While some position groups like defensive backs faced a high number of departures to graduation or exhausting their eligibility, the outside linebacker group is a rarity: it had no departures. And it even added a Bednarik Award Watch List selection (
Jordan Revels) to the mix.
Check out below for a preview of the Texas State outside linebackers.
Who's Returning
All five of last year's outside linebackers return in 2022 – and are joined by
Jordan Revels, who is moving from defensive end to outside linebacker.
Revels has played in 1,434 career defensive snaps at Texas State but only 28 at an edge rush or outside linebacker position, according to PFF. That means 1,406 snaps are on the defensive line, where he has put up nearly his entire 117 career tackles, 12.0 TFLs and 3.0 sacks. The North Shore High School product has been working at the outside linebacker position since spring practice and with a new position – and new jersey number (No. 8) – he'll be looking to build upon last year's career-high totals of 7.5 TFLs and 3.0 sacks.
Revels is not the only disrupting force on the edge, though.
Issiah Nixon led the team in sacks (4.0) last season while also forcing a Sun Belt-best four forced fumbles. The Fort Bend, Texas product also had four pass breakups to go with his 40 total tackles in a breakout season.
The rest of the group is filled out by former Kansas State transfer
DeMarrquese Hayes, experienced special teams contributors
Devin Martinez and
Jake Lynch, and redshirt freshman and former three-star recruit
Nace Washington.
Who's Departed
In addition to punter, this was a Texas State position group that did not have any departures from a year ago.
Who's New
While Revels is technically the biggest "addition" to the group, Bell and Cornelson are the only new faces to the team at the outside linebacker position.
Bell, along with his brother and defensive lineman Levi, joins the Bobcats from Louisiana Tech. The Cedar Park High School product was an All-Conference USA Freshman Team selection last year after totaling 27 tackles in 10 games. He led the team in sacks (3.5) and tied for the team lead in TFLs (6.0).
Cornelson is a transfer from Texas Lutheran and played high school at Vista Ridge in Cedar Park.
What to Watch For
A position with no turnover and only additions, the Bobcat outside linebackers under position coach
Tevin Mims will be relied upon to bring a disrupting force once again for the defense. Last year, Nixon created chaos by leading the conference in forced fumbles with four – which were double than the next closest Bobcat in that category. Meanwhile, Revels is coming off a career year at the defensive line position where he had seven quarterback hurries (team-best), 7.5 TFLs (tied for the team-best), and 3.0 sacks (second-best on the team). Already a knack for getting into the backfield, Revels will now be flying from the edge.
Other 2022 Position Previews
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Offensive Line
Tight Ends
Quarterbacks
Defensive Backs
Inside Linebackers
Preseason Camp Information
Texas State started official fall camp practices on August 3 and will participate in 20 days of practices before the first game week in late August. Videos of the weekly press conferences can be found
here.
Ticket Information
Season tickets and single-game tickets are on sale now for the 2022 Texas State football season. Season tickets for all six home games start as low as $80 while single-game tickets start at $20. Fans can purchase their tickets today at
TXST.com/tickets.
Gallery: (8-22-2022) 2022 FB Position Preview: OLB
