San Marcos is different now. If you haven’t been to a tailgate at UFCU Stadium lately, you’re missing the shift in energy that’s basically rewritten the script for Sun Belt football. For a long time, Texas State football recruiting was the "sleeping giant" that never actually woke up. We heard it for a decade. The location is perfect, the campus is gorgeous, and the talent pool is right in their backyard. Yet, the results stayed stagnant.
Then GJ Kinne showed up.
Everything changed when the Bobcats decided to stop playing the traditional recruiting game and started leaning into the chaos of the modern era. We aren't just talking about high school stars anymore. Texas State has become a destination for Power Five bounce-backs who want to play in an explosive system. It's working. The 2024 and 2025 cycles have proven that the "LSU of the Hill Country" vibe isn't just a marketing slogan; it’s a legitimate recruiting philosophy that is terrifying the rest of the conference.
The Transfer Portal Is the New Lifeblood
Honestly, the old way of building a roster is dead for schools like Texas State. You can't wait four years for a thin offensive lineman from East Texas to gain 60 pounds in the weight room while you're trying to win ten games now. Kinne realized this immediately.
When you look at the 2024 roster, it was basically a "Who's Who" of former high-profile recruits who needed a fresh start. Take Jordan McCloud, for instance. Bringing in the reigning Sun Belt Player of the Year from James Madison was a massive statement. It told the college football world that San Marcos is where you go to get paid (NIL matters, let's be real) and where you go to put up video game numbers.
But it isn't just about the flashy names at quarterback.
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Texas State football recruiting has focused heavily on the "Bigs." You’ll notice a trend in their portal additions: SEC and Big 12 depth. They are hunting for guys who were third on the depth chart at Oklahoma or Texas A&M. These players have the frame and the coaching pedigree, but they just need snaps. By offering a starting role and a high-octane offense, the Bobcats are skipping the development phase and jumping straight to the production phase.
High School Roots in the 512 and 210
Even with the portal dominance, you can't ignore the local prep scene. It's literally right there. San Antonio and Austin are producing more FBS talent than ever before, and for a long time, those kids were fleeing to the Mountain West or even the MAC.
Texas State is finally putting a fence around the I-35 corridor.
- They’ve prioritized speed over everything. If a kid runs a sub-10.5 hundred-meter dash in track, the Bobcats are on him.
- The evaluation process has shifted toward "positionless" athletes—guys who might be a safety or a wideout, as long as they can move.
- Relationships with high school coaches in Houston and DFW have been repaired after years of neglect.
I remember talking to a scout about a year ago who mentioned that the "vibe" on campus during junior days has shifted from "this is a nice backup plan" to "I actually want to be here." That’s a massive psychological hurdle to clear. When you get kids like Brad Jackson or high-upside linemen to commit over lower-tier Power Five offers, the momentum builds on itself.
The NIL Factor and the "Maroon & Gold" Collective
We have to talk about the money. We just do. Texas State football recruiting wouldn't be where it is without a donor base that finally decided to pony up. The "TXST 30" and various collective efforts have ensured that the Bobcats can compete with the bigger schools when it comes to "retention" and "acquisition" fees.
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It’s a gritty business.
It’s not just about a flat paycheck, either. It’s about the infrastructure. The weight room upgrades, the nutrition, and the branding opportunities in a town that is growing as fast as San Marcos. Players see that. They see the sold-out crowds. They see the social media team producing NFL-quality edits. All of that is recruiting. If you don't look like a big-time program, you won't land big-time players. Period.
Why Some People Still Doubt the Strategy
There is a flip side to this, though. Some traditionalists argue that relying too heavily on the portal ruins team culture. They say you can't build a "family" when 40% of the roster changes every January.
I think that's mostly nonsense in 2026.
Winning creates culture. Scoring 40 points a game creates culture. If you look at the way the 2024 squad bonded during their bowl run, it’s clear that these guys don't care where they started their careers. They care about where they’re finishing them. The skepticism usually comes from rival fanbases who are watching Texas State leapfrog them in the standings because those rivals are still trying to recruit like it's 2005.
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Evaluation Over Stars
The most impressive part of the current Texas State football recruiting machine is the scouting. It’s easy to offer a kid with a 247Sports four-star rating. It’s a lot harder to find a guy at a FCS school or a struggling Group of Five program who has the underlying metrics to excel in a fast-paced system.
Kinne’s staff, including guys like Mack Leftwich, have an eye for "scheme fit." They don't just want the best player; they want the player who can process information at 100 miles per hour. If a lineman can’t pull and move in space, he’s useless to them, even if he weighs 340 pounds. This selectivity is why you see so many "underrated" recruits suddenly blow up once they get to San Marcos.
The Future: Can They Sustain This?
Sustaining this level of recruiting is the real challenge. When you have success, the bigger schools come for your coaches. They come for your players. We’ve already seen Power Five programs try to "poach" the Bobcats' best starters with massive NIL offers.
To stay on top, Texas State has to:
- Keep the offensive identity. As long as they are a top-10 offense in the country, receivers and QBs will keep calling them.
- Lock down the local trenches. They need to start winning battles for those 6'5" tackles in New Braunfels and Steele.
- Maintain the "San Marcos Experience." If the game-day atmosphere stays electric, the recruiting visits will take care of themselves.
It’s a weird, wild time to be a Bobcat fan. For the first time in forever, the recruiting rankings actually reflect the talent on the field. They aren't just participating in the Texas football landscape; they are actively disrupting it.
Next Steps for Following the Cycle
To stay ahead of the curve on Texas State football recruiting, you should focus on three specific areas over the next few months. First, monitor the "Spring Portal Window" specifically for defensive line depth—this is where the staff typically looks to fill gaps left by graduation. Second, watch the commitment list for local San Antonio and Austin area high schools; if the Bobcats land more than three of the top 50 players in the region, the "fence" is officially built. Finally, keep an eye on official visit weekends in June. Historically, Kinne’s staff likes to secure the bulk of their high school class before fall camp begins to focus entirely on the season and the winter portal cycle.