The 2023 Texas State Bobcats football team represented Texas State University as a member of the Sun Belt Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by first-year head coach G. J. Kinne and played their home games at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos, Texas. The Texas State Bobcats football team drew an average home attendance of 21,543 in 2023.
The Bobcats finished the regular season 7–5, going 4–4 in Sun Belt play to finish second in the conference's West Division. Texas State was selected to a bowl game for the first time in program history and played Rice in the First Responder Bowl. The Bobcats would win the game 45–21 to finish the season with an overall record of 8–5; the eight wins broke the program record for most wins in a single season as an FBS program. The Bobcats also finished a season with a winning record for the first time since 2014.
Offseason Coaching changes On November 27, 2022 the Bobcats fired their head coach Jake Spavital. On December 2, the Bobcats hired G. J. Kinne to be their next head coach. He was formerly the head coach at Incarnate Word.
On December 13, the Bobcats hired Mack Leftwich to be their offensive coordinator. On December 20, they named Kam Martin the running backs coach, Matthew Gregg the cornerbacks coach, and Dexter McCoil Sr. the safeties coach. Two days later, they named Jonathan Patke the defensive coordinator, Craig Stutzmann the receivers coach and pass game coordinator, and Bret Huth as the Assistant Athletic Director, Strength and Conditioning for Football. On December 23, Daniel Da Prato was hired as the special teams coordinator and associate head coach. They also named Will Bryant as their tight ends coach. On February 23, 2023, the Bobcats hired Chris Buckner as the co-wide receivers coach and Clay Jennings as the defensive back coach.
Recruiting class
Media poll In the Sun Belt preseason coaches' poll, the Bobcats were picked to finish in fifth place in the West division.
Defensive lineman Jordan Revels was named to the second team.
Transfers Outgoing Seth KellerKKansasKyle HergelOLBoston CollegeAshtyn HawkinsWRWithdrewTory SpearsSUnknownDeJordan MaskSUCFKaydon OliviaLSSouth Dakota StateJarron MorrisCBFlorida AtlanticLevi BellDLUnknownLayne HatcherQBBall StateIssiah NixonLBUnknownLincoln PareRBWithdrewDalton CooperOTOklahoma StateDavon SearsDLOklahomaKevin AndersonSLamarJordan RevelsDEWithdrewMicah HiltsTESMUSilas RobinsonOLIncarnate WordAlex CostillaOLIncarnate WordLiam DickOLUnknownDavid HensleyOLTyler JCJackson SchultzeOTFIUDonnovan MoorerWRUnknownDemarcus GregoryWRCentral MissouriNace WashingtonLBTarleton StateKajuan RobinsonDLUnknownAhmirr RobinsonWRMontclair StateBernock IyaCBUnknownWaydale JonesWRAbilene ChristianDeOnte WashingtonDLBethune–CookmanSamuel ObiangDLTowsonPierre KemeniCBGarden City CC
Incoming Danny ValenzuelaOLArizona StateMalik HornsbyQBArkansasT. J. FinleyQBAuburnDeven WrightDLBoise StateDrew DonleyWRCincinnatiAlex HarkeyOLColoradoBrady RadzLSColorado StateChristian RorieDLDukeJohn Blunt Jr.SEastern KentuckyChayse ToddOLHoustonIsmail MahdiRBHouston BaptistNash JonesOTIncarnate WordKole WilsonWRIncarnate WordEmeka ObigboOLIncarnate WordJimeto ObigboOTIncarnate WordCaleb JohnsonOTIncarnate WordDorion StrawnOLIncarnate WordKaleb CulpSIncarnate WordSam LathamDLIncarnate WordShawn HoltonCBIncarnate WordSean Shaw Jr.WRIowa StateKonner FoxTEKansas StateDan FosterLBMarshallShadeed AhmedWRMarshallDarius JacksonCBMissouriJason GoldDLNorthwesternCedric RobertsDLOklahomaJoshua EatonCBOklahomaMarcus AlexanderOLOklahomaBrey WalkerOLOklahomaBeau CorralesWRSMUSimon GonzalezTESMUBryce CageDESoutheastern LouisianaDerrick BrownLBTexasIsmail MahdiRBUConnTavian ColemanDLUtah StateJoey HobertWRUtah TechKaleb Ford-DementCBWashington StateCaleb ColemanCBWest VirginiaJaylon SheltonSWest Virginia
Schedule The football schedule was announced February 24, 2023.
Personnel
Staff
G. J. Kinne Head coach 1st Mack Leftwich Offensive coordinator 1st Jonathan Patke Defensive coordinator 1st Daniel Da Prato Special teams/associate head coach 1st Will Bryant Tight ends 1st Jordan Shoemaker Offensive line/run game 1st Eric Stephens Running backs 1st Craig Stutzmann Wide receivers/passing game 1st Matthew Gregg Cornerbacks 1st Dexter McCoil, Sr. Safeties 1st Mike O'Guin Defensive line 1st
Game summaries At Baylor
Statistics TXSTBAY First downs 20 22 Total yards 441 524 Rushing yards 143 108 Passing yards 298 416 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 26:12 33:48 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas State Passing T. J. Finley 22/30, 298 yards, 3 TD Rushing Ismail Mahdi 6 rushes, 83 yards, TD Receiving Joey Hobert 6 receptions, 105 yards, TDBaylor Passing Blake Shapen 21/31, 303 yards, 2 TD Rushing Dominic Richardson 16 rushes, 79 yards Receiving Drake Dabney 6 receptions, 101 yards, 2 TD
At UTSA
Statistics TXSTUTSA First downs 13 28 Total yards 242 372 Rushing yards 31 158 Passing yards 211 214 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 22:37 37:23
Team Category Player StatisticsTexas State Passing T. J. Finley 16/30, 211 yards Rushing Ismail Mahdi 6 rushes, 23 yards Receiving Drew Donley 5 receptions, 79 yardsUTSA Passing Frank Harris 26/37, 214 yards, TD Rushing Kevorian Barnes 26 rushes, 103 yards Receiving Tykee Ogle-Kellogg 6 receptions, 78 yards
Jackson State
Statistics JKSTTXST First downs 23 34 Total yards 400 684 Rushing yards 118 399 Passing yards 282 285 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 34:46 25:14 Team Category Player StatisticsJackson State Passing Jason Brown 16/26, 209 yards, INT Rushing Ahmad Miller 13 rushes, 98 yards Receiving Kobe Paul 2 receptions, 54 yardsTexas State Passing T. J. Finley 17/21, 251 yards, 3 TD Rushing Malik Hornsby 10 rushes, 133 yards, 2 TD Receiving Drew Donley 3 receptions, 83 yards, TD
Nevada
Statistics NEVTXST First downs 20 24 Total yards 353 574 Rushing yards 159 276 Passing yards 194 298 Turnovers 3 3 Time of possession 31:25 28:35 Team Category Player StatisticsNevada Passing Brendon Lewis 21/32, 151 yards, INT Rushing Brandon Lewis 12 rushes, 89 yards Receiving Isaiah Essissima 2 receptions, 67 yardsTexas State Passing T. J. Finley 25/31, 295 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Ismail Mahdi 21 rushes, 216 yards, 2 TD Receiving Kole Wilson 4 receptions, 93 yards, TD
The Bobcats' offense struggled in the first half, committing two turnovers, including an interception that was returned 98 yards for a touchdown, and failing to convert on 4th down as they were shutout in the half with the Wolf Pack leading 17–0 at half time. Texas State would come back in the 2nd half, scoring 35 unanswered points.
At Southern Miss
Statistics TXSTUSM First downs 22 28 Total yards 516 510 Rushing yards 178 235 Passing yards 338 275 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 23:22 36:38 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas State Passing T. J. Finley 19/24, 338 yards, 2 TD Rushing Ismail Mahdi 14 rushes, 89 yards, 3 TD Receiving Joey Hobert 10 receptions, 126 yards, TDSouthern Miss Passing Billy Wiles 21/44, 275 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Frank Gore Jr. 24 rushes, 123 yards, 2 TD Receiving Latreal Jones 6 receptions, 124 yards
At Louisiana
Statistics TXSTUL First downs 29 21 Total yards 530 423 Rushing yards 204 218 Passing yards 326 205 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 33:27 26:33 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas State Passing T. J. Finley 30/40, 326 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Ismail Mahdi 34 rushes, 188 yards, TD Receiving Joey Hobert 8 receptions, 132 yards, TDLouisiana Passing Zeon Chriss 13/17, 205 yards, 3 TD Rushing Zeon Chriss 12 rushes, 67 yards, TD Receiving Robert Williams 5 receptions, 90 yards, TD
Louisiana–Monroe
Statistics ULMTXST First downs 14 29 Total yards 285 452 Rushing yards 135 230 Passing yards 150 222 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 22:42 37:18 Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana–Monroe Passing Jiya Wright 14/22, 150 yards, TD Rushing Isaiah Woullard 14 rushes, 55 yards Receiving Nolan Quinlan 3 receptions, 52 yardsTexas State Passing T. J. Finley 24/46, 222 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Donerio Davenport 15 rushes, 94 yards Receiving Joey Hobert 10 receptions, 110 yards, 2 TD
Troy
Statistics TROYTXST First downs 22 26 Total yards 420 437 Rushing yards 28 161 Passing yards 392 276 Turnovers 0 4 Time of possession 30:58 29:02 Team Category Player StatisticsTroy Passing Gunnar Watson 26/40, 392 yards, 3 TD Rushing Kimani Vidal 18 rushes, 43 yards Receiving Jabre Barber 10 receptions, 160 yards, TDTexas State Passing T. J. Finley 24/38, 262 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Ismail Mahdi 20 rushes, 128 yards Receiving Kole Wilson 8 receptions, 71 yards
Georgia Southern
Statistics GASOTXST First downs 21 30 Total yards 375 487 Rushing yards 180 186 Passing yards 195 301 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 25:04 34:56 Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia Southern Passing Davis Brin 18/27, 195 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jalen White 17 rushes, 159 yards, 2 TD Receiving Khaleb Hood 7 receptions, 67 yardsTexas State Passing T. J. Finley 25/31, 301 yards, 3 TD Rushing Ismail Mahdi 20 rushes, 99 yards Receiving Joey Hobert 13 receptions, 141 yards, TD
At Coastal Carolina
Statistics TXSTCCU First downs 15 23 Total yards 280 347 Rushing yards 199 188 Passing yards 81 159 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 25:42 34:18 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas State Passing T. J. Finley 6/11, 49 yards Rushing Ismail Mahdi 21 rushes, 97 yards Receiving Kole Wilson 4 receptions, 35 yardsCoastal Carolina Passing Ethan Vasko 17/27, 145 yards, 2 TD Rushing Reese White 12 rushes, 41 yards, TD Receiving Sam Pickney 6 receptions, 81 yards, TD
At Arkansas State
Statistics TXSTARST First downs 32 23 Total yards 539 487 Rushing yards 173 291 Passing yards 366 196 Turnovers 4 0 Time of possession 34:06 25:54 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas State Passing T. J. Finley 37/55, 366 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Donerio Davenport 14 rushes, 76 yards Receiving Ashtyn Hawkins 8 receptions, 165 yardsArkansas State Passing Jaylen Raynor 14/17, 196 yards Rushing Ja'Quez Cross 13 rushes, 139 yards, 3 TD Receiving Courtney Jackson 7 receptions, 107 yards
South Alabama
Statistics USATXST First downs 26 22 Total yards 476 479 Rushing yards 77 111 Passing yards 399 368 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 31:21 28:39 Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Alabama Passing Desmond Trotter 18/21, 216 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Braylon McReynolds 19 rushes, 79 yards Receiving Caullin Lacy 11 receptions, 94 yards, TDTexas State Passing T. J. Finley 19/28, 368 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Ismail Mahdi 23 rushes, 97 yards, TD Receiving Ashtyn Hawkins 5 receptions, 131 yards, TD
Vs. Rice (First Responder Bowl)
Statistics TXSTRICE First downs 15 16 Total yards 300 197 Rushing yards 148 85 Passing yards 152 112 Turnovers 0 6 Time of possession 30:17 29:43
Team Category Player StatisticsTexas State Passing T. J. Finley 15/29, 152 yards Rushing Ismail Mahdi 24 rushes, 122 yards Receiving Ashtyn Hawkins 3 receptions, 55 yardsRice Passing A. J. Padgett 10/21, 85 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Dean Connors 15 rushes, 64 yards, 2 TD Receiving Elijah Mojarro 3 receptions, 35 yards
References