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Miami Herald
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Sam Houston Football Preview 2025: Can Phil Longo Rebuild the Bearkats?
Sam Houston is used to winning football former head coach KC Keeler - who left to take over the Temple gig - the Bearkats went to the FCS Playoffs six times from 2014 to 2022, and won the national title in that strange 2020ish years ago, the 3-9 Bearkats lost five games by a touchdown or less, battled hard in losses to BYU and Air Force, and couldn't buy a break. The 10-3 team of last season was more like what everyone was expecting, and now …It's going to be interesting. New head coach Phil Longo was part of the Sam Houston coaching staff under Keeler from 2014 to 2016, and then he became the hot offensive coordinator on the circuit. At Ole Miss, and then at North Carolina, and over the last few years at Wisconsin, his offenses have been … okay. Now he's back in transfer portal took away major parts of last year's squad, few teams have to replace more production, and Longo's head coaching resumé is a 7-14 run for two years at La the guy knows offense. No defense in America loses more production, so … Sam Houston Bearkats Preview 2025: Offense X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN- If Phil Longo is going to run the offense the way he wants, he needs the passers to control the attack. He has a good one in place in Hunter Watson, a good-sized senior who ran for 647 yards and nine scores to go with 1,811 yards and 12 touchdown has to cut down on his picks, throwing eight last year, but he's a playmaker. Longo also has Mabrey Mettauer, a former Wisconsin prospect who'll be in the mix for the gig. - Top receiver Simeon Evans left for North Texas, and Noah Smith is done, but Qua'Vez Humphreys is a big play target averaging over 19 yards per catch. The transfer portal, and a few good parts of the rotation - Michael Phoenix II caught 15 passes - will fill in around Humphreys.- The offensive front wasn't anything special, but for the most part, it held its own. It has two All-Conference USA-level talents in guards James Dawn and Rhett Larson. The tackles are new, and 315-pound JUCO transfer Zo'maryon Bryan should take over at center.- Top back Jay Ducker left for Temple, DJ McKinney left for New Mexico, and now the top backs should emerge from the portal. Elijah Green (Indiana) and Xander Cheek (UHMB) are quick backs with plenty of tread on the tires. Sam Houston Bearkats Preview 2025: Defense - The Bearkat defense led Conference USA in scoring defense and was second in total D. And now it has to replace just about everyone, especially on the line. Let's just call this a work in Cox is a pass rusher who saw time at Alabama, 280-pound AJ Sargent (JUCO) is perfectly fit for the nose, and the rest of the two deep will fit in around them. - The secondary is also loaded up with prospects from the transfer portal. Cornerback Emon Allen is back after seeing a little time at one corner, and Wisconsin transfer Jace Arnold will take over on the other side. Despite losing the stars, the safeties should be okay with a little time, with Trey Harris (Cornell) likely the best of the bunch.- The linebacking corps is way thin. The starting foursome desperately need Antavious Fish (Akron) to fill the stat sheet - he made 179 stops over the last three seasons. CJ Johnson has to be one of the team's leading tacklers in the middle, with star tacklers Trey Fields (North Texas) and Trey Gaither done. Sam Houston Bearkats Key to the Season Be far better in the red a new offense with new parts. Now there has to be a new improvement inside the year's team only scored 74% of the time in the red zone, and came away with touchdowns on 51% of the trips. It didn't matter all that much - the Bearkats didn't lose any one-score games - but this year they can't be as loose. Sam Houston Bearkats Key Player Alex Sargent, DT ahead and pick any offensive starter and he might be the key to the season, but the defense needs an anchor to work around. The line might not be totally starting over, but it's close. The 6-0, 280-pound Sargent to come in from Tarleton and hold up on the nose. Sam Houston Bearkats Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss Top Transfer In: Elijah Green, RB Bearkats loaded up on transfer portal running backs, and Green should be the best if everything works out right. He was a growing star at North Carolina three seasons ago, and last year he scored five touchdowns for Indiana. With just 185 carries in five years, he's Transfer Out: Isaiah Cash, S a coin between Cash and leading tackler Caleb Weaver (Duke) for the biggest loss. Cash was a great tackler for the Bearkats, and the veteran safety was also a baller with ten broken up passes. Now he'll be a key part of the Virginia Tech defense. Sam Houston Bearkats Key Game at WKU, August 23You want to talk about a tone-setter? It's the first game of a new era of Sam Houston football, it's in Week 0, it's on the road, and it's the Conference USA opener. It'll take something special to come up with a big season, but win this, and everything else in conference play is easy.- 2025 Sam Houston Schedule Breakdown Sam Houston Bearkats Top 10 Players 1. James Dawn, OG Jr.2. Hunter Watson, QB Sr.3. Antavious Fish, LB Sr.4. Elijah Green, RB Sr.5. Trey Harris, S Sr.6. Keelan Cox, DE Sr.7. Qua'Vez Humphreys, WR Sr.8. Rhett Larson, OG Jr.9. Mabrey Mettauer, QB RFr.10. CJ Johnson, LB Sr. Sam Houston Bearkats 2024 Fun Stats - Scoring: 1st Quarter 57, 2nd Quarter 110- Fumbles: Opponents 22 (lost 11), Sam Houston 16 (lost 6)- 4th Down Conversions: Sam Houston 14-of-20 (70%), Opponents 12-of-31 (39%) Sam Houston Bearkats 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen There's a certain level of expectation at Sam Houston, but the team doesn't have the level of talent - the defense has to replace just about everyone. On the plus side, it's still Conference USA, and there are plenty of winnable games to make a good Bearkats beat Liberty last year, but it's still a major plus not to have to deal with it. Even without facing the Flames, there might not be any sure-thing layup wins, but other than a trip to Texas, there aren't too many games that aren't out of reach. Sam Houston has to own the one score games - it went 6-0 in games last year decided by a touchdown or less. It won't do that this time around, but it'll still be good enough to push for a The Sam Houston Bearkats Win Total At … 5.5Likely Wins: No projected sure thing wins50/50 Games: Delaware, FIU, at Hawaii, Jacksonville State, at Louisiana Tech, at Middle Tennessee, at New Mexico State, UNLV, UTEP, at WKU,Likely Losses: at Oregon State, at Texas © 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
USA Today
25-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Clemson transfer wide receiver Tristan Smith impressing in spring camp
Clemson transfer wide receiver Tristan Smith impressing in spring camp Garrett Riley didn't hold back when describing what Clemson's quarterbacks have in Tristan Smith. 'I told the quarterbacks that if they miss him, then they really missed because he has quite the range,' the Tigers' offensive coordinator said. Smith, a transfer from Southeast Missouri State, brings an impressive combination of size and skill to Clemson's receiving corps. At 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, he knows how to use his frame to his advantage, making him a difficult matchup for defenders. His ability to extend for the ball and win contested catches has already turned heads in practice. 'Obviously, he is rangy. He's got the length,' Riley said. 'He is a big-body person that I think uses his body well. There are some big-body guys that necessarily do not use it to their advantage. He is big and he plays big.' Smith put up strong numbers in 2024, earning second-team all-conference honors while helping his team win the Big South-OVC Football Association and secure an FCS playoff berth. He finished the season with 76 receptions for 934 yards and six touchdowns, adding a rushing score in 11 games. His production ranked among the top 20 in the FCS in both receptions and receiving yards per game. He also delivered three 100-yard performances, including a career-high 10 catches for 139 yards and a touchdown against Illinois State in the FCS Playoffs. Beyond his physical tools, Riley praised Smith's competitive mindset and work ethic, believing those traits will serve him well at Clemson. 'He is someone that is very driven and has a chip-on-the-shoulder mentality,' Riley said. 'So, I just love that about him and his whole approach.'
