Kingsville - The Javelina receivers and tight end corps looks to retool after losing many of its seniors to graduation for the upcoming 2024 season.

Graduate students Nate Dantley and Caleb Thomas join seniors Walker Ring and Craig Clemons as spring 2024 graduates for the Javelinas. Both the receiver's and the tight end's room features a multitude of upperclassmen however.

Familiar faces such as Jackson Allen, Jaylin Smith and Eli Martinez headline the wide receiver room for the Javelinas. Depth should be a key tool for the Javelinas this season as well. With Anthony Isom, Zaraivion Armendarez and Jacory Logan serving as high impact returners as well. 

Graduate student CJ Thompson transferred to Texas A&M-Kingsville by way of Yale University as well.

The Javelinas also recruited six new freshmen to the receiver room. Terrell Jackson, Cortney Brown, Justin Arellano, Marcus Townsend, King Phillips and King Johnson will act as fresh faces for the Javelinas in the fall

"This is a selfless group that has done a great job coming together throughout the spring and summer," said receivers coach Jaxson Money. "They have bought into the work and blue collar mindset. We aim to play a physical brand of football at the receiver position and will continue to strive for that this fall."

Moving over to the tight end room, Seniors Vance Brazile and Isaiah Smalls lead the way. The Javelinas secured transfer Laithe Shelley from Northwestern Oklahoma State as well. Junior James Hester, redshirt-sophomore David Karl round out the room for the returning members.

Incoming freshmen for the Javelinas include Colby Hesseltine and Kenny Atunrase.

"This is a group that's going to play physical, selfless, and with high effort for four quarters. There is a ton of competition in this group," said offensive coordinator Sean Langerstrom. "Excited to see these guys step into bigger roles and have a large impact this fall." 


Players to watch:

Jackson Allen, Senior, Sinton TX / Sinton High School
Allen played in every game for the Javelinas last season as a key member of the receiver room, finishing with 11 catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns, the first two of his career. Allen has 281 receiving yards in his career with the Javelinas.

Anthony Isom, Senior, Houston TX / Kilgore Junior College
After transferring to Texas A&M-Kingsville from Kilgore Junior College, Isom looks to take on a larger role in the offense. He finished last season with a 20-yard reception against Western NEw Mexico.

Jaylin Smith, Senior, Kempner TX / New Mexico Military Institute
Smith is the most productive receiver returning for the Javelinas for the 2024 season after totaling 12 catches for 299 yards and four touchdowns last year. He has racked up 512 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in his career for the Javelinas.

Eli Martinez, Senior, Slanton TX / Navarro College
Martinez is the fourth senior wide receiver for the Javelinas this season, finishing last year with 11 receptions for 144 yards and his first career touchdown with the Javelinas.

CJ Thompson, Grad Student, Arlington TX / Yale
Thompson transfers to the Javelinas after spending the past two seasons at Yale University, where he totaled two receptions for his career. He played his high school football at Trinity Christian High School.

Zaraivion Armendarez, Junior, Raymondville TX / Raymondville High School
Armendarez is one of two junior receivers for the Javelinas this season. Utilized as a do-it-all receiver during the 2023 season, Armendarez finished the year with 52 total yards on just four touches.

Isaiah Smalls, Senior, Los Angeles CALIF / Pasadena City
Smalls is one of two seniors for the Javelinas this season. He finished the 2023 season with two catches.

Vance Brazile, Senior, Parker CO / Colorado Mesa, Wyoming
Brazile is entering his third season with the Javelinas after transferring from Colorado Mesa. He appeared in five games last season and notched two special team tackles.

Laithe Shelley, Junior, Haslet TX / Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Shelley is transferring to the Javelinas for the 2024 season after spending the last two years with the Rangers. He has totaled 26 receiving yards in his career.

This is the third part of an eight-part series previewing the 2024 Javelina football team leading up to the season opener against Colorado-Mesa on August 26th.