TEXAS STATE FOOTBALL
Bobcats add Division I-A transfers
Former Arizona State punter, Ohio State running back now call San Marcos home
By Bill Harrison
AMERICAN-STATESMAN CORRESPONDENT
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Come Monday, Texas State football coaches will close the books on a summer of recruiting, landing at least two players transferring from Division I-A programs.
In the past two weeks, the Bobcats added Chris MacDonald, a 2004 freshman All-America punter from Arizona State, and James Aston, a running back from Ohio State.
Two more may be on board after this weekend, Texas State coach David Bailiff said. The two unidentified players are still talking with the coaching staff and must make a decision on transferring by Monday, when Bailiff will finalize his roster.
The Bobcats report to campus Aug. 6 and begin fall practices the next day. They open the season at home Sept. 2 against Tarleton State.
Texas State is coming off a breakthrough 11-3 season in which the Bobcats tied for the Southland Conference title and reached the Division I-AA semifinals.
Several players who'd transferred from Division I-A teams played key roles on that team. By transferring to a Division I-AA school such as Texas State, former Division I-A players do not have to sit out a year or lose a year of eligibility.
Bailiff said his criteria for transfers begins with good character, and MacDonald and Aston passed the test.
"We're pleased with our chemistry, and we've got to be careful," Bailiff said.
MacDonald (6 feet, 4 inches and 224 pounds) is the second Arizona State player to transfer this year, following defensive end Mark Washington, who arrived in the spring.
With MacDonald, the Bobcats replace one All-America punter with another. Departing senior Cory Elolf earned Division I-AA All-America honors in 2004.
MacDonald, a junior from El Paso, averaged 43.1 yards per punt in 2004 and 42.3 yards per punt last season. But he was benched after Arizona State coaches installed a new punting formation and favored a punter with a higher arc.
Bailiff said MacDonald's leg should work out just fine in San Marcos.
"We're really excited about him. He's got a great leg," Bailiff said. "A neat thing is, when he decided to leave Arizona State, his mother learned that Texas State was (the former) Southwest Texas State, where she graduated from. So that helped us."
Aston was the all-time leading rusher at Katy High School outside of Houston (4,634 yards in two seasons) and a three-time state wrestling champion. At Ohio State, his wrestling coach asked him to choose wrestling over football. He chose to return to Texas instead.
Aston (5-8, 215) enters a deep running back corps, where the Bobcats currently list eight players, led by Daniel Jolly. Bailiff said the numbers will change, with some backs converting to receiver or defensive back. Jamal Williams has already moved to receiver.
Three Bobcats earn preseason honors
Three Texas State players have been named to the all-Southland Conference preseason team: offensive lineman Ryne Miller and defensive backs Walter Musgrove and Gary Shepard.
Second-team honors went to Jolly, fullback Blake Burton, linebacker Jeremy Castillo, defensive back Jamarqus O'Neal and return specialist Morris Crosby.