2025 Sam Houston Bearkats football team

2025 Sam Houston Bearkats football
Conference	Conference USA
Record	0–3 (0–1 CUSA)
Head coach	Phil Longo (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Zack Patterson (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Air raid
Defensive coordinator	Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay (1st season)
Base defense	3–3–5
Home stadium	Shell Energy Stadium
Seasons ←  2024 2026 →

2025 Conference USA football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Western Kentucky		1	–	0					2	–	1
Jacksonville State		1	–	0					1	–	1
New Mexico State		0	–	0					2	–	0
Delaware*		0	–	0					1	–	1
FIU		0	–	0					1	–	1
Louisiana Tech		0	–	0					1	–	1
Missouri State*		0	–	0					1	–	1
UTEP		0	–	0					1	–	1
Middle Tennessee		0	–	0					0	–	2
Kennesaw State		0	–	0					0	–	2
Liberty		0	–	1					1	–	1
Sam Houston		0	–	1					0	–	3
Championship: December 5, 2025
* – Ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules As of September 7, 2025

The 2025 Sam Houston Bearkats football team represents Sam Houston State University in Conference USA (CUSA) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bearkats are led by first-year head coach Phil Longo. ^[1] Due to renovations at Bowers Stadium during the 2025 season, the team will play its home games at Shell Energy Stadium located in Houston, Texas. ^[2]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 23	6:00 p.m.	at Western Kentucky	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	CBSSN	L 24–41	15,312
August 29	8:30 p.m.	UNLV *	Shell Energy Stadium Houston, TX	CBSSN	L 21–38	5,837
September 6	11:00 p.m.	at Hawaii *	Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex Honolulu, HI	Spectrum Sports	L 20–37	11,625
September 20	7:00 p.m.	at Texas *	Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium Austin, TX	SECN+/ESPN+
October 2	8:00 p.m.	at New Mexico State	Aggie Memorial Stadium Las Cruces, NM	CBSSN
October 9	7:00 p.m.	Jacksonville State	Shell Energy Stadium Houston, TX	CBSSN
October 15	6:00 p.m.	UTEP	Shell Energy Stadium Houston, TX	CBSSN
October 31	7:00 p.m.	at Louisiana Tech	Joe Aillet Stadium Ruston, LA	CBSSN
November 8	9:00 p.m.	at Oregon State *	Reser Stadium Corvallis, OR	The CW
November 15	12:00 p.m.	Delaware	Shell Energy Stadium Houston, TX	ESPN Networks
November 22	2:00 p.m.	at Middle Tennessee	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN	ESPN Networks
November 29	12:00 p.m.	FIU	Shell Energy Stadium Houston, TX	ESPN Networks
*Non-conference game All times are in Central time

^[3]

Game summaries

at Western Kentucky

See also: 2025 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

Game One – Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bearkats	3	7	14	0	24
Hilltoppers	7	13	14	7	41

at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY

• Date: August 23
• Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
• Game weather: Sunny, 84 °F (29 °C)
• Game attendance: 15,312
• Referee: Ron Hudson
• TV announcers (CBSSN): Chris Lewis (play-by-play), Robert Turbin (analyst), and Lauren Green (sideline reporter)
• Box score, Recap

Game information

First quarter WKU – Matthew Henry 26-yard pass from Maverick McIvor (John Cannon kick), 8:31. Hilltoppers 7–0. Drive: 9 plays, 87 yards, 2:31. SHSU – R. J. Lopez 40-yard field goal, 4:32. Hilltoppers 7–3. Drive: 4 plays, 3 yards, 1:56. Second quarter SHSU – Hunter Watson 55-yard run (R. J. Lopez kick), 12:24. Bearkats 10–7. Drive: 2 plays, 62 yards, 0:31. WKU – La'Vell Wright 1-yard run (John Cannon kick), 7:06. Hilltoppers 14–10. Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 5:18. WKU – John Cannon 49-yard field goal, 4:57. Hilltoppers 17–10. Drive: 4 plays, 4 yards, 0:56. WKU – John Cannon 42-yard field goal, 0:24. Hilltoppers 20–10. Drive: 11 plays, 38 yards, 2:26. Third quarter SHSU – Alton McCaskill 2-yard run (R. J. Lopez kick), 13:29. Hilltoppers 20–17. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:31. SHSU – JaMair Diaz 43-yard fumble return (R. J. Lopez kick), 11:58. Bearkats 24–20. WKU – K. D. Hutchinson 9-yard pass from Maverick McIvor (John Cannon kick), 8:10. Hilltoppers 27–24. Drive: 9 plays, 87 yards, 3:41. WKU – Marvis Parrish 22-yard pass from Maverick McIvor (John Cannon kick), 4:47. Hilltoppers 34–24. Drive: 4 plays, 87 yards, 1:20. Fourth quarter WKU – Maverick McIvor 4-yard run (John Cannon kick), 10:17. Hilltoppers 41–24. Drive: 6 plays, 81 yards, 2:17.

Statistics	SHSU	WKU
First downs	14	26
Total yards	382	506
Rushing yards	173	105
Passing yards	209	401
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	19–30–1	33–51–0
Time of possession	27:04	32:56

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sam Houston	Passing	Hunter Watson	19/30, 209 yards, INT
	Rushing	Hunter Watson	14 carries, 91 yards, TD
	Receiving	Elijah Green	7 receptions, 61 yards
Western Kentucky	Passing	Maverick McIvor	33/51, 401 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Marvis Parrish	12 carries, 52 yards
	Receiving	Matthew Henry	7 receptions, 148 yards, TD

vs. UNLV

See also: 2025 UNLV Rebels football team

Game Two – UNLV Rebels (1–0) at Sam Houston Bearkats (0–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Rebels	14	10	7	7	38
Bearkats	7	0	0	14	21

at Shell Energy Stadium • Houston, TX

• Date: Friday August 29, 2025
• Game time: 8:30 p.m. CDT
• Game attendance: 5,837
• Referee: Rodney Burnette
• TV announcers (CBSSN): Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Robert Turbin (analyst) and Tiffany Blackmon (sideline)

Game information

First quarter UNLV – Jaden Bradley 43-yard pass from Anthony Colandrea (Ramon Villela kick), 12:19. Rebels 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 68 yards, 2:33. SHSU – Hunter Watson 6-yard run (RJ Lopez kick), 8:42. Tied 7–7. Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 3:37. UNLV – DeAngelo Irvin Jr. 3-yard pass from Anthony Colandrea (Ramon Villela kick), 0:32. Rebels 14–7. Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 8:10. Second quarter UNLV – Ramon Villela 29-yard field goal, 9:41. Rebels 17–7. Drive: 12 plays, 70 yards, 5:08. UNLV – Aaamaris Brown 52-yard interception return (Ramon Villela kick), 7:15. Rebels 24–7. Third quarter UNLV – Jai'Den Thomas 3-yard run (Ramon Villela kick), 11:22. Rebels 31–7. Drive: 5 plays, 67 yards, 1:59. Fourth quarter SHSU – Landan Brown 53-yard run (pass failed), 14:15. Rebels 31–13. Drive: 6 plays, 73 yards, 2:23. UNLV – Anthony Colandrea 13-yard run (Ramon Villela kick), 7:05. Rebels 38–13. Drive: 6 plays, 51 yards, 2:52. SHSU – Tim Burns Jr. 59-yard pass from Mabrey Mettauer (Mabrey Mettauer-Qua'Vez Humphreys pass), 5:01. Rebels 38–21. Drive: 5 plays, 68 yards, 1:57.

Statistics	UNLV	SHSU
First downs	21	20
Total yards	404	332
Rushing yards	155	145
Passing yards	249	187
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	19–23–1	19–35–1
Time of possession	29:42	30:18

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UNLV	Passing	Anthony Colandrea	19/23, 249 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Jai'Den Thomas	9 carries, 65 yards, TD
	Receiving	Jaden Bradley	6 receptions, 125 yards, TD
Sam Houston	Passing	Hunter Watson	11/22, 101 yards
	Rushing	Landan Brown	10 carries, 85 yards, TD
	Receiving	Tim Burns Jr.	1 reception, 59 yards, TD

at Hawaii

See also: 2025 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team

Game Three – Sam Houston Bearkats (0–2) at Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (1–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0
Rainbow Warriors	0	0	0	0	0

at Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex • Honolulu, HI

• Date: Saturday September 6, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	SHSU	HAW
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Hawaii	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Texas

See also: 2025 Texas Longhorns football team

Game Four – Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) at Texas Longhorns (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0
Longhorns	0	0	0	0	0

at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium • Austin, TX

• Date: Saturday September 20, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	SHSU	TEX
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Texas	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at New Mexico State

See also: 2025 New Mexico State Aggies football team

Game Five – Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) at New Mexico State Aggies (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0
Aggies	0	0	0	0	0

at Aggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, NM

• Date: Thursday October 2, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	SHSU	NMSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
New Mexico State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Jacksonville State

See also: 2025 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team

Game Six – Jacksonville State Gamecocks (0–0) at Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Gamecocks	0	0	0	0	0
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0

at Shell Energy Stadium • Houston, TX

• Date: Thursday October 9, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	JVST	SHSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Jacksonville State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. UTEP

See also: 2025 UTEP Miners football team

Game Seven – UTEP Miners (0–0) at Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Miners	0	0	0	0	0
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0

at Shell Energy Stadium • Houston, TX

• Date: Wednesday October 15, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	UTEP	SHSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UTEP	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Louisiana Tech

See also: 2025 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team

Game Eight – Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0
Bulldogs	0	0	0	0	0

at Joe Aillet Stadium • Ruston, LA

• Date: Friday October 31, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	SHSU	LT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Louisiana Tech	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Oregon State

See also: 2025 Oregon State Beavers football team

Game Nine – Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) at Oregon State Beavers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0
Beavers	0	0	0	0	0

at Reser Stadium • Corvallis, OR

• Date: Saturday November 8, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	SHSU	ORST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Oregon State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Delaware

See also: 2025 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team

Game Ten – Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (0–0) at Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Fightin' Blue Hens	0	0	0	0	0
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0

at Shell Energy Stadium • Houston, TX

• Date: Saturday November 15, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	DEL	SHSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Delaware	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Middle Tennessee

See also: 2025 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team

Game Eleven – Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) at Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0
Blue Raiders	0	0	0	0	0

at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TN

• Date: Saturday November 22, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	SHSU	MTSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Middle Tennessee	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. FIU

See also: 2025 FIU Panthers football team

Game Twelve – FIU Panthers (0–0) at Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	0	0	0	0	0
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0

at Shell Energy Stadium • Houston, TX

• Date: Saturday November 29, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	FIU	SHSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
FIU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Personnel

Roster

2025 Sam Houston Bearkats football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 0 Darrick Bledsoe III  So WR 1 Aviyon Smith-Mack Jr WR 2 Kaleb Black  So QB 3 Mabrey Mettauer  Fr WR 4 Michael Phoenix II  Sr WR 5 Lonnie Adkism  So WR 6 Grady O'Neill  Jr WR 7 Qua'Vez Humphreys  Sr QB 8 Landyn Locke Fr RB 9 Jerrian Parker Jr. So QB 10 Hunter Watson  Sr WR 11 Malik Phillips  Sr TE 12 Austin Smith  Sr QB 15 DJ Bailey  Fr WR 18 Fatu Mukuba So TE 19 Rayfield Lotten  So RB 21 Elijah Green  Sr RB 22 Alton McCaskill  Sr RB 25 Ah'Marion Gaines-Smith Jr RB 28 Shane Porter Sr RB 34 Landan Brown  So RB 38 Adrian Murdaugh  Sr RB 41 Trey Taylor  Fr OL 54 Mich'le Joseph Jr OL 56 Luke Eckardt Sr OL 57 Zo'Maryon Bryan Jr OL 59 Graceson Jackson-Smith  Sr OL 62 Carter Buchheit  Fr OL 63 Cam Todd  Jr OL 67 Isaac Sohn So OL 68 Jeremiah Edmond  So OL 69 Logan Cahill Fr OL 70 Rhett Larson  Jr OL 71 James Dawn II Sr OL 72 Quinton Williams Jr OL 74 Graceson Spann Fr OL 75 William McCollum Sr OL 76 Payton McDonald Jr OL 77 Kevin Kalonji Sr OL 79 Kolt Dieterich  So WR 80 Tim Burns Jr. Jr RB 81 Xander Cheek  So TE 82 Cooper Stevens  Fr WR 83 Matthew Tatum  So WR 84 London Deyon Fr TE 85 Dylan Burk Fr TE 86 Thomas Jewett  Jr WR 87 Chris Reed Jr WR 88 Terrance Guillory II  Fr TE 89 Fernando Garza III  Sr	Defense Pos. # Name Class DB 0 Alonzo Edwards Jr. GS LB 1 JaMair Diaz Jr DB 2 Cecil Powell GS DB 3 Trey Harris GS DB 4 Jaidan Scott  Jr DB 5 Jalyn Stanford  So LB 6 Antavious Fish GS DB 7 Emon Allen  Sr LB 8 CJ Johnson  Sr DB 9 Jace Arnold  So B 10 Jacob Robinson Jr DB 12 Tyler Bailey  Jr DE 14 Bryen Spaulding Jr DB 16 Joe Swen  So DE 17 Christopher Eaton Jr. GS DB 20 Dravon Wilson  Fr DL 23 AJ Sargent  Sr DB 24 CJ Brown Sr LB 26 Tokyo Gordon Jr DB 27 Maurice Mathis Jr DB 29 Lyric Smith  Fr LB 30 Dean Ford  Fr DB 31 Dax Horany  So DB 32 Quan Williams  Sr DL 33 Zeiqui Lawton  Sr DB 35 Cadiin Johnson  Sr DB 36 Octavius Henderson Jr OLB 37 Jacquis Ishmeal Jr. Sr DB 39 Davion Green Jr DB 40 Railyn Adams  Fr DB 41 Braylen Wortham Fr OLB 42 Ca'lub Holloway  Jr LB 43 Jayveon Johnson Fr DE 44 Brody Henderson Fr LB 45 Eli Wallace  So LB 47 Cartier Okopie Fr DE 48 Chauncey Chidi  Jr LB 50 Cole Worthington So DL 51 Jaredh Frayre  So DL 58 Joshua Frayre  So DT 90 Darien Jackson  So DL 92 Anthony Shorter Fr DL 93 Caius Coy Fr DL 94 Josiah Stephens  Fr DT 95 She'Fon Boyd So DL 97 Dylan Frazier  Jr DL 98 Quardale Patt Sr DL 99 Keelan Cox  Sr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class P 35 Curtis Gerrand Fr K 37 RJ Lopez GS LS 46 Carson Whitington  Jr LS 47 Jake Fitzgerald Jr K, P 49 Christian Pavon  Sr K 81 Nico Ottomanelli  Fr K 83 Tate Ryan Fr	Head coach Phil Longo Coordinators/assistant coaches Eric Raisbeck – Associate head coach/special teams coordinator/slot receivers Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay – Defensive coordinator Zack Patterson – Offensive coordinator Damien Adams – Defensive tackles Dovonte Edwards – Safeties AJ Hopp – Offensive line Gary McGraw – Cornerbacks Isaac Mooring – Edges Knox Kadum – Offensive analyst Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: July 31, 2025

Transfers

Outgoing

Player	Position	Destination
Jax Brown	QB	Arkansas State
Chris Murray	DL	Auburn
Caleb Weaver	S	Duke
Kendrick DuJour	DE	East Carolina
Kaden Taylor	WR	East Texas A&M
Ben Gehrke	OL	Louisiana-Monroe
Sylas Gomez	QB	Millikin
Mitch Melton	LB	Navarro CC
Matthew Westmoreland	DL	Navarro CC
DJ McKinney	RB	New Mexico
Richard Outland Jr.	DL	North Texas
Quincy Wright	DL	North Texas
David Fisher	DB	North Texas
Trey Fields	LB	North Texas
Da'Veawn Armstead	DB	North Texas
Briceon Hayes	DE	North Texas
S'Maje Burrell	LB	North Texas
Simeon Evans	WR	North Texas
Jyzaiah Rockwell	WR	Prairie View A&M
Jalen O'Neal	DB	Prairie View A&M
Matthew Aribisala	DL	Rice
Jay Ducker	RB	Temple
Denver Warren	DL	UAB
Jase Bauer	QB	UT Martin
John Gentry	RB	UT Martin
Orion Irving	OL	Vanderbilt
Isaiah Cash	S	Virginia Tech
Godgive Ugochukwu	DL	Washburn
Zach Hrbacek	RB	Weber State
Marcus Field	WR	West Texas A&M
Easton Fulton	OL	West Texas A&M
Sincere Jackson	LB	Unknown
Chantson Prox	DB	Unknown
Jadon Cardell	K/P	Unknown
MarKendrick Beall	OL	Unknown
Rushil Patel	WR	Unknown
Colby Sessums	K/P	Unknown
Joe Swen	DB	Withdrawn
Michael Phoenix II	WR	Withdrawn
Fernando Garza III	TE	Withdrawn
Eli Wallace	DE	Withdrawn

Incoming

Player	Position	Previous school
Antavious Fish	LB	Akron
Kaleb Black	WR	Arizona State
Alton McCaskill	RB	Arizona State
CJ Brown	DB	Bowling Green
Chauncey Chidi	DE	Central Missouri
Tokyo Gordon	LB	College of the Sequoias
Trey Harris	S	Cornell
Ah'marion Gaines-Smith	RB	Fresno City CC
She'Fon Boyd	DT	Fullerton College
Cam Todd	OL	Garden City CC
Cade Adams	DL	Georgia Tech
JaMair Diaz	LB	Glenville State
Chris Eaton Jr.	DE	Hampton
Jalyn Stanford	DB	Houston
Elijah Green	RB	Indiana
Payton McDonald	OL	Iowa Western CC
Chris Reed	WR	Itawamba CC
Zo'Maryon Bryan	OL	Kilgore CC
Jaydyn Johnson	DB	Lindenwood
Aviyon Smith-Mack	WR	LIU
Quinton Williams	OL	Louisiana
Kevin Kalonji	OL	Maryland
Rayfield Lotten	TE	Mississippi State
Jake Fitzgerald	LS	Merrimack College
Xander Cheek	RB	Mary Hardin–Baylor
Maurice Mathis	DB	Monterey Peninsula CC
Darien Jackson	DL	Mt. San Antonio CC
Tim Burns Jr.	WR	Navarro CC
Nico Ottomanelli	K	Nebraska
Cole Worthington	LB	Nelson
Isaac Sohn	OL	North Texas
Shane Porter	RB	North Texas
Davion Green	DB	Palomar CC
RJ Lopez	K	Purdue
Bryen Spaulding	DE	San Diego Mesa CC
Octavius Henderson	DB	SEMO
Jerrian Parker	RB	Southern Illinois
AJ Sargent	DL	Tarleton State
Keelan Cox	DL	Texas Southern
AJ Edwards	DB	Texas State
Quinton Williams	OL	Trinity Valley CC
Cecil Powell	DB	Troy
Jacob Robinson	LB	Tyler JC
Zeiqui Lawton	DE	West Virginia
Jace Arnold	DB	Wisconsin
Mabrey Mettauer	QB	Wisconsin
Grady O'Neill	WR	Wisconsin

^{[4] [5]}

Coaching staff additions

Name	New position	Previous team	Previous position
Phil Longo	Head coach	Wisconsin	Offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach
Eric Raisbeck	Associate Head coach, special teams coordinator / slot receivers	Wisconsin	Assistant special teams coordinator
Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay	Defensive coordinator	NC State	Nickels
Zack Patterson	Offensive coordinator	Wisconsin	Football analyst, assistant WRs
Damien Adams	Defensive tackles	Campbell	Defensive line
Dovonte Edwards	Safeties	Elon	Defensive coordinator, defensive backs
AJ Hopp	Offensive line	Southeastern Louisiana	Offensive line coach
Issac Mooring	Edges	Houston Christian	Defensive line

^[6]

References

1. "Longo hired as Bearkat head coach". gobearkats. December 18, 2024. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
2. "Bearkats to host 2025 season at Shell Energy Stadium". Sam Houston. April 7, 2025. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
3. "2025 Sam Houston Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
4. "Sam Houston State Football Transfer Portal". ON3.
5. "Sam Houston Bearkats 2025 College Football Transfer Portal". 247Sports.
6. "Longo hired as Bearkat head coach". gobearkats. December 18, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2025.