The Bobcats were back on the gridiron for the first time in preparation for their inaugural season in the new Pac-12 Conference.
With the addition of a singular transfer portal, Head Coach G.J. Kinne has seen the energy at pratice picked up between both the coaches and the players.
“Spring in previous years is when you have a couple practices, do a couple installs and then it's like, all right, who's leaving? Who's staying?” Kinne said. ”Now you can really dive into some more situational work and do some things different than in previous years. So it kind of feels like fall camp. I know it's spring, but it kind of feels like fall camp, the way the energy, the passion and the way the guys are coming out and attacking each day. So that part's been fun for me.”
The Bobcats are coming off a 7-6 season in their final year of the Sun Belt Conference while also winning their third consecutive bowl game.
With several starters returning from last year's team, Kinne is thrilled to get started.
“I'm really excited about this group,” Kinne said. “Obviously we have a lot of work to do but I thought it was a really good 1st day. We stayed healthy, which is the most important thing and guys were really out there trying to please their coaches. There was a bunch of discipline, guys staying away from the quarterback and staying up. When those things didn't happen, I thought the coaches were right there reminding them.”
Returning on offense is the record breaking trio of sophomore quarterback Brad Jackson, senior wide receiver Beau Sparks and senior wide receiver Chris Dawn Jr.
Jackson passed for over 3,200 and 18 touchdowns while rushing for 692 yards and 17 touchdowns, a new school record. Jackson’s combined 3,932 yards of total offense also set a new school record.
Sparks and Dawn Jr. both had over 1,000 yards receiving, marking the first time two Texas State wide receivers had over 1,000 yards receiving in the same season.
As a team, Texas State was fifth in the nation for total offense and 12th in scoring offense.
With the continuity on offense, Kinne can feel the difference within his players' veteran leadership.
“The guys today were flying around,” Kinne said. “You could tell that energy on offense, you could just feel Brad [Jackson] Beau [Sparks] and Chris [Dawn Jr.] the veteran leadership and presence out there. We just haven't had that. I was thinking about that the other day. This is Brad's 3rd year in the system, and the 1st time we've had a quarterback for consecutive years. It's just different out there the way he operates and the way it feels when he's out there doing it. So I thought that part was really good to see and thankful for those guys being who they are and practicing the way they do.”
But many eyes will be looking at the Bobcat defense despite the success of the offense.
Texas State was 78th in total defense while being 94th in scoring defense, giving up an average of 29 points per game including a four-game strech where the Bobcats allowed over 40 points in three one-possesion losses.
With the Texas State defense now under the leadership of new defensive coordinator Will Windam, Kinne’s focus will be finding a new defensive identity.
“We have the length and the athleticism, now we just got to develop them,” Kinne said. “Get them playing together and really figuring out what that identity is, right? You have a new scheme, a new coordinator, some new players. What are we going to be good at?
“We kind of know what we're going to be good at on offense just because of Brad and those guys would be coming back and kind of what we want to do so what are we going to hang our hat on on defense? The only way you can really do that is, is having those guys go out there, practice and get better throughout the spring.”
Texas State will continue spring pratice through March and into April, concluding with the Maroon & Gold Spring Showcase Saturday April 25.
