This week’s edition of the Blitz features a large donation to Mary Hardin-Baylor, more projects possibly on the way for UTRGV, and coaching news at Sam Houston, West Texas A&M, and Sul Ross State. Earlier this week, I published a look at one transfer from each Texas FCS school that will make an immediate impact on their new team. You can read the story here or keep reading to see the athletes divided up by conference.

Southland Conference

Houston Christian QB, Colby Suits. The Louisiana-Monroe transfer started eight games for the Warhawks in 2020, throwing for 1,755 yards and nine touchdowns. The North Forney product is the favorite to win the starting job and will need to produce for the Huskies.

Lamar S, Kevin Anderson. Anderson arrives at Beaumont after spending the last four years at Texas State. The Lewisville product played in 45 games, including 14 starts for the Bobcats. He was listed as a top 30 defensive back recruit by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football out of high school.

Texas A&M-Commerce RB, Shamenski Rucker. The Southeast Missouri transfer played in 27 games for the Redhawks over the last three seasons, gaining 723 yards and four touchdowns rushing. The Lions coaching staff is excited to see the Lawrenceville, Ga., native in action during spring drills.

UIW DE Marcus Brown. The Cardinals struck gold in the transfer portal last year with multiple defensive linemen. The transfer from Howard will quickly gain the attention of the opposition. The Lamar High School product finished tied for first in forced fumbles and second in sacks in the MEAC last year.

Southwestern Athletic Conference

Prairie View A&M RB Caleb Johnson. The Panthers need a running back to replace Jaden Stewart and found the new guy at SWAC rival Mississippi Valley State. The second-team All-SWAC selection as a sophomore rushed for 2,111 yards and 13 touchdowns in his career with the Delta Devils.

Texas Southern WR Quaydarius Davis. The Dallas Skyline product returns home after spending last year at SWAC rival Jackson State. Davis was a four-star recruit out of high school and will immediately become one of Andrew Body’s favorite targets.

Western Athletic Conference

The University of Texas System is set to meet today and Thursday. One item on the agenda is whether to approve a request to finance five projects for the UTRGV athletic program. An estimated $5 million of the $24 million project would provide one synthetic turf and one natural turf for the football program. The practice fields will be adjacent to the Vaqueros Performance Center, which will soon be under construction. 

Dave Campbell's Texas Football has confirmed that Sam Houston offensive line coach, Cooper Bassett, has accepted the same position at Utah State. One of the fastest-rising young coaches in the country, Bassett was instrumental in helping the Bearkats secure its 2023 recruiting class. The timing isn't ideal for the Bearkats, who are scheduled to begin spring practice on March 1. Sources indicate coach K.C. Keeler will move fast to find a new offensive line coach, and delaying the start of spring practice is also a possibility.

Abilene Christian DB, Jordan Mukes. Mukes transfers to the Wildcats from Oklahoma. The Midwest City, Okla. product played in 12 games, mainly on special teams, during his freshman season in 2021. He was a four-star prospect and No. 10 safety by 247Sports out of Choctaw High School.

Sam Houston NG, Akeem Smith. Who doesn’t want a guy with the nickname “Meatball” at noseguard daring the opposition to move him out of the way to run the ball? The Richmond, Va. native spent the last five seasons at Georgia State and was a part-time starter the previous two years.

Stephen F. Austin RB Jaden Stewart. A Stalwart of Prairie View A&M’s backfield the last few years, Stewart transfers to the Lumberjacks after rushing for 1,992 yards and 21 touchdowns for the Panthers. “Jaden is a downhill back with good vision,” running backs coach Eric Stephens said to SFAJacks.com. “He’s hardly tackled by the first defender and is more than a willing blocker. He's going to be a great addition to the SFA RB room."

Tarleton RB Kayvon Britten. Another former SWAC running back headed to Texas. Britten gained 1,063 yards and 16 touchdowns while earning first-team All-SWAC honors. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native should see most of the snaps in the Texans backfield when the season begins.

Lone Star Conference

West Texas A&M announced the completion of the Buffs coaching staff under Josh Lynn. As previously reported in the Blitz, Levi Gallas will serve as defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. Cody Russell will coach wide receivers and is co-special teams coordinator, Brian Vaughn will coach the linebackers, and Chris Watkins will remain on staff. WT previously announced Shayne Shade as running backs and tight ends coach and is the Buffs recruiting coordinator. Newly announced additions to the staff include offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Chase Kyser along with defensive backs coach and co-special teams coordinator Justin Richter.

American Southwest Conference

A future estate from Central Texas will donate a gift currently valued at $50 million to Mary Hardin-Baylor. The donors wish to remain anonymous and placed no restrictions on the donation. It’s likely a portion of that money could be used on that athletic program. Athletes in Division III don’t receive athletic scholarships, and this donation is likely to fund academic scholarships, which will help the athletes pay for college at the private school. 

Sul Ross State coach Barry Derickson has named Christian Escobar as the Lobos offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. A former player and alum of SRSU, Escobar spent the last five seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at NAIA Oklahoma Panhandle State. The El Paso native served as tight end and running backs coach for the Lobos from 2015-2016 before returning to his hometown to serve as quarterback and running back coach at Fabens High School in 2017.