Tarleton State ranks No. 18 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Texans finished 8-3 last year but were ineligible for the FCS playoffs due to their transition from Division 2. They are eligible for the postseason starting this fall.
Here’s a look at the 2024 Tarleton football squad.
Returning 2023 All-Conference Players (6)
First Team
RB Kayvon Britten
OL Tuli Teuhema
Second Team
WR Darius Cooper
OL Hunter Smith
OL Layton Ernst
RS Deangelo Rosemond
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (2)
Omar Emmons (DB), Mississippi Valley State
Brodrick Stewart (DL), Northern Arizona
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (5)
Jason Essex (WR), Iowa State
Jared White (P), WKU
Nijel McGriff (LB), Louisiana
Michael James (K), Texas State
RJ Chakolis (LB), New Mexico State
Transfers Lost To The FCS (2)
Mario Keanon (DL) to Delaware State
DJ Harris (LB) to Houston Christian
Transfers Lost To The FBS (3)
Kyle Taylor (LB) to Arkansas State
Jaden Smith (WR) to Nevada
Josh Griffis (DL) to Oregon State
For more FCS coverage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Offensive Outlook
Tarleton returns a same-look offense as last year’s team that averaged 33.3 points per game, ranking just outside of the top 10 in the FCS.
The Texans return their starting QB, two running backs that have rushed for over 1,000 yards in a season, top three wide receivers, and five starting offensive linemen.
It starts with Kayvon Britten, one of the premier FCS running backs and the UAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
Britten is a back-to-back All-Conference First Team selection for two different teams. In 2022 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, he rushed for 1,063 yards and 16 touchdowns. Britten transferred to Tarleton State last year and had another dynamite season. The 5-foot-7 and 195-pounder rushed for 1,150 yards on 183 carries (6.3 YPC) and 16 TDs, earning All-American honors.
The dynamic Derrel Kelley III also returns in the backfield. He was second on last year’s team with 541 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 109 attempts. He was a 1,000-yard rusher in 2022 with eight TDs. Deangelo Rosemond is in the running back room as well, an All-Conference returner who averaged 25.7 yards per kick return last fall (18 for 462 yards).
Victor Gabalis leads the offense at quarterback. He arrived at Tarleton before last season after spending 2020 and 2021 at Washington State and 2022 at Utah Tech. A 2023 sophomore, he finished 164/301 for 2,492 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.
Gabalis has his top three wide receivers returning.
Darius Cooper is a two-time All-UAC selection. He had 28 catches for 622 yards and five touchdowns in seven games last year. In 2022, he recorded 54 catches for 1,063 yards and nine scores. Benjamin Omayebu led last year’s squad with 64 catches for 671 yards, including one touchdown. Keylan Johnson added 313 yards and tied for a team-high five receiving TDs on just 11 catches. Cody Jackson is also expected to be an impact player. He transferred to Tarleton from Oklahoma last year but did not see game action.
Iowa State transfer WR Jason Essex joins the mix as well.
Dawson Hearne is a good returning tight end for the Texans as a key blocker for their running game and a capable pass-catcher, tallying six catches for 73 yards and a score in 2023.
The Texans are expected to return five starters on the o-line. Tuli Teuhema (6’2″ 300 lbs), Hunter Smith (6’5″ 300 lbs), and Layton Ernst (6’2″ 290 lbs) are coming off of All-UAC seasons. Malik Pete (6’6″ 320 lbs) and Dillon Brooks (6’1″ 300 lbs) are two more returning starters.
Defensive Outlook
Tarleton allowed 24.5 points per game in 2023, ranking 43rd in the FCS. The unit returns five of its top eight tacklers.
Blake Smith is coming off of a standout sophomore season. The safety was third on last year’s team with 63 tackles, plus two forced fumbles, an interception, and two pass breakups. Kasyus Kurns was another young player in the secondary. The sophomore cornerback totaled 43 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, one interception, and eight pass breakups.
Omar Emmons is an incoming transfer from Mississippi Valley State. He was PFF’s No. 4-graded FCS safety in 2023, tallying 46 tackles, three TFLs, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and six pass breakups.
Devin Sterling and Ty Rawls look to lead the linebackers. Last season, Sterling recorded 46 tackles and eight TFLs. Rawls added 38 tackles, five TFLs, two QB hurries, one interception, and three pass breakups. Caimyn Layne is another impact LB after totaling 20 tackles, five TFLs, three sacks, and five QB hurries.
Up front, defensive tackle Brandon Tolvert (6’1″ 295 lbs) is a preseason All-Conference selection. He had good production as an interior lineman, tallying 36 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, and seven quarterback hurries. DT Robert Rios (6’4″ 315 lbs) added 19 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, and a 50-yard pick-six. Charles Perkins (6’3″ 250 lbs) is a returning defensive end looking to elevate his play after tallying nine tackles, one sack, and two QB hurries.
Adding to the d-line group is Brodrick Stewart, a 6-foot-2 and 305-pound transfer from Northern Arizona. He did not play last season as a freshman.
2024 Preseason Preview Central
Tarleton State Football Schedule
8/24 vs McNeese
8/31 at Baylor
9/7 at Houston Christian
9/21 at North Alabama
9/28 vs Southeastern Louisiana
10/5 at Southern Utah
10/12 vs Utah Tech
10/26 at Austin Peay
11/2 vs Eastern Kentucky
11/9 at West Georgia
11/16 vs Abilene Christian
11/23 vs No. 11 Central Arkansas
Bold indicates UAC games
HERO Sports’ rankings
