Texas State Season Preview
Texas State enters the 2010 campaign looking for its third consecutive winning season and hopes of challenging for a Southland Conference championship with several new faces on offense combined with a veteran and improved defensive unit.
The Bobcats won their first outright Southland championship two years ago and were in contention for another title until the final play of their 10th game last season. Their 7-4 record marked the first time since 1991 that Texas State had two consecutive winning seasons. The Bobcats also finished 2009 ranked 24th nationally in the FCS coaches poll and 25th in The Sports Network poll to mark the first time in school history the Bobcats were nationally ranked in back-to-back seasons as an NCAA Division I school. Texas State also posted a 5-2 record against conference opponents for the second consecutive season.
Nine defensive players who started for the Bobcats at six different positions are returning for 2010. They include Ron Jackson and Adley Eshraghipour on the defensive line; Marcus Clark and Bryan Iwuji at linebacker; along with T.P Miller, Darryl Morris, Derek Lopez, Kenneth Hampton and Mario Wiggins in the secondary.
A transfer from Arizona, Jackson began his career with the Bobcats as starting defensive end. He led the Bobcats in quarterback sacks with four to go along with his 37 tackles. Last season, Eshraghipour also stepped in as a starting defensive tackle earning honorable mention all-conference honors with 42 tackles and tied for the team lead with two fumble recoveries as a defensive tackle. This season, Wright is looking for senior Sam Pier to take over as a starter at the bandit end. Pier won the nod last spring after playing on special teams and serving as a reserve end each of the past two seasons. Senior Leon Woolsey also provides experienced depth at defensive end.
Clark and Iwuji started all 11 games in 2009. Clark led the team in tackles with 95, including eight tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks. Clark also intercepted one pass, broke up two others and leads the returning players with five quarterback hurries. Iwuji was second on the team in tackles with 67 in his first season as a full-time starter at the Will linebacker post.
In the secondary, Darryl Morris started the last eight games of the season at cornerback and broke up six passes to lead the Bobcats. He also registered 40 tackles. Lopez started three games and saw action in all 11 contests. He registered 30 tackles and ranked second among team leaders after breaking up five passes. The Bobcats have senior Drenard Williams returning as a former starting cornerback after he sat out the 2009 season with an injury. Williams recorded 39 tackles and broke up nine passes to lead the Bobcats while making 12 starts in 2008.
Texas State's new look on offense includes a new co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and new starters at both offensive tackle, tight end, running back and quarterback positions. Slade Nagle comes to Texas State as a co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after serving on LSU's coaching staff in 2009. The other offensive coordinator is assistant head coach Ben Norton, who coaches the Bobcat offensive line.
When preseason camp opens, all eyes will be focused on the quarterback position, where the Bobcats must replace Bradley George, a record-setting four-year starter. Sophomore Tim Hawkins stepped forward last spring and enters fall drills as the top candidate to replace George. An athletic quarterback, Hawkins served as George's backup in 2010.
Heading the list of playmakers is record-setting wide receiver Da'Marcus Griggs who is returning for his senior season. Griggs caught 80 passes for 969 yards and eight touchdowns while earning second-team all-conference honors last season. He broke Cameron Luke's 2008 record of 72 catches.
Wright also looks for sophomore Frank Reddic and redshirt freshman Dexter Imade to take over at running back. Reddic gained 206 yards and scored six touchdowns on 53 carries last season as a true freshman after rushing for over 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns in high school. Before he sat out last season as a redshirt, Imade rushed for 1,515 yards and 14 touchdowns his senior year of high school.