2021 Sam Houston Bearkats football team

The 2021 Sam Houston Bearkats football team represented Sam Houston State University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference. The Bearkats were led by eighth-year head coach K. C. Keeler and played their home games at Bowers Stadium.

2021 Sam Houston Bearkats football
WAC champion
WAC–ASUN Challenge champion
ConferenceAQ7
Ranking
STATSNo. 5
FCS CoachesNo. 4
Record11–1 (6–0 AQ7)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorRyan Carty (4th season)
Offensive schemeSpread option
Defensive coordinatorClayton Carlin (5th season)
Base defense4–2–5
Home stadiumBowers Stadium
Seasons
← 2020
2022 →
2021 Western Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 5 Sam Houston $^   5 0     11 1  
No. 21 Stephen F. Austin ^   4 1     8 4  
Abilene Christian   2 2     5 6  
Tarleton State *   2 3     6 5  
Dixie State *   0 3     1 10  
Lamar   0 4     1 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
  • * – Ineligible for FCS playoffs due to transition from Division II
Rankings from STATS Poll
2021 WAC–ASUN Challenge football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 5 Sam Houston $^   6 0     11 1  
No. 21 Stephen F. Austin ^   4 2     8 4  
Eastern Kentucky   4 2     7 4  
Central Arkansas   3 3     5 6  
Jacksonville State   3 3     5 6  
Abilene Christian   1 5     5 6  
Lamar   0 6     1 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS Poll

The Western Athletic Conference and ASUN Conference announced the formation of the WAC–ASUN Challenge (AQ7) for the 2021 season on February 23, 2021. The Challenge included the four fully qualified Division I (FCS) members of the WAC (Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston , and Stephen F. Austin) and Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, and Jacksonville State of the ASUN Conference. The winner of the challenge received an auto-bid to the NCAA Division I FCS football playoffs.[1]

Preseason

edit

Preseason polls

edit

WAC Poll

edit

The Western Athletic Conference coaches released their preseason poll on July 27, 2021. The Bearkats were picked to finish first in the conference. In addition, several Bearkats were selected to the preseason WAC Offense, Defense, and Special teams. Eric Schmid was selected preseason offensive player of the year. Jahari Kay was selected defensive player of the year.[2]

Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Sam Houston 20 (5)
2 Stephen F. Austin 16 (1)
3 Tarleton State 11
4 Lamar 8
5 Abilene Christian 5
  • Note: Dixie State is not included since they are not playing a full WAC schedule due to previous non-conference game contracts. Dixie State players are eligible for individual rewards.

Preseason All–WAC Team

edit

AQ7 Poll

edit

The AQ7 coaches also released their preseason poll on July 27, 2021. The Bearkats were picked to finish first in the ASUN-WAC Challenge.[3]

Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Sam Houston State 49 (7)
2 Central Arkansas 40
3 Jacksonville State 37
4 Stephen F. Austin 27
5 Eastern Kentucky 20
6 Abilene Christian 15
7 Lamar 8

Roster

edit
2021 Sam Houston Bearkats football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 2 Ife Adeyi So
QB 3 Eric Schmid   Jr
RB 4 Ramon Jefferson   Jr
QB 5 Keegan Shoemaker So
RB 6 Noah Smith So
WR 7 Dewaylon Ingram Jr
QB 10 Mike Dare GS
QB 11 Gunner Capps   Fr
WR 12 Jequez Ezzard GS
WR 14 Ryan Humphries   So
WR 15 Tony Williams   Jr
TE 16 Isaac Schley   Sr
QB 17 Matthew Southern Fr
QB 18 Trapper Pannell Fr
WR 19 Brennon Tibbs   Sr
RB 20 Daryon Triche Fr
RB 24 Harrison Smith Fr
RB 25 Donovan Williams Jr
RB 26 Kyran Jackson Sr
TE 27 Dalton Meyer   So
RB 28 Charles Crawford III Fr
OL 51 Jalen North   Fr
OL 52 Colby Thomas Sr
OL 56 Daniel Melendez Jr
OL 57 Ethan Hagler So
OL 59 Will Jones Fr
OL 60 Seth Kohlscheen   Fr
OL 61 Noah Barboza Jr
OL 62 Anthony Turrubiartes   Jr
OL 64 Ben Bankston   Jr
OL 65 Ylijaah Hall   So
OL 66 D'Ary Patton Fr
OL 70 Miguel Garcia GS
OL 71 Walter Harris III Sr
OL 73 Moses Johnson   Jr
OL 74 Kevin Brown Jr
OL 75 Eleasah Anderson   Jr
OL 76 Prince Pines So
OL 77 Peyton Fifield   So
WR 80 Dee Bownes   So
WR 81 Derrick Rose   Fr
WR 83 Quan Ardoin   Jr
TE 84 Keontae Richardson   Fr
TE 85 Rowsy Godwin Fr
TE 86 Jarvis Brooks Sr
WR 88 Chandler Harvin   So
WR 89 Cody Chrest GS
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
LB 1 Trevor Williams Jr
DB 5 Darrel Hawkins-Williams So
LB 8 Quentin Brown   Sr
DB 9 Jaylen Thomas Sr
DB 13 Isaiah Downes Jr
DB 17 Ke'Shon Murray   Jr
DB 21 Kameryn Alexander So
DB 22 Zyon McCollum Sr
DB 23 Tristin McCollum Sr
S 24 Evrin Hawkins Jr
DB 25 Truman Bexley Fr
DB 26 R. J. Bendert Fr
DB 27 Savien Arnett Fr
LB 28 Rance McInnis   Fr
LB 29 Danzell Sims   Sr
DB 30 Taylen Blaylock Fr
S 31 Immanuel Sutton   So
LB 33 Markel Perry   Jr
DB 34 Emmonte Davis   Fr
DB 35 Tobias Weaver Fr
DB 36 Braiden Clopton   Fr
DB 38 Trey Smith   Jr
DB 40 Carson Horner   Fr
LB 42 Jaylen Phillips Fr
LB 43 Trey Fields Fr
DE 44 Juan Henry   So
DB 45 Daniel North   Fr
DB 46 Jalan Mayed   So
LB 48 Goodness Nwawuihe Fr
LB 50 Ysidro Mascorro Fr
LB 51 Trey Mappe Fr
LB 54 Nick Abengowe Fr
DL 55 Jahari Kay Sr
DE 58 L. J. Salazar   So
DL 63 Roscoe Jones   So
DL 90 Trace Mascorro Sr
DT 92 Scean Mustin   Sr
DL 93 Richard Outland Fr
DL 94 Jevon Leon So
DL 95 Joseph Wallace Sr
DL 96 Zach Loane   Jr
DL 97 Chris Scott   So
DE 98 Briceon Haynes Fr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P 37 Cameron Hearn   Sr
K 39 Reed Honshtein   Fr
LS 41 Noah Caldwell   Jr
P 47 Matt McRobert   Sr
LS 53 Tanner Boston So
K 87 Seth Morgan Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Ryan Carty (offensive coordinator / quarterbacks)
  • Clayton Carlin (defensive coordinator / safeties)
  • Gary McGraw (special teams coordinator / Cornerbacks / defensive passing game coordinator)
  • Terence Archer (passing game coordinator / wide receivers)
  • Chris Buckner (running backs)
  • Chris Rogers (offensive line)
  • Siddiq Haynes (defensive line)
  • Joe Morris (defensive ends)
  • Jared Hensley (linebackers)
  • Matt Merkens (tight ends)
  • Clayton Barnes (director of football operations & player personnel
  • Parker Whiteman (strength and conditioning)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt

Roster
Last update: July 16, 2021

Schedule

edit
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 28:00 p.m.at Northern Arizona*No. 1ESPN+W 42–168,564
September 116:00 p.m.Southeast Missouri State*No. 1ESPN+W 52–147,728
September 254:00 p.m.at No. 25 Central ArkansasNo. 1
ESPN+W 45–359,475
October 24:00 p.m.vs. Stephen F. AustinNo. 1ESPN+W 21–2025,007  
October 92:00 p.m.LamarNo. 1
  • Bowers Stadium
  • Huntsville, TX
ESPN+W 41–79,836
October 232:00 p.m.Jacksonville StateNo. 1
  • Bowers Stadium
  • Huntsville, TX (WAC/ASUN Challenge)
ESPN+W 42–77,559
October 306:00 p.m.at Tarleton StateNo. 1ESPN+W 45–278,245
November 612:00 p.m.Dixie StateNo. 1
  • Bowers Stadium
  • Huntsville, TX
ESPN+W 59–105,004
November 1312:00 p.m.Eastern KentuckyNo. 1
  • Bowers Stadium
  • Huntsville, TX (WAC/ASUN Challenge)
ESPN+W 42–286,570
November 201:00 p.m.at Abilene ChristianNo. 1ESPN+W 35–94,421
December 42:00 p.m.No. 13 Incarnate Word*No. 1
ESPN+W 49–426,722
December 118:30 p.m.No. 7 Montana State*No. 1
ESPN+L 19–427,565

[4][5]

Game summaries

edit

At Northern Arizona

edit
1 2 3 4 Total
No. 1 Bearkats 7 14 14 7 42
Lumberjacks 0 7 9 0 16

Statistics

Statistics Sam Houston Northern Arizona
First downs 24 20
Total yards 562 383
Rushing yards 294 91
Passing yards 268 292
Turnovers 2 2
Time of possession 28:53 31:07
Team Category Player Statistics
Sam Houston Passing Eric Schmid 21/37, 268 yards, 3 TDS, 1 INT
Rushing Ramon Jefferson 11 carries 143 yards, long 45 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Cody Chrest 7 catches, 106 yards, long 45 yards.
Northern Arizona Passing Jeff Widener 20/34, 275 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing Jeff Widener 9 carries, 33 yards, long 17 yards
Receiving Stacy Chukwumezie 6 catches, 113 yard, long 54 yards, 1 TD

Southeast Missouri State

edit
1 2 3 4 Total
Redhawks 7 7 0 0 14
No. 1 Bearkats 7 24 14 7 52

At No. 25 Central Arkansas

edit
1 2 3 4 Total
No. 1 Bearkats 14 17 0 14 45
No. 25 Bears 7 7 14 7 35

Vs. Stephen F. Austin

edit
1 2 3 4 Total
Lumberjacks 10 3 7 0 20
No. 1 Bearkats 0 6 0 15 21

Lamar

edit
1 2 3 4 Total
Cardinals 0 7 0 0 7
No. 1 Bearkats 14 6 7 14 41

Statistics

Statistics Lamar Sam Houston
First downs 10 24
Total yards 158 438
Rushing yards 23 267
Passing yards 135 171
Turnovers 0 1
Time of possession 31:39 28:21
Team Category Player Statistics
Lamar Passing Mike Chandler 11/18, 135 yards
Rushing Chaz Ward 11 carries, 23 yards, long 8 yards
Receiving Jeremy Davis 2 catches, 52 yard, long 28 yards
Sam Houston Passing Eric Schmid 13/31, 159 yards, 2 TDS
Rushing Noah Smith 14 carries 120 yards, long 49 yards
Receiving Cody Chrest 4 catches, 81 yards, long 37 yards.

Jacksonville State

edit
1 2 3 4 Total
Gamecocks 7 0 0 0 7
No. 1 Bearkats 7 14 21 0 42

At Tarleton State

edit
1 2 3 4 Total
No. 1 Bearkats 14 14 17 0 45
Texans 14 0 0 13 27

Dixie State

edit
1 2 3 4 Total
Trailblazers 0 0 3 7 10
No. 1 Bearkats 28 17 7 7 59

Eastern Kentucky

edit
1 2 3 4 Total
Colonels 0 0 14 14 28
No. 1 Bearkats 7 14 14 7 42

At Abilene Christian

edit
1 2 3 4 Total
No. 1 Bearkats 14 14 7 0 35
Wildcats 0 3 6 0 9

Players drafted into the NFL

edit
Round Pick Player Position NFL team
5 157 Zyon McCollum DB Tampa Bay Buccaneers

References

edit
  1. ^ "ASUN, WAC form 2021 alliance, seek FCS playoff bid". Verizon Media. February 23, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  2. ^ "WAC Coaches Select Sam Houston, Schmid, Kay as Preseason Favorites". Western Athletic Conference. July 27, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  3. ^ "AQ7 Coaches Select Sam Houston as Preseason Favorite". Western Athletic Conference. July 27, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  4. ^ "2021 Sam Houston State Bearkats Football Schedule". GoBearkats.com.
  5. ^ "2021 Sam Houston State Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.