KINGSVILLE, Texas – The Texas A&M-Kingsville football team will hit the road to open the 2023 season, heading to Grand Junction, Colorado to take on Colorado Mesa on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 2 p.m. CT.
The Javelinas will look to improve on their 7-5 record from 2022, a record that marked a program best since 2012.
Fourth-year head coach Mike Salinas will lead a veteran laden team, with 15 starters returning for TAMUK including All-American and Lone Star Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Amos Coleman III who posted five interceptions including two pick-sixes a season ago.
Anchoring the defensive line will be Ezrah Thibodeaux who earned second all-conference last season helping the Hogs finish second in total defense at 295.5 yards amassing 34 tackles and three sacks.
Offensively for TAMUK is running back Christian Anderson who was a top-10 rusher in the LSC last year while also leading the conference in yards per carry with 5.9.
Anderson will be joined in the backfield by transfer running back C.J. Odom, who will make his debut in the Blue and Gold on Saturday after transferring from rival Angelo State. While with the Rams in 2021, Odom played in 12 games, rushing 144 times for 735 yards and four touchdowns which earned him All-LSC Second Team honors.
Quarterback Jacob Cavazos will look to take another step forward under center after recording 17 passing touchdowns in 2022 while averaging 192.5 yards per game. The Weslaco native also ranked third in the LSC in points responsible (122) last season.
The Javs were selected to finish third in the LSC Preseason Poll.
SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
The Mavericks enter the 2023 season under second year coach Miles Kochevar who will look to take the next step after a 4-6, 2022 campaign.
CMU will look to continue building its high-flying offense from a season ago that was ranked 18th in the country with 434.8 yards per game, while being 8th in passing offense with 304.7 yards per game.
Those offensive yards led to plenty of points too as Mesa was ranked 14th in Division II in scoring offense averaging 36 points per game.
The Mavs will look to step up things defensively though, allowing 32.7 points per game, 385.6 yards per game.
Mesa was selected to finish fifth in the RMAC preseason poll.
Saturday's matchup will mark only the second time the Javs and Mavericks will have met on the gridiron, with the only other meeting coming in 2014 in Kingsville, where TAMUK won, 17-14.
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