Texas State Football Touts Highest-rated Recruitment Class During Media Days

By Daven Meredith

Sports Reporter

Coach GJ Kinne and the Bobcats opened Sun Belt Conference Media Day geared up for the 2023 season to “take back Texas.” 

In his first year at the helm for the Bobcats, Kinne has been hard at work since he was hired in early December of last year, recruiting and creating excitement for the San Marcos and Texas State community on what his football team has to offer this season.   

“When I took the job, we hit the ground running with recruiting,” Kinne said. We have signed over 50 scholarship players and have gotten numerous walk-ons. When we get to fall camp, 90 of our players will be from the state of Texas.”  

“Take Back Texas” is a motto Kinne has recited this offseason to recruit local Texas players on all levels of the game. Since the slogan,  Kinne has acquired the highest-rated recruitment class the Cats have seen in 11 years. 

“When I started, one of the hashtags we started using was ‘Take Back Texas,'” Kinne said. “We are going to recruit Texas kids. Whether we sign them out of the high school ranks, Jucco, or out of the portal, we’re going to make our money in the state of Texas.” 

Kinne and first-year offensive coordinator Mark Leftwitch bring their beat ’em up play action style of offense from Incarnate Word that averaged 55 points per game at the FCS level, giving the Number one ranked offense at the FCS and FBS level.  

“I think we bring a unique style of play to the conference,” Kinne said. “I know everyone has their version of the spread, but I think we’re pretty unique in what we do with our tempo and splits with being a run-play action team.” 

Along with the offense, Kinne has brought over several Cardinal players through the transfer portal, including left tackle Nash Jones who was selected to the All southland second team for UIW, where he played all 14 games at left tackle taking 527 snaps while only giving up one sack who Jones gives the performance credit to offensive line coach Jordan Shoemaker.   

“We have an amazing o-line coach in coach Shoemaker,” Jones said. “I work with him all the time, working on my craft getting better. He gives me the freedom to go out there and do what I need to do, and I fully trust him on schemes.”  

Shoemaker is one of the six coaches that Kinne brought to Texas State from his UIW staff.   

“Bringing the coordinators and several of the assistants over was huge we have great chemistry.” Kinne said. We work well together. They are very excited to come to Texas State. That’s why a lot of the incarnate word kids came to Texas State. Culture is why so many of our guys came to Texas State. They knew the culture we provide.  

With a program bringing in new players and staff, Kinne was also able to keep Bobcats on the roster, like senior Safety Tory Spears, who initially entered the transfer portal but decided to come back for another year as a Bobcat to create something special in San Marcos on the defensive side of the ball. 

“They said our 2022 defense was our best. I wanna top that,” Spears said. “With coach Kinne coming in being a younger but still wiser head coach, he can come to our level to understand us more what we need to do and work on for sure.” 

Kinne and the Cats look to open their season with a statement as they take on the Baylor Bears in Waco, Texas, on September 2nd at 6:00 p.m. 

Featured Image by Richard Prasedyoko.