Texas State 2019 Football Preview

Season at a Glance

Texas State only saw minimal gains in 2018. After back-to-back 2-10 seasons, the Bobcats only registered one extra win last season, finishing the year at 3-9. The athletic administration decided it was time for a change and pivoted to its third head coach in the FBS era. 

Former West Virginia offensive coordinator Jake Spavital was selected for the job. A quarterback whisper with seven active signal callers currently in the NFL, Spavital is expected to revamp the team’s offense — which ranked in the bottom 10 of the NCAA last season. He’ll also be tasked with making sure the defense reaches its maximum potential after making strides last year.

Texas State has another gear to hit. The Bobcats are counting on Spavital to make the shift.

1. What impact will Jake Spavital’s impact be? 

Spavital hasn’t been head coach for a single game yet, but he’s already got all of San Marcos buzzing with excitement. 

He’s got a proven résumé with seven previous coaching stops, his last three as an offensive coordinator for Power 5 schools. He’s built a staff that’s seen success at nearly every level of the college game, featuring offensive coordinator Bob Stitt, who qualified for the FCS playoffs four times as a head coach, and defensive coordinator Zac Spavital, Jake’s older brother and former Texas Tech co-DC.

Jake Spavital’s made a lot of changes to Texas State’s culture during the offseason, playing hip-hop music during practices, beefing up the Bobcats’ nutrition department, and making the team more accessible to the media and public. Those changes didn’t happen overnight, though. And neither will the ones that take place on the field.

2. What is the defense’s ceiling?

Texas State had the No. 5 defense in the Sun Belt Conference in 2018, allowing 383.9 yards per game. Almost everyone returns this year, placing high expectations on the unit. The Bobcats plan to start seven seniors in their season opener against Texas A&M on Thursday, with another five listed in the second unit.

The secondary caught up to the front seven’s talent level and now have a good mix savvy veterans and energetic rookies to contend for the top passing defense in the league this year. The front seven might be the most experienced of any other in the conference.

Jake Spavital joked that this is the first time Zac’s coached a defense that’s better than the team’s offense. Zac Spavital has the pieces to create something special. He just has to put them together.

3. Will the running backs provide stability?

Jake Spavital and Bob Stitt talked up the team’s running backs every chance they had in the offseason. The tailbacks gave the coaches some credibility in Texas State’s spring game, putting on strong performances across the board.

But the Bobcats were one of the most inefficient rushing teams in the Sun Belt last year, ranking ninth with just four yards per carry. No running back cracked 350 yards in 2018.

The maroon and gold will need the running game to materialize this season for the new offensive system to transition smoothly. Both Spavital and Stitt believe they have the personnel to pull it off.

10 Bobcats to Watch in 2019

OFFENSE

Tyler Vitt

QB | SO | 6-foot-2 | 205 pounds

2018 stats: 116-for-191, 1,159 passing yards, 7 touchdowns, 10 interceptions

Notable: Vitt won a heated quarterback battle to claim the starting job. Head coach Jake Spavital said he chose Vitt for his ability to “galvanize” the team. He showed big-play potential throwing and passing last year, though his decision-making is questionable. The team did not win a game with Vitt as the starter in 2018.

Anthony D. Taylor

RB | SR | 5-foot-10 | 205 pounds

2018 stats: 86 carries, 312 rushing yards, four touchdowns

Notable: Taylor’s turned heads during camp, becoming one of the toughest Bobcats to tackle. Still, Texas State will need him to improve his efficiency as the lead back this year after averaging 3.6 yards per attempt in 2018.

Jeremiah Haydel

WR | JR | 6-foot | 170 pounds

2018 stats: 16 receptions, 326 receiving yards, four touchdowns

Notable: Haydel was explosive with his limited chances last season, finishing with the second-most receiving yards on the team despite tying for the fourth-most catches. The team will need Haydel to take the top off of defenses more consistently this year.

Jah’Marae Sheread

WR | RS-FR | 5-foot-7 | 155 pounds

2018 stats: 6 receptions, 53 receiving yards

Notable: Sheread is one of the shortest players on the roster, but the slot receiver is tough to contain. “K-Dot” uses his elite agility and sharp route running to find ways to get open and make plays bigger than his size.

Aaron Brewer

OL | SR | 6-foot-3 | 270 pounds

2018 stats: 16 starts, 1 sack allowed

Notable: Brewer was named to the 2019 Rimington Trophy Watch List (presented to the top center in the NCAA), though the senior has played just about every position on the offensive line. Pro Football Focus gave him a 78.8 run-blocking grade last season, highest in the Sun Belt Conference, and Spavital plans to play to his strengths by starting him at right tackle to begin the year.

DEFENSE

Bryan London II

LB | SR | 6-foot-2 | 232 pounds

2018 stats: 109 total tackles, 4 TFLs, 2 forced fumbles, 6 pass deflections

Notable: London’s been a constant backstop for Texas State the past three seasons and has emerged as one the nation’s top linebackers, as evidenced by being named to the 2019 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. With 340 career stops, he sits 58 and 108 total tackles away from the Sun Belt and Texas State records, respectively.

Nikolas Daniels

WILL LB | SR | 6-foot | 235 pounds

2018 stats: 108 total tackles, 7 TFLs, 1 sack, 4 pass deflections

Notable: Daniels nearly took London’s tackling crown in 2018 and has a chance to do so again this year. The league’s taken note, voting him to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Defense.

Ishmael Davis

DE | GR-SR| 6-foot-2 | 260 pounds

2018 stats: 51 total tackles, 8 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 3 pass deflections

Notable: Davis was a constant threat to opposing backfields last year, leading the team with 3.5 sacks and tying for most tackles for a loss with senior outside linebacker Frankie Griffin. Two seasons removed from a season-ending injury, Davis might look even more comfortable on the field this season.

Caeveon Patton

DT | JR | 6-foot-2 | 285 pounds

2018 stats: 41 total tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 3 pass deflections

Notable: Patton began to break out last year, ranking behind only Davis for most sacks on the team. Patton will be leaned on again to create havoc up the middle, along with sophomore nose tackle Nico Ezidore. 

Jarron Morris

CB | SO | 5-foot-9 | 158 pounds

2018 stats: 44 total tackles, 1 interception, 6 pass deflections

Notable: Morris broke Texas State’s interception cold streak by snagging one against Rutgers in the first game of 2018. The Bobcats will need the sophomore to take a step forward in his development to become a premier passing defense.

4 Newcomers to Watch in 2019

Kevin Anderson

DB | FR | 6-foot-1 | 180 pounds

Notable: Senior defensive back Anthony J. Taylor called Anderson “one of the luckiest guys (he) knows” due to the freshman’s knack for being in the right place at the right time. Anderson picked off multiple passes throughout camp and figures to see a fair amount of playing time in the secondary’s rotation.

Micah Hilts

TE | FR | 6-foot-5 | 200 pounds

Notable: Hilts played wide receiver in high school for Vista Ridge in Colorado Springs, Colorado but the Texas State coaches converted him to tight end once he arrived in San Marcos. Hilts’ transition went extremely well, as the freshman made several flashy catches during camp and worked his way up to the No. 2 spot on the depth chart.

Seamus O’Kelly

P | FR | 6-foot | 165 pounds

Notable: The Melbourne, Australia native only committed to the Bobcats a few weeks ago but has already made an impression on the coaching staff. O’Kelly is the only freshman listed as a starter on the depth chart.

Joshua Rowland

K | TR-SR | 5-foot-10 | 210 pounds

Notable: Rowland connected on 11 of 18 field goals at the University of Texas at Austin in 2017, but lost his starting job last season and transferred to Texas State in June. The Bobcats were second-to-last in the country with a 42.9 field goal percentage and third-to-last with an 87.1 extra point percentage. Rowland should help improve those numbers.

2019 Game Predictions

Aug. 29 at No. 11 Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m.

• Last Meeting: Texas A&M 44, Texas State 31 on Sept. 22, 2005, in College Station
• Breakdown: The Bobcats are 7-0 in Thursday night season openers since 1997, but that all changes when they face one of the top teams in the country in Texas A&M. Jake Spavital loses his head coaching debut in the stadium he used coach at as an offensive coordinator from 2013-15.
• Prediction: Texas A&M 49, Texas State 10

Sept. 7 vs. Wyoming, 6 p.m.

• Last Meeting: Wyoming 45, Texas State 20 on Sept. 30, 2017, in Laramie, Wyoming
• Breakdown: Texas State trails 2-1 in the all-time series, but the hosting team has won each game. With the first-game butterflies out of the way, the Bobcats keep the streak going, riding the home crowd’s energy to edge out the Cowboys.
• Prediction: Texas State 28, Wyoming 18

Sept. 14 at SMU, 6 p.m.

• Last Meeting: SMU 47, Texas State 36 on Sept. 6, 2008, in Dallas
• Breakdown: The Mustangs are a historically pass-heavy team and have a new starting quarterback in Texas transfer Shane Buechele. The game turns into a shootout, but Texas State can’t keep pace.
• Prediction: SMU 48, Texas State 33

Sept. 21 vs. Georgia State

• Last Meeting: Texas State 40, Georgia State 31 on Nov. 3, 2018, in Atlanta
• Breakdown: The Panthers received the fewest points in the 2019 Sun Belt Coaches Poll. The Bobcats begin conference play with a win and remain undefeated at home.
• Prediction: Texas State 35, Georgia State 14

Sept. 28 vs. Nicholls State

• Last Meeting: Texas State 38, Nicholls State 12 on Oct. 1, 2011, in San Marcos
• Breakdown: The Battle for the Paddle returns after an eight-year hiatus. The former Southland Conference rivals duke it out to break the 15-15 all-time series record, but Texas State comes out on top.
• Prediction: Texas State 42, Nichols State 31

Oct. 10 vs. Louisiana-Monroe, 8:15 p.m.

• Last Meeting: ULM 20, Texas State 14 on Oct. 26, 2018, in Monroe, Louisiana
• Breakdown: The Warhawks have established a three-game winning streak over the Bobcats. Texas State keeps it close, pushing the game into overtime, but ULM sneaks out of Bobcat Stadium with the win.
• Prediction: ULM 28, Texas State 21

 Oct. 26 at Arkansas State, 6 p.m.

• Last Meeting: Arkansas State 33, Texas State 7 on Nov. 24, 2018, in San Marcos
• Breakdown: The Red Wolves are one of the most stable teams in the country and lost one game at home all year last season. The Bobcats aren’t able to shake the hosts and lose momentum.
• Prediction: Arkansas State 24, Texas State 10

Nov. 2 at Louisiana

• Last Meeting: Lousiana 42, Texas State 27 on Oct. 6, 2018, in San Marcos
• Breakdown: Texas State has yet to beat the Ragin’ Cajuns in six attempts. The seventh won’t be a lucky number for the Bobcats.
• Prediction: Louisiana 27, Texas State 21

Nov. 9 vs. South Alabama

• Last Meeting: South Alabama 41, Texas State 31 on Sept. 15, 2018, in Mobile, Alabama
• Breakdown: Like the Wyoming series, the home team always wins between the Bobcats and Jaguars, splitting four games against each other evenly. Texas State breaks the tie with a victory, snapping a three-game losing streak
• Prediction: Texas State 38, South Alabama 24

Nov. 16 vs. Troy

• Last Meeting: Troy 12, Texas State 7 on Nov. 17, 2018, in Troy, Alabama
• Breakdown: Troy has a new coach in Chip Lindsey, but returns most of its roster. The Bobcats fall to the Trojans again, this time in a higher-scoring affair.
• Prediction: Troy 30, Texas State 24

Nov. 23 at Appalachian State, 1:30 p.m.

• Last Meeting: Appalachian State 38, Texas State 7 on Nov. 10, 2018, in San Marcos
• Breakdown: The Mountaineers were voted to the repeat as conference champions in the 2019 Sun Belt Coaches Poll. The Bobcats show improvement from last year, but still aren’t able to challenge App State.
• Prediction: Appalachian State 35, Texas State 14

Nov. 30 at Coastal Carolina

• Last Meeting: Texas State 27, Coastal Carolina 7 on Oct. 28, 2017 in Conway, South Carolina
• Breakdown: The Chanticleers are the only Sun Belt team Texas State is still undefeated against. The Bobcats end the year on a high note, the defensive seniors putting on a show in their final game.
• Prediciton: Texas State 34, Coastal Carolina 0

Best-Case/Worst-Case Scenarios

Best-Case Scenario

Everything clicks under the new coaching staff. The defense becomes the top unit in the Sun Belt and the offense hits a stride with Tyler Vitt. Texas State turns a few close losses from last year into victories, finishes the season at 7-5 and heads to its first bowl game since joining the FBS.

Worst-Case Scenario

Both sides of the ball take a step back under the new regime. The offense remains inconsistent and the defense loses its chemistry. Texas State repeats at 3-9 and loses a large senior class with little to show for it.

Final Say

Spavital steers the Bobcats in the right direction as the team works through the growing pains of learning a new system. The experienced defense performs as-advertised while the offense begins finding its way. Texas State finishes the year with a 5-7 record, with an eye on bowl eligibility next year.