SAN MARCOS, Texas – "It is like a game of checkers." That is how Texas State defensive line coach Tremaine Jackson describes how a defensive lineman plays the game of football.
 
"It isn't like chess," Jackson said. "You are going to get hit in the face, have to keep playing, and then be ready to make a play (when the opportunity arises)."
 
Making a play is not new for Texas State's two returning starters on its defensive line, sixth-year senior Ishmael Davis and junior Caeveon Patton.
 
Davis led the Bobcats with 3.5 sacks, 8.0 tackles for loss, and two fumble recoveries in 2018. Patton recorded 41 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and three breakups last season. Several other returnees have stepped forward since last spring.
 
They include from last season Nico Ezidore, Kumonde Hines, Jakharious Smith, Jaquel Pierce, Nick Wilkins, Jake Lynch, Dotson Schaefer, Emmanuel Galvan-Vazquez, Kingsley Onyirioha and John Lilly.
 
"We have a big group," Jackson said. "In addition to the top three, Kumonde Hines has been coming on since the spring. Gjemar Daniels is another guy who didn't play much last year. When I got here in the spring, I didn't know where he fit, but he has turned it on this fall.
 
"Jordan Revels is a young freshman. Emmanuel Galvan-Vazquez is a local guy who is making some noise after being put on scholarship recently. Jaquel Pierce is a guy who has been in the rotation. We have 16 guys in our room, and we feel good about all 16 guys."
 
As Texas State enters its final two weeks of preseason practice, Jackson anticipates the Bobcats will work on the same things he has been stressing since last spring.
 
"The last week doesn't change for us," Jackson said. "We have to keep our pads low. We have to move our feet on contact, and we have to stay physical. We have to keep our focus on the little things we do, knowing the scheme so if (defensive coordinator) Zac Spavital wants to game plan, we are ready to rise to the occasion when he makes the call."
 
One of the ways that Jackson measures how well the defensive line rises to the occasion is the effectiveness of the Bobcats run defense.
 
"As a defensive line, we take a lot of pride in being a direct reflection of the run defense," Jackson said. "We are trying to stop the run first because if we can make them one dimensional, then we feel like we have a chance and we are doing our job. We have a saying on the defensive line, 'Stop the run and have some fun.'"
 
Texas State opens the 2019 campaign with a nationally televised midweek game at Texas A&M beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 29.

Texas State plays its first of six home games against the Wyoming Cowboys at 6 p.m. on Sept. 7. The Bobcats also host Georgia State (Sept. 21), Nicholls (Sept. 28), ULM (Oct. 10), South Alabama (Nov. 9), and Troy (Nov. 16).

Fans can purchase season tickets by contacting the Texas State Athletic Ticket Office at 512-245-2272 or online at TXST.com/tickets. Fans can contact the ticket office via email by sending questions to gametickets@txstate.edu.
 
Prices for season tickets start as low as $80 for one general-admission season ticket. Priority seating options are still available. Part of the purchase price for each ticket goes to the Bobcat Club, which continues to raise scholarship funds for Texas State student-athletes.

Texas State football fans can get a behind the scenes view of the football program throughout the 2019 season by visiting the Jake Spavital "Game Time" Radio Show at Chimy's on Tuesday nights. In total, the show will be live from Chimy's seven times with hour-long shows beginning at 6 p.m. The first show will air on Aug. 27. The remaining live shows will be on Sept. 3, 17, and 24, Oct. 8, Nov. 5 and 12.