What's new for TC Taylor, Jackson State football as spring practice gets under way

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After losing to Prairie View A&M in the 2025 SWAC Championship game, Jackson State football is back in action preparing for its 2026 season with the start of spring football.

The Tigers opened spring practice on March 2 and are two practices in. The date for the team’s spring game has not been announced.

JSU finished 9-3 in 2025, claiming the SWAC East title for the second year in a row, but fell 23-21 in the conference championship game.

Due to a large class of graduating seniors, JSU enters spring practice with a revamped roster that consists of 21 transfers and 18 high school and junior college recruits.

With the Tigers’ spring practices officially under way, here’s what to know about JSU in 2026.

When does Jackson State start spring practice?

Jackson State started spring practice on March 2.

When is Jackson State football’s spring game?

Jackson State has not announced the date for its spring football game or practice.

What coaches did TC Taylor hire and promote for 2026?

Here are Jackson State’s primary assistants for 2026.

  • Co-offensive coordinator/QB coach Rip Kirk
  • Co-offensive coordinator/OL coach Manny Ramirez
  • Defensive coordinator/secondary coach Torenzo Quinn
  • Special teams coordinator/run game coordinator/LB coach Javancy Jones (Moved to LB coach and run game coordinator for 2026)
  • RB coach/assistant head coach Eric Gallon
  • WR coach/passing game coordinator Vincent Marshall
  • TE coach/associate head coach/general manager Otis Riddley
  • DL coach Raekwon Bethea (hired from Hampton to replace Aaron Jackson)
  • S coach Justin Sanders (was LB coach in 2025)
  • Strength coach Trey Uptigrow (hired from Florida Atlantic to replace Jaylon Watson)

Jackson State football returning starters in 2026

  • WR Nate Rembert
  • WR Kobe Paul
  • TE Jency Riley Jr.
  • OL Quaveon Davis
  • CB KJ Chisholm Jr.
  • CB Khamauri Rogers
  • S Kam Sallis
  • P Kye Collins

Note: Starters defined as a player who started six or more games in 2025.

Jackson State football starters lost from 2025

  • QB JaCobian Morgan
  • RB Ahmad Miller
  • RB/KR Travis Terrell Jr.
  • WR Jameel Gardner Jr.
  • OL Mason Barton
  • OL D’Andre Townes-Blue
  • OL Almetris Smith Jr.
  • OL Brian Williams Jr.
  • DE Quincy Ivory
  • DE John Brown Jr.
  • DT Tymon Wells
  • DT Jeremiah Williams
  • LB Ashton Taylor
  • LB Reid Pulliam
  • CB Frankie Dunn Jr.
  • S Shamar Hawkins
  • S BJ Washington
  • K Gerardo Baeza
  • P Donovan Warren

Who Jackson State, TC Taylor have added, lost in portal for 2026

Additions:

  • Valparaiso QB Caron Tyler
  • Johnson C. Smith WR Jaden Lockhart
  • Mississippi State OL Jaekwon Bouldin
  • Western Kentucky OL Melvin Collins Jr.
  • UNC Charlotte OL Aiden Martinez
  • Eastern Michigan DE Messiah Blair
  • Louisiana-Monroe DL Amarion Ware
  • Eastern Michigan DL Duke Clayton
  • Monmouth DL Rob Adamson Jr.
  • UCF DL Keshaun Hudson
  • Mississippi State DL Terrance Hibbler Jr.
  • Arkansas-Monticello DL Jeremiah Kirk
  • Virginia Union LB Christian Aiken
  • Tennessee State LB Micah Gay
  • Western Illinois CB Tyrese Buffkin
  • Memphis CB Samson Israel
  • Western Kentucky S Virgil Marshall
  • Louisiana-Monroe S Jalen Foster
  • New Mexico State S DJ Hill-Smith
  • Fort Valley State K Rashdan Tebyasa
  • Lincoln K Daylen Ortiz

Losses:

  • QB Ethan Terrell (Alcorn State)
  • QB Parker Stofa (TBD)
  • RB Ahmad Miller (Syracuse)
  • RB Travis Terrell Jr. (Purdue)
  • WR Cameron Onyebuagu (Defiance)
  • WR Jameel Garnder Jr. (TBD)
  • WR Tyquan Henderson (TBD)
  • TE Marvin Landy (Rhode Island)
  • OL Isaiah Villanueva (Missouri State)
  • OL Devin Love (Tyler Junior College)
  • OL Jackson King (Wisconsin River Falls)
  • OL Mason Barton (Coastal Carolina)
  • OL Brian Williams Jr. (UTEP)
  • OL Bruno Zandamela (TBD)
  • DE Jace Ward (Prairie View A&M)
  • DE Braxton Barney (Southwest Mississippi Community College)
  • LB Ashton Taylor (Middle Tennessee State)
  • K Simon Naylor (TBD)

Jackson State football 2026 recruiting class

Jackson State signed 13 high school players and five junior college recruits in 2026. Here’s each signee.

  • QB Samuel Dunn
  • QB Darryon Jones
  • RB Li’Darious Pryor
  • JUCO RB Tyler Arrington
  • WR Javar Bowden
  • JUCO WR DeJay Welch
  • OL Chad Windham
  • DE Michael Johnson Jr.
  • DL Davon Merchant
  • JUCO DL Zay Lowery
  • JUCO DL Za’Bauri Chandler
  • LB Keith Lay
  • LB Peyton Trigg
  • CB Jamison Kelly
  • DB Yusef Colding
  • DB Mikey Johnson
  • JUCO S Wildrekus Johnson
  • K/P Andrew Ivanicuic

Jackson State football 2026 schedule

  • Aug. 29: vs. Tennessee State (John. A Merritt Classic, Nashville)
  • Sept. 5: vs. Edward Waters
  • Sept. 12: Open
  • Sept. 19: vs. Tuskegee
  • Sept. 26: vs. Southern
  • Oct. 3: vs. Alabama A&M (Gulf Coast Challenge, Mobile)
  • Oct. 10: at Grambling State
  • Oct. 17: vs. Florida A&M
  • Oct. 24: at Bethune-Cookman
  • Oct. 31: Open
  • Nov. 7: vs. Mississippi Valley State
  • Nov. 14: at Alabama State
  • Nov. 21: at Alcorn State

Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson State football starts spring practice. Here’s what’s new

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