CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Delta State University football team will make its 2024 season debut Thursday (Aug. 29) when the Statesmen travel to Mars Hill, N.C. to take on the Lions of Mars Hill University. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., (CDT) 7 p.m. (EST) at Mears Stadium.
Michael Gross will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network. Mars Hill will also broadcast home games on the FloSports Network.
Delta State enters the 2024 season aiming to make program history following back-to-back Gulf South Championships in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The Statesmen, the no. 18 ranked team in the 2024 AFCA NCAA Division II Preseason Top 25 poll, posted a 9-1 regular season record en route to capturing the second straight GSC crown. Delta State advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II national playoffs before falling to GSC foe Valdosta State 38-31.
Delta State returns 18 players (10 offense, eight defense) who played in 10 or more games during the Statesmen's 2023 GSC Championship run.
Mars Hill finished the 2023 season with an 8-2 overall record.
The Coaches
Todd Cooley enters his 11th season as head coach at Delta State.
He was hired as the program's 19th all-time head coach on Friday, Jan. 25, 2013. In his first campaign as head coach, Cooley guided the Statesmen to a 7-3 overall record and a second-place finish in the Gulf South Conference. Inheriting a team that went 3-7 the year before, the high-energy Cooley built a cohesive family atmosphere in less than nine months. That energy helped feed a program's turnaround in just one season. In 2014, Cooley led the Statesmen to a 9-2 record, along with DSU's seventh Gulf South Conference title and a berth in the NCAA Division II Playoffs, the school's first since 2011.
For his efforts, Cooley was named Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year by his peers in the league. In all, 11 Statesmen were named to the All-GSC squad, including GSC Freshman of the Year Tyler Sullivan, who quarterbacked DSU to a 4-1 mark as a starter.
DSU averaged 40.0 points per game offensively, while averaging 472.2 yards per game. The Statesmen pulled off three victories over nationally ranked opponents after defeating No. 21 North Alabama 37-34, No. 14 Tarleton State 38-36 and No. 24 Valdosta State 63-55.
In 2014, Cooley earned his second consecutive GSC Coach of the Year accolade, sharing the honor with Florida Tech's Steve Englehart. Twelve Statesmen were selected to the All-GSC squads, while Trey Shaw captured the league's Defensive Freshman of the Year honor. DSU put up an impressive 5,395 yards of total offense, outscoring opponents 491-215.
With expectations riding high entering the 2015 season, the Statesmen raced out of the gate to a 4-0 record and No. 5 national ranking. Unfortunately, the ride would be short-lived, as injuries began to mount and derailed a title run for DSU. The Statesmen finished the year 6-5 overall and 2-5 in GSC play.
The Statesmen finished the year leading the GSC in passing (312.4), while ranking second in scoring (36.4) and third in total offense (426.7).
In 2016, DSU finished its season ranked No. 3 in the GSC in scoring offense (36.9), total offense (446.8) and passing offense (287.7).
After an injury filled 2018 season that saw the Statesmen post a 2-8 mark, Cooley's Statesmen rebounded to finish 6-4 overall and 5-3 in the GSC in 2019. Overall, nine Statesmen earned All-GSC honors and two were selected to the D2Football.com All-Americans. Additionally, 13 Statesmen made the GSC Academic honor roll for a GPA of 3.0 or higher while four were selected to the GSC All-Academic football team.
In 2022 the Statesmen posted an 11-win season winning the GSC crown. Overall, Cooley was named GSC coach of the year for the second time in his Delta State era and senior quarterback Patrick Shegog was named GSC Offensive Player of the Year. 11 Statesmen earned All-GSC honors in the 2022 campaign. DSU finished with the nation's sixth best total offense, averaging 471.8 yards per game.
Last season the Statesmen took home their second consecutive GSC Crown posting a 10-2 overall record. For the second consecutive season, Coach Cooley earned GSC Coach of the Year, while Shegog, earned Offensive Player of the Year. The Statesmen Offense averaged a GSC best 42.9 points per game.
Tim Clifton begins his 28th season directing the Lions program and his 28th year as a collegiate coach. Clifton (Mercer, '76), who became head coach at Mars Hill in 19 after eight seasons as an assistant at Ferrum (1994-2001), Clifton has a 143-139-0 (.601) record during his Mars Hill era.
Statesmen on the Road.
The Statesmen enter the 2024 season with a program record 13 straight regular season road games the last two seasons. Delta State holds a 30-21 (.588) record in 51 games under Head Coach Todd Cooley. Delta State posted an unblemished 5-0 record away from home in 2023.
Mars Hill is 31-19 (.620) in its last 50 home games dating back to the start of the 2013 season. The Lions went 5-0 at Mears Stadium in the 2023 season.
Statesmen in Season Openers
Delta State has compiled a 48-41-5 (.510) record in season openers over the program's 98-year history.
The Statesmen hold a 16-7 (.696) dating back to the 2000 season. Under Head Coach Todd Cooley, Delta State has built a 9-1 (.900) record in season openers.
Scouting the Statesmen
With Conerly Trophy winner Patrick Shegog graduating, Redshirt Senior quarterback Cole Kirk will seek to be under center, leading the Statesmen in 2024 as he begins his third season starting under center and first start since the 2022 season.
Kirk (6-3, 179) completed 124 of 213 passes for 1,332 yards and 5 touchdowns during his career. The Selmer, Tenn., native helped the Statesmen to victories with 18 appearances at quarterback, starting with the during the 2021-22 seasons. Kirk started the 2022 season opener at Kentucky State where he threw for 174 yards and a touchdown in the 33-10 victory over the Thorobreds. Kirk's career high game came in 2021 where he completed 33 of 54 passes for 294 yards and a touchdown against North Greenville
Southern Miss Transfer Jake Lange (6-2, 197) Is a part of the quarterback room for the Statesmen for this season. Lange appeared in 7 games and made four starts for the Golden Eagles. The academic All-Conference USA member threw for 843 yards with five touchdowns in the 2021 season. Lange will provide quality depth behind Kirk, along with redshirt freshmen Reed Miller (6-1, 185) and Garrett Ames (6-2, 180).
Up front, the Statesmen return their right side of the offensive line along veteran linemen from the transfer portal. That right side of the offensive line includes All-GSC redshirt senior Gavin Campbell, Senior Jaelon Brown, and senior Nolan Troyer. Campbell (6-5, 290), a first-team All-GSC performer in 2023, has started 12 consecutive games for the Statesmen after transferring from an FCS program in Austin Peay.
Brown (6-5, 310), a 2023 first-team All-GSC performer, has made 23 consecutive career starts during his Delta State career, while senior Troyer (6-2, 290), First-Team All-GSC member, has made 12 career starts as a Statesmen. Senior QuDarius Hodges (6-3, 306), and redshirt junior Gabe Schweitzer (6-4, 305) will represent the left side of the offensive line in 2024. Schweitzer has made 10 appearances for the Statesmen in the 2023 season, while Hodges made one appearance.
The veteran transfers include graduate Steven Wakefield and graduate Jacob Cox (6-3, 310). Wakefield (6-1, 280) appeared in 14 games in his three seasons at Savannah State, while Cox (6-3, 310) played in 13 contests for Central Arkansas.
Junior Logan Browning (6-6, 275), redshirt junior Jacob McCaskill (6-5, 280) and Aren Alexander (6-3, 280) return to Delta State for the 2024 season. Browning, McCaskill and Alexander all have made appearances during the 2023 season for the Statesmen.
In the backfield, the Statesmen welcome back a duo of players that logged 30 or more carries in 2023: senior Kelvin Smith, sophom*ore Tamaj Hoffman.
Smith (5-10, 207), a first team All-GSC honoree, carried the ball 149 times for 875 yards (5.4 ypc) and nine touchdowns as a junior in 2023. Hoffman (5-9, 201) added 30 carries for 180 yards (4.2 ypc) and a score in eight games played. He has 69 career rushes for 190 yards (6.2 ypc) and one touchdown as a freshman.
Freshman Nick Clark (5-7, 200), along with transfers Marlon Palmer (5-9, 220), and Qualon Farrar (5-5, 195) also adds depth to the experienced group.
Senior Jaylen Green (6-0,175), and graduate Jalen May (5-10. 174) will seek to lead the Statesmen's loaded wide receiving corps into the 2024 campaign.
May, a 2023 second-team All-GSC honoree led all Statesmen receivers with 35 catches for 549 yards and six touchdowns in the 2023 campaign. Green received preseason All-GSC honors in 2023 where Jaylen caught 28 passes for 479 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 17.1 yards per catch for the season.
The Statesmen wide receiver room brings depth with Graduate Michael Carley (6-5, 210), transfers Ty Crowell (6-0, 205), Myles Hopson (6-1, 185), Neno Lemay (5-10, 180) and junior Curtis Rearden (6-2, 205). Carley caught 7 passes for 56 yards (12.1 ypc). Crowell played in 12 games last season for juco powerhouse East Mississippi. Crowell caught 12 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns in 2023. Hopson transferred in from Mississippi Valley State where he had 12 catches for 60 yards. Lemay transferred from Nicholls State Rearden transferred from Murray State where he played in seven games in 2022. Redshirt freshmen Jaden Gibson (6-5, 175) and Jordan Jernigan (6-2, 210) also will look to be an impact performer for the Gorillas this fall.
At tight end, senior Tycen Gray (6-5, 255) is back after playing in 11 games during junior campaign in 2023. The Farmington, Mo., native caught 11 passes for 78 yards (6.8 ypc) and four touchdowns last year.
Junior Carter Coullard also returns after red shirting during the 2023 campaign. Coullard (6-3, 232) played in one game for the Statesmen during the 2022 season.
The Delta State Defense
The Statesmen return eight players that started five or more games on the defensive side of the ball during the 2023 campaign, led by preseason All-GSC candidate defensive back Marlon Windham.
Windham (6-1, 197), a senior, made 59 tackles (36 solo) with 5.5 tackles-for-loss along with his first career interception against West Alabama last year, garnering second-team All-GSC accolades.
The Statesmen welcome back William Carter along with William Jenkins in the linebacker corps. Carter posted 62 tackles (33 solo) with 3.5 tackles-for-loss, a fumble recovery last year, while Jenkins added 36 stops (25 solo) with 5.5 tackles-for-loss and an interception.
Linebackers Carter Norrie, brings more experience to the linebackers. Norrie (6-1, 223) made 8 tackles (seven solo) a year ago. Juniors J.J. Hudson (6-4, 225) and transfer Tavian Moore (5-11, 195) look to make an impact for the 2024 season.
In the secondary, the Statesmen welcome returners Tye Holsey, Jarius McFarland, Carl Hopkins.
Hopkins (6-2, 190) recorded 14 tackles (12 solo), and an interception vs. Valdosta State during his nine games played in the 2023 campaign. Holsey (6-1, 195) posted 11 tackles (7 solo) with a season best 3 tackles against West Georgia his freshman. McFarland (5-10, 188) made 9 tackles, an interception, and a pass breakup in five games played during 2023.
Transfers Cameron Threatt and Chace Perkins also bring experience to the cornerback room. Threatt (6-0, 170) made five tackles with a pass breakups at Akron last year, while Perkins (6-1, 185) compiled 17 tackles (15 solo) with a PBU while playing nine games for Western New Mexico.
Junior Taylon Doss and junior Jonathan James also bring FBS level experience at the safety positions. Doss (5-11, 186) posted 86 tackles with seven PBUs and two forced fumbles in 32 games at Arkansas State, while James (6-2, 194) transferred from Texas State University.
Redshirt sophom*ore Omarion Foster returns to the secondary with valuable experience at free safety. Foster (6-2, 170) logged 12 tackles including in 2023, for the Statesmen.
On the defensive line, the Statesmen welcome back a trio of standout veterans in Mario Martin, Joseph Barton and Tylenn Bridges.
Martin (6-1, 236), an end, earned preseason All-GSChonors. Last year, Martin posted 23 tackles (12 solo) with four sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 6.0 tackles-for-loss that totaled in 60 yards. Barton (6-1, 295), an interior lineman, made 25 tackles (8 solo) with 4 tackles-for-loss, two forced fumbles and one pass breakup. Bridges (6-1, 290) posted 19 tackles (six solo) with one tackle-for-loss and one quarterback sack.
Graduate Transfer Demetric Barnes (6-4, 255) also brings significant division I game experience to the Delta State interior defensive line. Junior Jacoby Franklin (6-0, 275), will be a presence in the interior defensive line. Sophom*ore Chris Bonner will bring experience and depth to the defensive ends. Bonner (6-3, 230) recorded eight tackles (one solo) and 1.5 tackles-for-loss in seven games for the Statesmen his freshman season.
Additionally, senior Devin Squires (6-4, 250) has transferred to Delta State from Tennessee Tech University and will look to be an impact performer for the Statesmen this fall. Squires recorded 13 tackles and a sack in nine games played for the Golden Eagles in 2023.
Delta State Special Teams
The Statesmen return their core special teams unit members: senior placekicker/kickoff specialist Nick Herber, and senior punter Parker Burleson. At long snapper, the Statesmen have juniors Wade Cannon and Andrew Studer.
Herber (5-7, 175), a 2023 first team All-GSC honoree averaged 59.8 yards on kickoffs with 23 touchbacks among his 89 kicks. Herber also was 10-13 with his career-long 45-yard field goal against Missouri S&T. Burleson (6-2, 167) punted 45 times for a 40.5-yard average. He had four punts of 50 or more yards and placed 21 kicks inside the opponent 20-yard line. Cannon (6-0, 201), and transfer Andrew Studer (5-9, 230) will exclusively handle the Statesmen's long snapping chores this season.
Taylon Doss will be returning punts, while Jalen May and Tamaj Hoffman will take care of kickoff return duties.
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