2025 Sam Houston Bearkats football team

2025 Sam Houston Bearkats football
2025 Sam Houston Bearkats football
Conference	Conference USA
Record	0–0 (0–0 CUSA)
Head coach	Phil Longo (1st season);
Offensive coordinator	Zack Patterson (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay (1st season)
Home stadium	Bowers Stadium
	Seasons ← 2024 2026 →

2025 Conference USA football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
Delaware*	0	–	0	0	–	0
FIU	0	–	0	0	–	0
Jacksonville State	0	–	0	0	–	0
Kennesaw State	0	–	0	0	–	0
Liberty	0	–	0	0	–	0
Louisiana Tech	0	–	0	0	–	0
Middle Tennessee	0	–	0	0	–	0
Missouri State*	0	–	0	0	–	0
New Mexico State	0	–	0	0	–	0
Sam Houston	0	–	0	0	–	0
UTEP	0	–	0	0	–	0
Western Kentucky	0	–	0	0	–	0
Championship: December 5, 2025
* – Ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules As of February 11, 2025

The 2025 Sam Houston Bearkats football team will represent Sam Houston State University in Conference USA (CUSA) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bearkats are expected to be led by Phil Longo during the regular season, in his first year as the head coach.^[1] The Bearkats play their home games at Bowers Stadium, located in Huntsville, Texas.

Offseason

Transfers

Outgoing

Player	Position	Destination
Chris Murray	DL	Auburn
Caleb Weaver	S	Duke
Kendrick DuJour	DE	East Carolina
DJ McKinney	RB	New Mexico
Richard Outland Jr.	DL	North Texas
Quincy Wright	DL	North Texas
David Fisher	DB	North Texas
Trey Fields	LB	North Texas
Da'Veawn Armstead	DB	North Texas
Briceon Hayes	DE	North Texas
S'Maje Burrell	LB	North Texas
Simeon Evans	WR	North Texas
Jay Ducker	RB	Temple
Denver Warren	DL	UAB
Jase Bauer	QB	UT Martin
John Gentry	RB	UT Martin
Isaiah Cash	S	Virginia Tech
Ethan Hagler	IOL	Unknown
Eli Wallace	DE	Unknown
Sincere Jackson	LB	Unknown
Joseph Swen	DB	Unknown
Zach Hrbacek	RB	Withdrawn
Jadon Cardell	K/P	Withdrawn
Michael Phoenix II	WR	Withdrawn
Fernando Garza III	TE	Withdrawn

Incoming

Player	Position	Previous school
Antavious Fish	LB	Akron
Kaleb Black	WR	Arizona State
Trey Harris	S	Cornell
JaMair Diaz	LB	Glenville State
Jalyn Stanford	DB	Houston
Elijah Green	RB	Indiana
Payton McDonald	OL	Iowa Western CC
Zo'Maryon Bryan	OL	Kilgore CC
Jaydyn Johnson	DB	Lindenwood
Aviyon Smith-Mack	WR	LIU
Rayfield Lotten	TE	Mississippi State
Tim Burns Jr.	WR	Navarro JC
Jerrian Parker	RB	Southern Illinois
AJ Sargent	DL	Tarleton State
Keelan Cox	DL	Texas Southern
AJ Edwards	DB	Texas State
Cecil Powell	DB	Troy
Jace Arnold	DB	Wisconsin
Mabrey Mettauer	QB	Wisconsin

^[2]^[3]

Roster

2025 Sam Houston Bearkats football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
RB	`0`	Zach Hrbacek	Sr
WR	`4`	Michael Phoenix II	Sr
WR	`7`	Qua'Vez Humphreys	Sr
QB	`10`	Hunter Watson	Sr
WR	`11`	Malik Phillips	Sr
TE	`12`	Austin Smith	Sr
QB	`13`	Sylas Gomez	Jr
WR	`14`	Jyzaiah Rockwell	Jr
QB	`15`	DJ Bailey	Fr
WR	`15`	Shane Johnson	Sr
WR	`17`	Lonnie Adkism	So
WR	`23`	Adrian Murdaugh	Sr
WR	`25`	Matthew Tatum	So
RB	`26`	Trey Taylor	Fr
RB	`27`	Garret Hagler	Jr
RB	`34`	Landan Brown	So
OL	`52`	Will Hutchens	So
OL	`54`	Mich'le Joseph	Jr
OL	`56`	Luke Eckardt	Sr
OL	`59`	Graceson Jackson-Smith	Sr
OL	`61`	Ben Gehrke	Fr
OL	`62`	Carter Buchheit	So
OL	`65`	Easton Fulton	So
OL	`68`	Jeremiah Edmond	So
OL	`70`	Rhett Larson	Jr
OL	`71`	James Dawn II	Sr
OL	`76`	Ford Ivey	So
OL	`78`	Orion Irving	Jr
OL	`79`	Kolt Dieterich	So
WR	`80`	Fatu Mukuba	So
WR	`81`	Marcus Field	Fr
TE	`82`	Cooper Stevens	Fr
WR	`83`	Darrick Bledsoe III	So
WR	`84`	Kaden Taylor	Jr
WR	`85`	Karson Maynard	Fr
TE	`86`	Thomas Jewett	Jr
WR	`87`	Rushil Patel	So
WR	`88`	Terrance Guillory II	Fr
WR		Kaleb Black	So
QB		Jax Brown	Fr
OL		Zo'Maryon Bryan	Jr
OL		Logan Cahill	Fr
RB		Xander Cheek	So
WR		London Deyon	Fr
RB		Elijah Green	Sr
QB		Landyn Locke	Fr
TE		Rayfield Lotten	So
OL		Payton McDonald	Jr
QB		Mabrey Mettauer	Fr
RB		Jerrian Parker	So
RB		Brock Perry	Fr
WR		Aviyon Smith-Mack	Jr

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
DB	`7`	Emon Allen	Sr
DB	`12`	Tyler Bailey	Jr
DB	`15`	Jalen O'Neal	So
DB	`16`	Joe Swen	So
DB	`20`	Chantson Prox	Jr
DB	`21`	Dravon Wilson	So
DB	`22`	Jaidan Scott	Jr
DB	`23`	Railyn Adams	So
DB	`25`	Dax Horany	So
DB	`27`	Lyric Smith	Fr
LB	`28`	CJ Johnson	Sr
DB	`29`	KeSean Raven	Sr
DB	`31`	Quan Williams	Sr
DB	`34`	Cadiin Johnson	Sr
LB	`35`	Gannon Tullos	Jr
LB	`36`	Dean Ford	Fr
OLB	`37`	Jacquis Ishmeal Jr.	Sr
OLB	`38`	Mitch Melton	Fr
DB	`39`	Jon-Bernard Reynolds	So
OLB	`42`	Ca'lub Holloway	Jr
LB	`45`	Eli Wallace	So
LB	`50`	Forest Gatlin III	So
DL	`51`	Jaredh Frayre	So
DL	`54`	Matthew Westmoreland	Fr
DL	`57`	Ryan Gilleylen	Jr
DL	`58`	Joshua Frayre	So
DL	`94`	Josiah Stephens	Fr
DL	`96`	Matthew Aribisala	Sr
DL	`97`	Dylan Frazier	Jr
DB		Jace Arnold	Jr
DL		Keelan Cox	Sr
LB		JaMair Diaz	Jr
DB		Alonzo Edwards	GS
LB		Antavious Fish	GS
DB		Trey Harris	GS
DE		Brody Henderson	Fr
DL		Zeiqui Lawton	Sr
DB		Cecil Powell	GS
DL		AJ Sargent	Sr
DB		Jalyn Stanford	So
DB		Braylen Wortham	Fr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
LS	`41`	Zach Stricker	Sr
K, P	`43`	Jadon Cardell	Sr
LS	`46`	Carson Whitington	Jr
K, P	`47`	Colby Sessums	Jr
K, P	`49`	Christian Pavon	Sr

Head coach

Phil Longo

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend

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

Injured
Redshirt

Roster
Last update: February 7, 2025

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site
August 23	at Western Kentucky	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY
August 30	UNLV*	Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX
September 6	at Hawaii*	Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex Honolulu, HI
September 27	at Texas*	Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium Austin, TX
October 2	at New Mexico State	Aggie Memorial Stadium Las Cruces, NM
October 9	Jacksonville State	Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX
October 15	UTEP	Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX
October 28	at Louisiana Tech	Joe Aillet Stadium Ruston, LA
November 8	at Oregon State*	Reser Stadium Corvallis, OR
November 15	Delaware	Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX
November 22	at Middle Tennnessee	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN
November 29	FIU	Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX
*Non-conference game

^[4]

Game summaries

at Western Kentucky

Game One – Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0
Hilltoppers	0	0	0	0	0

at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY

Date: Saturday August 23, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	SHSU	WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. UNLV

Game Two – UNLV Rebels (0–0) at Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Rebels	0	0	0	0	0
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0

at Bowers Stadium • Huntsville, TX

Date: Saturday August 30, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	UNLV	SHSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UNLV	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Hawaii

Game Three – Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) at Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0
Rainbow Warriors	0	0	0	0	0

at Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex • Honolulu, HI

Date: Saturday September 6, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	SHSU	HAW
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Hawaii	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Texas

Game Four – Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) at Texas Longhorns (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0
Longhorns	0	0	0	0	0

at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium • Austin, TX

Date: Saturday September 27, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	SHSU	TEX
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Texas	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at New Mexico State

Game Five – Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) at New Mexico State Aggies (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0
Aggies	0	0	0	0	0

at Aggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, NM

Date: Thursday October 2, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	SHSU	NMSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
New Mexico State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Jacksonville State

Game Six – Jacksonville State Gamecocks (0–0) at Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Gamecocks	0	0	0	0	0
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0

at Bowers Stadium • Huntsville, TX

Date: Thursday October 9, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	JSU	SHSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Jacksonville State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. UTEP

Game Seven – UTEP Miners (0–0) at Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Rebels	0	0	0	0	0
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0

at Bowers Stadium • Huntsville, TX

Date: Wednesday October 15, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	UTEP	SHSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UTEP	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Louisiana Tech

Game Eight – Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0
Bulldogs	0	0	0	0	0

at Joe Aillet Stadium • Ruston, LA

Date: Tuesday October 28, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	SHSU	LT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Louisiana Tech	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Oregon State

Game Nine – Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) at Oregon State Beavers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0
Beavers	0	0	0	0	0

at Reser Stadium • Corvallis, OR

Date: Saturday November 8, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	SHSU	ORST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Oregon State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Delaware

Game Ten – Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (0–0) at Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Fightin' Blue Hens	0	0	0	0	0
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0

at Bowers Stadium • Huntsville, TX

Date: Saturday November 15, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	DEL	SHSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Delaware	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Middle Tennessee

Game Eleven – Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) at Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0
Blue Raiders	0	0	0	0	0

at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TN

Date: Saturday November 22, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	SHSU	MTSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Middle Tennessee	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. FIU

Game Twelve – FIU Panthers (0–0) at Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	0	0	0	0	0
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0

at Bowers Stadium • Huntsville, TX

Date: Saturday November 29, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	FIU	SHSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
FIU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

^ "Longo hired as Bearkat head coach". gobearkats. December 18, 2024. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
^ "Sam Houston State Football Transfer Portal". ON3.
^ "Sam Houston Bearkats 2025 College Football Transfer Portal". 247Sports.
^ "2025 Sam Houston Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved December 30, 2024.

[1] "Longo hired as Bearkat head coach". gobearkats. December 18, 2024. Retrieved December 30, 2024.

[2] "Sam Houston State Football Transfer Portal". ON3.

[3] "Sam Houston Bearkats 2025 College Football Transfer Portal". 247Sports.

[4] "2025 Sam Houston Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved December 30, 2024.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

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