Texas State notebook: Bobcats continue to work the transfer portal to grow their roster

Keff Ciardello
·2 min read
Texas State head coach Jake Spavital emerged from national signing day in February with only 13 signees, but since then the Bobcas have added 12 players, including 10 through the transfer portal. Three transfers committed this week.
Texas State head coach Jake Spavital emerged from national signing day in February with only 13 signees, but since then the Bobcas have added 12 players, including 10 through the transfer portal. Three transfers committed this week.

SAN MARCOS — Texas State continues to recruit through the NCAA transfer portal, adding three more pledges this week: Kansas offensive tackle Larson Workman, Montana State wide receiver Charles Brown and Cisco College tight end Titus Lyons.

After signing 13 players in its 2022 recruiting class — 11 transfers and two high school prospects — Texas State has added 12 commitments since national signing day, including 10 transfers.

Workman (6 feet 5, 285 pounds) entered the portal April 14. He turned down offers from Tulsa and Coastal Carolina and will have four years of eligibility left. Brown (5-11, 170) put his name in the portal April 26. He played in only four games last season at Montana State, catching two passes for 16 yards, and also will have four years left. Lyons (6-4, 215), a former receiver, is the second tight end the Bobcats have added, along with Coastal Carolina transfer DJ Johnson.

It hasn't been all transfers for the Bobcats, though. Rockwall kicker Michael James pledged last week. In February, he pledged to be a preferred walk-on at UCLA, but he backed out of that in April. He had also received an offer from Memphis.

James handled field goal and kickoff duties for Rockwall last season; he converted all 68 extra-point attempts and was 7-for-10 on field goals, with a long of 52 yards.

Softball: Texas State carried a 17-game winning streak into Friday's Sun Belt Tournament semifinal matchup with top-seeded Louisiana. The winner will advance to Saturday afternoon's championship game; the loser can still make it to the title game by winning an elimination game Saturday morning.

The Bobcats, seeded third, won their first two tournament games 2-0 over Appalachian State and 4-2 over South Alabama.

Baseball: After sweeping Louisiana-Monroe last weekend, Texas State is hosting Louisiana this weekend. The Bobcats (30-17, 17-7) are on top of the conference standings; this is the final regular-season home series and the next-to-last regular-season series. The conference tournament will begin May 24.

Men’s basketball: The Bobcats received two pledges this week — one transfer, Florida forward Tuon Gatkek, and one local high school prospect, San Marcos point guard Kaden Gumbs. Gatkek (6-9) started his career at Trinity Valley College, then spent one season on Florida's bench, averaging 1.7 points and 1.8 rebounds. Gumbs (6-1) opted to play in his hometown over offers from UTSA, North Texas and Western Kentucky.

Track and field: Texas State is competing in the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships this weekend in Mobile, Ala. UCLA transfer Alyssa Wilson has already secured the Sun Belt title in the hammer throw, setting a meet record with her throw of 70.73 meters. The meet will conclude Saturday.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Jake Spavital, Texas State keep working the transfer portal, add three