2021 Sam Houston Bearkats football team

2021 Sam Houston Bearkats football
2021 Sam Houston Bearkats football
WAC champion; WAC–ASUN Challenge champion
NCAA Division I Quarterfinal, ; L 19–42 vs. Montana State
Conference	AQ7
Ranking
STATS	No. 5
FCS Coaches	No. 4
Record	11–1 (6–0 AQ7)
Head coach	K. C. Keeler (8th season);
Offensive coordinator	Ryan Carty (4th season)
Offensive scheme	Spread option
Defensive coordinator	Clayton Carlin (5th season)
Base defense	4–2–5
Home stadium	Bowers Stadium
	Seasons ← 2020 2022 →

2021 Western Athletic Conference football standings
v t e
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
v t e
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 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.

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

Preseason polls

WAC Poll

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

Offense

Eric Schmid – Quarterback, JR
Ramon Jefferson – Running back, JR
Ramon Jefferson – Running back, JR
Jequez Ezzard – Wide receiver, GR
Isaac Schley – Tight end, GR
Eleasah Anderson – Offensive lineman, JR
Prince Pines – Offensive lineman, SO
Colby Thomas – Offensive lineman, SR

Defense

Jahari Kay – Defensive lineman, SR
Trace Mascorro – Defensive lineman, SR
Joseph Wallace – Defensive lineman, SR
Quentin Brown – Linebacker, JR
Trevor Williams – Linebacker, JR
Zyon McCollum – Defensive back, SR
Jalen Thomas – Defensive back, SR

Special teams

Seth Morgan – Kicker, FR
Matt McRobert – Punter, SR
Jequez Ezzard – Kick Returner, GR

AQ7 Poll

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

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`	Brennon Tibbs	Sr
RB	`8`	Daryon Triche	Fr
WR	`9`	Cody Chrest	GS
QB	`10`	Trapper Pannell	Fr
QB	`11`	Gunner Capps	Fr
WR	`12`	Jequez Ezzard	GS
QB	`13`	Tristan Brady	Fr
WR	`14`	Ryan Humphries	So
WR	`15`	Tony Williams	Jr
TE	`16`	Isaac Schley	GS
QB	`17`	Matthew Southern	Fr
TE	`18`	Jacob Kainer	Jr
RB	`21`	Zach Hrbacek	Fr
WR	`22`	Jaxson Chrest	Fr
WR	`23`	Adrian Murdaugh	Fr
RB	`26`	Kyran Jackson	Sr
TE	`27`	Dalton Meyer	So
RB	`28`	Charles Crawford III	Fr
RB	`29`	Jacob Berry	Jr
RB	`32`	Weston Stephens	Fr
WR	`36`	Wyatt Huffman	So
TE	`44`	Braeden Howell	Fr
OL	`50`	Reece Jordan	GS
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	So
OL	`62`	Anthony Turrubiartes	Jr
OL	`64`	Ben Bankston	Jr
OL	`65`	Ylijaah Hall	So
OL	`70`	Ryder Wall	Fr
OL	`73`	Moses Johnson	Jr
OL	`74`	Trevor Jaks	Fr
OL	`75`	Eleasah Anderson	Jr
OL	`76`	Prince Pines	So
OL	`77`	Peyton Fifield	So
OL	`78`	CJ Marsh	Fr
OL	`79`	D'Ary Patton	Fr
WR	`80`	Shane Johnson	Fr
WR	`81`	Derrick Rose	Fr
WR	`82`	Michael Murray	Fr
WR	`83`	Red Jones	So
WR	`84`	Xavier McGriff	Fr
TE	`85`	Rowdy Godwin	Fr
TE	`86`	Jarvis Brooks	Sr
WR	`87`	KeSean Raven	Fr
WR	`88`	Chandler Harvin	So
TE	`89`	Marcus Collins	Fr

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
DB	`0`	Taylen Blaylock	Fr
LB	`1`	Trevor Williams	Jr
DB	`2`	Kameryn Alexander	So
DB	`3`	Trey Smith	Jr
DB	`4`	Braiden Clopton	Fr
DB	`5`	Darrel Hawkins-Williams	So
LB	`6`	Trey Fields	Fr
LB	`7`	Ysidro Mascorro	Fr
LB	`8`	Quentin Brown	Jr
DB	`9`	Jaylen Thomas	Sr
LB	`10`	Jaylen Phillips	Fr
DB	`13`	Isaiah Downes	Jr
DB	`17`	Ke'Shon Murray	Jr
DB	`19`	Emon Allen	Fr
DB	`20`	David Fisher	Fr
DB	`21`	Nick Chrest	Fr
DB	`22`	Zyon McCollum	Sr
DB	`23`	Tristin McCollum	Sr
DB	`24`	Tobias Weaver	Fr
DB	`25`	Daniel North	Fr
DB	`26`	RJ Bendert	Fr
DB	`27`	Savien Arnett	Fr
LB	`28`	Rance McInnis	Fr
LB	`29`	Danzell Sims	Sr
DB	`30`	Donovan Adkins	Fr
DB	`31`	Immanuel Sutton	So
LB	`33`	Markel Perry	Jr
DB	`34`	Emmonte Davis	Fr
LB	`35`	Tim Hart	Sr
DB	`36`	Truman Bexley	Fr
DB	`37`	Christian Williams	Fr
DB	`38`	Jevin Murray	Fr
DB	`39`	Caleb Weaver	Fr
DB	`40`	Carson Horner	Fr
DB	`41`	Kobe Sterling	Fr
DB	`42`	Kavian Gaither	Fr
DL	`44`	Juan Henry	So
DB	`45`	Quan Williams	Fr
DB	`46`	Jalan Mayes	So
DL	`48`	Goodness Nwawuihe	Fr
DL	`49`	Matthew Aribisala	Fr
LB	`50`	Darien Flynn	Fr
LB	`51`	Trey Mappe	Fr
DL	`52`	Luke Horne	Fr
LB	`54`	Nick Abengowe	Fr
DL	`55`	Jahari Kay	Sr
DL	`56`	Cameron Plummer	Fr
DL	`58`	LJ Salazar	So
DL	`59`	Briceon Hayes	Fr
DL	`63`	Roscoe Jones	So
DL	`90`	Trace Mascorro	Sr
DL	`91`	Maize Washington	Fr
DL	`92`	Scean Mustin	Sr
DL	`93`	Richard Outland Jr.	Fr
DL	`94`	Jevon Leon	So
DL	`95`	Joseph Wallace	Sr
DL	`96`	Zach Loane	Jr
DL	`97`	Chris Scott	So
DL	`98`	John Mathis	Fr
DL	`99`	Kamren Washington	Fr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
K	`1`	Seth Morgan	Fr
P	`37`	Cameron Hearn	Sr
K	`39`	Reed Honshtein	Fr
LS	`41`	Noah Caldwell	Jr
K, P	`43`	Jadon Cardell	Fr
LS	`45`	Zach Stricker	Fr
P	`47`	Matt McRobert	Sr
K, P	`49`	Christian Pavon	Fr
LS	`53`	Tanner Boston	So

Head coach

K. C. Keeler

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Clayton Carlin – Defensive coordinator/safeties
Ryan Carty – Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
Terence Archer – Passing game coordinator/wide receivers
Gary McGraw – Cornerbacks/special teams coordinator/defensive pass game coordinator
Chris Buckner – Running backs/offensive recruiting coordinator/NFL liaison
Jared Hensley – Linebackers
Matt Merkens – Tight ends
Joe Morris – Defensive line
Michael O'Guin – Defensive tackles/defensive recruiting coordinator
Chris Rogers – Offensive line
Clayton Barnes – Director of football operations & player personnel
Ragan Henderson – Athletic equipment coordinator/assistant director of football operations
Zach Milliet – Special teams analyst
Mike Singletary – Offensive volunteer/high school relations
Garrett Smith – Offensive quality control
Michael Crow – Defensive quality control/assistant defensive recruiting coordinator
Chandler Arbizzani – Video coordinator

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Roster
Last update: July 16, 2021

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 2	8:00 p.m.	at Northern Arizona*	No. 1	Walkup Skydome Flagstaff, AZ	ESPN+	W 42–16	8,564
September 11	6:00 p.m.	Southeast Missouri State*	No. 1	Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX	ESPN+	W 52–14	7,728
September 25	4:00 p.m.	at No. 25 Central Arkansas	No. 1	Estes Stadium Conway, AR (WAC/ASUN Challenge)	ESPN+	W 45–35	9,475
October 2	4:00 p.m.	vs. Stephen F. Austin	No. 1	NRG Stadium Houston, TX (Battle of the Piney Woods)	ESPN+	W 21–20	25,007
October 9	2:00 p.m.	Lamar	No. 1	Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX	ESPN+	W 41–7	9,836
October 23	2:00 p.m.	Jacksonville State	No. 1	Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX (WAC/ASUN Challenge)	ESPN+	W 42–7	7,559
October 30	6:00 p.m.	at Tarleton State	No. 1	Memorial Stadium Stephenville, TX	ESPN+	W 45–27	8,245
November 6	12:00 p.m.	Dixie State	No. 1	Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX	ESPN+	W 59–10	5,004
November 13	12:00 p.m.	Eastern Kentucky	No. 1	Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX (WAC/ASUN Challenge)	ESPN+	W 42–28	6,570
November 20	1:00 p.m.	at Abilene Christian	No. 1	Wildcat Stadium Abilene, TX	ESPN+	W 35–9	4,421
December 4	2:00 p.m.	No. 13 Incarnate Word*	No. 1	Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX (NCAA Division I Second Round)	ESPN+	W 49–42	6,722
December 11	8:30 p.m.	No. 7 Montana State*	No. 1	Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX (NCAA Division I Quarterfinal)	ESPN+	L 19–42	7,565
*Non-conference game Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^[4]^[5]

Game summaries

At Northern Arizona

	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

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

At No. 25 Central Arkansas

	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

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

Lamar

	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

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

At Tarleton State

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

Dixie State

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

Eastern Kentucky

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

At Abilene Christian

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

Players drafted into the NFL

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

References

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

[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.

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v t e Sam Houston Bearkats football
Venues	Pritchett Field (1912–1985) Bowers Stadium (1986–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games 2024 New Orleans Bowl Stephen F. Austin: Battle of the Piney Woods Texas State
Culture & lore	Sammy Bearkat "Bearkat Fight Song" Bearkat Marching Band
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
National championship seasons in bold

v t e Western Athletic Conference football champions
I-A/FBS	New Mexico (1962) Arizona State (1963) Arizona, New Mexico & Utah (1964) BYU (1965) Wyoming (1966) Wyoming (1967) Wyoming (1968) Arizona State (1969) Arizona State (1970) Arizona State (1971) Arizona State (1972) Arizona & Arizona State (1973) BYU (1974) Arizona State (1975) BYU & Wyoming (1976) Arizona State & BYU (1977) BYU (1978) BYU (1979) BYU (1980) BYU (1981) BYU (1982) BYU (1983) BYU (1984) Air Force & BYU (1985) San Diego State (1986) Wyoming (1987) Wyoming (1988) BYU (1989) BYU (1990) BYU (1991) BYU, Fresno State & Hawaii (1992) BYU, Fresno State & Wyoming (1993) Colorado State (1994) Air Force, BYU, Colorado State & Utah (1995) BYU (1996) Colorado State (1997) Air Force (1998) Fresno State, Hawaii & TCU (1999) TCU & UTEP (2000) Louisiana Tech (2001) Boise State (2002) Boise State (2003) Boise State (2004) Boise State & Nevada (2005) Boise State (2006) Hawaii (2007) Boise State (2008) Boise State (2009) Boise State, Hawaii & Nevada (2010) Louisiana Tech (2011) Utah State (2012)
I-AA/FCS	Sam Houston (2021) Abilene Christian & Stephen F. Austin (2022)
National championships in bold