SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State head football coach GJ Kinne has announced the addition of 17 transfers to the 2023 roster as the newcomer class for the Bobcats grew to 50 ahead of summer workouts.
 
The batch of June enrollees for Texas State features nine offensive players and eight defensive players. The group of transfers includes:
 
2023 Early Summer Transfer Signees (Previous School)

• TJ Finley, QB (Auburn)
• Beau Corrales, WR (SMU)
• Joey Hobert, WR (Utah Tech)
• Sean Shaw Jr., WR (Iowa State)
• Marcus Alexander, OL (Oklahoma)
• Alex Harkey, OL (Colorado)
• Chayse Todd, OL (Houston)
• Danny Valenzuela, OL (Arizona State)
• Brey Walker, OL (Oklahoma)
• Derrick Brown, DL (Texas)
• Jason Gold Jr., DL (Northwestern)
• Sam Latham, DL (UIW)
• Christian Rorie, DL (Duke)
• John Blunt Jr., DB (Eastern Kentucky)
• Caleb Coleman, DB (West Virginia)
• Shawn Holton, DB (UIW)
• Jaylon Shelton, DB (West Virginia)

 
The 17-person group includes 12 from conferences such as the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, SEC and Pac-12. There are also four transfers from the FCS level.
 
Any future additions to the 2023 newcomer class will be announced by August.
 
Lifted by the addition of the 17 transfers, the newcomer class by first-year head coach GJ Kinne and his coaching staff is currently ranked fourth-best in the Sun Belt by 247Sports (No. 87 in the nation) and is the program's highest rated class in its FBS history (since 2012).
 
Kinne and the Bobcats start the season on Sept. 2 at Baylor (6 pm, ESPN+) while the home opener is set for Sept. 16 against Jackson State (6 pm) at Bobcat Stadium.
 
Season tickets, which start at less than $14 per game, are on sale now at TXST.com/tickets. Single-game tickets for the six-game home schedule will go on sale in July.
 
Player Bios
TJ Finley, QB (R-So.)
Ponchatoula, La.  |  Ponchatoula HS  |  LSU & Auburn
Finley has played in 18 career games, including five at LSU in 2020 and 13 at Auburn from 2021-22. After starting five games for LSU as a true freshman, Finley transferred to Auburn in 2021 where he started the season second on the depth chart before working his way into playing time in nine games. He led the game-winning, 98-yard drive against Georgia State in the waning moments and then stepped in against Alabama and threw for 137 yards and two touchdowns on an injured ankle. He also started the Birmingham Bowl against Houston that season. Last year, he opened the season as the starting quarterback before suffering an injury that limited him the rest of the year. Out of Ponchatoula High School, Finley accounted for 72 touchdowns during his prep career (58 pass, 14 rush) and was a Class 5A all-state selection.
 
Beau Corrales, WR (R-Sr.)
Georgetown, Texas  |  Georgetown HS  |  North Carolina & SMU
Since playing his first collegiate season in 2017, Corrales has appeared in 39 games for North Carolina (2017-21) and SMU (2022) and caught 86 career passes for 1,247 yards and 12 touchdowns. After playing in 17 games during his freshman and sophomore seasons in 2017 and 2018 with the Tar Heels, Corrales had a breakout season in 2019 as a junior when he ranked third on the team in catches (40), receiving yards (575), and receiving touchdowns (6). He went on to play two more seasons at North Carolina, totaling six games, before joining SMU in 2022 and appearing in three contests (one start). At Georgetown High School, he was a first-team all-district performer and 5A All-State honorable mention who had 90 receptions for 1,158 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior. Corrales originally committed to Texas State in the summer of 2016 before decommitting and signing a national letter of intent with North Carolina.
 
Joey Hobert, WR (Jr.)
San Clemente, Calif.  |  San Juan Hills HS  |  Washington State & Utah Tech
Coming off an All-American season at Utah Tech, Hobert joins the Bobcats with two years of eligibility remaining. The San Clemente, Calif. product had an award-laden 2022 season for the Trailblazers as he was named an All-American by five different outlets, including First Team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). He also finished ninth in the 2022 Stats Perform Walter Payton Award voting and was a first team All-WAC selection. He finished the regular season as the FCS national leader in receiving yards (1,258) and touchdown receptions (16). He played his first two collegiate seasons at Washington State (2020-21) and appeared in 13 games as a freshman in 2021. He had 15 receptions for 192 yards and one touchdown that season for the Cougars. Hobert was a three-year letterwinner at San Juan Hills High School (CA) where he racked up 1,924 all-purpose yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior as well as 105 tackles, five interceptions and two fumble recoveries. His father, Billy Joe, played quarterback at Washington and eight seasons in the NFL while his mother, Danielle, was a college soccer player at Sonoma State.
 
Sean Shaw Jr., WR (R-Sr.)
Jones, Okla.  |  Jones HS  |  Iowa State
An experienced wide receiver, Shaw Jr. joins Texas State having played in 46 career games at Iowa State with 61 catches for 680 yards and nine touchdowns. After redshirting during his true freshman season in 2018, the 6-foot-6 wideout turned in five receiving touchdowns as a redshirt freshman in 2019, which were the third-most by a first-year Cyclone in program history. He went on to start eight of his 12 games played in 2020, when he ranked fourth on the team in catches, and then battled back from a preseason injury to play in 11 games in 2021. Last year, he had 16 catches for 153 yards in 12 games. The Jones, Okla. product was a top-100 wide receiver coming out of high school, where he totaled 207 career receptions, 3,320 career receiving yards, and 40 career touchdowns.
 
Marcus Alexander, OL (R-Jr.)
Sunnyvale, Texas  |  Sunnyvale HS  |  Oklahoma
Alexander spent his first four collegiate seasons at Oklahoma. He redshirted in 2019 and played in one game over the following three seasons (2020, vs. Missouri State). He was a four-star recruit by Rivals and three-star prospect by 247Sports and ESPN coming out of Sunnyvale High School. He was also a top-100 overall recruit in the state of Texas by 247Sports.
 
Alex Harkey, OL (R-So.)
Austin, Texas  |  Hays HS  |  Tyler JC & Colorado
A local product, Harkey will arrive at Texas State as a rising junior after spending the 2021 season at Tyler Junior College and the 2022 campaign at Colorado. Last year with the Buffaloes, Harkey played in 12 games at right guard. In 2021, he helped Tyler JC average 490.1 yards of offense per game, including 168.8 yards on the ground. Harkey was a two-sport prep athlete at Hays High School in Buda, Texas as he played tight end and defensive line for the football team and averaged 10 points and 10 rebounds for the basketball squad.
 
Chayse Todd, OL (R-Jr.)
Crosby, Texas  |  Crosby HS  |  Houston
Todd joins the Bobcats after spending the last four seasons at Houston. The former three-star recruit out of Crosby High School (TX) redshirted in 2019 and played in three games over the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Last year, he appeared in 10 games, including one start. He saw time at both guard positions while his lone career start came at right guard against USF in late October.
 
Danny Valenzuela, OL (R-So.)
Simi Valley, Calif.  |  Grace Brethren HS  |  College of the Canyons (JC) & Arizona State
Valenzuela attended Arizona State in 2022 and will have three years of eligibility while at Texas State. The Simi Valley, Calif. product played in one game for the Sun Devils last year after spending the 2020 and 2021 seasons at the College of the Canyons (JC).
 
Brey Walker, OL (R-Sr.)
Moore, Okla.  |  Westmoore HS  |  Oklahoma
A 6-foot-7, 350-pound offensive lineman, Walker will play his final collegiate season at Texas State after spending his first five years at Oklahoma. He played in 40 career games for the Sooners, across the offensive line and special teams units. After redshirting in 2018, Walker appeared in 13 games as a right guard in 2019. He logged snaps at right guard and right tackle in 2020 before moving back to the guard position in 2021 and 2022. Out of Westmoore High School, Walker was a five-star recruit by 247Sports and four-star prospect by ESPN and Rivals. He was also named a U.S. Army All-American during his prep career.
 
Derrick Brown, DL (R-Fr.)
Texarkana, Texas  |  Texas HS  |  Texas
Brown spent his true freshman season at Texas but did not appear in any games for the Longhorns. Coming out of Texas High School in Texarkana, Texas, Brown was a two-time all-district selection and rated as the no. 186 recruit in the nation. An outside linebacker in high school, Brown was the Defensive Player of the Year in the District 9-5A Division 2 as a senior in 2021 after he registered 88 tackles, 12 sacks and one forced fumble. He helped his high school go a combined 23-2, including 14-0 in district, during his two years as a letterwinner.
 
Jason Gold Jr., DL (R-Jr.)
League City, Texas  |  Clear Springs HS  |  Northwestern
Gold Jr. will join the Bobcats after spending his first four collegiate seasons at Northwestern. The League City, Texas product played in 16 career games for the Wildcats, including three last season. He finished his Northwestern career with 17 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss. Coming out of Clear Springs High School, Gold Jr. was the 118th-ranked player in the state of Texas by 247Sports and finished his prep career with 107 tackles, 19.5 sacks, 35 tackles for loss and 28 hurries.
 
Sam Latham, DL (Sr.)
Austin, Texas  |  McNeil HS  |  UIW
A four-year player at UIW, Latham had a breakout season during the Cardinals' FCS Playoff run and conference-championship season in 2022. The 6-foot-7 defensive end started 14 games and totaled 42 tackles, 10.0 TFLs, 4.0 sacks and a forced fumble. Over his Cardinal career, he played in 40 games with 88 tackles (41 solo), 14.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks and two passes defended. He was a two-time all-district performer at McNeil High School.
 
Christian Rorie, DL (R-Jr.)
Raleigh, N.C.  |  Enloe HS  |  Duke
Rorie played in 19 career games at Duke on the defensive line, including a season-high 11 games in 2021 as a redshirt freshman. He finished his Blue Devil career with 18 tackles and 0.5 TFL. At Enloe High School, he was a four-year letterwinner and consensus three-star prospect. He was among the nation's best defensive end recruits as he was ranked No. 54 by Rivals and No. 76 by ESPN.
 
John Blunt Jr., DB (R-Sr.)
Arlington, Texas  |  Mansfield Timberview HS  |  McNeese, Cisco College, Western Kentucky & Eastern Kentucky
Blunt Jr. joins the Bobcats having played in 25 career games at the Division I level and spending the last two seasons at Eastern Kentucky. With the Colonels, he was a two-time Phil Steele all-conference honoree and finished with 40 tackles and 13 pass breakups. As a redshirt freshman in 2019, Blunt Jr. was a Second Team All-American selection and appeared in nine games for Cisco and recorded 25 tackles, 11 pass breakups, four interceptions, three forced fumbles and 2.0 TFLs. He began his career at McNeese in 2018, where he played in four games as a true freshman.
 
Caleb Coleman, DB (R-So.)
Phenix City, Ala.  |  Smiths Station HS  |  Hutchinson CC & West Virginia
Coleman played in nine games for West Virginia over the last two seasons and logged time on defense and special teams. In 2020 as a true freshman, he was an all-conference honorable mention for Hutchinson CC and registered 20 tackles, three interceptions, 1.5 TFLs and four pass breakups in seven games. He helped Hutchinson win the NJCAA national championship that season as well.
 
Shawn Holton, DB (Sr.)
Fort Worth, Texas  |  Nolan Catholic HS  |  UIW
Holton joins Texas State after spending the last four seasons at UIW. He played in 41 career games as a Cardinal and registered 134 tackles (86 solo), four interceptions, 13 pass breakups and 1.5 TFLs. Last season, he played in 12 games for the Southland Conference champions and had 37 tackles (26 solo) with a career-high three interceptions. At Nolan Catholic High School, he was first team all-district, first team all-state and defensive Newcomer of the Year during his senior season in 2018.
 
Jaylon Shelton, DB (R-So.)
New London, Texas  |  West Rusk HS  |  Tyler JC & West Virginia
Shelton will become a Bobcat after spending the 2022 season with West Virginia, where he played in one game. Prior to the Mountaineers, he played two seasons at Tyler JC (2020-21). In his 2021, he played in nine games and logged 33 tackles with two interceptions. During his prep career at West Rusk High School, Shelton was a dual-threat quarterback and cornerback.
 
2023 Texas State Football Newcomer Class
OFFENSE (26)

Name	Pos	YR	HT	WT	Hometown	High School/Last School
Marcus Alexander	OL	R-Jr.	6-4	325	Sunnyvale, Texas	Sunnyvale HS/Oklahoma
Bami Badusi*	OL	Fr.	6-6	310	Grand Prairie, Texas	Mansfield Timberview HS
Justin DeLeon*	OL	Fr.	6-3	290	Kingsville, Texas	H.M. King HS
Alex Harkey	OL	R-So.	6-6	305	Austin, Texas	Hays HS/Colorado
Caleb Johnson*	OL	R-Sr.	6-6	330	Mount Pleasant, Texas	Mount Pleasant HS/UIW
Nash Jones*	OL	Jr.	6-5	310	Nacogdoches, Texas	Nacogdoches HS/UIW
Jimeto Obigbo*	OL	Jr.	6-4	320	Arlington, Texas	Mansfield Timberview HS/UIW
Emeka Obigbo*	OL	R-So.	6-5	355	Arlington, Texas	Mansfield Timberview HS/UIW
Dorion Strawn*	OL	R-So.	6-6	315	Ennis, Texas	Ennis HS/UIW
Chayse Todd	OL	R-Jr.	6-2	305	Crosby, Texas	Crosby HS/Houston
Danny Valenzuela	OL	R-So.	6-3	285	Simi Valley, Calif.	Grace Brethren HS/Arizona State
Brey Walker	OL	R-Sr.	6-7	355	Moore, Okla.	Westmoore HS/Oklahoma
TJ Finley	QB	R-So.	6-7	250	Ponchatoula, La.	Ponchatoula HS/Auburn
PJ Hatter*	QB	Fr.	6-2	185	Houston, Texas	Westfield HS
Malik Hornsby*	QB	Jr.	6-2	185	Missouri City, Texas	Fort Bend Marshall HS/Arkansas
Konner Fox*	TE	R-Jr.	6-4	245	San Antonio, Texas	Reagan HS/Kansas State
Jake Simpson*	TE	Fr.	6-4	220	Frisco, Texas	Independence HS
Donerio Davenport*	RB	Jr.	6-1	205	Mansfield, Texas	Mansfield HS/Kilgore College
Ismail Mahdi*	RB	So.	5-9	180	Murphy, Texas	Plano East HS/HCU
Shadeed Ahmed*	WR	Sr.	6-0	175	Richmond, Texas	Foster HS/Navarro College/Marshall
Beau Corrales	WR	R-Sr.	6-4	210	Georgetown, Texas	Georgetown HS/SMU
Chris Dawn Jr.*	WR	Fr.	5-7	155	Dallas, Texas	Mesquite Horn HS
Drew Donley*	WR	R-So.	6-2	180	Frisco, Texas	Lebanon Trail HS/Cincinnati
Joey Hobert	WR	Jr.	5-11	180	San Clemente, Calif.	San Juan Hills HS/Utah Tech
Sean Shaw Jr.	WR	R-Sr.	6-6	210	Jones, Okla.	Jones HS/Iowa State
Kole Wilson*	WR	So.	5-9	165	Katy, Texas	Paetow HS/UIW

 
DEFENSE (24)

Name	Pos	YR	HT	WT	Hometown	High School/Last School
Kalil Alexander*	DL	R-So.	6-3	215	Charlotte, N.C.	Rocky River HS/Coffeyville
Derrick Brown	DL	R-Fr.	6-3	205	Texarkana, Texas	Texas HS/Texas
Bryce Cage*	DL	R-So.	6-4	260	Baton Rouge, La.	Scotlandville HS/Southeastern La.
Tavian Coleman*	DL	Jr.	6-1	280	Humble, Texas	Humble/Trinity Valley CC/Utah State
Jason Gold Jr.	DL	R-Jr.	6-3	285	League City, Texas	Clear Springs HS/Northwestern
Jo'Laison Landry*	DL	Fr.	6-3	240	Houston, Texas	C.E. King HS
Sam Latham	DL	Sr.	6-7	260	Austin, Texas	McNeil HS/UIW
Christian Rorie	DL	R-Jr.	6-6	300	Raleigh, N.C.	Enloe HS/Duke
Terry Webb*	DL	Jr.	6-3	300	Galveston, Texas	Ball HS/Kilgore College
Deven Wright*	DE	Jr.	6-5	230	Southaven, Miss.	DeSoto Central HS/Boise State
Dontavius Burrows*	ILB	Jr.	6-1	200	Columbus, Miss.	Killeen Shoemaker HS/Tyler JC
Dan Foster Jr.*	ILB	R-Jr.	6-3	230	Riviera Beach, Fla.	Dwyer HS/Marshall
Derick Mourning Jr.*	ILB	R-So.	6-3	230	Houston, Texas	Paetow/Kilgore College
Amarion Atwood*	DB	Fr.	6-0	170	Mesquite, Texas	Mesquite Horn HS
John Blunt Jr.	DB	R-Sr.	6-1	180	Arlington, Texas	Mansfield Timberview HS/Eastern Kentucky
Michael Boudoin III*	DB	R-So.	6-4	195	Buda, Texas	Hays HS/Navarro College
Caleb Coleman	DB	R-So.	6-2	195	Phenix City, Ala.	Smiths Station HS/West Virginia
Bobby Crosby*	DB	Jr.	6-2	200	Fort Lauderdale, Fla.	Dillard HS/Cisco College
Kaleb Culp*	DB	Jr.	5-10	185	Dallas, Texas	Parish Episcopal HS/UIW
Joshua Eaton*	DB	R-So.	6-1	185	Houston, Texas	Aldine MacArthur HS/Oklahoma
Kaleb Ford-Dement*	DB	R-Sr.	5-11	190	Whitehouse, Texas	Whitehouse HS/Washington State
Shawn Holton	DB	Sr.	5-10	170	Fort Worth, Texas	Nolan Catholic HS/UIW
Darius Jackson*	DB	R-So.	6-2	175	Red Oak, Texas	Red Oak HS/Missouri
Jaylon Shelton	DB	R-So.	6-2	190	New London, Texas	West Rusk HS/West Virginia

 
*Announced during the Early Signing Period (Dec. 2022) and on National Signing Day (Feb. 2023)