CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Delta State University Football Team kicks off their 2025 season at Parker Field at McCool Stadium Thursday evening as they host the Mules from the University of Central Missouri. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. (CDT).
 
Tickets are online at gostatesmen.com. The Voice of the Statesmen Michael Gross will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network and on the Flo College Network.
 
Delta State enters the 2025 season with high aspirations following a 6-4 record in the 2024. The Statesmen received votes in the 2025 AFCA NCAA Division II Preseason Top 25 poll and enter the season with excitement as Coach Cooley and his team clocked in and went to work during their fall camp.

The Statesmen return 13 players (four offense, eight defense and one special teams) who played in 10 or more games during the 2024 season.
Central Missouri finished the 2024 season with a 9-3 overall record.

The Coaches
Todd Cooley enters his 13th season as head coach at Delta State with a chance to become the school's winningest Head Coach. With a win tonight, Cooley would tie the school record at 76. Cooley enters this season with a 75-46 overall record leading the Statesmen

He was hired as the program's 20th all-time head coach on January 25, 2013. Thursday's action will mark Cooley and Delta State's first ever match-up against Central Missouri.  In his first campaign as head coach, Cooley guided the Statesmen to a 7-3 overall record and a second-place finish in the Gulf South Conference. Inheriting a team that went 3-7 the year before, the high-energy Cooley built a cohesive family atmosphere in less than nine months. That energy helped feed a program's turnaround in just one season. In 2014, Cooley led the Statesmen to a 9-2 record, along with DSU's seventh Gulf South Conference title and a berth in the NCAA Division II Playoffs, the school's first since 2011.
For his efforts, Cooley was named Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year by his peers in the league. In all, 11 Statesmen were named to the All-GSC squad, including GSC Freshman of the Year Tyler Sullivan, who quarterbacked DSU to a 4-1 mark as a starter.

DSU averaged 40.0 points per game offensively, while averaging 472.2 yards per game. The Statesmen pulled off three victories over nationally ranked opponents after defeating No. 21 North Alabama 37-34, No. 14 Tarleton State 38-36 and No. 24 Valdosta State 63-55.  

In 2014, Cooley earned his second consecutive GSC Coach of the Year accolade, sharing the honor with Florida Tech's Steve Englehart. Twelve Statesmen were selected to the All-GSC squads, while Trey Shaw captured the league's Defensive Freshman of the Year honor. DSU put up an impressive 5,395 yards of total offense, outscoring opponents 491-215.
With expectations riding high entering the 2015 season, the Statesmen raced out of the gate to a 4-0 record and No. 5 national ranking. Unfortunately, the ride would be short-lived, as injuries began to mount and derailed a title run for DSU. The Statesmen finished the year 6-5 overall and 2-5 in GSC play.

The Statesmen finished the year leading the GSC in passing (312.4), while ranking second in scoring (36.4) and third in total offense (426.7).

In 2016, DSU finished its season ranked No. 3 in the GSC in scoring offense (36.9), total offense (446.8) and passing offense (287.7).
After an injury filled 2018 season that saw the Statesmen post a 2-8 mark, Cooley's Statesmen rebounded to finish 6-4 overall and 5-3 in the GSC in 2019. Overall, nine Statesmen earned All-GSC laurels and two were selected to the D2Football.com All-Americans.  Additionally, 13 Statesmen made the GSC Academic honor roll for a GPA of 3.0 or higher while four were selected to the GSC All-Academic football team.
Cooley's Statesmen wrapped up the 2021 season, demonstrating remarkable skill and determination on the field. The Statesmen's passing game was a key component of their offensive strategy. The team completed 164 out of 331 passing attempts, resulting in a total of 2,476 passing yards for the season. With an average of 7.48 yards per attempt and 225.09 yards per game, the passing attack was both efficient and effective. The team also recorded 22 passing touchdowns, showcasing their ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities through the air.

Delta State University director of athletics Mike Kinnison announced a four-year contract for head coach Todd Cooley on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2021. The new deal has Cooley signed through the 2024 season.
The Delta State University football team finished the 2022 season with an 11-2 overall record and a 6-1 mark in Gulf South Conference play. Delta State's offense was led by quarterback Patrick Shegogg, who threw for 2,970 yards and 22 touchdowns. The Statesmen also had a strong rushing attack for 1,825 yards and 15 touchdowns.
The Statesmen's defense was one of the best in the GSC, allowing just 23.08 points per game. Marlon Windham led the team with 5.2 tackles per game. The successful season secured them a ticket to the playoffs where they faced off against Fayetteville State in the first round.

The Statesmen finished the 2023 season with a 10-2 record, including a 7-1 record in conference play. The team had a strong defense, which allowed an average of 18.3 points per game.
Delta State secured its second GSC title in as many years with a 41-3 win over Mississippi College. The Statesmen earned the number two seed in Super Region Two for the NCAA Playoffs but will be continuing GSC play out of the gate having drawn West Florida in the first round.  Delta State football leads the GSC with 14 All-GSC team members for 2023.Eight Statesmen football team members were named on the first team list and six were named second team members.

 Delta State advanced to the second round of the NCAA Football Playoffs and avenged their only regular season win of the year with a one-sided win over West Florida. The Statesmen led 35-0 at the half with 385 yards of offense in two quarters. The Statesmen will be looking to build on their success in 2024. The team has a strong core of returning players and a talented group of newcomers.

Josh Lamberson was named the 30th head football coach of the Mules football program in February 2022 and is in his fourth season as head coach in 2025.

Last season, he guided Central Missouri to an overall record of 9-3 and a 6-3 mark in the MIAA. UCM earned a spot in the Heritage Bowl powered by Riot, defeating the University of Texas-Permian Basin, 39-37 in double overtime on Dec. 7 in Corsicana, Texas. The Heritage Bowl appearance marked the Mules' second straight postseason showing. Combined with UCM's 11-2 mark in 2023, Central Missouri won 20 games in back-to-back seasons for just the second time in program history. Lamberson coached two-time Harlon Hill Winner

In just his second season as head coach in 2023, he led the Mules to an 11-2 overall record and a 9-1 mark in the MIAA, capturing the program's 14th MIAA Championship. UCM advanced to the second round of the NCAA-II Playoffs before falling to eventual 2023 NCAA-II National Champion Harding, 35-34, in Searcy, Ark. The 11 wins tied a school record. Lamberson was named the AFCA Super Region III and MIAA Coach of the Year.

STATESMEN In season openers
Delta State holds an 11-1 (.917) record in season opening contests under Head Coach Todd Cooley. The Statesmen have won five straight season openers dating back to the 2018 season. In 2024, Delta State scored 37 in the second half to defeat Mars Hill 47-16.

Delta State has compiled a 48-41-5 (.510) record in season openers over the program's 98-year history.

The Statesmen hold a 16-7 (.696) dating back to the 2000 season.

Central Missouri holds a 65-54-9 (.507) in season openers throughout their program history dating back to 1896.

The STATESMEN - At Home
Historically, Delta State is 286-147-15 (.638) at home dating back to 1926 when the University started the football program. At Parker Field at McCool Stadium, the Statesmen hold a 170-96-8(.620) overall record.
Central Missouri enters this Thursday with a 28-22 (.560) overall record in their last 50 road contests dating back to 2015. Last season, the Mules went 4-2 in their road contests with their two losses coming to MIAA foes in Central Oklahoma, and Fort Hays State. 

Statesmen vs the MIAA
This Thursday will mark the sixth time Delta State will face an opponent from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association otherwise known as the MIAA. The last time DSU faced an opponent in the MIAA was in postseason action as they traveled to Pittsburg, Kansas to take on the Gorillas from Pittsburg State in the 2011 Division II NCAA Semifinals.

The Statesmen hold a 3-2 overall record in 99 years against the MIAA. Last regular season contest was in 2005 when the Statesmen opened their season with a 44-31 win on the road at Pittsburg State. Last time a MIAA opponent came to Cleveland was in 1993 when DSU defeated Southwest Baptist University 20-0.  

The history of both programs
 The Statesmen, who are embarking upon their 95th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 506-415-23 overall record, winning 54.8 percent of their 944 all-time games.

Delta State is one of just 38 NCAA Division II institutions to have recorded 500 all-time victories. The Statesmen have the second most program victories out of any Gulf-South Schools
UCM has a 595-537-51 (.525) record in 127 seasons of intercollegiate play.

Scouting the Statesmen
The Statesmen, enter this season looking to attack with discipline, physicality, and execution, setting a high standard, as the team aims not only for a conference title but also a deep run into the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Delta State's probable starting lineup includes 15 returners from the 2024 team eight on offense and seven on defense. 13 returners have seen action in all ten games last season- four on offense, eight on defense, and one on special teams.

The Offense
Delta State returns four players on offense that have seen action in 10 games last season along with some exciting additions to the team in the 2025 season starting with sixth year senior Cole Kirk taking the helm at Quarterback.

Kirk (6-2, 200) returns to the Statesmen after leading the Green and White with eclipsing 2,400 total yards with 25 TDs in the 2024 season. Last time Kirk faced a team from Missouri, he saw the end zone six times while having 416 total yards in last season's home opening win against Missouri S&T. Other QBs in the QB room with Kirk is Redshirt Freshman Garrett Ames. Ames (6-3, 200) made an appearance in the 2024 season finale, as DSU kept the Heritage Trophy with a 20-14 win at Mississippi College. Ames had a perfect completion percentage, completing all five of his attempts for 84 yards and his first career touchdown pass, earning GSC-Freshman of the Week honors.

The Green and White look to replace their leading rusher Kelvin Smith as, newcomer Davion Alston will make the start in week 0. Alston (6-0, 200) manned the backfield for the Trojans for the past two seasons in Moorhead. As a Trojan, Davion had 177 carries for 692 yards and two touchdowns. Against Itawamba, Alston had 13 carries for 108 yards. Alston joins the likes of Qualon Farrar, Marlon Palmer and Nick Clark. Farrar (5-5, 195) seen action in 10 games rushing for 267 yards and three TDs. Clark (5-7, 200) appeared in three games and earned GSC Freshman of the Week honors after scoring his first collegiate TD against Chowan. Palmer (5-9, 210) appeared in five games last season where he scored a receiving TD in week 0 against Mars Hill.
The Wide Receiver Room will include Preseason All-GSC honoree Neno Lemay.  Lemay (5-10, 185) led all Statesmen receivers with 33 receptions in the 2024 season. Those receptions led to 410 yards and three TDs after transferring from Nicholls State. Joining Lemay will be Curtis Rearden and Transfers Harrison Knight and Matt Rozier. Rearden (6-2, 205) played in all 10 games where he had 11 receptions for 208 yards. During his time at Jones, Knight (6-1, 195) had 36 receptions for 489 yards and four touchdowns. As a senior in High School, Knight had 64 receptions for 711 yards and eight touchdowns and was selected for the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic. Rozier (5-11, 190) joins the Delta State receiver room after spending two seasons on the FCS level at Chattanooga. Before his time as a Moc, Rozier played high school ball at Sparkman High School in Huntsville where he had 110 receptions for 1,725 yards and 19 touchdowns. DSU will also have returner Jaden Gibson. Gibson (6-5, 200) appeared in six games for DSU in the 2024 season.

The Statesmen return redshirt Junior Tight End Carter Coullard. Coullard (6-4, 250) saw the endzone twice in last year's season opener against Missouri S&T where he had two 16-yard touchdown receptions.

Last season seen second team All-American Jaelon Brown. This year, DSU will return starters Gabe Schweitzer (6-4, 285) and Logan Browning (6-6, 305). Joining Schweitzer and Browning is D-1 transfer LeDell Finister. Finister (6-5, 325) saw action in seven games at Campbell in the 2024 season. Along with Finister will be returners Connor Jones (6-5, 305), Jackson Davenport (6-3, 290) and Jessie Shorts (6-5, 290). The Statesmen will also see action from JUCO Transfers Anthonee Dunn (6-6, 340) and Ryan Pascal (6-2, 300).

The Defense
The Statesmen have three Preseason All-GSC honorees manning the defense this season starting in the defensive backfield where senior safety Taylon Doss. Doss (5-11, 192) had 45 tackles (28 solo) the Shannon native picked off 2024 GSC conference MVP Sammy Edwards last November. Joining Doss is fellow Preseason All-GSC honoree Jairus McFarland. McFarland (5-10, 175) led the Statesmen defensive backfield at the corner back position with three interceptions in the 2024 season, including the game sealing interception in the win against Fort Valley State. McFarland also tallied five pass breakups and 21 tackles (14 solo) last season. Other returners in the secondary include leading tackler Tye Holsey, Cameron Threatt, and senior cornerback Carl Hopkins.  Holsey (6-2, 205) totaled 54 tackles and two pass breakups. Threatt (6-0, 195) will be moving to Safety this season after having a team high six pass breakups in the 2024 season. Hopkins (6-1, 210) had 21 tackles and two pass breakups in the 2024 season.

Throughout camp, the Statesmen saw a lot of promise from Indiana transfer Jamison Kelly at the Dog position. Kelly (6-1, 203) transferred back to his home state after two seasons in Bloomington playing for the Hoosiers. In the 2023 season, Kelly played in four games earning Special Teams Player of the Week against in the Hoosiers win against Indiana State.

In the linebacker room, Delta State returns 2024 second team All-GSC honoree William Carter. Carter (6-1, 228) had 48 total tackles including four TFLs in the 2024 season. Along with Carter is senior linebacker Joshua Phillips. Phillips (6-3, 235) appeared in five games last season for the Green and White after transferring from UTEP.

On the Defensive Line, DSU have a lot of newcomers with energy in the 2025 season. The Statesmen had transfers from Mississippi College in Jacquez Tucker and Aaron Robinson along with junior college transfers LaDainian Davis, Chris Brown, and Alex Larry. Tucker (6-3, 285) tallied 10 tackles, 1.0 TFLs and two QB hurries as a Choctaw. Tucker posted his season best performance against Delta State with three tackles, and a QB hurry. Robinson (6-2, 310) played nine games for the Choctaws in their school's final football season. In the nine games, Robinson had 12 tackles, 1.5 TFLs and three QB hurries in the 2024 season. Davis (6-0, 255) transferred to DSU from Copiah-Lincoln where he had 29 tackles, four TFLs and a sack in the 2024 season. Davis had an 11 tackle, three TFL performance in the Wolves 24-17 win against Pearl River. Brown (6-3, 260) Brown will be a big addition up front for the Statesmen defensive line in the upcoming season. The Jackson native added 15 tackles with 3 TFLs in nine games played for the Wolves in the 2024 season as a freshman. Larry (6-0, 285) played six games at Itawamba where he had 13 tackles and two sacks as he helped lead Itawamba to a 6-3 season. Larry had six tackles and a TFL against Northwest Mississippi.

Special Teams
The Statesmen will look to replace All-GSC Specialist Parker Burleson and All-American Kicker Nick Herber in the 2025 season. DSU will return long snapper Andrew Studer, who saw action in all ten games last season. Newcomers include Mississippi College Transfer Price Nixon at Punter and East Central Community College transfer Cade Mangum at Kicker.