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!

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

Jacks4460 said:

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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..

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I was fixin to say with all that capital he and his wife have committed to Nac. he ain't going anywhere.

SFA's two non-conference games are quality game opportunities for playoff seeding.

@Abilene Christian (Defending UAC Champs, Preseason Top 25, Picked 1st in the UAC Media Poll, tied with Tarleton State)

@Prairie View A&M (Defending SWAC Champs, Picked 1st in the West Division of the SWAC, and overall with 19 points, receiving votes in the Top 25)

The SLC Media Day video is on ESPN+. SFA was one of the last teams interviewed.

IMO, nothing stated there that was not mentioned in the BlueBloods interview video earlier.

We are 30 days away from kickoff, so here's the first look at the FCS Untapped Projection for the 2026 @NCAA_FCS Playoffs.#FCSUntapped | #NCAAFCS pic.twitter.com/pQhZelUtoH

— FCS Untapped (@FCSUntapped) July 28, 2026

I could see this if we finish 10-2 again. PV and ACU on the road is gonna be tough.

SFASawmillGuy said:

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We are 30 days away from kickoff, so here's the first look at the FCS Untapped Projection for the 2026 @NCAA_FCS Playoffs.#FCSUntapped | #NCAAFCS pic.twitter.com/pQhZelUtoH

— FCS Untapped (@FCSUntapped) July 28, 2026

I could see this if we finish 10-2 again. PV and ACU on the road is gonna be tough.

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I do not want to play Montana State again. Is that a hard ask haha?

SCH890 said:

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SFASawmillGuy said:

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We are 30 days away from kickoff, so here's the first look at the FCS Untapped Projection for the 2026 @NCAA_FCS Playoffs.#FCSUntapped | #NCAAFCS pic.twitter.com/pQhZelUtoH

— FCS Untapped (@FCSUntapped) July 28, 2026

I could see this if we finish 10-2 again. PV and ACU on the road is gonna be tough.

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I do not want to play Montana State again. Is that a hard ask haha?

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I don't mind playing them again. We played our worst game since the start of the season by far against them and still held our own for 3 quarters. Even with the backbreaking mistakes it was a game until late.

I'd be more hesitant to play in Bozeman in late November/early December again. We got lucky with the weather, I doubt we'd get lucky again.

Either way, all roads would likely lead back to Montana State. Just hopefully it's in Nashville and not Bozeman.

Just saw Lamar opening up there new 2.5 mil locker room and we still have the same lockers I had in 1989.. I just don't understand.. Besides Carthel now being a business owner I don't know what keeps him in Nacogdoches other than hope..

Jacks4460 said:

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Just saw Lamar opening up there new 2.5 mil locker room and we still have the same lockers I had in 1989.. I just don't understand.. Besides Carthel now being a business owner I don't know what keeps him in Nacogdoches other than hope..

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The new locker room, Stadium, and field house are all in the works. From the timeline on the master plan this will be the final season with Homer Bryce Stadium and the old facilities. The new facilities are supposed to, according to the timeline in the master plan, begin construction at the beginning of 2027 and be ready by the 2028 season.

Worth noting Carthel loves Nacogdoches. It's my firm belief he will never take another job, and will remain in Nac until SFA either gives him the Axe or he retires. He's still young for a Head Coach so we'll see, but I think he's gonna stay at SFA until the culture of SFA football is one of year in, year out success.

Well he says he doesn't want to coach forever, so if he was ever fired he would probably just retire from coaching and be a business man in the greater Nac. area.

Jacks4460 said:

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Just saw Lamar opening up there new 2.5 mil locker room and we still have the same lockers I had in 1989.. I just don't understand.. Besides Carthel now being a business owner I don't know what keeps him in Nacogdoches other than hope..

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The announcement of the DLR Group engagement, is probably a pretty good tip that things are moving forward. The timeline might slip but I imagine we will see some sort of formal announcement on the fieldhouse by the end of the year.