Delta State Statesmen Football 2025 Season Preview | GSC Football
Delta State Statesmen Football 2025 Season Preview | GSC Football
Delta State Football returns its starting quarterback and more as the Statesmen head into year 13 under head coach Todd Cooley.
Delta State Football met an unfortunate fate in 2024 in the wake of a 2023 season that saw a NCAA DII Playoffs berth. The Statesmen shifted from a 10-2 overall record to 6-4 in 2024 along with the team’s quarterbacks.
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2023 quarterback Patrick Shegog left big shoes to fill, throwing for 2,618 yards and over 30 touchdowns. New starter Cole Kirk threw for 2,052 yards and 18 touchdowns alongside six interceptions through 10 games. Although the Delta State offense was only outscoring their opponents by less than 10 points on average per game, they ranked third in the GSC in total offensive yards.
Kirk had plenty of options surrounding him, as the team was loaded with receivers, having six players haul in over 100 yards each. Top receiver Jaylen Green caught 33 passes for 621 yards and nine touchdowns, but unfortunately has graduated and will not be returning to be with Kirk for another year.
However, the second-best wide receiver on the squad Neno Lemay, is set to be at Kirk’s side in 2025. Lemay and fellow incoming senior Curtis Rearden are the only two of the six previously mentioned wide receivers to return.
Delta State’s main running back Kelvin Smith, has also turned the page, but Kirk managed to rush for 415 yards and a team-high seven rushing touchdowns to keep up the run game. Rising junior Tamaj Hoffman could pull through to be the next starter, claiming 259 yards on 64 carries.
Retaining Kirk for another year will undoubtedly be beneficial for the Statesmen, and the return of Lemay, Rearden, and Hoffman put Delta State in a comfortable position.
Who Is The Delta State Football Head Coach?
Todd Cooley has been the head coach of Delta State for over a decade, going into his 13th season with the Statesmen in 2025. He currently holds a 75-46 combined record with Delta State and has brought the team to a conference championship and three NCAA DII Playoffs, two of those coming back-to-back in 2022 and 2023.
He has been named the Gulf South Conference coach of the year four times, including his inaugural season in 2013 and most recently in 2023 when the Statesmen reached the second round of NCAA DII Playoffs.
Cooley previously held the role of offensive coordinator at Northwestern Louisiana State, Central Arkansas, and Arkansas Tech University. His combined offensive knowledge and years of head coaching at Delta State have made him a staple at the program.
Delta State Football 2024 Record
- August 29 - Mars Hill University - W, 47-16
- September 7 - Missouri S&T - W, 55-18
- September 14 - Wingate University - L, 7-21
- September 21 - Fort Valley State University - W, 27-24
- September 28 - Erskine College - Cancelled
- October 5 - Chowan University - W, 54-9
- October 12 - University of West Florida - L, 28-40
- October 19 - University of West Alabama - W, 21-6
- October 26 - North Greenville - L, 45-47 (4 OT)
- November 9 - Valdosta State - L, 20-49
- November 16 - Mississippi College - W, 20-14
Delta State Football 2025 Schedule
- August 28 - 6:00 p.m. - Central Missouri
- September 6 - 6:00 p.m. - North Greenville
- September 13 - 12:00 p.m. - UNC Pembroke
- September 20 - TBA - Fort Valley State University
- September 27 - 6:00 p.m. - Erskine College
- October 4 - TBA - Barton College
- October 18 - 1:00 p.m. - Ferrum College
- October 25 - TBA - West Alabama
- November 1 - 3:00 p.m. - West Florida
- November 8 - TBA - Valdosta State
Delta State Football 2025 Roster
- 2 Jairus McFarland DB
- 4 William Carter LB
- 6 Carl Hopkins DB
- 7 Taylon Doss DB
- 9 Curtis Rearden WR
- 10 Neno Lemay WR
- 15 Reed Miller QB
- 16 Garrett Ames QB
- 18 Cole Kirk QB
- 20 Chace Perkins DB
- 21 Faisal Sokoya DB
- 22 Qualon Farrar RB
- 23 Cameron Threatt CB
- 24 Michael King DB
- 26 Tavian Moore DB
- 27 Jonathan James DB
- 28 Tye Holsey DB
- 29 Nycolis Prudhomme SS
- 30 Joshua Phillips LB
- 31 Marlon Palmer RB
- 33 Nick Clark RB
- 35 T.J. Butler DB
- 37 Isaiah Kelsey DB
- 38 Tre'Shun Johnson LB
- 46 Andrew Studer LS
- 48 Kendall Lee LB
- 50 Cade Renfroe LB
- 51 Cooper Gardenhire LB
- 58 Austin Collins DE
- 60 Gabe Schweitzer OL
- 70 Logan Browning OL
- 72 Jessie Shorts OL
- 74 Aedan Hogan OL
- 75 Connor Jones OL
- 78 Jackson Davenport OL
- 80 Timbo Barron TE
- 81 Carter Coullard TE
- 84 Keown Richardson WR
- 85 Alex Rhoades WR
- 89 Jaden Gibson WR
- 94 Jacoby Franklin DL
- 95 Brandon King DL
- 97 TJ Edwards DE
- Jalil Abdullah LB
- Davion Alston RB
- Jeffrey Anderson DL
- Kamran Anderson DE
- Lawrence Armstrong WR
- Taylor Barber DE
- Jamyan Bell CB
- Adairian Blackburn TE
- LaMarcus Brand WR
- Chris Brown DE
- Tristan Chavis S
- Ben Davis OL
- JL Davis QB
- LaDanian Davis DL
- Zae Davis WR
- Anthonee Dunn OL
- Zac Dyer WR
- LeDell Finister OL
- Jackson Fugate TE
- Jordan Fugate TE
- Kearris Gilliam DB
- Troy Griffin WR
- Xavier Havis LB
- Jeffrey Hobbs DL
- Adrian Holley LB
- Rodriguez Hussey DB
- Timothy Jones DB
- Cameron Kelly DL
- Jamison Kelly DB
- TJ Kelly LB
- Harrison Knight WR
- Alex Larry DL
- Jude Locken OL
- Cade Mangum K/P
- Aaron McCardell Jr. FS
- Jordan McKnight DB
- Raymond Morales K/P
- Justin Nelson WR
- Price Nixon K/P
- Cash O'Callaghan DB
- Jayson Parker DL
- Ryan Pascal OL
- Jayden Phifer CB
- Dean Roberts K/P
- Jah'Quii Roberts WR
- Maliek Robertson DL
- Aaron Robinson DL
- Brady Roehm K/P
- Matt Rozier WR
- Jack Sewell DT
- Caydon Smith OL
- Daniel Smith RB
- Brandin Talley LS
- Aaron Taylor OL
- Jacquez Tucker DL
- Charlie Williams DB
Delta State Football Coaching Staff
- Todd Cooley - Head Coach
- Jonathan Fletcher - Assistant Head Coach | Offensive Coordinator | OL Coach
- Chance Alberswerth - Assistant Coach | Defensive Coordinator
- Alex Bell - Assistant Coach | Wide Receivers
- Ty Hinson - Assistant Coach | RB & TE Coach
- Azar Wilson - Assistant Coach | Defensive Line
- Jerod Alton - Assistant Coach | Defensive Backs
- Trenton Powell - Graduate Assistant
- Charlie Lott - Student Assistant
- Seth Salley - Student Assistant
- Lakendal Harris - Student Manager
- Darnecia Hubbard - Student Manager
- A'Lilah Johnson - Student Manager
- Mackalyn Jones - Student Manager
- Quintorion Jones - Student Manager
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