The big news from the first week of fall camp for the Bobcats were the absences of a few key offensive players - quarterback Damian Williams, receiver TV Williams and running back Stedman Mayberry.
Both Damian Williams and TV Williams are suspended due to academics, with Damian Williams awaiting results of a GRE test and TV Williams needing to pull up his grades during the upcoming semester. Both can return but exactly when is still unknown (the GRE test results takes around two weeks and Damian Williams took it on July 31).
Mayberry, the Bobcats leading rusher last season, has reportedly left the team on his own accord and is unlikely to return.
After those bombshells were dropped on the first day of camp, the rest of the week went smoothly, with the exception being a few non-serious injuries.
While media access has been reduced to the first 45 minutes of practice (warmups and position drills, no 11-on-11 reps), head coach Everett Withers made himself available for questions and has shed some light on how practice has gone so far. On Saturday, he wrapped up the first week with a ten-minute interview in which he broke down some of the position battles.
Quarteback: With Damian Williams out until further notice, it is up to four true freshmen to take the reigns under center - Willie Jones III, Jaylen Gipson, Jalin Nelson and Kishawn Kelley.
Withers had praise for all four but it seems that Jones III is the player that has stood out to him the most to him, even comparing him to a former NFL All-Pro player.
"Willie Jones (III) is as talented as any quarterback physically that will be in our league," Withers said. "Knowledge wise and all that, he’s still got a long way to go but he has a strong arm. He’s got something about him. He was a state runner-up (in track), on a state championship basketball team and he even played some baseball. Last guy I coached that did all of that was guy named Patrick Surtain who played like 15 years in the NFL. So he’s really talented. Long way to go but he has some really nice stuff. The ball comes off his hand really fast and really strong."
Gipson, who was considered the most polished quarterback of the four freshmen, received praise for his leadership.
“Jaylen Gipson I think has got leadership qualities about him," Withers said. "He’s getting better every day and he’s still trying to progress in calling the play from the signal to the huddle and to the line of scrimmage but each day he’s getting better.”
Joness III (6'3", 190 pounds) and Gipson (6'2", 195 pounds) have the size but Nelson (5'8", 200 pounds) is a little short, as pointed out by Withers. Initially listed as a running back on the roster, Nelson has the athletic ability to be used in several positions but is unlikely to break through as the starting quarterback. The Bobcats may draw up specific packages to utilize his talents, similar to how they used LG Williams last season before his career was cut short due to multiple concussions.
“Jalin Nelson is obviously talented and can play a lot of different spots and may play other spots for us," Withers said. "He’s doing a good job; ball comes off his arm fast. The concerns you worry about with Jalin is that he’s not very tall. We had that issue two springs ago with a guy here that has to run around to see so he can throw. Sometimes that gets hard in football.”
“Kishawn Kelley is recovering a little bit; he had shoulder surgery in the offseason so we’re really taking our time with him. Hasn’t been throwing the ball very much but he’s got a live arm and is very athletic.”
“I’m pleased with what I see from those guys. They all compete, they’re all encouraging each other, I think they’re all smart kids. The best has to come from those guys. I think I said this back at media day but patience is what I’m learning to have because we’re going to need it with those guys.”
Running backs/Receivers: The departure of Mayberry and suspension of TV Williams is a blow to the depth chart at running back and receiver but neither was speculated to be a starter.
In the spring, sophomore Anthony D. Taylor and redshirt freshman Robert Brown acted as a thunder-and-lightening combo, with Taylor barreling through tacklers and Brown zipping past them. They are the frontrunners to handle most of the carries this season but true freshman Anthony Smith has potential to get into the rotation as well. Withers also announced at the beginning of camp that sophomore Tyler Tutt could miss the season (and possibly be redshirted) while recovering from a torn ACL/MCL suffered last season.
Senior receivers Eric Luna and Elijah King have both returned to the field after being held out the entire offseason with injuries, adding experience to relatively young offense. Both have potential to be starters out wide, with Tyler Watts in the slot, but they have some young players nipping at their heels.
Sophomore Thurman Morbley led the Bobcats in receiving yards last season and showed off his ability to peel the top off defenses. Morbley can line up outside or in the slot, a versatility the Bobcats will need without TV Williams. Junior Mason Hayes made some plays last season and could see an increased role this year.
True freshmen TJ Bedford and Jeremiah Haydel have reportedly been making waves in practice. Bedford is a big target (6'4", 195 pounds), something the Bobcats lack from the rest of the receivers, and Haydel adds more depth and speed in the slot.
Offensive line: Despite two JUCO signees not making it to campus - Pesa Tupa with grades and Anthony Mayes physically unable to perform - the Bobcats still have a decent amount of depth along the offensive line. With new offensive line coach Eric Mateos taking over, Withers seemed pleased with the progress at that position but admitted they are still somewhat inexperienced.
“I see progress in the offensive line," Withers said. "Still very young, still a long way to go, but guys are competing and fighting. I really like the way they are fighting and working every day in practice.”
"It’s all fundamentals. The thing that you get is you get a bunch of young kids, and we’ve got some guys that are a little bit older, and now those guys are buying into (Mateos’) coaching, teaching and technique. Those things are important when you get into the battle. When you get days where it’s 100 degrees out there, you’ve got to go back to your fundamentals. I think that’s what coach Mateos is getting our kids to understand in our offensive line.”
Junior left tackle Tryston Mizerak (6'6", 305 pounds), sophomore center Aaron Brewer (6'3", 285 pounds) and sophomore right tackle Jacob Rowland (6'5", 290 pounds) are almost cemented as the starters at their respective positions but its the two guard spots that are still a mystery.
Redshirt freshman Jaquel Pierce (6'2", 285 pounds) and sophomore Kregg Lemons (6'4", 285 pounds) were seen running with the first unit at two guard spots, with redshirt freshman Josiah Washington (6'6", 305 pounds) and sophomore Charlie Vatterott (6'4", 290 pounds) also receiving reps. The guard positions seem up for grabs and will be an ongoing competition.
Tight end: Senior Gabe Schrade had a breakout season last year and is the likely starter but sophomore Brendon Rushing showed flashes last season which may warrant him some extra playing time. At 6'4", 245 pounds, senior Chris French might be the best blocker of the bunch so he could receive some time in the rotation as well, along with JUCO transfer Elijah Rogers.
Defensive line: Arguably the most important position in a 3-4 defense is the nose tackle and the Bobcats finally have depth there, along with the rest of defensive line. Junior JUCO transfer Sami Awad (6'1", 300 pounds) has been the standout at nose tackle but suffered a setback with an ankle injury last week (Withers expects him to be back early this week, possibly today). Redshirt freshman nose tackle John Lilly (6'0", 260 pounds) got some valuable reps in the spring and could get into the mix as well, along with true freshman Gjemar Daniels (5'11", 315 pounds). True freshman Caveon Patton (6'2", 285 pounds) has been impressive in camp and could be used at both tackle and end.
Junior Ishmael Davis (6'3", 260 pounds) and sophomore Dean Taylor (6'5", 280 pounds) both noticeably bulked up in the offseason, giving the Bobcats more size at defensive end. After being used all across the d-line due to depth issues at tackle, sophomore Jordan Mittie (6'3", 265 pounds) seems to have found a home at defensive end and will be used the rotation, along with junior Grant Lanza (6'4", 270 pounds) and true freshman Nick Wilkins (6'2", 250 pounds). Sophomore Kumonde Hines (6'3", 225 pounds) switched from outside linebacker to end and should offer a decent pass-rush from there.
Linebackers: The strongest position on defense is in the second layer of the Texas State defense, thanks in large part to returning starters at inside linebacker senior Gabe Loyd and sophomore Bryan London II. Both players had over 100 tackles last season, with London II finishing third nationally in that category. Senior Louis Rubin and true freshman John Brannon could also work their way into the rotation to spell Loyd and London II. Sophomores Gavin Graham, Clifton Lewis, Jr. and Nik Daniels are listed as inside linebackers but could be used on the outside as well. Their versatility will likely result in playing time.
The Bobcats are very deep at outside linebacker, with the frontrunners being senior Easy Anyama, junior Frankie Griffin and sophomore Markeveon Coleman. Anyama is coming off a torn achilles but his experience and athleticism will benefit him in that position battle. True freshmen London Harris and Jakharious Smith add more depth but time will tell how much they'll be used this season.
Defensive backs: Despite having three seniors playing safety (Quinn Tiggs, Stephan Johnson and Dila Rosemond), the youth movement is on in the defensive backfield. Withers said that he expects true freshmen safeties Josh Newman and Preston Dimery to break into the rotation but it will take a little time to get them acclimated.
“(Junior) AJ (Krawczyk) just had a spring back there, he was never a DB," Withers said. "So he’s still considered young. Quinn Tiggs was a junior college player that played some last year for us. Didn’t start all the time but played some last year for us. There old by age but they aren’t old by experience in our defense. That’s the way I look at it. I don’t look at it old by age; I look at it as old by experience. Stephan Johnson is a guy that has played some, Quinn Tiggs has played some, those are the guys that have played in the games for us. Dila Rosemond has played some. We need to bring on those two young guys. We need to bring on Josh Newman and Preston Dimery. Those two guys are going to be factors for us this year in the second year.”
As for the corners, the Bobcats have depth but are inexperienced. Injuries to sophomore Anthony "JT" Taylor and Jordan Eastling could pave the way for true freshman Kordell Rodgers and Kieston Roach to see the field early according to Withers.
“I’ve been real pleased with Kordell Rodgers at corner," Withers said. "Kordell is one of those guys- from Lufkin - that played quarterback. He’s the kind of guy that you want to recruit to go play that position. Guy was a point guard on the basketball team, quarterback on the football team, very athletic, can do a lot of different things. He made a play the other night, an interception, and it was just natural for him to go up and get the ball. He’s got that stuff that you’ve got to have at corner. Get beat but then get up and go play the next play and go make a play. He’s got that about him.”
"Kieston Roach is coming along. He’s very talented, good feet. The part that he has to come along with is the mental part, understanding what the schemes are and what we do. Those two guys have been really impressive at corner. We’ve still got (sophomore) JaShon Waddy and Jordan Eastling. (Junior) Andrew Aneke has done some good things. JT Taylor has been down with an ankle, so he’s not going to be out there for a while. Hopefully we get him back by the start of the season but may not be until week two. I feel that we’ll be able to gain some depth at that corner spot that we didn’t have a year ago.”
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