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Located halfway between San Antonio and Austin, Texas State (formerly Southwest Texas State) has all the ingredients in the mixing bowl for a successful FBS program at the Group of 5 level.
However, the last two years have demonstrated that it’s going to take some time.
The Bobcats elevated to FBS in 2012, and joined the Sun Belt Conference in the following season. Dennis Franchione was just 3-9 in his final season as head of the TSU program following the 2015 season. Everett Withers was named head coach of the Bobcats shortly thereafter and led TSU to a 2-10 record in 2016.
Needless to say, Texas State must improve in all areas, particularly on defense as the Bobcats allowed 35 or more points 10 times last season.
Colorado fans will get a first had look at how much progress Texas State had made in the past calendar year when the two teams square off Sept. 9 (noon, Pac-12 Network) in the Buffaloes’ home opener at Folsom Field.
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Regardless of any defensive shortcomings, the quarterback is always the flash point for nearly every football team. This year, Mississippi State graduate transfer Damian Williams is the favorite to win the starting QB job and hopefully jumpstart a lethargic offense that scored more than 17 points just three times in 2016, failing to surpass 14 points in each of the last six games.
Williams started the Bulldogs’ 2016 season opener against South Alabama, completing 20-of-28 passes for 143 yards and rushed for 93 yards on 12 carries as USA shocked the Bulldogs in Starkville. Williams was quickly replaced by sophomore Nick Fitzgerald as the starting QB for the remainder of the season, although he nearly led a late comeback effort against LSU where he scored two touchdowns in under two minutes during the fourth quarter.
With MSU seemingly committed to Fitzgerald, Williams announced his intentions to transfer in December and enrolled at Texas State in January.
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“Damian is progressing with the offense, but I think it is going to take this summer for him to learn the nuances of the offense and what we want to do and how to get it done," Withers said following TSU’s spring game in April. “We put an awful lot of the quarterback. It's probably isn't fair, but it is what it is."
Last season’s leading rusher Stedman Mayberry (593 yards + 41 receptions) returns while three major contributors at wide receivers return as well. Tyler Watts led TSU with 43 receptions, while Elijah King had a team high 453 receiving yards. Eric Luna caught a team-high three touchdown passes. Tight end Gabe Schrade, one of two offensive players to start all 12 games a year ago, should again have an integral role after making 28 receptions in 2016.
Linebacker Bryan London returns to again spark the Texas State defense after making 142 tackles (84 solo stop) as a redshirt freshman in 2016. However, playmakers like him were seemingly few and far between for the struggling Bobcats defense a year ago.
Most of the Texas State players who saw action on the defensive side of the ball return in 2017. Whether that’s good or bad remains to be seen. The Bobcats hope a more experienced and possibly deeper defensive corps certainly performs better than they did in 2016.
Withers was the head coach at James Madison in 2014 and 2015 and recruited most of the players that help the Dukes capture the FCA national championship in 2016. Previously, he was the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach for Ohio State in 2012 and 2013.
He was the interim head coach for North Carolina in 2011 after Butch Davis was abruptly fired by the school’s Board of Trustees in late July, a week before the start of preseason camp. Withers led the Tar Heels to a 7-6 record and berth in the Independence Bowl against Missouri.
Withers’ main job, of course, is to make Texas State relevant in FBS. In five seasons competing in the top flight, the Bobcats have averaged just 4.4 wins, including a 5-19 mark the past two years.
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TEXAS STATE 2017 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE:
Sept. 2 HOUSTON BAPTIST
Sept. 9 at Colorado, Noon (Pac-12 Network)
Sept. 16 APPALACHIAN STATE*
Sept. 23 TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO
Sept. 30 at Wyoming
Oct. 7 LOUISIANA-MONROE*
Oct. 12 at Louisiana-Lafayette*
Oct. 21 Bye
Oct. 28 at Coastal Carolina*
Nov. 4 NEW MEXICO STATE*
Nov. 11 GEORGIA STATE*
Nov. 18 at Arkansas State*
Nov. 25 at Troy*
* Sun Belt Conference Game
