2025 Jackson State Tigers football team

2025 Jackson State Tigers football
SWAC East Division co-champion
SWAC Championship Game, L 21–23 vs. Prairie View A&M
Conference	Southwestern Athletic Conference
Division	West Division
Ranking
FCS Coaches	No. 22
Record	9–3 (7–1 SWAC)
Head coach	T. C. Taylor (3rd season)
Co-offensive coordinators	Rip Kirk (1st season) Manny Ramirez (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	Aaron Jackson (1st season)
Base defense	4–2–5
Home stadium	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
Seasons ←  2024 2026 →

2025 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
Jackson State xy		7	–	1					9	–	3
Alabama State x		7	–	1					10	–	2
Bethune–Cookman		5	–	3					6	–	6
Florida A&M		4	–	4					5	–	7
Alabama A&M		1	–	7					4	–	8
Mississippi Valley State*		1	–	7					2	–	10
West Division
Prairie View A&M xy$		7	–	1					10	–	4
Texas Southern		5	–	3					6	–	5
Alcorn State		4	–	4					5	–	7
Grambling State		4	–	4					7	–	5
Arkansas–Pine Bluff*		2	–	6					4	–	8
Southern		1	–	7					2	–	10
Championship: Prairie View A&M 23, Jackson State 21
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant * – Ineligible for FCS postseason play due to failed academic requirements [1] Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2025 Jackson State Tigers football team represented Jackson State University as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Tigers were led by third-year head coach T. C. Taylor and played at the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Mississippi.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	2:00 p.m.	Hampton *	No. 17	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS	HBCU Go	W 28–14	13,576
September 6	4:00 p.m.	at Southern Miss *	No. 15	M. M. Roberts Stadium Hattiesburg, MS	ESPN+	L 20–38	32,011
September 13	2:00 p.m.	Tuskegee *	No. 19	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS	SWAC TV	W 30–0	18,642
September 27	6:00 p.m.	at Southern	No. 19	A. W. Mumford Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)	ESPN+	W 38–13	27,487
October 4	4:00 p.m.	vs. Alabama A&M	No. 17	Ladd–Peebles Stadium Mobile, AL	HBCU Go	W 57–24	14,517
October 11	2:30 p.m.	Alabama State	No. 15	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS	ESPNU	W 38–34	44,000
October 25	5:00 p.m.	vs. Grambling State	No. 12	Allegiant Stadium Las Vegas, NV (Las Vegas HBCU Classic)	HBCU Go	L 24–26	29,655
November 1	6:00 p.m.	at Florida A&M	No. 23	Bragg Memorial Stadium Tallahassee, FL	ESPN+	W 41–16	13,104
November 8	2:00 p.m.	at Mississippi Valley State	No. 23	Rice–Totten Stadium Itta Bena, MS	SWAC TV	W 42–3	8,927
November 15	12:00 p.m.	Bethune–Cookman	No. 22	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS	theGrio	W 28–13	23,348
November 22	2:30 p.m.	Alcorn State	No. 20	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS (Soul Bowl)	ESPN+	W 27–21	44,097
December 6	1:00 p.m.	Prairie View A&M	No. 20	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS (SWAC Championship)	ESPN2	L 21–23	32,187
*Non-conference game Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^{[2] [3]}

Roster

2025 Jackson State Tigers football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class RB 0 Travis Terrell Jr. So WR 1 Shemar Savage GS WR 2 Ja'Naylon Dupree Sr WR 3 Nate Rembert Jr WR 4 Tyquan Henderson GS WR 5 Kobe Paul GS WR 6 Joanes Fortilien  Jr WR 7 Jameel Gardner Jr.  Jr RB 8 Kenan Christon II GS RB 9 Desmond Moultrie GS RB 10 Donerio Davenport Sr QB 11 Jared Lockhart Fr QB 12 Parker Stofa  Fr WR 13 Jabari Jones Fr RB 14 Bryson Moss GS QB 15 Jacobian Morgan GS WR 17 Errick Simmons GS QB 18 Ethan Terrell  Fr RB 22 Nate Blount IV  Fr RB 27 Ahmad Miller  So RB 30 Emari Matthews  Jr RB 33 Jeremiah Wilson Jr. Fr RB 35 Trevon Evans Fr TE 45 Kenneth Jiles Jr. GS OL 51 Alex Valbuena  Jr OL 54 Ace Meadows So OL 55 Kale Armstrong Fr OL 56 Brian Williams Jr.  Fr OL 58 Cameron James GS OL 59 Jamal Gowans Fr OL 60 Devin Love  Fr OL 61 Cyson Burk  Fr OL 62 Almetrius Smith Jr.  Sr OL 65 Mason Barton So OL 66 Jackson King  Fr OL 69 Dequarious White  So OL 70 Ryan Anderson Fr OL 72 Isaiah Villanneuva  Jr OL 74 D'Andre Townes-Blue GS OL 75 Xavion Davis So OL 77 Bruno Zandamela  Jr OL 79 Quaveon Davis Jr TE 81 Jency Riley GS WR 82 Cameron Onyebuagu  Fr TE 83 Sebastien Saint-Louis  So WR 84 Amarion Brown Fr TE 85 Darren Bennett  Sr TE 88 Marvin Landy GS	Defense Pos. # Name Class DL 0 Jeremiah Williams  Sr DB 1 Khamauri Rogers GS DB 2 Levi Wyatt Sr LB 3 Ashton Taylor  Jr DB 4 Mike Smith III So DB 5 Shamar Hawkins Sr DL 6 Quincy Ivory Sr LB 7 Reid Pulliam Sr EDGE 8 John Brown GS DB 9 B.J. Washington Sr LB 11 Carmelo Jones So DB 12 Anthony Enechukwu GS DL 14 Jaylan Ware GS DB 15 Kam Sallis  So EDGE 16 Jace Ward  So DB 17 KJ Chisholm So EDGE 18 Kanye Varner Sr DB 19 Frankie Dunn GS DB 23 Camden Hardy  Sr DB 24 Jordan Helton GS LB 25 Kenzavius Lundy Fr DB 26 Josh Higgins GS LB 28 Keith Bass Jr. Fr LB 29 Kam Evans Fr LB 31 Michael Robinson Jr. GS LB 32 J'Cori Hargon  Jr EDGE 40 Braxton Barney  So DB 46 Eric Hughes  So DB 47 Jaylin Acker  So DB 48 Dazerick Patton GS DL 50 Tymon Wells Sr LB 53 Jamarion Davis So LB 57 Bryce Owens  So DL 63 Kejuan Barbee  Sr DL 90 Dimonyai Lacey Sr DL 91 Braylon Brown Fr DL 93 Zalan Barrett  Jr DL 94 Stanley Cooks  So DL 95 Kazarius Bowie GS DL 96 Zyon Gilmore  Jr DL 99 Wayne Patterson Fr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K/P 37 Donovan Warren GS K/P 38 Gerardo Baeza GS LS 43 Chris Levy Fr LS 44 Hunter Burns GS K 86 Simon Naylor Fr P 89 Kye Collins Jr	Head coach T. C. Taylor Coordinators/assistant coaches Otis Riddley (Associate head coach / Tight ends / General manager) Eric Gallon (Assistant head coach / Running backs) Aaron Jackson (Defensive line) Javancy Jones (Special Teams coordinator / Outside linebackers) Rip Kirk (Co-Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks) Mario Magana Jr. (Cornerbacks / Director of Player Personnel) Vincent Marshall (Passing Game Coordinator / Wide receivers) Torenzo Quinn (Defensive coordinator / Secondary) Manny Ramirez (Co-Offensive Coordinator / Offensive line) Justin Sanders (Linebackers) Esaias Guthrie (Defensive Analyst / Assistant safeties) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: August 19, 2025

Game summaries

Hampton

See also: 2025 Hampton Pirates football team

Hampton Pirates (0-0) at No. 17 Jackson State Tigers (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Pirates	7	0	0	7	14
No. 17 Tigers	7	7	0	14	28

at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium • Jackson, MS

• Date: August 30
• Game time: 2:00 PM CDT
• Game weather: Sunny
• Game attendance: 13,576
• Referee: Preston Clipper
• TV announcers (HBCU Go): James Hadnot (play-by-play), Jon Kelley (analyst) and Lawrencia Moten (sideline)

Game information

First Quarter (12:23) HU – Ja'Quan Snipes 3-yard run, Brett Starling kick (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:37; Hampton 7–0) (7:48) JSU – Emari Matthews 2-yard run, Gerardo Baeza kick (Drive: 3 plays, 19 yards, 1:38; Tied 7–7) Second Quarter (14:35) JSU – Donerio Davenport 6-yard run, Gerardo Baeza kick (Drive: 7 plays, 67 yards, 2:44; Jackson State 14–7) Third Quarter No scoring plays Fourth Quarter (10:44) HU – MarShawn Ferguson Jr. 30-yard pass from Isaiah Freeman, Brett Starling kick (Drive: 3 plays, 55 yards, 0:50; Tied 14–14) (5:32) JSU – Ahmad Miller 2-yard run, Gerardo Baeza kick (Drive: 12 plays, 82 yards, 5:03; Jackson State 21–14) (4:00) JSU – Ahmad Miller 76-yard run, Gerardo Baeza kick (Drive: 1 play, 76 yards, 0:13; Jackson State 28–14)

Statistics	HAMP	JKST
First downs	20	19
Total yards	376	426
Rushing yards	175	283
Passing yards	201	143
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	21–29–1	15–30–0
Time of possession	33:33	26:27

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Hampton	Passing	Isaiah Freeman	10/17, 117 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Isaiah Freeman	13 carries, 94 yards
	Receiving	MarShawn Ferguson Jr.	5 receptions, 59 yards, TD
Jackson State	Passing	JaCobian Morgan	15/30, 143 yards
	Rushing	Ahmad Miller	10 carries, 172 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Joanes Fortilien	5 receptions, 43 yards

at Southern Miss (FBS)

See also: 2025 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team

No. 15 Jackson State Tigers (1–0) at Southern Miss Golden Eagles (FBS) (0–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 15 Tigers	3	7	0	10	20
Golden Eagles (FBS)	14	3	7	14	38

at M. M. Roberts Stadium • Hattiesburg, MS

• Date: September 6, 2025
• Game time: 4:00 PM CDT
• Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 87 °F (31 °C) • Wind: NW 7 mph
• Game attendance: 32,011
• Referee: Trennis Livingston
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Jason Baker (play-by-play) and Austin Davis (analyst)

Game information

First quarter USM – Zach Ruffin 30-yard punt return (Reed Harradine kick), 12:06. Golden Eagles 7–0. JKST – Gerardo Baeza 46-yard field goal, 4:45. Golden Eagles 7–3. Drive: 8 plays, 44 yards, 3:45. USM – Bralon Brown 8-yard pass from Braylon Braxton (Reed Harradine kick), 0:23. Golden Eagles 14–3. Drive: 12 plays, 87 yards, 4:15. Second quarter JKST – Emari Matthews 21-yard run (Gerardo Baeza kick), 13:16. Golden Eagles 14–10. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:07. USM – Reed Harradine 35-yard field goal, 10:44. Golden Eagles 17–10. Drive: 7 plays, 58 yards, 2:32. Third quarter USM – Micah Davis 15-yard pass from Braylon Braxton (Reed Harradine kick), 5:29. Golden Eagles 24–10. Drive: 7 plays, 45 yards, 2:48. Fourth quarter USM – Kadinn Morris 10-yard pass from Braylon Braxton (Reed Harradine kick), 14:54. Golden Eagles 31–10. Drive: 11 plays, 65 yards, 3:51. JKST – Gerardo Baeza 40-yard field goal, 13:24. Golden Eagles 31–13. Drive: 4 plays, 0 yards, 1:17. USM – Robert Briggs 15-yard run (Reed Harradine kick), 9:59. Golden Eagles 38–13. Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:25. JKST – Ahmad Miller 8-yard run (Gerardo Baeza kick), 5:32. Golden Eagles 38–20. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:18.

Statistics	JKST	USM
First downs	19	25
Total yards	322	363
Rushes–yards	42–191	36–139
Passing yards	131	224
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	14–28–2	22–32–0
Turnovers	2	0
Time of possession	31:15	28:45

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Jackson State	Passing	Jacobian Morgan	14/27, 131 yards, INT
	Rushing	Travis Terrell Jr.	10 carries, 80 yards
	Receiving	Nate Rembert	4 receptions, 64 yards
Southern Miss	Passing	Braylon Braxton	20/30, 214 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Jeffery Pittman	10 carries, 71 yards
	Receiving	Bralon Brown	3 receptions, 52 yards, TD

Tuskegee (DII)

See also: Tuskegee Golden Tigers football

Tuskegee Golden Tigers (DII) (2-0) at No. 19 Jackson State Tigers (1-1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Tigers (DII)	0	0	0	0	0
No. 19 Tigers	7	14	9	0	30

at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium • Jackson, MS

• Date: September 13
• Game time: 2:00 PM CDT
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 92 °F (33 °C) • Wind: E at 2 miles per hour (3.2 km/h)
• Game attendance: 18,642
• Referee: Eric Bluntson
• TV announcers (SWAC TV): Mo Carter (play-by-play) and Tolly Carr (analyst)

Game information

First Quarter (11:53) JSU – Jared Lockhart 11-yard run, Gerardo Baeza kick (Drive: 5 plays, 52 yards, 2:01; Jackson State 7–0) Second Quarter (14:07) JSU – Jared Lockhart 6-yard run, Gerardo Baeza kick (Drive: 8 plays, 77 yards, 2:51; Jackson State 14–0) (1:55) JSU – Jameel Gardner Jr. 21-yard pass from Jared Lockhart, Gerardo Baeza kick (Drive: 15 plays, 68 yards, 6:18; Jackson State 21–0) Third Quarter (4:28) JSU – Reid Pulliam 0-yard safety (Jackson State 23–0) (0:08) JSU – Parker Stofa 1-yard run, Gerardo Baeza kick (Drive: 8 plays, 63 yards, 4:14; Jackson State 30–0) Fourth Quarter No scoring plays

Statistics	TUSK	JKST
First downs	7	26
Total yards	109	522
Rushing yards	24	266
Passing yards	85	256
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	11–20–0	16–23–1
Time of possession	23:22	36:38

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tuskegee	Passing	Raequan Beal	9/17, 93 yards
	Rushing	Johnny Morris	11 carries, 32 yards
	Receiving	EJ Hall	3 receptions, 39 yards
Jackson State	Passing	Jared Lockhart	15/21, 254 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Ahmad Miller	8 carries, 68 yards
	Receiving	Jameel Gardner Jr.	4 receptions, 85 yards, TD

at Southern (rivalry)

See also: 2025 Southern Jaguars football team and Jackson State–Southern football rivalry

No. 19 Jackson State Tigers (2-1) at Southern Jaguars (1-3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 19 Tigers	7	10	7	14	38
Jaguars	3	10	0	0	13

at A. W. Mumford Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA

• Date: September 27
• Game time: 6:00 PM CDT
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Tiffany Greene (play-by-play) and Jay Walker (analyst)

Statistics	JKST	SOU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Jackson State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Southern	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Alabama A&M

See also: 2025 Alabama A&M Bulldogs football team

No. 17 Jackson State Tigers (3-1) vs. Alabama A&M Bulldogs (3-2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 17 Tigers	10	23	10	14	57
Bulldogs	7	3	14	0	24

at Ladd–Peebles Stadium • Mobile, AL

• Date: October 4
• Game time: 4:00 PM CDT
• TV announcers (HBCU Go): James Hadnot (play-by-play), Jon Kelley (analyst) and Lawrencia Moten (sideline)

Statistics	JKST	AAMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Jackson State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Alabama A&M	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Alabama State

See also: 2025 Alabama State Hornets football team

Alabama State Hornets (4-1) vs. No. 15 Jackson State Tigers (4-1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Hornets	-	-	-	-	0
No. 15 Tigers	-	-	-	-	0

at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium • Jackson, MS

• Date: October 11
• Game time: 2:30 PM CDT
• TV announcers (ESPNU): Tiffany Greene (play-by-play) and Jay Walker (analyst)

Statistics	ALST	JKST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Alabama State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Jackson State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Grambling State

See also: 2025 Grambling State Tigers football team

Grambling State Tigers (4-3) vs. No. 12 Jackson State Tigers (5-1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Grambling State	-	-	-	-	0
No. 12 Jackson State	-	-	-	-	0

at Allegiant Stadium • Paradise, NV

• Date: October 25
• Game time: 3:00 PM PDT
• TV announcers (HBCU Go): James Hadnot (play by play), Jon Kelley (analyst) and Lawrencia Moten (sideline reporter)

Statistics	GRAM	JKST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Grambling State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Jackson State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Florida A&M

See also: 2025 Florida A&M Rattlers football team

No. 23 Jackson State Tigers (5-2) vs. Florida A&M Rattlers (3-4) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 23 Tigers	-	-	-	-	0
Rattlers	-	-	-	-	0

at Bragg Memorial Stadium • Tallahassee, FL

• Date: November 1
• Game time: 7:00 PM EDT
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Tiffany Greene (play by play) and Forrest Conoly (analyst)

Statistics	JKST	FAMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Jackson State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Florida A&M	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Mississippi Valley State

See also: 2025 Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils football team

No. 23 Jackson State Tigers (6-2) vs. Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils (1-7) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 23 Tigers	-	-	-	-	0
Delta Devils	-	-	-	-	0

at Rice–Totten Stadium • Itta Bena, MS

• Date: November 8
• Game time: 2:00 PM CST
• TV announcers (SWAC TV): Charles Bishop (play by play) and Charles Porter (analyst)

Statistics	JKST	MVSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Jackson State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Mississippi Valley State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Bethune–Cookman

See also: 2025 Bethune–Cookman Wildcats football team

Bethune–Cookman Wildcats (5-5) vs. No. 22 Jackson State Tigers (7-2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	-	-	-	-	0
No. 22 Tigers	-	-	-	-	0

at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium • Jackson, MS

• Date: November 15
• Game time: 12:00 PM CST
• TV announcers (TheGrio): Derrin Horton (play by play), Steve Wyche (analyst) and Nia Symone (sideline reporter)

Statistics	BCU	JKST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Bethune–Cookman	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Jackson State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Alcorn State (Soul Bowl)

See also: 2025 Alcorn State Braves football team and Soul Bowl

Alcorn State Braves (5-6) vs. No. 20 Jackson State Tigers (8-2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Braves	-	-	-	-	0
No. 20 Tigers	-	-	-	-	0

at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium • Jackson, MS

• Date: November 22
• Game time: 2:30 PM CST
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Jason Ross Jr. (play by play) and Tyoka Jackson (analyst)

Statistics	ALCN	JKST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Alcorn State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Jackson State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Ranking movements

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
RV = Received votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	Final
STATS FCS	17	15	19	20	19	17	15	14	12	23	23	22	20	20	RV
Coaches	17	14	15	16	17	17	14	13	11	20	19	16	15	12	22

References

1. "Akron handed 2025 bowl ban: Zips flunk out of postseason after failing to meet NCAA academic standings". cbssports.com. CBS Sports. May 6, 2025. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
2. Kelley, Kevin (February 1, 2025). "Jackson State announces 2025 football schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
3. Herder, Sam (May 27, 2025). "2025 Jackson State Football Schedule". Hero Sports. Retrieved July 29, 2025.