Nate Yarnell (right) and Ty Mims (left) look to make immediate impacts for the Bobcats in 2025.
As Tim Meadows famously asked Tina Fey in the 2004 classic “Mean Girls”: “So, how was your summer?”
If you are a Texas State football fan, it was likely filled with optimism— and a calendar countdown to kickoff. After a historic 2024 campaign that saw the Bobcats finish 8-2, notch a second straight bowl win, and secure back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2008-09, the buzz in San Marcos is real.
A huge hit and a fumble! It’s @TXSTATEFOOTBALL ball! Bobcats lead 23-14 with 8:36 to go pic.twitter.com/jUVFYuUez5
— First Responder Bowl (@FRBowl) January 4, 2025
With one final season in the Sun Belt before the program transitions to the Pac-12 in 2026, there’s a growing sense that Texas State is no longer just building— they are arriving. But momentum does not come without challenges.
Following the season, Texas State underwent a massive roster overhaul, with 80 players departing— 24 graduating and 33 transferring to other schools. In response, third-year head coach G.J. Kinne and his staff brought in 45 transfers and welcomed 21 incoming freshmen, completely reshaping the roster.
According to 247Sports, Texas State’s 2025 recruiting and transfer classes both ranked seventh in the Sun Belt, highlighting the scale of the rebuild and the stiff competition across the conference.
Departures
The departures are hard to ignore. The Bobcats will enter 2025 without several of their most impactful veterans from last year’s squad, leading to an leadership void and critical gaps at key positions.
There’s no question that the departure of Jordan McCloud is the biggest storyline heading into 2025. As the starting quarterback in 2024, McCloud was the engine of the Texas State offense, throwing for 3,227 yards, 30 touchdowns and adding seven rushing scores. His ability to lead, make plays on the ground and through the air, and stay composed under pressure was invaluable.
Jaden Williams gave McCloud a true No. 1 target, leading the team with 807 receiving yards on 57 catches and scoring seven touchdowns. His ability to stretch defenses and deliver in clutch moments made him a nightmare for opposing secondaries. Along with the departure of fellow wideout Joey Hobert, who added 680 receiving yards on 70 catches and a team-leading eight touchdowns, leaves the Bobcats with a major reshuffling of their receiver room.
On the defensive side, Jordan Polk was the heart of the Bobcats’ secondary. He led the team in both solo (36) and assisted (33) tackles and added 5.5 tackles for loss with two sacks. Polk’s physical style and versatility in coverage and run support earned him a shot with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent. His absence creates both a leadership and performance gap in the secondary.
San Mo➡️ Mass
Congrats to Jordan Polk for signing with the @Patriots ‼️#EatEmUp pic.twitter.com/L73enGdRMu
— Texas State Football (@TXSTATEFOOTBALL) April 27, 2025
A major force off the edge, Steven Parker posted five sacks and nine tackles for loss, bringing much-needed pressure from the defensive line. His ability to disrupt opposing quarterbacks made him a key component of the Bobcats’ defensive front. Finding someone to replace Parker’s motor and production would be essential to maintaining defensive momentum in 2025.
Arrivals
Still, there’s plenty of reason for optimism at Texas State with a promising incoming freshmen class, while proven transfers are expected to contribute immediately.
The most eye-catching freshman addition is Tucker Cusano, a wider receiver from Coppell (TX), who dominated his senior year with 102 catches for 1,649 yards and 25 touchdowns. With the departures of Williams and Hobert, Cusano could see early playing time. His elite production and polished route-running make him a serious candidate to contribute form day one.
Week 11
Catches – 4
Yards – 140
Tds – 1
Pancakes – 2 pic.twitter.com/ZfeFMC0kVo— Tucker Cusano (@TuckerCusano) November 16, 2024
If Texas State needs a ready-made replacement at wide receiver, Tyrin Smith brings exactly that. Though he had a quiet 2024 season at Cincinnati (four catches, 32 yards), Smith’s time at UTEP (2021-23) was highly productive: 123 receptions for 1,800 yards and 12 touchdowns. As a redshirt senior, he will bring experience, explosiveness and route discipline to a receiving corps in transition.
Another interesting piece to the puzzle is Tiaquelin (Ty) Mims, from division-rival Southern Miss. Mims only found the endzone once last season, but keep in mind: the Golden Eagles only managed an average of 15.6 points per game in 2024. Mims is also a dangerous return man and ended last season with 493 all purpose yards.
With McCloud graduating, the quarterback room is wide open — and Gavin Parkhust, a dual-threat QB from All Saints Episcopal (TX), could be the future. He passed for 3,341 yards and 47 touchdowns and rushed for 897 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior. Parkhurst may not start immediately, but he is an ideal developmental talent with long-term starter potential in the Bobcats’ offensive system.
While Parkhurst may be the quarterback of the future, Nate Yarnell could be the answer for now. The redshirt senior from Pittsburgh appeared in 15 games over three seasons, including nine games in 2024, and threw for 1,846 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. Yarnell brings experience, size and poise to a position that desperately needs stability following McCloud’s exit.
Defensive end Kenard Snyder arrives from Iowa State, but his most dominate seasons came at ULM, where he racked up 25 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 2022-23. Even in limited snaps at Iowa State, Snyder showed flashes with two sacks and two TFLs. With Parker and Brice Bass gone, Snyder could step in as the Bobcats’ top edge rusher right away.
Sun Belt Syndicate rated Kinne’s seat at “Not Going Anywhere,” as he has had the best two-season start of any head coach at Texas State since David Bailiff went 16-9 between 2004 and 2005. Kinne is just the third coach to record 16 wins in his first two seasons, joining John O’Hara, who led the Bobcats through their transition to Division I-AA (now FCS).
The Bobcats will kick off their 2025 campaign on Aug. 30 with a home game against the Eastern Michigan Eagles out of the Mid-American Conference. Texas State will also travel to Tempe in a Week 3 nationally-televised matchup against Arizona State that will set the tone for their push towards the Sun Belt West title.
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