Tarleton State ranks No. 6 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Texans finished 10-4 last year, losing 42-31 at South Dakota in the FCS second round.
Here’s a look at the 2025 Tarleton football squad.
Returning 2024 FCS All-Conference Players (5)
1st Team
DL Brandon Tolvert
OL Alec Ambrosia (transfer from CCSU)
2nd Team
QB Victor Gabalis
LB Ty Rawls
DB Kasyus Kurns
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (7)
| Player | Pos. | Previous School |
| Alec Ambrosia | OL | CCSU |
| Pius Njenge | DL | Gardner-Webb |
| Alex Todt | OL | Indiana State |
| Aidan Moe | OL | Northern Colorado |
| Danny Joiner | TE | SEMO |
| Dawson Rudd | OL | South Dakota State |
| Bryce Parker | WR | Utah Tech |
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (7)
| Player | Pos. | Previous School |
| Reginald Harden | WR | Arkansas State |
| Deaubry Hood | DB | Arkansas State |
| Tylan Hines | RB | Hawaii |
| Matt Bosset | LS | Marshall |
| David Spruiells | DB | North Texas |
| Nick Green | OL | San Diego State |
| Angelo Anderson | DL | Tulane |
Transfers Lost To The FCS (1)
| Player | Pos. | New School |
| Mikey Henderson | WR | Sac State |
Transfers Lost To The FBS (1)
| Player | Pos. | New School |
| A.J. Sargent | DL | Sam Houston |
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Offensive Outlook
Tarleton State loses its All-American running back, All-American wide receiver, and most of its starting offensive line. The Texans return their All-Conference quarterback, All-Conference lineman, No. 2 RB, No. 3 WR, and some impact transfers. Last fall, Tarleton averaged 30.7 points per game, ranking No. 27 in the FCS.
Victor Gabalis enters his third season as Tarleton’s starting QB and is one of the top returning signal-callers in the FCS. In 2023, he went 164/301 passing for 2,492 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Last fall, Gabalis finished 193/309 for 2,883 yards, 23 TDs, and 11 interceptions. The All-UAC Second Team selection finished No. 11 in FCS passing efficiency (158.3) and was PFF’s No. 10-graded FCS QB.
Tarleton loses its top two wide receivers, including 1,400-yarder Darius Cooper. Keep an eye on Cody Jackson to step into a larger role and put up big numbers. Last year, he had 29 catches for 490 yards and eight touchdowns. Starting tight end Dawson Hearne is also back after tallying 10 catches for 73 yards and a score.
Another All-American needs to be replaced in the backfield as Tarleton loses Kayvon Britten, who rushed for nearly 2,000 yards in 2024. Last year’s No. 2 RB returns in Braelon Bridges, who ran 76 times for 334 yards and three touchdowns.
The Texans will have a new-look offensive line after enjoying a senior-laden front in 2024. Hunter Smith (6’5″ 300 lbs), who led the offense in snaps, is a big returner after he tested the transfer portal waters. He was named on the 2023 All-UAC Second Team and earned 2024 All-UAC Second Team honors from Phil Steele. Last season, Smith was PFF’s No. 8-graded FCS offensive guard, allowing no sacks, no QB hits, and one QB hurry.
An impressive transfer class comes in looking to keep Tarleton’s fast rise on an upward trajectory. The Texans brought in more than 25 transfers, ranging from JuCo to FBS.
They landed some key offensive line experience. Alec Ambrosia (6’1″ 305 lbs) played around 1,400 snaps in the last two seasons at CCSU, getting named to the 2024 All-NEC First Team while earning AP FCS All-American accolades. Alex Todt (6’4″ 300 lbs) comes in after logging nearly 650 snaps last season at Indiana State.
Tylan Hines is an incoming running back from Hawaii with FBS playing experience. In three seasons, he rushed for 889 yards and two touchdowns on 149 carries and had 39 catches for 294 yards and three scores. As a freshman in 2022, he was named an All-Mountain West Honorable Mention.
Cooper was a dude at WR. He alone is tough to replace, but Tarleton’s depth at receiver will be strong. Wide receiver Bryce Parker arrives from UAC foe Utah Tech. He led the Trailblazers last year with 27 catches for 419 yards and four TDs. Non-D1 transfers also add some explosiveness. T’iar Young comes in after being a star at D2 Lock Haven, where he went over 1,100 receiving yards in 2024. Mekhi Gibson (D2 Kutztown), Mike Hodge (Lackawanna College), and Marquis Willis (Coahoma Community College) are other names to keep an eye on at WR.
Defensive Outlook
Tarleton State returns 11 of its top 12 tacklers from last season’s unit, which allowed 24.6 points per game (No. 51 in the FCS).
Safety Blake Smith finished second on the team in tackles last year as a junior, notching 76 stops along with three interceptions. Linebacker Bam Smith was right behind him with 73 tackles, including 5.5 TFLs and five QB hurries. AJ Owens adds strong linebacker experience, totaling 65 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, and 4.5 sacks a season ago.
Also returning in a deep linebacker room are Ty Rawls, Caden Holt, Devin Sterling, and Kyle Jackson. Rawls is coming off of an All-UAC Second Team season after making plays all over the field, logging more than 700 snaps while tallying 41 tackles, three TFLs, two interceptions, six pass breakups, and three forced fumbles. Holt added 550+ snaps, 59 tackles, and 4.5 TFLs. Sterling played more than 430 snaps and totaled 43 tackles and 2.5 TFLs. Jackson added 330+ snaps with 39 tackles.
Tarleton’s three leaders in cornerback snaps are back. Kasyus Kurns led Tarleton with more than 900 snaps played. He earned All-UAC Second Team accolades after totaling 64 tackles, six TFLs, two interceptions, nine pass breakups, and three forced fumbles. Dabari Hawkins logged 630+ snaps and notched 39 tackles, three interceptions, and eight pass breakups. Les Odimara added 275 snaps with 16 tackles and five pass breakups. Omar Emmons is a talented safety who went over 200 snaps last year and recorded 22 tackles with two interceptions.
The Texans will need to get stronger and deeper on the d-line to advance further in the FCS playoffs.
Brandon Tolvert (6’1″ 295 lbs) is a standout up front, earning All-UAC First Team honors last year after racking up 63 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, four sacks, and four QB hurries. Tramaine Chism (6’3″ 290 lbs) is another key returner, recording nearly 600 snaps with 34 tackles and 2.5 TFLs.
Angelo Anderson (6’3″ 265 lbs) looks to boost the d-line after arriving from Tulane, where he played in 42 career games and totaled 59 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, and four sacks. Pius Njenge (6’4″ 265 lbs) is a transfer addition coming from Gardner-Webb. Last year, he had 31 stops, six TFLs, and 3.5 sacks.
David Spruiells is another transfer who could make a splash. The defensive back redshirted at North Texas last year, but in 2023, he started as a true freshman at Northern Arizona and had 59 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, and an interception.
2025 Preseason Preview Central
Tarleton State Football Schedule
8/23 at Portland State
8/29 at Army
9/6 vs Mississippi Valley State
9/13 at Central Arkansas
9/20 vs RV Chattanooga
10/4 vs RV Southern Utah
10/11 at Utah Tech
10/18 vs West Georgia
10/25 at Eastern Kentucky
11/1 at No. 24 Abilene Christian
11/15 vs North Alabama
11/22 vs Austin Peay
Bold indicates UAC games
HERO Sports’ rankings
RV = Received Votes
