Outside Linebackers: 2021 Position Preview
 
Who's In

• DeMarrquese Hayes (transferred from Kansas State)
• Nace Washington (first year)
• Jake Lynch (moved over from defensive line)

Hayes arrives in San Marcos after signing with Kansas State University out of La Vega High School in Waco, Texas. After playing under head coach Don Hyde La Vega, Hayes was rated the 92nd-best outside linebacker in 2020 by 247Sports. Texas Sports Writers Association (TSWA) named him a first team all-state selection as well. 
 
Hayes also has the ability to flash his agility and speed on the football field as the 6-foot-0, 205-pound backer was tabbed as the leadoff runner on La Vega's 4x100-meter relay team that won a state championship in 2019. 
 
Washington joined the Texas State football team out of Brock High School in June. 
 
Lynch was the Bobcats' swiss-army knife throughout the 2020 season as the 6-foot-5, 255-pounder played 12 games as a defensive lineman, while also seeing game action as a tight end and on special team units. Heading into the 2021 season, he's expected to stay on the defensive side of the ball and shift to an outside linebacker position. The position is one he's familiar with as he received a "Best Linebacker" award under head coach Trey Sissom at Fort Bend Travis High School just a few years ago. 
 
Who's Back

• John Emmanuel (second year)
• Issiah Nixon (third year)
• Devin Martinez (third year)
• London Harris (fifth year) 

Emmanuel, who signed with the Bobcats out of Bishop Dunne High School in Dallas, sat out the 2020 season as a redshirt. 
 
Nixon saw game action on special team in six games last season. He returned one kickoff against Appalachian State for 11 yards.
 
Martinez appeared in 10 games throughout the 2020 season and was credited with one tackle in the Bobcats' season-opening game against SMU. 
 
Following his redshirt season in 2017, Harris has appeared in 12 games over the last three consecutive seasons. After totaling five total tackles in 2018 and 2019, Harris bust onto the scene in 2020 with 41 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss. He was also one of two student-athletes to block a kick in the Bobcats' game at Troy. Harris tallied a career-high seven tackles when Texas State traveled to Jonesboro, Ga., to face off against Georgia Southern. 
 
What To Watch For 
 
Last season's eligibility freeze as a result of the COVID-19 will produce long-term success for this position group. No question. Four of the five returners are still classified as freshmen despite having been on campus for multiple years. Harris is the lone exception as the 6-foot-2 Manvel High School product is a fifth-year junior heading into the new season. 
 
The trio of Harris (12), Martinez (10) and Nixon (6) combined to have 28 games of experience, so defensive coordinator Zac Spavital and outside linebacker coach Tevin Mims can continue to ask more and more out of those three. However, with his hometown of Waco being just a two-hour drive up I-35, Hayes will want to continue to work towards earning valuable game-time action.  
 
Training Camp Information
 
The Bobcats are currently in the second week of a 14-day preseason training camp inside Bobcat Stadium. Coverage of Texas State's training camp can be seen at @TXSTATEFOOTBALL on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Post-practice media availability videos can be viewed at txstatebobcats.com. 
 
Statistically Speaking
 
The outside linebacker position group is still relatively young as the group has combined for 42 tackles throughout their collegiate careers. Harris' 41 tackles last season were the 11th-most tackles on the team in 2020. 
 
The clay is still fresh for Spavital and Mims to mold this position group as they see fit, so the sky is the limit for the outside linebackers in 2021. 
 
2021 Texas State football ticket information

Tickets for the 2021 season are now available with different options for fans to purchase: 
 
Season Tickets

• $95 in general admission section; $155 West Reserved, Priority $155 with a required Bobcat Club donation 

 
Two half-season packages 

• Package A: Baylor, two additional games - $60 for general admission, $100 for priority sections. 
• Package B- Any three games other than Baylor- $50 for general admission, $80 for priority sections. 

 
Single-Game tickets 

• As low as $35 in general admission section; go up to $70 in priority seating sections. (Baylor)
• As low as $15 in general admission section; go up to $45 for priority seating sections

 
A Bobcat Club donation is required to access priority seats. Each seat donation goes toward Bobcat Club donations for the 2021 year and can lead to membership benefits such as parking and pre-game hospitality to round out your game day experience.  
 
Visit www.txstatebobcats.com/tickets 

Call the Bobcat Ticket Office (512-245-2272) or visit the Texas State Athletic Ticket Office, located in the North End Zone Complex of Bobcat Stadium, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday