Sam Houston Preview, Best Players, Top Transfers, Season Prediction, Win Total 2024

Sam Houston Bearkats Preview 2024

The program that was so good in the FCS didn't exactly get rolling in its first full year in the FBS world thanks to an 0-8 start, but …

If ever there was a Work The Kinks Out season, that was it.

Head man KC Keeler had prepped the program for life in the FBS. Sam Houston won the FCS national title in the modified 2020 season, was unbeaten before losing in the playoffs in 2021, and it 2022 it was all about 2023 with several young players getting experience to be ready for what was coming.

Yeah, 3-9 isn’t what the proud program envisioned, but it was a blip, not an indicator.

The team went 3-1 in November - it was as if it just needed a little bit of a spark - the defense fought the good fight game in and game out, and it really is possible to point to about five - probably more like seven - moments that could’ve changed everything had they gone the Bearkats way.

But the team will fly under the radar - FCS teams that move up and go 3-9 tend to become afterthoughts. That’s a mistake.

Keeler was 85-27 with the team going into last season. It’s not like he forgot how to coach. This is when the real Sam Houston should show up, but …

NOTE: The previews were published early this summer. We tried to catch the changes, but if we missed anything, please let us know at @ColFootballNews and we'll fix it right away.

Sam Houston Preview 2024: Offense

- It was a struggle. The idea was to build up the team over a few years to get ready for 2023’s move to the FBS, and it didn’t quite work offensively. The running game didn’t go anywhere, the passing attack wasn’t explosive enough, and when it came to timely plays late, forget about it. However …

- The experience is in place to get better in a hurry, and it starts on the offensive front with better depth to go along with the size and experience. The tackles are a potential plus, and the interior should generate more of a push for John Gentry and a slew of decent veteran backs. The pass protection wasn’t awful, and now …

- The Bearkats need more passing production. The years were there averaging 223 yards per game, but there wasn’t anything happening down the field. The O was 124th in the nation averaging just six yards per throw, and that’s why Central Michigan transfer Jase Bauer comes in. There might be other options, but the idea is for the new guy to take over fast.

Noah Smith should be one of the best receivers in Conference USA, Malik Phillips is a veteran No. 2, and the tight end situation should be a plus with several nice options including Texas A&M transfer Fernando Garza.

Sam Houston Preview 2024: Defense

- The defense doesn’t return as strong as the O, at least in terms of overall experience and depth, but it wasn’t bad last year and should be just as strong under new coordinator Skyler Cassity.

There wasn’t a lick of pass rush or plays behind the line, and the run D wasn’t anything great, but the third down stops were there, and it did a decent job at taking the ball away. And now …

- Yeah, the pass rush. It has to come from somewhere up front. Hybrid linebacker Issiah Nixon led the team with five sacks, but there’s a chance Jevon Leon returns to his star form from a few years ago before dealing with injuries.

The linebacking corps might be the team’s biggest strength if junior Sincere Jackson can build off a solid finish in the middle. Nixon and veteran Kavian Gaither are volume playmakers who’ll push for all-star honors.

- The secondary has a few playmakers in corner David Fisher and fourth-leading tackler Caleb Weaver, who’ll move around where needed among the safeties. Da’Marcus Crosby was the best defensive back of the bunch, but he entered the transfer portal late in the process. Overall this group will be okay, though, if there’s more of a pass rush.

Sam Houston Key To The Season

Win the tight battles. All of them.
The Bearkats were outscored 79-62 in the fourth quarters and 20-7 in overtimes, but they put themselves in bad positions time and again by getting down early. There were chances, though, in early losses to BYU and Air Force when the D was great, and there were five losses after that by seven points or fewer. The close wins in November should be the norm.

Sam Houston Key Player

Jase Bauer, QB Jr.
Or veteran Grant Gunnell, or baller Sylas Gomez, or Hunter Watson. Again, the passing game was able to put up yards, but it wasn’t quite efficient or dangerous enough. Bauer was a decent runner at Central Michigan who threw for close to 1,900 yards and 12 touchdowns last year, but he’ll be in a fight for the gig.

Sam Houston Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss

Top Transfer In: S Jaylon Jimmerson
Bauer is the real top transfer, but Jimmerson will matter, too. The 5-10, 205-pound veteran from Liberty made 22 tackles with a sack as part of the defensive back rotation. He’ll be in the safety mix from the start.

Top Transfer Out: S Da’Marcus Crosby

He bounced around before finding a home with the Bearkats, and he came up large when he got the opportunity with 55 tackles with four picks. He's still looking for a home, but with his range and experience, he’ll produce wherever he lands.

Sam Houston Key Game

New Mexico State, Sept. 21
After the way last season went, beating the Aggies at home would go a long way to showing that this really is a different type of team in a different season. Yes, Sam Houston lost a slew of close games, and there were chances against the Aggies, but the 27-13 loss was the only defeat in a five-game stretch decided by more than a touchdown.

Sam Houston 10 Best Players

1. Noah Smith, WR Sr.
2. Kavian Gaither, LB Sr.
3. Issiah Nixon, LB Sr.
4. Caleb Weaver, S Jr.
5. Malik Phillips, WR Sr.
6. Rhett Larson, OT Soph.
7. Jase Bauer, QB Jr.
8. Jevon Leon, DE Sr.
9. David Fisher, CB Jr.
10. Orion Irving, OT Soph.

Sam Houston 2023 Fun Stats

- 1st Quarter Scoring: Opponents 82, Sam Houston 48

- Fumbles: Opponents 15 (lost 7), Sam Houston 13 (lost 4)

- Total Offense: Opponents 4,733 yards, Sam Houston 3,737 yards

Sam Houston 2024 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen

A bunch of those close losses last year will turn the other way around.

It was if the team needed just one break and then the dam would break, but that didn’t happen until it was a tad too late. This time around it’ll happen earlier.

No, Sam Houston won’t start ripping it up like it did when it was rocking in the FCS world, but the defense will continue to be plucky and, thanks to the experience up front, the O should find enough pop to start pulling off a few 50/50 games.

It might not find a differentiating factor on offense to do what Jacksonville State did in 2023, but it’ll win enough midseason games to be in the mix for bowl eligibility.

Just being good enough to battle in games won’t be enough this time. The Bearkats will start to look like the team the fan base is used to.

Set The Sam Houston Win Total At … 6.5

Likely Wins: at Kennesaw State, Louisiana Tech

50/50 Games: at FIU, Hawaii, at Jacksonville State, Liberty, New Mexico State, at Rice, Texas State, at UTEP, WKU

Likely Losses: at UCF

2024 Sam Houston Football Schedule

Aug 31 at Rice
Sept 7 at UCF
Sept 14 Hawaii
Sept 21 New Mexico State
Sept 28 Texas State
Oct 3 at UTEP
Oct 12 OPEN DATE
Oct 16 WKU
Oct 22 at FIU
Oct 29 Louisiana Tech
Nov 9 OPEN DATE
Nov 16 at Kennesaw State
Nov 23 at Jacksonville State
Nov 30 Liberty

Missing: Middle Tennessee