SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State head football coach Jake Spavital announced Wednesday that 14 players have signed to play with the Bobcats on the first day of the early signing period.
 
"It was quite interesting for me to go through a full year and see what type of personnel we have and where we stand as a football team," Spavital said. "We made the decision halfway through last season that we needed to add more experience across the board at all positions. With that emphasis, you are going to see a lot of transfers in this class."
 
Spavital announced Wednesday that the Bobcats had added two transfers from four-year institutions, seven junior college players and five high school seniors during the 2020 early signing period.
 
Silas Robinson and Jahmyl Jeter are the four-year transfers.  Robinson comes to Texas State after playing the last two seasons at Arkansas, while Jeter is transferring from Oklahoma State after playing in high school at San Antonio Brennan High School. 
 
The junior college transfers include Russell Baker, Alex Costilla, Grid Isidore, Drue Jackson, Isaiah Karriem, Brock Sturges, and Maureese Wren.
 
The most highly decorated among the junior college group is Sturges, who was tabbed as the fourth-best running back in the nation by JucoJunction.com. He also earned NJCAA First-Team All-American honors after rushing for over 1,000 yards and averaging 5.2 yards per attempt at Butler last season.
 
The Bobcats signed four players from Tyler Junior College (Costilla, Isidore, Jackson, and Wren). Wren ranks No. 37 among athlete junior college players by ESPN. Costilla is a San Marcos native, who earned All-Conference honors as a freshman and sophomore at Tyler. Isidore and Jackson earned Honorable Mention All-SWJCFC honors in 2019.
 
Baker comes to Texas State after being tabbed Second-Team All-SWJCFC and playing at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. Karriem joins the Bobcats after playing two seasons at Mississippi Delta College.
 
The Bobcats also signed five high school seniors in John and Josh Emmanuel, Austin Markiewicz, Issiah Nixon, and Trenton Scott.
 
John and Josh Emmanuel are twin brothers who played as a defensive end and an inside linebacker at Bishop Dunne High School. They helped lead Bishop Dunne to a TAPPS state championship in 2018. John was an All-State selection in 2018, and Josh earned All-State honors in 2019.
 
 Nixon is an all-round athlete who the Bobcats plan to play at linebacker, but he could see some action as a running back after earning First-Team All-District 20-6A honors as a junior and senior.
 
Scott earned All-District 14-3A honors on both the offensive and defensive lines at Luling High School, which also produced former Bobcat and NFL cornerback Craig Mager.
 
Markiewicz earned All-District 7-5A First-Team honors as a center after leading McKinney North to its first district championship in school history. 
 
The Bobcats entered the signing period focusing on adding linebackers to replace three senior starters and five seniors in their top six players on the depth chart. They also wanted to build some depth on the offensive line. Texas State added five linebackers and five offensive linemen during the early signing period.
 
While the Bobcats have added some experience and depth in this early signing period, Spavital and his staff will be looking to add more quality players in February.
 
"I think that we signed a quality group of junior college and four-year transfers, but we need to continue signing more in the second period," Spavital said. "We are adding a lot a junior college and four-year college transfer who are building depth in what we are trying to do here." Jahmyl Jeter
Running Back
6-0, 200, So.-TR
San Antonio, Texas
Brennan HS
Oklahoma State
 
Previous School
Transfer from Oklahoma State…rushed for 34 yards on 11 carries against McNeese State…also played against Kansas State and Texas.
 
High School
Coached by Stephen Basore at Brennan...rushed for 1,033 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior...averaged 129.1 rushing yards per game average in 2017…ran for over 4,000 yards and 57 touchdowns in his high school career…tallied nine rushing touchdowns and one TD catch as a freshman…rushed for 1,576 yards (131 YPG) as a junior... posted eight games with at least 100 rushing yards in 2016, and finished his high school career with eighteen 100-yard performances ...led Brennan to a 22-1 record in district games during his career...helped the Bears reach the Texas UIL Class 6A D2 State Playoffs all four years...ran for 212 rushing yards and three touchdowns against Brandeis on Oct. 20, 2017…rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals...ESPN rated him as the No. 48 running back in the 2018 class, while 247Sports put him at No. 57.
 
Brock Sturges
Running Back
5-11, 200, So.-TR
Allen, Texas
Allen HS
Arizona State
Butler CC
 
Previous School
Ranked among the Top Four running backs by JucoJunction.com…earned NJCAA All-America honors after rushing for 1,089 yards and nine touchdowns on 210 carries…averaged 5.2 yards per carry…signed originally with Arizona State before playing in one game against Washington and redshirting the 2018 season…signed with Texas State after being recruited by Charlotte, Arkansas State, Western Kentucky, Akron, and UMass. 
 
High School
Consensus three-star prospect…ranked as the No. 29 running back in the country by ESPN and the No. 43 running back in the country by Rivals.com…Rivals and ESPN ranked him as a Top-100 overall player in Texas…led Allen to an undefeated season while accumulating 240 carries for 1,985 yards and 27 touchdowns during his senior season…rushed 160 times for 1,138 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior while also catching 14 passes for 172 yards out of the backfield.
 
Drue Jackson
Wide Receiver
6-1, 200, So.-TR
Sachse, Texas
Sachse HS
Tyler JC
 
Previous School
Transfer from Tyler Junior College…named All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference Honorable Mention…played in eight games and caught 22 passes for 350 yards…originally signed with Washington State, but transferred back closer to home in Texas. 
 
High School
Was a four-star prospect by ESPN and Rivals…recorded 41 catches for 625 yards and five TDS as a senior after catching 46 passes for 652 yards and six touchdowns during his junior season…also returned a punt for a touchdown…had 15 receptions for 139 yards and one touchdown as a sophomore…ranked No. 22 prospect in Texas by The Dallas Morning News…rated No. 85 prospect in Dallas-Fort Worth Top-100…rated four-star prospect by ESPN.com and Rivals.com…rated No. 65 wideout in the country by ESPN.com…named in Rivals 250 and rated the No. 26 overall prospect in Texas by Rivals.com.
 
Russell Baker
Offensive Line
6-5, 300, Jr.-TR
Owasso, Okla.
Owasso HS
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College
 
Previous School
Transfer from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College…helped pave the way for an offense that averaged 206.4 yards rushing per game and tallied 20 rushing touchdowns…Earned All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference Second-Team honors as a sophomore...as a freshman, he helped lead NEO A&M into the SWJCFC Championship Game and an 8-4 record…the Norsemen averaged over 30 points a game, an average of 440.8-yards of offense, and 222-yards of rushing offense a game…received offers from UTSA, Idaho State, Ohio, Tulsa, Western Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Southeast Missouri, Stephen F. Austin.
 
High School
Member of Class 6A state championship team…chosen to play in the OCA All-Star game.
 
Alex Costilla
Offensive Line
6-4, 295, Jr.-TR
San Marcos, Texas
San Marcos HS
Tyler JC
 
Previous School
Listed as a three-star recruit by Scout.com…named one of the top 24 junior college recruits in Texas by Scout.com…earned All-SWJCFC honors as a freshman and sophomore…signed with Bobcats after receiving offers from Nebraska, Louisville, Missouri, West Virginia, Oregon State, Illinois State, and Southern Miss.
 
High School
Named District 27-5A Offensive Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore…Named All-District 14-6A First-Team and All-Central Texas Third Team as a junior…chosen Associated Press Class 6A Honorable Mention All-State as a sophomore and junior.
 
Austin Markiewicz
Offensive Line
6-4, 290, Fr.-HS
McKinney, Texas
McKinney North HS
 
High School
Named a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com…chosen All-District 7-5A First-Team center during his senior season…led McKinney North to its first district title as a senior…named All-District 7-5A First-Team offensive lineman as a junior. Austin's twin brother, Dillon, was the quarterback for McKinney North…recruited by Tulsa, Abilene Christian, Central Arkansas, Liberty, McNeese State, Houston Baptist, Northwestern State, Northern Colorado
 
Silas Robinson
Offensive Line
6-4, 306, So.-1L
Yoakum, Texas
Yoakum HS
Arkansas
 
Previous School
Transfer from Arkansas…played in six games primarily on special teams in 2019 as a redshirt freshman…played center against Western Kentucky…played a season-high 10 plays against Colorado State.
 
High School
Three-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals...ranked No. 80 among offensive guards by ESPN...was the No. 176 ranked player in Texas by ESPN...paved the way for 4,262 yards on the ground, including two 1,000-yard rushers as a senior…Yoakum averaged 304.4 rushing yards per game and 9.2 yards per carry…cleared paths for three different players, who combined for eleven 100-yard rushing games…part of an offense that produced 5,565 yards of total offense for a 397.5 per-game average…Yoakum racked up 56 rushing touchdowns and grounded out 300 or more yards in eight different games…the Bulldogs scored 30 or more points in 11 of 14 games and racked up 40-plus points five times…helped his offense rush for a season-high 665 yards and eight touchdowns on 33 carries in the 56-28 win over Giddings…Yoakum rushed for 467 yards in a 40-7 Class 3A, Division I quarterfinal playoff win over Goliad to send the Bulldogs into the semifinals for the second straight year…helped lead the Bulldogs to a 13-1 record, a 6-0 mark in district play and the UIL Class 3A D-I State Semifinals…Earned All-State First-Team honors as a junior by the Texas Sportswriters Association after grading out at 96 percent, recording 111 knockdown blocks and not allowing a sack during Yoakum's run to the Class 3A- I state final…played on the defensive line and had 79 tackles and six sacks...Part of an offense that averaged 339.8 yards per game…Named a Class 4A All-State First-Team selection by the Associated Press Sports Editors as a sophomore.
 
Trenton Scott
Offensive Line
6-6, 262, Fr., HS
Luling, Texas
Luling HS
 
High School
Named a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com…tabbed All-District 14-3A as an offensive and defensive lineman a senior…selected to play in the San Antonio All-Star Football Game…was a first baseman and pitcher for Luling's baseball team…chose Texas State over Illinois State and Northern Colorado.
 
John Emmanuel
Outside Linebacker
6-1, 190, Fr.-HS
Dallas, Texas
Bishop Dunne HS
 
High School
Earned First-Team TAPPS All-State honors in 2018…earned All-District 2 First-Team honors in 2018 and 2019…helped lead Bishop Dunne to a state championship in his junior season. 
 
Josh Emmanuel
Inside Linebacker
6-0, 216, Fr.-HS
Dallas, Texas
Bishop Dunne HS
 
High School
Earned Honorable Mention TAPPS All-State honors in 2018…earned All-District 2 First-Team honors in 2018 and 2019…helped lead Bishop Dunne to a state championship in his junior season.
 
Issiah Nixon
Linebacker
6-0, 220, Fr.-HS
Fort Bend, Texas
Elkins HS
 
High School
Recruited as a linebacker, but could see action as a running back after earning All-District 20-6A First-Team honors as a running back during his senior season…rushed for 793 yards and 13 touchdowns on 85 carries as a senior…caught nine passes for 164 yards and three TDs in 2019…earned All-District 20-6A First-Team honors as a tight end as a junior.
 
Maureese Wren
Outside Linebacker
6-4, 220, Jr.-TR
Mesquite, Texas
Horn HS
Louisiana Tech
Tyler JC
 
Previous School
Rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals…named the No. 30 athlete prospect at the junior college level by 247Sports.com...rated No. 37 JUCO athlete player by ESPN…transfer from Tyler Junior College...recorded 36 tackles, four sacks, nine tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery… had offers from Missouri, Nebraska, Southern Miss, Louisville, West Virginia, Illinois State and Oregon State.
 
High School
Earned All-District 11-6A honors as a wide receiver.
 
Isaiah Karriem
Linebacker
6-0, 220, Jr.-TR 
Columbus, Miss.
Columbus HS
Mississippi Delta CC
 
Previous School
Transfer from Mississippi Delta College…tallied 49 total tackles, including 36 solo stops…had 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack…recorded 18 tackles with 10 solo stops as a freshman.
 
High School
Played at Columbus High School…lettered four seasons at CHS.
 
Grid Isidore
Safety
6-1, 185, Jr.-TR
Slidell, La.
Salmen HS
Nicholls State
Tyler JC
 
Previous School
Transfer from Tyler JC…named All-SWJCFC Honorable Mention after recording 30 tackles as a sophomore…tallied 26 solo stops, three tackles for loss, and three pass breakups…played one season at Nicholls, where he recorded two tackles as a redshirt freshman.
 
High School
Earned Second-Team All-District 8-4A honors…named Salmen's Defensive Player of the Year after recording 63 tackles, 17 solo stops, and three interceptions.