YaBoyRobRoy wrote: ↑05 Jul 2025, 15:26Hell yeah Rizzo starting at the bottom, I’ll be following along
Here’s hoping I can make a legitimate dent in this uphill climb with a brand new program.
Mo' State Takes on FBS!
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GM Rizzo
Topic author - Posts: 104
- Joined: 01 Jul 2025, 16:47
Mo' State Takes on FBS!
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six7
- Posts: 4075
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Mo' State Takes on FBS!
Nice start!
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YaBoyRobRoy
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- Contact:
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djp73
- Posts: 11551
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redsox907
- Posts: 3886
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Mo' State Takes on FBS!
Gotta have an annual game against Mizzou and schedule all of your in-state recruits to visit then. Show em who the real team in Missouri is 
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GM Rizzo
Topic author - Posts: 104
- Joined: 01 Jul 2025, 16:47
Mo' State Takes on FBS!
If you’re impressed by this start, wait until you see me throw 4 INTs in Week 1!
It feels good to be back!
Man, you really want me to be down in the dumps forever, huh?
I was seriously considering Delaware and Hawaii but seeing as those were both spoken for here, made my choice easy.
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Captain Canada
- Posts: 6194
- Joined: 01 Dec 2018, 00:15
Mo' State Takes on FBS!
We back 
excited to have you along
excited to have you along-
GM Rizzo
Topic author - Posts: 104
- Joined: 01 Jul 2025, 16:47
Mo' State Takes on FBS!
As Missouri State bears down and braces for impact of their emergence as a member of the FBS division, the program knows it has a long ways to go before even dreaming of national relevance. Still, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t on the clock immediately to showcase what they have to offer as they will need to hit the recruiting trail hard to look for immediate upgrades across the roster. All non-seniors know that this year is basically a tryout for the new coaching staff to evaluate whether they have a role on this team next year or not.
But even the lowest of teams have players that they will need to lean on early and often to give them a fighting chance at stringing together a couple of wins in the 2025 season. While their most promising - and arguably important - player resides on the defensive line, there is no denying that the strength of this team is in the running back room.
The Bears have four backs that will compete for carries, assuming that they aren’t game-scripted out of action on a weekly basis. Shomari Lawrence, a transfer from Florida International, will be the Bears' starting running back this season as the senior leader of the group. At 6’0” and 207-pounds, Lawrence is going to be the hammer to grind out the tough yardage and wear down the defense.
The next closest competition for carries is Josh Joyner, a Washington State transfer, who brings the speed that the team sorely needs. The freshman back is the fastest player on the team and if the coaching staff can get him out in space, he could be a potential game-breaker this team could use.
Senior back Connor Lair and freshman King Davis are seemingly clones of their class counterparts as Lair brings the thunder while Davis brings the lightning. There seems to be some serious upside in this room between Joyner and Davis, with the latter being the highest rated player to ever commit to Missouri State out of high school.
Luckily this team also has a solid starter at QB to lead this transition as senior Jacob Clark brings competence to the toughest position in sports. While he’s no threat to take off and burn a defense on the ground, Clark shows more than adequate arm strength to pair with good short and intermediate accuracy to give his playmakers opportunities to make plays and move the chains.
For those “playmakers”, there aren’t many wideouts or tight ends that are going to scare opposing defenses. The top wideout is senior James BlackStrain who wins more with footwork and route running than athleticism, though he is matched up with junior Jmariyae Robinson who rivals Joyner for fastest player on the team. Hidden behind that speed is a former quarterback who, in a pinch, could relieve Clark in the backfield for a more dynamic option. Or, if no better option comes on board for the 2026 season, maybe Robinson gets a chance to be the Bears’ QB for his senior season.
All of the above players named will be reliant on time and space to operate behind an offensive line that is arguably the worst in all of FBS. The combination of slow, small and weak is not a football coach’s dream but that’s what the entire OL room brings to the table. It’s inevitable that this coaching staff will hit the recruiting trail hard for any help they can get across the line.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bears are led by junior defensive end DJ Wesolak. The 6’3” 255-pound Missouri native began his career at Missouri before a stop in Oregon State. He has now made his way back home for the Bears and will be tasked with wreaking havoc as much as possible for a defense that needs help. While the coaching staff is looking forward to potentially two seasons with Wesolak on the line, they need to do everything they can to keep him from looking for a 4th stop in his collegiate career and out of the transfer portal.
Outside of Wesolak, the defense is anchored by three seniors on the back end in FS J.J. O’Neal, SS Khalil Anderson and CB Thomas Anderson. Just like the rest of the roster, the three of them lack ideal athleticism to blanket receivers or cover ground in centerfield. With their ability to recognize plays as they unfold and solid ability to wrap up ballcarriers, look for the defensive coaches to play a lot of zone and force offenses to march down the field methodically.
The interior of the defensive line and the entire linebacking core leave a lot to be desired. Adding big humans at tackle will most likely prove to be nearly impossible for this fledgling program for the foreseeable future, but adding talent at the linebacker spots should be an easier fix early in program history.
Mo’ State has some pieces to work with, but this coaching staff’s ability to maximize the other pieces on this roster will decide the early fate of the FBS Bears.
But even the lowest of teams have players that they will need to lean on early and often to give them a fighting chance at stringing together a couple of wins in the 2025 season. While their most promising - and arguably important - player resides on the defensive line, there is no denying that the strength of this team is in the running back room.
The Bears have four backs that will compete for carries, assuming that they aren’t game-scripted out of action on a weekly basis. Shomari Lawrence, a transfer from Florida International, will be the Bears' starting running back this season as the senior leader of the group. At 6’0” and 207-pounds, Lawrence is going to be the hammer to grind out the tough yardage and wear down the defense.
The next closest competition for carries is Josh Joyner, a Washington State transfer, who brings the speed that the team sorely needs. The freshman back is the fastest player on the team and if the coaching staff can get him out in space, he could be a potential game-breaker this team could use.
Senior back Connor Lair and freshman King Davis are seemingly clones of their class counterparts as Lair brings the thunder while Davis brings the lightning. There seems to be some serious upside in this room between Joyner and Davis, with the latter being the highest rated player to ever commit to Missouri State out of high school.
Luckily this team also has a solid starter at QB to lead this transition as senior Jacob Clark brings competence to the toughest position in sports. While he’s no threat to take off and burn a defense on the ground, Clark shows more than adequate arm strength to pair with good short and intermediate accuracy to give his playmakers opportunities to make plays and move the chains.
For those “playmakers”, there aren’t many wideouts or tight ends that are going to scare opposing defenses. The top wideout is senior James BlackStrain who wins more with footwork and route running than athleticism, though he is matched up with junior Jmariyae Robinson who rivals Joyner for fastest player on the team. Hidden behind that speed is a former quarterback who, in a pinch, could relieve Clark in the backfield for a more dynamic option. Or, if no better option comes on board for the 2026 season, maybe Robinson gets a chance to be the Bears’ QB for his senior season.
All of the above players named will be reliant on time and space to operate behind an offensive line that is arguably the worst in all of FBS. The combination of slow, small and weak is not a football coach’s dream but that’s what the entire OL room brings to the table. It’s inevitable that this coaching staff will hit the recruiting trail hard for any help they can get across the line.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bears are led by junior defensive end DJ Wesolak. The 6’3” 255-pound Missouri native began his career at Missouri before a stop in Oregon State. He has now made his way back home for the Bears and will be tasked with wreaking havoc as much as possible for a defense that needs help. While the coaching staff is looking forward to potentially two seasons with Wesolak on the line, they need to do everything they can to keep him from looking for a 4th stop in his collegiate career and out of the transfer portal.
Outside of Wesolak, the defense is anchored by three seniors on the back end in FS J.J. O’Neal, SS Khalil Anderson and CB Thomas Anderson. Just like the rest of the roster, the three of them lack ideal athleticism to blanket receivers or cover ground in centerfield. With their ability to recognize plays as they unfold and solid ability to wrap up ballcarriers, look for the defensive coaches to play a lot of zone and force offenses to march down the field methodically.
The interior of the defensive line and the entire linebacking core leave a lot to be desired. Adding big humans at tackle will most likely prove to be nearly impossible for this fledgling program for the foreseeable future, but adding talent at the linebacker spots should be an easier fix early in program history.
Mo’ State has some pieces to work with, but this coaching staff’s ability to maximize the other pieces on this roster will decide the early fate of the FBS Bears.
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GM Rizzo
Topic author - Posts: 104
- Joined: 01 Jul 2025, 16:47
Mo' State Takes on FBS!
Exited to be back in the 'chising game my man!
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The JZA
- Posts: 9078
- Joined: 07 Dec 2018, 13:10
Mo' State Takes on FBS!
King Davis! 
Can't wait to see how you flip this team around. Sounds like there's more work on the defensive end than anywhere else specifically. Gonna be interesting to see how exposed your linebackers can be