Texas State was back on the gridiron this week as the Bobcats begin their preparations for the 2025 season.
With the loss of several players due to graduation and the transfer portal while adding 23 transfers and seven junior college players, Head Coach G.J. Kinne is taking this year’s spring practice to a basic approach.
“We just have so many new faces [that] we're just really kind of going back to the basics,” Kinne said. “Installing, teaching and learning how to practice and how we practice. I thought it was a really good day. Another day where everyone stays healthy and that's really important in spring ball.”
Entering his third year as head coach, Kinne explained the challenges of this spring practice with a small transfer portal class and waiting for summer on the high school commits.
“That's probably one of the biggest differences I would say from year one to year two, now to year three is we did sign so many high school kids that it takes up those spots,” Kinne said. “Previously, we had all those bodies in the spring so now we're just missing those from the roster and it's been a little bit more challenging. … That's probably one of the biggest differences is just the lack of bodies compared to previous years because we had pretty much portal [players] and you're signing smaller high school classes, so they're all here in the spring. So that's been a little bit different but we'll be excited to get those high school kids here in the summer and get those guys competing.”
Of the 23 players signed from the transfer portal, 11 come from P4 schools including quarterbacks Holden Geriner, Gevani McCoy and Nate Yarnell who are all competing for the starting position.
Among the P4 transfers are defensive lineman Kyran Bourda, wide receiver Tyrin Smith, defensive end, Kenard Smith, wide receiver Shemar Kirk, defensive back Khamari Terrell, offensive lineman Lysander Moeolo, defensive lineman Michael Nwokocha, linebacker Terrence Cooks Jr. and linebacker Chantz Johnson.
With so many players competing for a starting spot, Kinne and his staff are doing their best to help the players adjust to the program and find everyone’s strengths and weaknesses.
“As far as just the new faces and all that, it's really just [adjusting them to the scheme],” Kinne said. “We called this at this school but now we're calling it this, we run on the field and run off the field here. Just the little attention to the details, different schemes and really figuring out your personnel. Every year, your schemes are gonna be a little bit different based on the personnel you have, so we're really learning from these guys.
“Obviously you got your Chris Dawn Jr’s and your Beau Sparks but now you know what those guys are, and you're trying to figure out those other guys in the receiver room. You got Lincoln, but now you got Greg Burrell and Jalen Jenkins and are trying to figure out what their strengths are.”
For the coaching staff, Kinne is focused on consistent evaluations on every player in order to find the best role and fit for the team.
“We have to develop these guys and in a short period of time,” Kinne said. “Figuring out which guys can do it, which guys can play so you're constantly having personnel meetings. After every practice going through every single guy on the roster and saying, ‘Is this guy gonna be able to help us this year?’
“‘Is he not gonna be able to help us this year?’ ‘Is he a developmental guy?’ ‘Is he an older guy that can't help us?’ It's just constantly going over the roster and over the personnel. It's a good group, but we have a long way to go just because they are just so new to everything.”
Texas State will wrap up spring practice with the annual Maroon and Gold Spring Game April 12.
