Running Backs: 2021 Position Preview
Who's In
Brown, a Cedar Park native, returns to the Lonestar State after spending the 2020 season redshirting at Air Force. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound running back was as All-District 13-6A first team running back selection as a junior and senior at Round Rock High School, where he was also a regional qualifier in the 4x100 relay on the school's track and field team.
Abdallah joins the Bobcat backfield out of China Spring High School in China Spring, Texas. The 5-foot-8, 180-pound back played four seasons under head coach Brian Bell at China Spring, where he was selected by the Texas Sports Writers Association (TSWA) to the organization's All-State first team as a senior. As a junior in high school, he rushed for 1,833 yards and 19 touchdowns en route to being tabbed as an Honorable Mention All-State selection by TSWA.
Lane is a 5-foot-11, 200-pound running back out of Prosper, Texas by way of Prosper High School. He was credited with a 171-yard rushing performance during a playoff game and also had a 131-yard, two-touchdown game in another postseason contest. He also played lacrosse at Prosper.
Who's Back
Sturges, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound back, broke onto the scene for the Bobcats during the 2020 season. After signing with Arizona State as a three-star prospect out of Allen High School, Sturges played a season at Butler Community College, where he earned NJCAA All-American honors, before coming to San Marcos. In his first season as a Bobcat last year, Sturges was named an Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt Conference selection after leading the team with 532 rushing yards and five touchdowns on just 111 attempts. He also hauled in 11 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. He rushed for a career-high 120 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Louisiana.
Like Sturges, Jeter came to Texas State after signing with a Power 5 program after the 6-foot-0, 215-pound running back went to Oklahoma State out of Brennan High School, where he was a three-star prospect as well. In seven games as Bobcat throughout the 2020 season, Jeter totaled 329 yards and three touchdowns on the ground on just 47 attempts. His breakout game came against Appalachian State when he rushed for a career-high 135 yards on just 11 carries. His run-scoring plays happened against then-No. 16 ranked Coastal Carolina, Troy and Louisiana.
Brown, a Cedar Park native, returned to the Lonestar State prior to the 2020 season after transferring from Air Force. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound running back, who redshirted last season, was as All-District 13-6A first team running back selection as a junior and senior at Round Rock High School, where he was also a regional qualifier in the 4x100 relay on the school's track and field team.
Hill complimented the power backs of Sturges and Jeter and his break-away speed and shiftiness helped the 5-foot-7, 188-pound back to postseason all-conference honors. Pro Football Focus (PFF) selected Hill, who rushed for 528 yards and five touchdowns on 101 carries, to the organization's All-Sun Belt Conference Third Team. His performance from the 2020 season combined with the potential of the Bobcat backfield in 2021 has helped the Ross Sterling High School product pick up preseason honors from PFF (All-Sun Belt Conference Third Team) and
Athlon (All-Sun Belt Conference Fourth Team).
Twyford is the lone upperclassmen in the backfield as the 2021 season will be the fifth as a Bobcat for the Farmersville High School product. Since arriving in San Marcos prior to the start of the 2017 season, Twyford has appeared in 42 career games and projects to add to that total this season. In 2019, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound back led the team with 488 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 108 carries. He totaled 311 yards and a touchdown on 70 attempts the season before. Twyford has had an exceptional training camp and is poised to add value this season.
What To Watch For
Every Texas State rushing record to be broken. Or at least rushing totals unseen under head coach
Jake Spavital. With the addition of coach
Jim Turner to work with the offensive line, the backfield will have the opportunity to put up video game-like rushing statistics throughout the 2021 season.
The way the running back group compliments and supports each other will only help push the one with the football in their hands to be the best. Each back wants to go out onto the field and carry the rock into the end zone to help the team win.
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
Sturges, Hill and Jeter all finished the 2020 football season ranked in the top 25 in rushing yards among Sun Belt Conference student-athletes. Sturges and Hill were knocking on the door of the top 10 as the duo finished the season 11th and 12th. The duo held the same spots when it came to rushing touchdowns in the conference, too. Sturges and Hill went back-to-back, again, in rushing yards per game from a year ago.
Sturges and Hill, though, were one of just seven student-athletes in the conference to appear in 12-or-more games throughout the 2020 season. Texas State joined Coastal Carolina as the only two schools in the league to accomplish the feat.
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.
