# 2021 Texas State Bobcats football team

The 2021 Texas State Bobcats football team represented Texas State University as a member of the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bobcats were led by third-year head coach Jake Spavital and played their home games at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos, Texas.

## Preseason
### Recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| Charles Fletcher OL | Greenville, NC | J. H. Rose HS NC State | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 305 lb (138 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Eric Sutton DB | Cedar Hill, TX | Cedar Hill HS SMU | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| DeOnte Washington DL | Colorado Springs, CO | Vista Ridge HS Independence CC | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 255 lb (116 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Troy Lefeged Jr. DB | Montgomery Village, MD | Northwest HS Fullerton CC Utah State | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jeremiah Hawkins WR | Berkeley, CA | Buena Park HS UC Berkeley | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | – | Jan 13, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Liam Dobson OG | St. Catharines, Canada | Canada Prep Maine | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 330 lb (150 kg) | – | Feb 3, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Ty Evans QB | Monument, CO | Palmer Ridge HS NC State | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | – | Feb 3, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Nick McCann DT | Texarkana, TX | Arkansas HS Texas Tech | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 275 lb (125 kg) | – | Feb 3, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Dontye Carriere-Williams CB | Fort Lauderdale, FL | St. Thomas Aquinas HS Independence CC Vanderbilt | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | – | Feb 3, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| DeMarrquese Hayes OLB | Waco, TX | La Vega HS Kansas State | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | – | Feb 3, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Kaimana Wa'a DT | Corvallis, OR | Crescent Valley HS Hawaii | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) | – | Feb 3, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
Source:

### Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

#### Preseason

| Award | Player | Position | Year |
| Doak Walker Award | Brock Sturges | RB | JR |
| Wuerffel Trophy | Tyler Vitt | QB | SR |
Sources:

### Sun Belt coaches poll

The Sun Belt coaches poll was released on July 20, 2021. The Bobcats were picked to finish fourth in the West Division.
West Division :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes |
| 1 | Louisiana | 49 (9) |
| 2 | Arkansas State | 38 (1) |
| 3 | South Alabama | 27 |
| 4 | Texas State | 25 |
| 5 | Louisiana–Monroe | 11 |
East Division :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes |
| T1 | Coastal Carolina | 44 (6) |
| T1 | Appalachian State | 44 (4) |
| 3 | Georgia State | 24 |
| 4 | Georgia Southern | 20 |
| 5 | Troy | 18 |

### Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference teams
## Schedule

The 2021 schedule consists of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season. The Bobcats will travel to Sun Belt foes Georgia State, Louisiana, Coastal Carolina, and Arkansas State. Texas State will play host to Sun Belt foes South Alabama, Troy, Louisiana–Monroe, and Georgia Southern.
Texas State will host two of the four non-conference opponents at Bobcat Stadium, Baylor of the Big 12 Conference and Incarnate Word from the NCAA Division I FCS Southland Conference, and will travel to FIU of the Conference USA and Eastern Michigan of the Mid-American Conference.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 6:00 p.m. | Baylor* | Bobcat StadiumSan Marcos, TX | ESPN+ | L 20–29 | 26,573 |
| September 11 | 6:00 p.m. | at FIU* | Riccardo Silva StadiumMiami, FL | ESPN+ | W 23–17 $^{OT}$ | 0 |
| September 18 | 6:00 p.m. | Incarnate Word* | Bobcat StadiumSan Marcos, TX | ESPN3 | L 34–42 | 16,107 |
| September 25 | 1:00 p.m. | at Eastern Michigan* | Rynearson StadiumYpsilanti, MI | ESPN+ | L 21–59 | 14,253 |
| October 9 | 6:00 p.m. | South Alabama | Bobcat StadiumSan Marcos, TX | ESPN+ | W 33–31 $^{4OT}$ | 16,223 |
| October 16 | 2:00 p.m. | Troy | Bobcat StadiumSan Marcos, TX | ESPN+ | L 28–31 | 15,083 |
| October 23 | 1:00 p.m. | at Georgia State | Center Parc StadiumAtlanta, GA | ESPN+ | L 16–28 | 16,779 |
| October 30 | 11:00 a.m. | at Louisiana | Cajun FieldLafayette, LA | ESPNU | L 0–45 | 28,794 |
| November 6 | 2:00 p.m. | Louisiana–Monroe | Bobcat StadiumSan Marcos, TX | ESPN+ | W 27–19 | 16,237 |
| November 13 | 2:00 p.m. | Georgia Southern | Bobcat StadiumSan Marcos, TX | ESPN+ | L 30–38 | 15,896 |
| November 20 | 12:00 p.m. | at Coastal Carolina | Brooks StadiumConway, SC | ESPN+ | L 21–35 | 10,386 |
| November 27 | 1:00 p.m. | at Arkansas State | Centennial Bank StadiumJonesboro, AR | ESPN+ | W 24–22 | 3,116 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### Baylor

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bears | 7 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 29 |
| Bobcats | 3 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| BAY –14.0 | 53.5 |
| Statistics | Baylor | Texas State |
| First downs | 22 | 20 |
| Total yards | 386 | 235 |
| Rushing yards | 238 | 79 |
| Passing yards | 148 | 156 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 34:48 | 25:12 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Baylor | Passing | Gerry Bohanon | 15/24, 148 yards |
| Baylor | Rushing | Trestan Ebner | 20 carries, 120 yards |
| Baylor | Receiving | R.J. Sneed | 6 receptions, 92 yards |
| Texas State | Passing | Brady McBride | 20/40, 156 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs |
| Texas State | Rushing | Jahmyl Jeter | 8 carries, 45 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Receiving | Marcell Barbee | 4 receptions, 56 yards, 1 TD |

### At FIU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| • Bobcats | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 23 |
| Panthers | 0 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| FIU –2.0 | 56 |
| Statistics | Texas State | FIU |
| First downs | 21 | 21 |
| Total yards | 336 | 400 |
| Rushing yards | 171 | 141 |
| Passing yards | 165 | 259 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 31:01 | 28:59 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas State | Passing | Brady McBride | 18/31, 165 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Rushing | Calvin Hill | 14 carries, 72 yards |
| Texas State | Receiving | Marcell Barbee | 8 receptions, 67 yards |
| FIU | Passing | Max Bortenschlager | 17/34, 259 yards, 2 TDs |
| FIU | Rushing | D'Vonte Price | 23 carries, 111 yards |
| FIU | Receiving | Tyrese Chambers | 4 receptions, 79 yards, 1 TD |

### Incarnate Word

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Cardinals | 14 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
| Bobcats | 7 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 34 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| TXST –11.0 | 70 |
| Statistics | Incarnate Word | Texas State |
| First downs | 27 | 26 |
| Total yards | 455 | 448 |
| Rushing yards | 79 | 182 |
| Passing yards | 376 | 278 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 27:46 | 32:14 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Incarnate Word | Passing | Cam Ward | 31/47, 376 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT |
| Incarnate Word | Rushing | Marcus Cooper | 10 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD |
| Incarnate Word | Receiving | Robert Ferrel | 10 receptions, 132 yards, 2 TDs |
| Texas State | Passing | Brady McBride | 25/41, 278 yards, 2 TDs |
| Texas State | Rushing | Calvin Hill | 16 carries, 78 yards |
| Texas State | Receiving | Javen Banks | 6 receptions, 64 yards |

### At Eastern Michigan

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bobcats | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| • Eagles | 14 | 14 | 10 | 21 | 59 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| EMU –7.5 | 63 |
| Statistics | Texas State | Eastern Michigan |
| First downs | 18 | 33 |
| Total yards | 299 | 499 |
| Rushing yards | 112 | 242 |
| Passing yards | 187 | 257 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 25:52 | 34:08 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas State | Passing | Brady McBride | 16/25, 187 yards, 3 TDs |
| Texas State | Rushing | Brock Sturges | 14 carries, 68 yards |
| Texas State | Receiving | Trevis Graham Jr. | 4 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD |
| Eastern Michigan | Passing | Ben Bryant | 20/33, 228 yards, 3 TDs |
| Eastern Michigan | Rushing | Darius Boone Jr. | 13 carries, 86 yards |
| Eastern Michigan | Receiving | Dylan Drummond | 5 receptions, 59 yards, 1 TD |

### South Alabama

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | 2OT | 3OT | 4OT | Total |
| Jaguars | 0 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| • Bobcats | 7 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 33 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| USA –4.0 | 53 |
| Statistics | South Alabama | Texas State |
| First downs | 20 | 23 |
| Total yards | 329 | 399 |
| Rushing yards | 140 | 212 |
| Passing yards | 189 | 187 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 28:24 | 31:36 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Alabama | Passing | Jake Bentley | 19/26, 189 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| South Alabama | Rushing | AJ Phillips | 19 carries, 74 yards, 2 TDs |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 5 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Passing | Brady McBride | 18/28, 187 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs |
| Texas State | Rushing | Calvin Hill | 11 carries, 70 yards |
| Texas State | Receiving | Javen Banks | 4 receptions, 104 yards, 1 TD |

### Troy

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Trojans | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
| Bobcats | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| TROY –7.5 | 49 |
| Statistics | Troy | Texas State |
| First downs | 23 | 21 |
| Total yards | 387 | 370 |
| Rushing yards | 205 | 91 |
| Passing yards | 182 | 279 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 31:09 | 28:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Troy | Passing | Gunnar Watson | 22/29, 182 yards, 1 TD |
| Troy | Rushing | Kimani Vidal | 25 carries, 162 yards, 2 TDs |
| Troy | Receiving | Tez Johnson | 9 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Passing | Brady McBride | 22/32, 279 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs |
| Texas State | Rushing | Brock Sturges | 11 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Receiving | Javen Banks | 4 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD |

### At Georgia State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bobcats | 6 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
| • Panthers | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| GSU –10.5 | 59 |
| Statistics | Texas State | Georgia State |
| First downs | 26 | 26 |
| Total yards | 378 | 483 |
| Rushing yards | 123 | 283 |
| Passing yards | 255 | 200 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:23 | 27:37 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas State | Passing | Brady McBride | 27/47, 255 yards, 1 INT |
| Texas State | Rushing | Brady McBride | 17 carries, 46 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Receiving | Ashtyn Hawkins | 6 receptions, 108 yards |
| Georgia State | Passing | Darren Grainger | 16/25, 200 yards, 2 TDs |
| Georgia State | Rushing | Tucker Gregg | 21 carries, 115 yards |
| Georgia State | Receiving | Jamari Thrash | 4 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TD |

### At Louisiana

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bobcats | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| • Ragin' Cajuns | 0 | 17 | 18 | 10 | 45 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LA –21.0 | 58 |
| Statistics | Texas State | Louisiana |
| First downs | 10 | 24 |
| Total yards | 205 | 425 |
| Rushing yards | 163 | 165 |
| Passing yards | 42 | 260 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 28:47 | 31:13 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas State | Passing | Tyler Vitt | 6/13, 42 yards, 1 INT |
| Texas State | Rushing | Tyler Vitt | 15 carries, 94 yards |
| Texas State | Receiving | Marcell Barbee | 1 reception, 17 yards |
| Louisiana | Passing | Levi Lewis | 22/32, 228 yards, 3 TDs |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Chris Smith | 9 carries, 70 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Errol Rogers Jr. | 3 receptions, 44 yards |

### Louisiana–Monroe

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Warhawks | 6 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
| • Bobcats | 10 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 27 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| TXST –3.0 | 58 |
| Statistics | Louisiana–Monroe | Texas State |
| First downs | 28 | 19 |
| Total yards | 432 | 434 |
| Rushing yards | 170 | 172 |
| Passing yards | 262 | 262 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 38:02 | 21:58 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Chandler Rogers | 28/43, 262 yards |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Andrew Henry | 23 carries, 82 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Will Derrick | 6 receptions, 74 yards |
| Texas State | Passing | Tyler Vitt | 16/31, 262 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Rushing | Jahyml Jeter | 16 carries, 92 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Receiving | Marcell Barbee | 5 receptions, 102 yards |

### Georgia Southern

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Eagles | 3 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 38 |
| Bobcats | 0 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 30 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| TXST –2.0 | 52 |
| Statistics | Georgia Southern | Texas State |
| First downs | 19 | 26 |
| Total yards | 395 | 341 |
| Rushing yards | 162 | 78 |
| Passing yards | 233 | 263 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 28:08 | 31:52 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Cam Ransom | 7/12, 125 yds, 1 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Jalen White | 10 car, 82 yds, 2 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Derwin Burgess Jr. | 5 rec, 134 yds, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Passing | Tyler Vitt | 29/46, 263 yds, 1 INT |
| Texas State | Rushing | Calvin Hill | 10 car, 43 yds, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Receiving | Marcell Barbee | 4 rec, 63 yds |

### At Coastal Carolina

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bobcats | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| • Chanticleers | 7 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 35 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| CCU –24.5 | 60 |
| Statistics | Texas State | Coastal Carolina |
| First downs | 17 | 30 |
| Total yards | 301 | 498 |
| Rushing yards | 195 | 179 |
| Passing yards | 106 | 319 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 24:54 | 35:06 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas State | Passing | Tyler Vitt | 13/26, 106 yds, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Rushing | Calvin Hill | 12 car, 100 yds, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Receiving | Ashtyn Hawkins | 2 rec, 41 yds |
| Coastal Carolina | Passing | Grayson McCall | 22/28, 319 yds, 5 TD |
| Coastal Carolina | Rushing | Shermari Jones | 23 car, 92 yds |
| Coastal Carolina | Receiving | Jaivon Heiligh | 10 rec, 101 yds, 1 TD |

### At Arkansas State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bobcats | 14 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
| Red Wolves | 7 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 22 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| ARST –2.0 | 62.5 |
| Statistics | Texas State | Arkansas State |
| First downs | 14 | 25 |
| Total yards | 333 | 471 |
| Rushing yards | 203 | 194 |
| Passing yards | 130 | 277 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 24:51 | 35:09 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas State | Passing | Tyler Vitt | 11/25, 121 yds, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Rushing | Calvin Hill | 13 car, 125 yds, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Receiving | Trevis Graham Jr. | 4 rec, 67 yds, 1 TD |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Layne Hatcher | 25/37, 277 yds, 2 TD |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Alan Lamar | 12 car, 88 yds |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Corey Rucker | 8 rec, 85 yds, 1 TD |