TXST FOOTBALL
Coming into fall camp, one of the biggest questions surrounding the Bobcats is how the team replaces several key starters who either graduated or entered the transfer portal for a Power Four school.
With Texas State adding several more players in from the transfer portal along with a few starters coming back, defensive coordinator Dexter McCoil Sr. is happy with the progress his defense has made though he was reluctant to name starters.
“It’s too early to be naming names,” McCoil said. “As a defense, a lot of those newcomers and the guys that are getting here, they’ve come in and [are getting] acclimated. The culture that we’ve continued to set and build here, throughout the years, has continued to grow. We always talk about the standard rising, and that’s our biggest thing.
“So in everything that we do on and off the field, our standard has to continue to rise. All the new guys and the guys that we already had on the team are meshing well, and they’re doing a good job of taking that to the field.”
One of the starters returning on defense is senior defensive end Kalil Alexander. Alexander made 40 total tackles last season and led the team in sacks with 6.5 along with two forced fumbles.
Now being elevated as one of the leaders of the defense, Alexander is happy with where the defense has progressed during the first week of fall camp.
“We’re working harder than we ever have,” Alexander said. ”This time of year, we just got to harp on the little things a lot more. Just the little small discipline details on and off the field. But I feel like we’re coming together great as a team. Everybody’s doing our 1-11 and flying around right now, so those are all good signs.”
On having to replace several starters from last year’s team, Alexander is not worried too much knowing how Head Coach G.J. Kinne and the staff recruits and is more focused on creating that team chemistry.
“It’s always hard with this damn football, to keep up with your players a little bit,” Alexander said. “But Coach Kinne and our coaching staff do a great job with the recruiting. They do beyond a great job so we’re always going to get talent.
“There’s talent everywhere in the country, but talent is nothing if you don’t work hard. So it’s really just getting those guys together off the field, doing team bonding and rounding all the guys up because everybody is telling you we just have to bring it together.”
With every starting position up for grabs this fall camp, McCoil stressed the importance of competing not only on the field but off the field as well.
“That’s the biggest part of why I’m saying we compete every day,” McCoil said. “We talk about one of our pillars is competitive excellence. You have to compete in everything each and every day from being in the classroom this summer, making sure you’re right on that and on the field in every rep you get.”
“That’s the opportunity. We are making sure that the [players] each and every day are taking advantage of those opportunities, and that’s how we’re doing that.”
McCoil also stressed the importance of players like Alexander who help guide new players into not only understanding the playbook and the new system but also the values of the Bobcat football program.
“It’s big time because what we are talking about is the culture,” McCoil said. “Your culture is your habits. It’s not all these sayings and stuff that you do. It’s about your daily habits, doing it and inflicting them into being a good teammate.
“Coach Kinne always brings it up that habits reflect the mission. I think everybody is trying to show that and Khalil is a big example of that. I always say if we got 11 Khalils on the field, we’re gonna have a great defense.”
Texas State starts the season at home Saturday Aug. 30 against Eastern Michigan. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
The Bobcats added several players from the transfer portal including defensive back Khamari Terrell. Texas State is looking to build up both their team culture and chemistry on and off the field. Photo submitted by Texas State Athletics
