

The Ducks are looking for more offensive line depth in 2025 and they’ve reportedly extended an offer to former Texas State lineman Alex Harkey.

At 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds, Harkey started at right guard for the Bobcats this season, and the team finished 7-5. They’ll be going into the First Responders Bowl against North Texas without him.

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Harkey started out with the Colorado Buffaloes but transferred out after Deion Sanders was hired as head coach. He was part of the mass exodus of that program after the transition. In his first season at Texas State, Harkey played his just a handful of games, but in his junior year, he ended his time at Texas State as a Third-Team All-Sun Belt Conference selection.

Oregon has great depth at offensive line, but there could be a some spots available as the transfer portal has opened up and Josh Conerly, Jr. has to decide whether to come back to Oregon for his senior season or move on to the NFL.

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Saints add more depth at cornerback by signing Kaleb Ford-Dement

The Saints added more depth at cornerback by signing Kaleb Ford-Dement. The rookie from Texas State was recently waived by the Patriots:

Here’s that corresponding move to fullback Zander Horvath being waived. The New Orleans Saints Saints added more depth at cornerback by signing Kaleb Ford-Dement on Tuesday, as first reported by Sara Palczewski for BR Proud.

The rookie from Texas State was recently waived by the New England Patriots before trying out for the Seattle Seahawks. Ford-Dement went to Whitehouse High School in Texas, about an hour northwest of Saints running back Kendre Miller’s hometown at Mount Enterprise. He initially played at Kilgore College before transferring a couple of times, first to Old Dominion, then Washington State, and again to Texas State.

Ford-Dement signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent earlier this year and now joins an already-crowded position group in New Orleans. But the Saints clearly want more competition after watching Rico Payton, Rezjohnn Wright, and Shemar Jean-Charles take most of the snaps in their first preseason game. Kool-Aid McKinstry will continue to get more work but the top of the depth chart is set between Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo, and Alontae Taylor.

So we’ll see if Ford-Dement can make a strong impression. He doesn’t exactly have the physical traits the Saints look for after weighing in at just 5-foot-11 and 178 pounds, but he’s got rare movement skills and an impressive 9.00 Relative Athletic Score. Every rep matters through these last few weeks leading up to roster cuts.

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New Dolphins OL Aaron Brewer shares insane diet he went on to gain 40 pounds in college

How Aaron Brewer gained 40 pounds in just months at Texas State.

College and professional athletes often have to undergo intense training programs to make sure they’re in the best shape to do their job on the field each and every week, but offensive linemen have a different type of challenge.

Those who are responsible for protecting the quarterback and providing lanes for their running backs need to maintain their mass, which can be difficult for a smaller player attempting to make it at a lesser-known program like Texas State.

New Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Aaron Brewer recently shared on “Drive Time with Travis Wingfield” that when he was in college he had to gain 40 pounds in just months to be ready to perform, and his diet to do so was crazy.

“I don’t know if many people know, but In college, I played underweight as well,” Brewer said. “When I first moved to college I was like 220, and so I had to put on about 40 pounds in the summer and got up to about 270… Here’s what they had me doing. I literally, I’d wake up in the morning. I’d eat two PB&Js and drink chocolate milk. I’d go eat breakfast and eat another PB&J and drink a protein shake. I’d finish that and go eat lunch – PB&J and a protein shake. Dinner – PB&J and a protein shake. Before I go to sleep – two more PB&Js and some chocolate milk. And, I was doing this every day. Chugging every day. PB&Js every day. Wake up go to sleep, same thing.”

Luckily, Brewer doesn’t have to go through that type of rigorous diet again to maintain his shape in the NFL, and his athleticism is actually one of the benefits of his smaller frame.

In Miami, he’ll have to continue being quick enough to beat defenders to the spot and also be strong enough to move their oftentimes much bigger bodies out of the way.

Former Clemson offensive coordinator hired by Texas State

Former Clemson OC Chad Morris has a new home in college football.

Former Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris has a new job in college football.

According to reports, Texas State is expected to hire Morris as their new wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator. Morris is once again moving on from the Tigers after spending the last season as “special assistant.”

Morris was Clemson’s offensive coordinator from 2011-14 before becoming the head coach of SMU and later Arkansas. However, in his time with the Tigers, he built a strong relationship with Swinney beyond just coaching. They built a strong bond as neighbors for multiple years before Morris departed for a head coaching job, which led to his return to Clemson last season.

The 55-year-old coach will look to make a huge impact with his new team.

Texas State’s awesome 90-yard play turns into touchback for Southern Miss

A great play by Texas State saw Southern Miss wind up with the football

Ismael Mahdi had one reception for 90 yards in Texas State’s 50-36 win on Saturday against Southern Miss.

The play became a highlight for a couple of reasons, the last of which was not favorable.

It looked like TJ Finley was about to be sacked but he somehow got the ball to Mahdi, who took off.

As Mahdi was about to cross the goal line 90 yards away, a Southern Miss defender jarred the ball loose from the Bobcat.

The fumble went out of bounds in the end zone and that turned the gain into a touchback with Southern Miss gaining possession.

Nevada Football: Wolf Pack Blow Lead, Lose To Texas State 35-24

Nevada Football: Wolf Pack Blow Lead, Lose To Texas State 35-24 Nevada lead after the first half, but fell apart in the second half as they lost their 14th straight game. Contact/Follow @BrandonGBlake & @MWCwire Wolf Pack Lose First Half Lead, Drop …

Nevada Football: Wolf Pack Blow Lead, Lose To Texas State 35-24

Nevada lead after the first half, but fell apart in the second half as they lost their 14th straight game. 

Contact/Follow @BrandonGBlake & @MWCwire

Wolf Pack Lose First Half Lead, Drop 14th Straight Game to Texas State 35-24

Nevada went into the locker room after the first half with a 17-0 lead on the road. Their first lead all season and there felt like this was the time for Nevada to get their first win in more than a year. It felt like everything was aligned for the Wolf Pack to get that elusive win against a talented Texas State team on the road.

Then the second half began and those hopes and dreams went crashing down for Nevada.

The Texas State Bobcats scored 35 unanswered points in the second half and flew past Nevada to secure a 35-24 win on Saturday. The Bobcat offense was stymied by Nevada’s defense in the first half going scoreless. But in the second half, Texas State’s offense came to life as the Nevada defense could not stop the Bobcat offense and the Wolf Pack offense struggled badly. 

The Wolf Pack struggles on offense in the second half were not all bad. Nevada did score a touchdown late in the game to make the score somewhat respectable. But that late touchdown was the lone bright spot in a second half performance that saw Nevada turn the ball over three times. That poor performance on offense doomed Nevada as Texas State’s offense moved the ball with ease in the second half.

All the goodwill Nevada garnered after their resilient performance in a loss to Kansas went away in that second half against Texas State. Now the Wolf Pack have dropped their 14th straight contest and are going back to the drawing board as they head into conference play.

In the first half, it was all Nevada Wolf Pack as they jumped to an early 3-0 lead in the first quarter after Brandon Talton connected on a 30 yard field goal. 

On Texas State’s first offensive possession of the game, QB TJ Finley’s pass was picked off by KK Meier. Meier returned it 98 yards to score the touchdown to put Nevada up 10-0 after the PAT. That interception was the first interception for Nevada in the 2023 season and it resulted in paydirt for the Wolf Pack. 

In the second quarter, the Wolf Pack offense marched down the field on a 14 play, 78 yard drive that put them deep in the red zone. On 3rd and Goal from the Texas State one yard line, RB Sean Dollars fumbled the ball in the end zone but offensive lineman Zach Welch recovered the ball and scored the touchdown to put the Wolf Pack up 17-0.

Late in the second quarter, the Wolf Pack offense was on the move to score again but QB Brendon Lewis had a pass that was intercepted by Texas State’s Kaleb Ford-Dement. But two plays later, the Bobcat offense turned the ball back over when Finley was sacked by Ike Nnakenyi and the ball came loose and the fumble was received by Eli’jah Winson. 

That was the last play of the second half and the last good thing Nevada did before the wheels came off in the second half. 

In the second half, Texas State came to life on offense as they went on a 10 play, 75 yard scoring drive. That drive ended when Finley connected with Joey Hobert on a 25 yard touchdown pass to cut the Nevada lead to 17-7.

The Wolf Pack defense did show some playmaking ability in the second half as on the Bobcat’s next offensive possession. Texas State RB Jahmyl Jeter fumbled and his fumble was recovered by LB Drue Watts. But Nevada’s offense could not capitalize on that turnover and was forced to punt.

After Nevada’s punt, Texas State’s offense took only two plays to score a touchdown. Finley ( 25 for 35, 295 yards, two touchdowns, one interception) connected with Kole Wilson on a 77 yard touchdown pass to cut the Wolf Pack lead to 17-14. 

The Wolf Pack offense was falling apart quickly as they turned the ball over on their next possession. RB Cross Patton fumbled and his fumble was recovered by Texas’ States Chris Mills. The Bobcats took the lead for good after that Nevada fumble when running back Ismail Mahdi ( 21 carries, 216 yards, two touchdowns) scored on a 46 yard touchdown run to put the Bobcats up 21-17.

The Bobcats took the lead in the third quarter and kept adding to the lead. The Wolf Pack offense crashed in a haze of turnovers and an inability to get out of its own way. Texas State tacked on two more touchdowns to bump the score up to 35-17 Bobcats. By then the game was out of reach for Nevada. QB AJ Bianco did come in for Lewis and lead a nine play scoring drive that ended with Bianco scoring a rushing touchdown from two yards out.  

The final score was 35-24 Texas State and the Wolf Pack have returned to Reno with their 14th straight loss. 

For Nevada, QB Brendon Lewis completed 21 of 32 passes for 151 yards and threw one interception and zero touchdowns. Lewis was also the team’s leading rusher as he ran for 89 yards on 12 carries. The leading receiver for Nevada was cornerback Isaiah Essissima as he recorded two catches for 67 yards. 

The Wolf Pack defense played well in the first half but was horrid in the second half. Overall, the Wolf Pack defense gave up 574 yards of total offense. Of those 574 yards of total offense, Nevada gave up 276 of those yards on the ground and Mahdi for Texas State was responsible for 216 of those rushing yards. 

Stop me if I am wrong but defense was supposed to be Ken Wilson’s calling card right? 

Now the Wolf Pack will head into conference play on a 14 game losing streak. Nevada will be on the road again to face off against another potent offense in Fresno State. We will see if Nevada can slow down a talented offense for once this season. And maybe if Nevada has a lead, they will hold onto that lead for once. 

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Texas State Vs Nevada: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction

Texas State Vs Nevada: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction Nevada hits the road to take on Texas State as the Wolf Pack look to snap a 13 game losing streak. Contact/Follow @BrandonGBlake & @MWCwire Nevada Heads Out To The Lone Star State …

Texas State Vs Nevada: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction

Nevada hits the road to take on Texas State as the Wolf Pack look to snap a 13 game losing streak.

Contact/Follow @BrandonGBlake & @MWCwire

Nevada Heads Out To The Lone Star State To Take On Texas State

WEEK 4: Nevada Wolf Pack (0-3) vs Texas State Bobcats (2-1)

WHEN: Saturday, September 23rd- 4:00pm PT/3:00pm MT

WHERE: Bobcat Stadium-San Marcos, Texas (Capacity:30,000)

TV: ESPN+  Click here to sign on for a free trial

RADIO: Nevada is on 105.7 KOZZ in Reno and Texas State KTSW 89.9 in San Marcos.

SERIES RECORD:  Nevada leads series 1-0. The last meeting between Nevada and Texas State was in  2022 when Nevada won 38-14.

WEBSITES: NevadaWolfPack.com, the official Nevada athletics website | txst.com, the official Texas State athletics website.

ODDS:  Texas State (-17)

SP+ PROJECTION: Texas State by 10.8

FEI PROJECTION:  Texas State by 6.2

 

The Nevada Wolf Pack will hit the road as they will face off against the Texas State Bobcats on Saturday.

The Wolf Pack currently hold the nation’s longest losing streak at 13 games. That streak was extended last Saturday when Nevada dropped a close one to Kansas 31-24. Nevada put up a good, hard fought effort but it was not enough as the Jayhawks made the big plays at the right time to secure the win. 

The Wolf Pack are taking on a Texas State team that is much improved under new head coach G.J. Kinne. Kinne, who coached at Incarnate Word last year and led the Cardinals to a win in Reno over Nevada last season, has the Bobcats as one of the best offenses in FBS. The Bobcats are 2-1 and coming off an impressive 77-34 win over Jackson State last week. 

The Bobcats have already recorded one of the biggest upset victories of the season when they went into Waco, Texas and defeated Baylor in Week 1. The Texas State offense can score points as they are averaging 44.0 points per game so far this season. 

This is another explosive offense that will once again test the Wolf Pack defense. So far this season, Nevada has had a hard time trying to corral teams with very talented offenses. 

Can the Wolf Pack go into Texas and slow down the Bobcat offense ? Can the Wolf Pack play well like they did last week and finally snap that long losing streak?

Here are my keys and a prediction for Nevada-Texas State:

 

Keep that same (positive) energy from last week 

Despite losing for the 13th straight time last week, the Wolf Pack showed resilience and fight in their loss to Kansas. 

The performance against Kansas was a clear contrast to that pathetic, dreadful performance Nevada displayed against Idaho two weeks ago. The Nevada team that took the field against Kansas was a team that played well enough to win but just fell short. 

Coach Ken Wilson said it best after the game against Kansas: “ That was a great effort by those men in the locker room. “We’re going to win those games (down the road)”

For Nevada to win on Saturday on the road, they will need to bring that maximum effort and fight because this is a much improved Texas State team. The Wolf Pack can’t half-ass it, they must bring it all if they want to win.

 

Improve the pass defense, now

The Nevada pass defense has been horrendous after three weeks of action. To be fair, the Wolf Pack have faced three talented passing offenses in USC, Idaho and Kansas so it was going to be a struggle. However, Nevada’s pass defense still needs to find a way to play much better in order to win. Looking at the numbers, the Wolf Pack are 130th in passing defense as they are giving up an average of 354.7 passing yards per game. 

Here are some other defensive passing stats that will make Nevada fans recoil in horror: Nevada is 131st in the nation  in opposing completion percentage as they are giving up a competition percentage of 74.4 percent. Also, Nevada is dead last in the nation in opposing pass yards per attempt as they are giving up 13.0 passing yards per attempt. 

Those numbers in regard to Nevada’s passing defense after three games are shockingly bad. And guess what, Nevada will be facing another explosive pass offense in Texas State and a talented QB in TJ Finley. Finley’s numbers have been impressive so far this  season as he has thrown for 760 yards and six touchdowns and zero interceptions. 

Nevada’s pass defense will need to play a hell of a lot better if they are going to win on Saturday. It will not be easy because it is another talented pass heavy offense the Wolf Pack will be facing. However, Nevada must find a way to improve their pass defense so they have a chance of snapping their 13 game losing streak. 

 

Exploit Texas State’s poor pass defense 

After three games, Texas State has a very talented offense but their defense is a bit lacking. 

The Bobcats are decent at stopping the run as they are giving up an average of 128 rushing yards a game to the opposition. However, when it comes to defending the pass, Texas State is not good. The Bobcats are ranked next to last in the Sun Belt (and 125th in the nation) in pass defense so far this season. Texas State is giving up an average of 304 passing yards per game. 

Note: Statistically, Texas State’s pass defense is better than Nevada’s as the Wolf Pack are giving up an average of 342 passing yards per game while the Bobcats give up 304. Still Texas State’s pass defense is terrible.

Nevada’s offense will need to create plays to exploit the Texas State pass defense for yards and points. The Wolf Pack offense has been able to get big, chunk plays through the air on long pass plays. Nevada will need to continue to do that and also get better at the short and intermediate passing game as well. 

This game needs to be the game where the Wolf Pack need to get tight end Keleki Latu involved. Latu is a big target checking in at 6 foot 7 and 230lbs. So far this season Latu only has four receptions and he is the type of player that you find a way to get the ball to. It is key that the Wolf Pack offense get him the ball early and often.

If QB Brendon Lewis and the Wolf Pack offense can successfully attack the Bobcat pass defense, then Nevada has a good chance of winning on the road this Saturday. 

 

Prediction

Nevada 35  Texas State 31

Even though they lost their 13th game in a row to Kansas last week, there was a whole lot of fight and improved play from Nevada.

The Wolf Pack keep that same energy if they want to win on Saturday. Along with figuring out how to improve their pass defense against another explosive pass offense in Texas State.

The Bobcats can put up points but they also give up a bunch of yards through the air. This is the game where Brendon Lewis needs to find his receivers  like Dalevon Campbell and Sean Dollars.

This game will be a shootout but I think Nevada can mustard up the effort and a few stops on defense to win on the road and end their long losing streak.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Texas State wins inaugural National Golf Invitational in a Kentucky Derby-style horserace in the desert

Texas State capped off its season with a third team title.

From where Shane Howell was sitting, Sunday at the National Golf Invitational felt like the Kentucky Derby.

“Somehow, some way we ended up on top of the board,” said Howell, head coach at Texas State.

Scoring swings are a reality of college golf, but the final round at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes in Maricopa, Arizona, was something else entirely. Five teams landed within two shots of each other at the top of the leaderboard with Texas State, at 7 under for the week, narrowly beating Penn State and Wyoming, who tied for second at 6 under. Ball State and Stetson tied for fourth at 5 under. All five teams had the lead at some point on Sunday.

Howell normally isn’t a serial Golfstat refresher while he coaches, but Sunday was a different story. Howell checked the leaderboard after the first six holes to find his counters 9 over for the day. He checked it again after 12 holes and saw the beginning of a comeback.

Howell went to work on the par-5 16th hole, which Texas State played in 2 under thanks to birdies from Marcelo Garza and Jack Burke. Howell’s assistant Logan Davis was up ahead at the par-3 17th where the team struggled, counting two bogeys and a double and losing their lead to Wyoming.

By the time Garza, in Texas State’s anchor position, was standing over his approach at the par-4 18th, Howell was next to him. Garza hit his drive right into some high brush but got free relief from an old sprinkler head and punched down the fairway to 90 yards.

“I met him down there,” Howell said. “He said, ‘Hey, where do we stand?’ I said, ‘Bogey gets us the title.’ So he hit it up on the middle of the green about 35 feet and two-putted.”

Ball State was one of those teams circling the lead and while the Cardinals ultimately came up two shots short of Texas State, sophomore Kash Bellar became the inaugural NGI champion.

Every time Bellar saw Ball State head coach Mike Fleck on the course on Sunday, he asked for a status report.

“He would just tell us, ‘Hey, we’re ok, doing alright, falling behind,’” Bellar said.

Bellar’s final-round card wasn’t flashy – he made three birdies and three bogeys for an even-par 72 that left him with a one-shot win at 7 under. He managed birdie on the driveable par-4 14th from a greenside bunker, which gave him a big momentum boost and then sealed the title by rolling in a 15-footer straight uphill for birdie on the par-4 closing hole.

The NGI title marks Bellar’s first college title, and his first win in golf since the 2021 Indiana High School State Championship.

“I’ve been close a lot this spring,” Bellar said. “It was really nice to get it done this week.”

Being the first is especially sweet, and something Bellar had just begun to think about after the conclusion of the tournament even though the possibility had crossed his lips before he ever traveled with the team to Arizona.

“I forget which buddy I told,” Bellar said. “I was telling him that this is the first time there has ever been an NIT for golf. How would it be to be the first one to win it?”

Texas State will process that, too. The NGI is the team’s third title this season, which is an exceptional number for a team that struggled with injury as much as the Bobcats did. At some point during the year, three of Howell’s five starters were out with injury. That includes Garza, who played the first tournament of the year, sat out the rest of the fall with a wrist injury and didn’t start playing again until January. That made it fitting for Garza to be the one to clinch the NGI title.

“They’ve had a great year,” Howell said. “We felt grateful all week to be there because we felt like we’ve had a good year and for Lance (Ringler, of Golfweek) to host this tournament was really kind of a second life for us. They took advantage of it.”

Like a lot of teams, Texas State felt like it had some unfinished business after the Sun Belt Conference Championship, especially after a disappointing final round that left them short of the conference match-play bracket.

“We were really grateful to have another chance to come and play,” Howell said.

Before they arrived in the Arizona desert, Howell spoke to his team about turning the NGI into a springboard to the next level. A wild Sunday afternoon leaderboard seems like ample preparation for anything next season could throw at Texas State.

“We feel like we’re a regional team,” Howell said, “so we’re like this week kind of starts our climb into next year. We kind of used that as motivation getting ready for the tournament. Win, lose or draw, we were just going to try to make sure we finished on a good note.”

Editor’s note: In May 2022, the NCAA announced it would allow schools to play in one season-ending event, similar to college basketball’s NIT. By July 2022, the inaugural National Golf Invitational was created in a partnership between Golfweek and Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, with Golfweek’s Lance Ringler serving as the Invitational’s tournament director.

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Game Highlights: Softball – No. 24 Texas A&M vs Texas State

Highlights: Texas A&M bounce back to run-rule Texas State

Coach Ford challenged her team to raise their standards and fight. The Aggie softball team did not let her down tonight and run-ruled a good Texas State team.

Koko Wooley game an MVP night with four hits a stolen base and a few RBIs. She was strong on the defensive side making multiple highlight plays to keep Texas State scoreless. Junior team leader Julia Cottrill really busted the game open with a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth and a few sacrifice flies and base hits ended the night early with an 8-0 Aggie win.

Wooley gave a few thoughts on the Aggies being ranked at this time of the year:

“It’s pretty amazing. It feels good to be able to play on this platform. It’s good for those little kids that look up to us. Just because you’re at schools who didn’t really do good your first year, doesn’t mean you can’t make a change the next year. I feel that the competitiveness is a lot of fun.”

Head Coach Trisha Ford with a short statement on today’s win

“I was excited for the bounce back. I was wondering what tonight was going to look like and I was really impressed and proud of the fight that we had.”

Texas A&M will be back in action when they head to Oxford Mississippi to take on Ole Miss in a three-game series.

Check out some highlights of the midweek match-up from the official Texas A&M Softball Twitter account

Texas State transfer announces Tennessee as top-three school

Texas State transfer announces Tennessee as a top-three school.

Texas State defensive lineman Davon Sears Jr. entered the NCAA transfer portal on Dec. 17, 2022.

The 6-foot-2, 290-pound redshirt sophomore appeared in 12 games during the 2022 season for Texas State. Sears recorded 15 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry and two pass breakups in 2022.

He came to Texas State from Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa.

Sears announced his top three transfer destinations on Jan. 1.

“Top three is Oklahoma, Tennessee, Penn State,” Sears announced.

Sears posted on social media he visited Tennessee on Thursday.

“University of Tennessee today,” he announced. “Knoxville is such a beautiful city.”

Vols’ target Kam Pringle announces top six schools

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