By: Curtis Ford, Associate AD for Athletic Communications
GRAMBLING, La. | The wait is over for the Grambling State football fans as the Tigers open the 2025 season in the Shreveport Kickoff Classic versus Langston this Saturday at 7 p.m. at Independence Stadium. The game will be stream on the newly created SWAC TV.
The Tigers look to start the second year of the head coach Mickey Joseph era on a positive note and improve upon last seasons 5-7 campaign.
Grambling State leads the all-time series with Langston 4-1. Saturday's game marks the first meeting between GSU and LU since 2008. The Tigers claimed a 13-2. The Tigers lone loss to the Lions occurred in 1996 with LU winning 15-14.
2024 was the first season for GSU head coach Mickey Joseph. Joseph had previously served as the interim head coach at his alma mater, the University of Nebraska. On Saturday, Joseph will be coaching against the school that gave him his first collegiate head coaching job. Joseph was a member of the Langston coaching staff from 2008-2012, serving as head coach for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
Game Notes:
SOLID DEFENSE
Grambling State returns what's expected to be one of the most stout defensive units in the SWAC . The Tigers return a welth of experience to that side of the ball
Defensive back
Blake Davis, an preseason ALL-SWAC selection, brings experience and playmaking ability to the secondary this season. Davis made 41 total tackles with 3.5 TFLs, three interceptions, two sacks, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick. Also roaming the secondary is
Quintin Talley, who is entering his fourth season at Grambling
Defensive End
Bryce Cage brings a menacing presence to the defensive line. Cage, who was named the Bayou Classic MVP for GSU last season, registered 49.0 tackles in 2024, with 11.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks.
Isaac Washington moves from defensive end to defensive tackle this season. Last year, he was a force at a defenisve end, making 28.0 tottal tackles with 6.0 TFLs and 2.0 sacks.
The Linebacking corps features experience with
Jamal Jordan,
Marcellius Johnson,
Josh Darling and
Brenden Barley bring game experience into 2025.
Jamal Jordan, a sophomore from Shreveport, La., broke out of his shell near the end of the 2024 campaign. He earned SWAC Freshman of the Week honors, while Barley showcased his big play ability with 39.0 total tackles and tying for a team-high three interceptions.
NEW QUARTERBACK
The Grambling State offense will have a new signal caller this season with the departure of quarterback
Myles Crawley who played two seasons for the G-Men.
Quarterbacks
Ashton Frye, a transfer from Jacksonville State, and
C'Zavian Teasett, a transfer from Southern Univeristy, quickly solidified themselves as front runners to become starting quarterback.
Frye is familiar with the G-Men, having spent the 2024 season with GSU, going 4-for 7 for nine yards in three games of action.
Teasett played in 10 games at Southern, throwing for 941 yards, 6 TDs and two INTs while completing 71-of-129 passes (55.04%). He shared starting duties with two other quarterbacks while at SU. Teasett earned SWAC Player of the Week honors in after throwing 316 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-10 victory over Savannah State on Sept. 7.
NEW FACES ON COACHING STAFF
Grambling State fans can expect to see a plethora of new coaches roaming the sidelines for the Tigers this season.
GSU welcomes
Erik Losey (Offensive Line),
Willie Mack-Garza (Safeties),
Reggie Moore (Wide Recievers),
Aaron Tiller (Defensive Line),
Wyatt Anderson (Tight Ends) and
Alan Ricard (Special Teams) to the staff this season.
All of the new coaches bring Division I FCS experience to Grambling State this season.
IN THE TRENCHES
Going into the first week of the season,
Darius Meeks anchors an offensive line that features five returners along the starting front. Meeks saw action in 11 games for the Tigers last season.
NO STRANGERS TO SHREVEPORT
Naturally with Grambling State being located within close proximity to Shreveport, the Tigers have played a lot of games at the Independence Stadium.
In the 2022, the Tigers' most recent trip to Shreveport, GSU defeated in-state foe Northwestern State 47-21.
Grambling State has played a total of 20 game sin the city of Shreveport, sporting a 16-3-1 record.
Legendary head football coach Eddie Robinson defetaed Oregon State 23-6 at the Independence Stadium on Sept. 28, 1985, earning his 323rd victory tying him self with Paul (Bear) Bryant as the winningest coach in college football at that time.
PRESEASON RECOGNITION
Grambling State football players racked up preseason honors during the offseason.
The Tigers had four players earn spots of the Preseason All-SWAC Teams. Defensive end
Bryce Cage and punter
Johnny Schifano earned spots on the first team, while defensive back
Blake Davis and offensive lineman
Tahj Martin garnered second team recognition
Cage, Davis and Schifano also landed on national preseason watch lists.
Cage earned a spot on the Stats Perform FCS National HBCU Player of the Year watch list.
Davis was named to the Aeneas Williams award watch list, which is awarded to the nation's best HBCU defensive back.
Schifano was named to the FCS Punter of the Year watch list.
ABOUT LANGSTON
Langston secured a winning season in 2024, going 6-4 and sporting a 5-3 mark in the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) The Lions are members of the NAIA.
LU is a led by head coach Quinton Morgan who is entering his 11th season as head coach of the Lions. He holds a career record of 65-26.
Saturday's game marks the first time that Langston has faced a Division I FCS program since 2019. The Lions lost to Arkansas-Pine Bluff 53-15 in that contest.
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