The first team the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff football team will play this October is coming off an impressive debut season from its new head coach but must replace most of its defense.
UAPB will travel to Houston to face Texas Southern on Oct. 4 in the Golden Lions’ second SWAC game of the season.
TSU (5-6, 4-4 SWAC in 2024) was picked last in the SWAC West Division in the 2024 preseason poll, but Cris Dishman led the Tigers to a third-place finish in his first season. The Tigers finished strong by winning their final two games, including a 31-23 victory in Pine Bluff to conclude the year.
The Tigers’ defense loses its top six tacklers from last season. Three of the top five were defensive backs, led by Javius Williams. He collected a team-high 86 tackles to go with nine tackles for loss. MJ Hinson led the team with four interceptions.
Umar Yaro led the linebackers with 70 tackles. Defensive lineman Syncere Massey made 43 tackles, while teammate Keelan Cox made nine tackles for loss and led the team with six sacks.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Linebacker Isaiah Bogerty and defensive back Charles George are the leading returning tacklers with 32 each. Michael Akins and DaMarcus Thompson are the top returning defensive linemen, combining for 46 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and five sacks a year ago.
To replace all that lost production, the Tigers brought in Duquesne defensive lineman Jason Patterson and Alabama A&M defensive lineman Khristian Zachary. They also added Louisiana Tech transfer defensive back Jordyn Morgan, who has also played at Iowa State and University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Offensively, the Tigers were a run-heavy team last year. Texas Southern loses leading rusher Quintell Quinn but brings back Athean Renfro (323 yards, four touchdowns) and Danny Green Jr. (99 yards, two touchdowns).
Three quarterbacks saw playing time for Texas Southern in 2024. Jace Wilson, who played the entirety of the Tigers’ game against UAPB, transferred to Tennessee Tech, but Jordon Davis and KJ Cooper return to the SWAC’s least productive passing offense from last year.
Cooper started the season opener against Prairie View A&M before suffering an injury. Davis threw three touchdown passes with two interceptions to go with 379 yards and was Texas Southern’s third leading rusher with 135 yards and a touchdown. The Tigers also signed junior college transfer Cameron McCalister to compete for the starting role.
Texas Southern brings back its top two wide receivers, Trenton Leary and Kerien Charlo.
Leary caught three of the team’s eight touchdown passes. Donald McKinney, who also caught three, is gone.
The Tigers lose top tight end Jyrin Johnson, but Kordell Rodgers caught two touchdown passes last year and can move up the depth chart in Johnson’s absence.
Dishman and his staff signed only one offensive skill player in February, a high school receiver, so they seem to feel confident in that department. Instead, they signed five offensive linemen, including Mississippi Valley State transfer and former UAPB lineman Calvin Lester III.
Texas Southern has won three of the past four matchups with UAPB (3-9, 2-6), though the Golden Lions won 35-34 the last time the teams met in Houston in 2023.