Texas sub-FBS recruiting rumors, Key Angelo State players enter portal

National Signing Day is upon us and, according to my calendar, marks the start of the new football season. Teams are releasing the names of their 2023 recruiting classes throughout the day and possibly while reading this.

This week, the focus will be less on specific names and more on what I hear in the industry about each team’s class, as well as more news on the coaches and two All-Americans from Angelo State entering the transfer gate.

Southland Conference

Houston Christian currently ranks sixth in the FCS and sits atop the 247-team standings. The Huskies are bolstered by three 3-star high school players and a 3-star transfer from Louisiana-Monroe. Next week, keep an eye on TexasFootball.com for a story on how head coach Braxton Harris and staff put together a record-breaking recruiting class in just a few months at HCU.

Southwestern Athletic Conference

Prairie View A&M has quietly built a strong recruiting class. According to sources, the Panthers coaching staff led by head coach Bubba McDowell are very happy with each of their expected signings. Sources added that staff focused on taking their time and recruiting the right person for the program; they believe they have done well this year.

Western Athletic Conference

The UTRGV announced the arrival of John Simmons in the football team. Simmons will serve as director of football operations and administration. He will work closely with Vaqueros head coach Travis Bush and vice president and director of athletics Chasse Conque. Simmons spent last season as athletic director and head football coach at Canyon Middle School in New Braunfels.

The Rio Grande Valley is excited about the arrival of college football in the region in 2025. The UTRGV announced that it surpassed 1,000 subscription deposits in less than six weeks. Fans can reserve season tickets by visiting UTRGVTickets.com and making a $25 deposit.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football has confirmed that Tarleton will name Mason Miller offensive coordinator. Miller will likely take over head coach Todd Whitten’s call-in duties. Miller has spent the past three seasons on Mike Leach’s team at Mississippi State. It’s a return to Tarleton for Miller, who served as associate head coach and offensive coordinator for the Texans from 2014 to 2016. He also spent five years on McMurry’s team, including a season as a head coach of the War Hawks in 2013. Miller’s first college job was with Hal Mumme’s team in Southeast Louisiana.

KC Keeler developed a recruiting strategy that led to a national title for Sam Houston in 2020 and saw no reason to change the successful approach towards FBS and Conference USA.

Lone Star Conference

Angelo State lost two All-Americans from last year’s national semifinalist to the transfer portal. Offensive lineman Jake Long and linebacker Daron Allman recently announced their entry into the portal. It’s a blow for a Rams team chasing a national title this year.

According to sources, UTPB plans to add 45 high school athletes including 12 from the Permian Basin and 19 transfers to its recruiting class. Head coach Kris McCullough reportedly addressed the quarterback situation by adding transfer Kenny Hrncir from East Central. A native of Needville, Hrncir has completed 56.7% of his passes for 4,731 with 37 touchdowns and 20 interceptions over the past two seasons.

Texas A&M-Kingsville has hired Jamison Bisch to be the defensive coordinator for the Javelinas. Bisch spent last season as the defensive coordinator at fellow LSC member Eastern New Mexico. Prior to joining the Greyhounds, he was defensive coordinator at Bemidji and helped lead the Beavers to the second round of the 2021 NCAA Division II Playoffs.

West Texas A&M has announced the addition of Shayne Shade to the Buffs coaching staff. He will serve as a running backs and tight ends coach. Shade has spent the past eight years as a member of the Nebraska-Kearney coaching staff. He began coaching the defensive line and linebackers at UNK before moving to the offensive side of football. Shade served as the Lopers’ recruiting coordinator, running backs, tight ends and inside wide receivers coach last season.

American Southwest Conference

Mary Hardin-Baylor added to her coaching staff on Monday with the announcement of offensive line coach Alex Farah. Farah spent the previous season at FCS Arkansas-Pine Bluff. His coaching career began at Appalachian State, where he began coaching linebackers and a defensive line as a student assistant before moving on to a graduate assistant offensive line coaching position. Farah also made stops at Texas State, Glenville State, Hutchinson CC and Independence CC before joining the UAPB.

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