Thursday, August 2, 2012

2012 WAC Football Preview: Texas State

By: Zack Ponce

2011: 6-6 (FCS Independent)

There will be a lot of excitement in San Marcos, Texas this year as the Texas State Bobcats join the Western Athletic Conference as an all-sports member for the 2012-13 academic year.

Dennis Franchione will lead Texas State in his second season as the Bobcats’ head coach.  

Franchione was previously the head coach of Texas A&M during the mid-2000’s.  He led the Aggies to three bowl games over his five-year tenure in College Station.  Franchione’s long coaching resume also includes a stint as head coach of the New Mexico Lobos from 1992-97.

The Bobcats will have an experienced team in 2012. Texas State returns a total of 17 starters from last year’s team, eight on offense and nine on defense.

The running back tandem of senior Marcus Curry and sophomore Terrence Franks will lead a run-heavy Texas State offense that rushed the ball nearly twice as many times as they threw it in 2011. 

Franks led the Bobcats in rushing last year as a freshman with 911 yards on 146 carries with nine touchdowns.  Curry added 669 yards and three touchdowns on the ground on 127 carries. 

Offensive lineman Thaddeus Watkins (senior) and Charlie Will Tuttle (sophomore) are the only returning starters on the line and will be key if Texas State can find running success.

On defensive the Bobcats return two of their three top tacklers from a year ago. 

Junior safety Xavier Daniels led the team with 77 tackles and three interceptions.  His teammate senior cornerback Darryl Morris compiled 62 tackles and an interception. 

Senior Joplo Bartu will lead the line-backing unit.  Last year he accumulated 51 tackles, sacked the quarterback four times, and forced two fumbles.  Three of the four Texas State defensive line starters will return for another go-around.

Texas State won four of their six home games in 2011.  The Bobcats will need a significant home field advantage if they hope to beat any WAC foes besides Texas-San Antonio in 2012.

Please return tomorrow for a preview of the Utah State Aggies. 

No comments:

Post a Comment