Texas State shows off new offense in spring football game

SAN MARCOS — GJ Kinne opted to play it safe for his first spring game at the helm for Texas State, with no official score kept, minimal live tackling and a base scheme on both sides of the ball.

Even with those restrictions in a scrimmage that pitted the offense against the defense, Kinne walked away satisfied.

“We didn’t run gap schemes today. We were zone (blocking),” Kinne said. “The defense, we were straight four-down. We didn’t pressure. We limited certain pressures that we could do. It was a really good product, but it was also really base and vanilla. I thought the tempo was really good today. Overall, we got what we wanted out of it. We stayed healthy.”

While preservation of health was paramount for Kinne, getting a glimpse of a new offense described as “fast-paced” and “vertically, choice-driven” was a close second for those around the program. With no punts, the offense had a handful of drives stopped on downs due to sacks and a botched snap, but the offense had zero turnovers while scoring on seven drives — five rushing touchdowns, one passing TD and a field goal. The offense had 16 plays that went at least 10 yards.

“We’ve got to continue to eliminate the negative plays on offense,” Kinne said. “I thought when we were able to do that and when we stayed on track, we executed pretty well. … You can have a bust or two on defense and nobody knows. On offense, one guy messes up and it’s some kind of negative play — TFL (tackle for a loss), sack, interception. I thought the quarterbacks did a pretty good job of protecting the ball today. Everybody is just getting on the same page, and that’s why you do spring. It’s not going to look great right now.”

As expected, Arkansas transfer Malik Hornsby was the first quarterback out for the offense, completing a 40-yard pass to Incarnate Word transfer Kole Wilson on his first play. He led the offense on two touchdown drives, both set up by deep passes to Wilson before ending on 1-yard running back dives by Calvin Hill and then Donerio Davenport. He had four other drives stopped on fourth down, three of which ended on sacks — one each by defensive linemen Ben Bell, Myron Warren and Terry Webb.

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CJ Rogers was the second quarterback out, and he led the offense to a field goal by Michael James, Rogers also threw the only touchdown pass of the day a few drives later, a short toss to Hill that was set up by a 40-yard pass to receiver Ashtyn Hawkins. Rogers’ other two drives were stopped on fourth down.

“I thought the quarterbacks did a really good job all spring,” Kinne said. “We got to showcase it a little bit today. They took care of the ball. For the most part, they went to the right spot with the ball today. Obviously, they’re not live, so was it a sack? Was it not? You don’t know on some of those. That’s why when you go live, ideally that’s what you do, but it’s just not worth it in the spring.”

Nine sacks were recorded by five defensive linemen, with Bell getting four, Dominique Ratcliffe two and Bryce Cage, Warren and Webb one each. Bell, originally from Cedar Park, sacked Hornsby three times and Rogers once while finishing the day with seven total tackles.

“Ben Bell has had a great spring. He really has,” Kinne said. “He’s caused a lot of issues for the offense. I think it goes back to the (defensive backs). They’ve had a really solid spring. (Linebacker) Brian Holloway is another guy who has had a really good spring. I thought Ben Bell, just sitting there without watching film, was in our backfield a lot. He’s a really good player. I’m glad we’ve got him.”

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Changes are imminent as Kinne is still shaping his 2023 class through the transfer portal. After center Silas Robinson recently left for Incarnate Word, the Bobcats hosted two Oklahoma offensive linemen, Brey Walker and Marcus Alexander, and Alexander committed last week. UCF quarterback Thomas Castellanos visited Texas State’s spring game two days after he announced he was in the portal, and Incarnate Word defensive back Shawn Holton committed at the spring game. Holton would be the eighth Incarnate Word transfer, the second defensive back, when signed.

“We still have to recruit,” Kinne said. “We still have to get this thing to where we want it. We’re not playing a game, thankfully, next week. But I think the guys are doing a really good job.”

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas State shows off new look in spring football game