I wonder why they took Lee's name off the roster then?

SFASawmillGuy said:

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SFA Jack Fanatic said:

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SFAXE93 said:

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Kicking off week 2 of the FCS Untapped Preseason Polls is the @SouthlandSports.

The conference will carry momentum into the 2026 season after tallying 3 playoff teams last year - the most since 2019 (also 3). #FCSUntapped | #NCAAFCS pic.twitter.com/FqUrczLRC7

— FCS Untapped (@FCSUntapped) July 13, 2026

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Here's Dave Campbell's Texas Football SLC predictions:

SFA
UTRGV
Southeastern
Lamar
UIW
McNeese
Nicholls
HCU
ETAM
Northwestern

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The expectations could not be higher for this season, and for good reason.

Last season we were by far the most complete team in the SLC, that's what led to our success. This year we may be even MORE complete thanks to the massive transfer portal haul reloading our losses. The D2 talent we got is amazing and the offensive weapons we got are explosive. Returning Clayton Wayland, Bugs Mortimer, and Jaylin Jenkins is massive too.

With an incredibly favorable schedule to I wouldn't be surprised if we're not favorited every single week of the regular season. There will be tough games, ACU, SLU, and Lamar will certainly be looking for revenge.

The QB position will honestly be the deciding factor. The success of our season likely rests upon the right arm(I don't think we have any lefty's) of whoever ends up taking the snaps.

Having an OC who's coached all of them up last year makes me confident the right guy will end up back there.

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There is a lot of incoming talent. I'm most interested in how they jell together.

Possible starters on offense

QB: #12 GAVIN RUTHERFORD 6-3; 210 (JR.) Captain

RB: #6 JAYLEN JENKINS 5-9; 190 (SR.) or RB: #00 RICKEY STEWART JR. 5-10; 200 (R/FR.)
Captain

WR: #9 BUGS MORTIMER 5-10; 177 (SR.) Captain (Preseason-All American/Walter Payton List)

TE: #86 GERARD EDIMO 6-5; 240 (JR.)
OL: #74 GIOVANNY ALEGRIA 6-7; 335 (JR.)
OL: #61 JASON CROWDER 6-2; 303 (JR.)
OL: #55 ERIK GRAY 6-1; 280 (SR.) Captain (Preseason-All American)
OL: #68 SETH MARTIN 6-3; 292 (SR.)
OL: #77 JAYLEN ROBINSON 6-7; 300 (SR.) or OL: #00 KANYON IVES 6-5; 305 (SR.)

WR: #21 CLAYTON WAYLAND 6-3; 190 (JR.)

WR: #11 DERRICK BOHLER 6-0; 201 (JR.) or WR: #00 MARQUIS SHOULDERS 5-10; 170 (SR.)

Defense

OLB: #49 TIM MUHAMMAD 6-4; 240 (JR.)
DL: #95 K'MARD KIMBLE 5-11; 309 (JR.)
DL: #00 LAMARIAN HATCHER 6-1; 310 (SR.)
OLB: #39 LOWTE JURKINS 6-4; 238 (JR.) Captain

LB: #00 ELI ENNIS 6-2; 225 (SR.) (Preseason-All American/Buck Buchanan List)
LB: #0 MALACHI WILLIAMS 6-1; 220 (SR.) Captain (Preseason-All American)
SAF: #3 JAMEL ACOSTA-LEWIS 6-1; 205 (SR.) Captain

CB: #00 MJ ARTMORE 6-2; 195 (SO.)
SAF: #23 SACO ALOFIPO 5-10; 183 (SR.)
SAF: #00 AVYONNE JONES 6-0; 200 (SR.)
CB: #37 JAIYDYN JOHNSON 5-9; 172 (SO.)

LS: #60 BLAKE ROBINSON 5-11; 211 (SO.)

P: #00 BREAK CHAMBERS 6-1; 195 (SR.)

K: #35 CARLOS ALVARADO 5-9; 163 (JR.)

We’re looking for energetic, creative, and passionate students to join our:
🏟️ Fan Experience / Game Day Crew
🪓 Lumberjack Street Team

Apply at https://t.co/Lrn9630oaH today!#AxeEm pic.twitter.com/Xm9ZahsJkN

— SFA Athletics (@SFA_Athletics) July 18, 2026

SCH890 said:

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SFAXE93 said:

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So QB situation now

QB: #12 GAVIN RUTHERFORD 6-3; 210 (JR.)
G:23;ATT:203;CMP:126;CMP%:62;YDS:1,378;TD:10;INT:4;/R:83;YDS:244;TD:9
QB: #19 JT KITNA 6-3; 221 (SO.)
G:4;ATT:6;CMP:4;CMP%:67.0;YDS:40;TD:1;INT:0;/R:2;YDS:5;TD:1
QB: #13 BRYSON BROADWAY 5-10; 189 (R/FR.)
G:3;ATT:7;CMP:5;CMP%:71.4;YDS:40;TD:1;INT:0;/R:0;YDS:0;TD:0
QB: #00 RODERICK HARTSFIELD 6-2; 215 (SO.)
G:0;ATT:0;CMP:0;CMP%:00.0;YDS:0;TD:0;INT:0;/R:0;YDS:0;TD:0
QB: #00 JACOB JANECEK 6-1; 200 (FR.)
G:0;ATT:0;CMP:0;CMP%:00.0;YDS:0;TD:0;INT:0;/R:0;YDS:0;TD:0
QB: #00 ZACH JOHNSON 6-4; 215 (FR.)
G:0;ATT:0;CMP:0;CMP%:00.0;YDS:0;TD:0;INT:0;/R:0;YDS:0;TD:0

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All around a solid QB Class. In Rutherford we trust.

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Sorry my mistake, Zach Johnson he is a LS, not QB, different Zach Johnson.

55 has made it to the H🪓 @SouthlandSports

SLC Opening Drive Media is underway🏈 #AxeEm x #EastTexasTough pic.twitter.com/yESEs5wuNP

— Lumberjack Football (@SFA_Football) July 20, 2026

I watched a podcast on YouTube with coach Carthel. He said Eli Ennis, Speedy Jones, and Ricky Stewart are all as advertised. He also said that Gavin is QB1 but JT Kitna is "not too far behind him". He mentioned Kitna will see the field more than a normal backup would, much like Rutherford last season.

Podcast is "Coaches Corner: Colby Carthel" if you want to watch

Here it is

https://bleav.com/shows/the-bluebloods/episodes/coaches-corner-colby-carthel-stephen-f-austin-head-coach-interview-fcs-football/

For whoever is watching the opening drive, can someone send anything of importance? I canceled ESPN+ in May when we were in downtime at SFA Sports, and I'll renew closer to football and other sports seasons.

Thelumberyardsfa said:

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I watched a podcast on YouTube with coach Carthel. He said Eli Ennis, Speedy Jones, and Ricky Stewart are all as advertised. He also said that Gavin is QB1 but JT Kitna is "not too far behind him". He mentioned Kitna will see the field more than a normal backup would, much like Rutherford last season.

Podcast is "Coaches Corner: Colby Carthel" if you want to watch

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I do like the idea of having two QBs who can be used interchangeably. The main thing is Kitna does not run. Soooo not exactly sure how we will trick the defense haha.

Thelumberyardsfa said:

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SCH890 said:

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For whoever is watching the opening drive, can someone send anything of importance? I canceled ESPN+ in May when we were in downtime at SFA Sports, and I'll renew closer to football and other sports seasons.

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Nothing of real substance tbh.

Closest thing was carthel said "Bugs will be seeing the field more on offense. It was difficult last year with him sitting behind Kylon Harris, but to expect him to go from about 3-4 touches per game to 9-10

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Bummer. Oh well. Excited for the season to start already!

SFAXE93 said:

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Here it is

https://bleav.com/shows/the-bluebloods/episodes/coaches-corner-colby-carthel-stephen-f-austin-head-coach-interview-fcs-football/

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Just gave it a listen. Gotta say, I do love how candidly Carthel talks about how bad the university and athletics department was run when he got here. I've heard in several interviews now him mention how he never would've taken the job had he known how bad it was. But I'm glad he did, Carthel is one of the reasons the ship is back on the right path.

Idk how much longer we're gonna be fortunate enough to call this man our head coach, but I certainly hope every Lumberjack fan can see how good this man is for SFA and Nacogdoches.

Thankfully, we are finally on the right path!! I have been waiting impatiently since I arrived at SFA in 1997! Axe 'Em!!

SFASawmillGuy said:

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SFAXE93 said:

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Here it is

https://bleav.com/shows/the-bluebloods/episodes/coaches-corner-colby-carthel-stephen-f-austin-head-coach-interview-fcs-football/

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Just gave it a listen. Gotta say, I do love how candidly Carthel talks about how bad the university and athletics department was run when he got here. I've heard in several interviews now him mention how he never would've taken the job had he known how bad it was. But I'm glad he did, Carthel is one of the reasons the ship is back on the right path.

Idk how much longer we're gonna be fortunate enough to call this man our head coach, but I certainly hope every Lumberjack fan can see how good this man is for SFA and Nacogdoches.

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He is committed to us seeing that he has a couple million dollar start up cost business in Nacogdoches and Lufkin.. I remember when I walked in his office the very first year before that Baylor game and I could see a little something was wrong but he said he would battle through it and look he did..

Thelumberyardsfa said:

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I watched a podcast on YouTube with coach Carthel. He said Eli Ennis, Speedy Jones, and Ricky Stewart are all as advertised. He also said that Gavin is QB1 but JT Kitna is "not too far behind him". He mentioned Kitna will see the field more than a normal backup would, much like Rutherford last season.

Podcast is "Coaches Corner: Colby Carthel" if you want to watch

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That was an excellent interview! Thanks for posting. I obviously missed it when it first came out. Lots of informational gems buried in there about this year's team.

Saw this on American Press; not sure how accurate it is, though:
Southland Conference Preseason
Media Poll
1. SFA (8) 101
2. SLU (2) 98
3. Lamar (1) 90
4. UTRGV 72
5. McNeese 70
6 UIW 58
7. Nicholls 51
8. ETAM 31
9. HCU 19
10. NWSU 16