Football | 8/31/2022 7:27:00 PM

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The Mississippi Valley State University football program will get its season underway in front of a nationally televised ESPN+ audience Thursday evening when the Devils roll into Stephenville to battle the Tarleton Texans.

What You Need to Know:

• Time and Date: Thursday, September 1, 2022 (7 p.m.)
• Video: https://plus.espn.com/ (ESPN+)
• Audio: http://www.glineradio.com/ (G-Line Radio with Lee Hall & Joshua Davis)
• Live Stats: http://statb.us/b/410409
• Tickets: https://tarletontickets.universitytickets.com/w/default.aspx
• Fall 2021 Records: Mississippi Valley State (4-7, 3-5 SWAC) | Tarleton (6-5, 2-3 WAC)
• Location: Stephenville, Texas – Memorial Stadium
• Series History: First Meeting
• Last Meeting: First Meeting
• Winning Streak: First Meeting 
• All-Time History vs. WAC Opponents: WAC Leads 3-0

Key Returners (Offense):
 

• #1 Jalani Eason (Gr. | Quarterback | Los Angeles, California | Portland State | Juniperro Serra HS)
  • 44th in FCS in completion percentage (0.600)
  • 47th in FCS in passing yards per completion (12.17)

 

• #3 Caleb Johnson (R-Jr. | Running Back | Memphis, Tennessee | Memphis Academy of Health Sciences)
  • 14th among all active players (FCS) in career carries per game (14.50)
  • BOXTOROW HBCU Preseason All-American
  • Preseason Black College Football Player Of The Year Watch List
  • Preseason All-SWAC 1st Team
  • HBCU Sports Preseason All-SWAC 1st Team
  • Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC 1st Team
  • Preseason C Spire Conerly Trophy Watch List
  • HERO Sports FCS Sophomore All-American
  • All-SWAC 2nd Team
  • Phil Steele All-SWAC 2nd Team
  • C Spire Conerly Trophy Finalist
  • 1,000 Yard Rushing Season (1,004)
  • 14th in FCS in rushing yards (1,004)
  • 18th in FCS in rushing yards per game (91.3)
  • 47th in FCS in rushing touchdowns (8)

 

• #4 Jacory Rankin (Sr. | Wide Receiver | Port Gibson, Mississippi | Jones College | Port Gibson HS)
  • HBCU Sports Preseason All-SWAC 2nd Team
  • Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC 3rd Team
  • Phil Steele All-SWAC 4th Team

 

• #62 Rodney Luckett (Sr. | Offensive Line | Jackson, Mississippi | Callaway HS)
  • Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC 2nd Team
  • Graded as PFF's top run blocker among FCS centers

 
Key Returners (Defense):
 

• #52 Deione Reed (Gr. | Linebacker | Monroe, Louisiana | Richwood HS)
  • Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC 2nd Team
  • Phil Steele All-SWAC 4th Team

 

• #99 Jalen Bell (Jr. | Defensive Line | Detroit, Michigan | Martin Luther King Jr. HS)
  • Preseason All-SWAC 2nd Team
  • HBCU Sports Preseason All-SWAC 2nd Team
  • Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC 2nd Team
  • Preseason C Spire Conerly Trophy Watch List
  • Phil Steele All-SWAC 3rd Team

 

• #26 Caleb Brunson (Sr. | Defensive Back | Laurel, Mississippi | Heidelberg HS)
  • Preseason All-SWAC 2nd Team
  • Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC 3rd Team
  • Preseason C Spire Conerly Trophy Watch List

 

• #50 Ronnie Thomas (Sr. | Defensive Line | Clinton, Mississippi | East Central CC | Clinton HS)
  • Preseason All-SWAC 1st Team
  • HBCU Sports Preseason All-SWAC 1st Team
  • Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC 2nd Team
  • Preseason C Spire Conerly Trophy Watch List
  • All-SWAC 2nd Team
  • Phil Steele All-SWAC 3rd Team

 

• Key Returners (Special Teams):

 

• #16 Orlando Fernandez (Jr. | Specialist | Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico | Cisco College | San Antonio Brennan HS)
  • HBCU Sports Preseason All-SWAC 2nd Team
  • Phil Steele All-SWAC 2nd Team
  • 17th in FCS in punting (43.2)
  • 40th in FCS in field goals per game (1.00)
  • SWAC Special Teams Player Of The Week (11/15)

 

• #14 Donald Johnson III (Sr. | Wide Receiver | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Southern-Shreveport | Belaire HS)
  • 28th among all active players (FCS) in career kickoff return yards per game (36.4)
  • Phil Steele All-SWAC 3rd Team
  • 42nd in FCS in combined kick returns (397)

Key Losses (Offense): 
 

• N/A

 
Key Losses (Defense): 
 

• Keonte' Daniels (Defensive Back)
  • FCS National Bowl Participant (12/12)
  • Phil Steele All-SWAC 1st Team
  • All-SWAC 2nd Team

 

• Volme Swanier (Linebacker)
  • Phil Steele All-SWAC 2nd Team

 

• William Morgan (Defensive Back)
  • FCS National Bowl Participant (12/12)
  • 14th in FCS in fumble recoveries (2)

 

• Jeremiah Caine (Defensive Line)
  • HBCU Legacy Bowl Participant (2/19)
  • Spirit of America Bowl Participant (1/13 - 1/16)
  • College Gridiron Showcase Participant (1/8 - 1/12)
  • Small College Showcase Participant (1/7 - 1/9)
  • Podyum All Star Bowl Participant (1/6 - 1/9)
  • HBCU Pigskin Showdown Participant (12/19)
  • FCS National Bowl Defensive MVP (12/12)
  • FCS National Bowl Participant (12/12)
  • FAF Senior Bowl Participant (12/2 - 12/4)

 

• Jerry Garner (Defensive Line)
  • HBCU Legacy Bowl Participant (2/19)
  • NFL HBCU Combine Participant (1/28 - 1/29)
  • Spirit of America Bowl Participant (1/13 - 1/16)
  • Small College Showcase Participant (1/7 - 1/9)
  • Podyum All Star Bowl Participant (1/6 - 1/9)
  • HBCU Pigskin Showdown Participant (12/19)
  • FCS National Bowl Participant (12/12)
  • FAF Senior Bowl Participant (12/2 - 12/4)
  • Preseason All-SWAC 2nd Team
  • Phil Steele All-SWAC 2nd Team

 
Key Losses (Special Teams): 
 

• N/A

Key Newcomers (Offense):
 

• #8 Jamari Jones (Jr. | Quarterback | Fannin, Mississippi | East Mississippi CC | Northwest Rankin HS)
  • HBCU Sports Preseason SWAC Newcomer of the Year
  • The top-ranked JUCO signal-caller in the country, Jones led the Lions to a MACCC Championship this season as he threw for 2,153 yards and 27 touchdowns while completing 64% of his passes (179-for-279). As a runner, the Northwest Mississippi High School alumni contributed another 573 yards and another six scores, averaging 6.9 yards per pop. A three-star prospect and the 80th-best overall player in the nation according to 247Sports, he had been getting serious interest from schools such as 2022 Sugar Bowl participants Ole Miss and Baylor, SEC bowl qualifiers Missouri and South Carolina, Bret Bielema's Illinois out of the Big Ten, SWAC champion Jackson State, fellow Mississippi conference-mate Alcorn, and 2021 FCS Playoff qualifier Tennessee-Martin.

 

• #60 Kentario Davis (Jr. | Offensive Line | Crystal Springs, Mississippi | Jones College | Crystal Springs HS)
  • Started for two seasons on the Bobcats' o-line, earning an All-MACCC Second Team selection last year while paving the way for the 2,000-yard career of running back La'Damian Webb.

 

• #67 Javin Grifin (Fr. | Offensive Line | St. Martinsville, Louisiana | St. Martinsville HS)
  • During his senior season with the Tigers, Griffin was a driving force behind the performance of his quarterback Tanner Harrison and running back Steven Blanco, who both produced 1,000-yard rushing campaigns with the help of the 300-pounder.

 

• #40 Ghana Oboh (Fr. | Running Back | Miami, Florida | Miami Central HS)
  • A three-star recruit on 247Sports, Oboh also had an offer on the table from Conference USA member Florida Atlantic, which he spurned for the Delta Devils. He appeared in seven games for Florida's 2021 5A State Champions, posting 470 rushing yards over 65 carries and five scores including two 100-plus yard performances and a 7.2 yards per tote average.

Key Newcomers (Defense):
 

• #44 Stefon Smith (Jr. | Defensive Line | Indianola, Mississippi | Hinds CC | Indianola Academy)
  • Saw action in all 12 for the Eagles last season, registering 40 tackles (27 solo), eight tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble. He had a season-high seven takedowns against MGCCC, a full sack plus two tackles for loss opposite Southwest Mississippi CC, and his pass breakup came versus Jones College.

 

• #29 Malcom Johnson (Jr. | Defensive Back | Houston, Texas | Langston | Dekaney HS)
  • Was a game changer for the NAIA Langston Lions this year, going for 47 tackles (32 solo), three passes defensed and two interceptions. He had two games with at least 12 tackles including a season-best 15 in a win over Ottawa-Arizona. During his season debut at Wayland Baptist, the ball hawk snagged a pick and raced 60 yards to the house for a touchdown during a 50-0 beat down of the Pioneers.

 

• #5 Abdural Lee (Jr. | Defensive Back | Starkville, Mississippi | Copiah-Lincoln CC | Starkville HS)
  • Averaged 10.1 tackles per game for the Wolves (48 solo, 43 assisted) plus one interception versus East Mississippi Community College in 2021.

 

• #90 Detrick Jones (Fr. | Defensive Line | Huntsville, Alabama | Grissom HS)
  • Jones was a 7A Region 4 First Teamer, named to the First Team All-Metro and was a captain of Alabama's North vs. South All Star Team. He notched 79 tackles his senior season with 43 being solo to go along with 22 tackles for loss, 14 quarterback hurries and 1.5 sacks.

Scouting The Tarleton Texans:

A transitioning member to the Football Championship Subdivision, the Texans collected a pair of FCS wins against Lamar (42-21) and Central Arkansas (24-3) while going 5-1 inside the friendly confines of Memorial Stadium.
 
Tarleton projects to place squarely in the middle of the five-team WAC, pegged to finish behind FCS Playoff contender Stephen F. Austin and Abilene Christian but ahead of Southern Utah and Utah Tech, earning one first-place vote in the process.
 
TSU will most likely deploy a former four-star SEC signal caller in Beau Allen, spending the past two seasons with the Kentucky Wildcats.
 
Five Purple and White clad student-athletes were named to the Preseason All-Conference teams including a pair of offensive lineman, Kendall Dearth and Blake Haynes, and one member of each defensive unit; Javier Duran (defensive line), D.J. Harris (linebacker), and Donovan Banks (defensive back).

*All stats are from the Fall 2021 season.

Follow the Mississippi Valley State football program on Twitter (@ValleyStateFB) and Instagram (@ValleyStateFB).

Follow the Delta Devils and Devilettes on Facebook (Valley State Athletics), Twitter (@MVSUDevilSports) and Instagram (@ValleyStateAthletics).