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2025 Tennessee State Tigers football team

2025 Tennessee State Tigers football
ConferenceOVC–Big South Football Association
Record0–0 (0–0 OVC–Big South)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorFred Kaiss (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorGregg Williams (1st season)
Home stadiumNissan Stadium
Seasons
← 2024
2026 →
2025 OVC–Big South football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Charleston Southern   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Eastern Illinois   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Gardner–Webb   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Lindenwood   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Southeast Missouri State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Tennessee State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
No. 21 Tennessee Tech   0 – 0     0 – 0  
UT Martin   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Western Illinois   0 – 0     0 – 0  
As of August 22, 2025
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2025 Tennessee State Tigers football team will represent Tennessee State University as a member of the OVC–Big South Football Association during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They are expected to be led by first year head coach Reggie Barlow. The Tigers play their home games at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

Offseason

[edit]

Transfers

[edit]

Outgoing

[edit]
Player Position Destination
Jordan Gant RB Akron
Kaleob Onyeahialam OL Alabama A&M
Saidou Ba OL Austin Peay
Alexis Sanchez OL Bowling Green
Eriq George DL Bowling Green
Jalen McClendon DB Bowling Green
Kaderris Roberts RB Bowling Green
Caden Marshall LB Bowling Green
Jourden Hale-Frater OL Eastern Illinois
Blake Gamez OL Eastern Kentucky
Dion Villiers DB Florida A&M
Alex Valbuena OL Jackson State
Ace Meadows OL Jackson State
Jordan Helton S Jackson State
Gerald Bullock TE Kennesaw State
Boogie Trotter DB Marshall
Jalen Bell DL Memphis
Jamari Freeman OL Mercer
Hadine Diaby OL Nevada
Adam Damante QB New Mexico State
Mecca Carr-Bordeaux DL North Carolina A&T
Tevin Carter QB Prairie View A&M
Kheagian Heckaman TE Prairie View A&M
Sanders Ellis LB Purdue
CJ Evans RB Samford
Tucker Kyne TE Tennessee Tech
Bryant Williams WR Tennessee Tech
Connor Meadows OL UCF
Jordan Buchanan DB UNLV
David Jones DB UTEP
Cameron Blaylock DT UTSA
Karate Brenson WR Wake Forest
Jaden McGill RB Western Kentucky
Malik Billingsley WR Unknown
Tyler Moore DL Unknown
Ahmed Mohamed P/K Unknown
Ro Abercrombie TE Withdrawn

Incoming

[edit]
Player Position Previous school
Jackson Howell OL Alabama
Ravon Johnson DE Alabama A&M
Luke Harkless WR Alabama State
Adam Damante QB Arizona
Jack Brandon QB Boston College
Jonathan Palmer QB Gardner–Webb
Jesse Igwe OL Gardner–Webb
Freddy Perez K Georgia Military
Breon Brown OL James Madison
Jayden Cook DB Kansas State
Denzel Holder OL Kilgore
Brock Montgomery WR Marshall
Tyson Edwards WR Memphis
James Stewart DE Middle Tennessee
Caleb Reid LB Middle Tennessee
Shamar Crawford OL Middle Tennessee
Syncere Safeeullah DB Nebraska
Alexis Sanchez OL Northern Arizona
Braelen Perry DT Prairie View A&M
Shaun Ayers DT Sacred Heart
Gavin Forsha LB South Alabama
Kendric Rhymes RB Southern
Brendan Hale DB Southern Utah
Alijah Bivans LB Towson
Caleb McCreary QB Troy
Jelani Willis LB Western Michigan

[1][2][3][4]

Recruiting class

[edit]
Name Position Height Weight Hometown High School Source
Devaughn Slaughter ATH 6-0 160 Indianapolis, IN Cathedral [5]
Christopher Barnett OL 6-4 280 Murfreesboro, TN Blackman [6]
Steven Nelson OL 6-3 265 Murfreesboro, TN Rockvale [7]
Jaylon Price DE 6-3 220 Sunflower, MS Southwest Mississippi CC [8]
Parker Harden OL 6-4 330 Pickerington, OH Pickerington Central [9]
Jayden Guy WR 6-0 165 Murfreesboro, TN Blackman [4]
Brandon Collins DT 6-2 235 Nashville, TN Ensworth [4]
Tyson Craig ATH 5-11 180 Lawrenceville, GA Archer [10]
Nick Cyrus QB 6-6 190 Brooklyn, NY South Shore [11]

Coaching staff additions

[edit]
Name New Position Previous Team Previous Position Source
Reggie Barlow Head coach DC Defenders Head coach [12]
Gregg Williams Defensive coordinator DC Defenders Defensive coordinator [13]
Fred Kaiss Offensive coordinator DC Defenders Offensive coordinator [14]
Cedric Thornton Associate head coach/Linebackers Alabama A&M Defensive tackles/Special teams [15]


Schedule

[edit]
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResult
August 303:30 p.m.North Carolina A&T*
TBA
September 61:30 p.m.North Dakota State*
  • Nissan Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
ESPN+
September 133:30 p.m.Alabama A&M*
  • Nissan Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
TBA
September 273:30 p.m.Tennessee Tech
ESPN+
October 42:00 p.m.at Eastern Illinois
ESPN+
October 113:00 p.m.at Southeast Missouri State
ESPN+
October 184:30 p.m.Howard*dagger
  • Nissan Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
TBA
October 251:30 p.m.Western Illinois
  • Nissan Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
ESPN+
November 13:30 p.m.Lindenwood
  • Nissan Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
ESPN+
November 81:00 p.m.at UT Martin
ESPN+
November 151:30 p.m.Gardner–Webb
  • Nissan Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
ESPN+
November 221:00 p.m.at Charleston Southern
ESPN+

[16]

Game summaries

[edit]

vs. North Carolina A&T

[edit]
See also: 2025 North Carolina A&T Aggies football team
Game One – North Carolina A&T Aggies (0–0) at Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Aggies 0 0 000
Tigers 0 0 000

at Hale Stadium • Nashville, TN

  • Date: Saturday August 30, 2025
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (TBA): TBA
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics NCAT TNST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
North Carolina A&T Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Tennessee State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

vs. North Dakota State

[edit]
See also: 2025 North Dakota State Bison football team
Game Two – North Dakota State Bison (0–0) at Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bison 0 0 000
Tigers 0 0 000

at Nissan Stadium • Nashville, TN

  • Date: Saturday September 6, 2025
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (TBA): TBA
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics NDSU TNST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
North Dakota State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Tennessee State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

vs. Tennessee Tech (Sgt. York Trophy)

[edit]
See also: 2025 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles football team and Sgt. York Trophy
Game Three – Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (0–0) at Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Golden Eagles 0 0 000
Tigers 0 0 000

at Nissan Stadium • Nashville, TN

  • Date: Saturday September 27, 2025
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics TNTC TNST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Tennessee Tech Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Tennessee State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Eastern Illinois

[edit]
See also: 2025 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team
Game Four – Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) at Eastern Illinois Panthers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Tigers 0 0 000
Panthers 0 0 000

at O'Brien Field • Charleston, IL

  • Date: Saturday October 4, 2025
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics TNST EIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Tennessee State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Eastern Illinois Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Southeast Missouri State

[edit]
See also: 2025 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks football team
Game Five – Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) at Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Tigers 0 0 000
Redhawks 0 0 000

at Houck Stadium • Cape Girardeau, MO

  • Date: Saturday October 11, 2025
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics TNST SEMO
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Tennessee State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Southeast Missouri State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

vs. Howard

[edit]
See also: 2025 Howard Bison football team
Game Six – Howard Bison (0–0) at Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bison 0 0 000
Tigers 0 0 000

at Hale Stadium • Nashville, TN

  • Date: Saturday October 18, 2025
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (TBA): TBA
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics HOW TNST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Howard Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Tennessee State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

vs. Western Illinois

[edit]
See also: 2025 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team
Game Seven – Western Illinois Leathernecks (0–0) at Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Leathernecks 0 0 000
Tigers 0 0 000

at Nissan Stadium • Nashville, TN

  • Date: Saturday October 25, 2025
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics WIU TNST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Western Illinois Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Tennessee State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

vs. Lindenwood

[edit]
See also: 2025 Lindenwood Lions football team
Game Eight – Lindenwood Lions (0–0) at Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Lions 0 0 000
Tigers 0 0 000

at Nissan Stadium • Nashville, TN

  • Date: Saturday November 1, 2025
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics LIN TNST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Lindenwood Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Tennessee State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at UT Martin (Sgt. York Trophy)

[edit]
See also: 2025 UT Martin Skyhawks football team and Sgt. York Trophy
Game Nine – Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) at UT Martin Skyhawks (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Tigers 0 0 000
Skyhawks 0 0 000

at Graham Stadium • Martin, TN

  • Date: Saturday November 8, 2025
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics TNST UTM
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Tennessee State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
UT Martin Passing
Rushing
Receiving

vs. Gardner–Webb

[edit]
See also: 2025 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football team
Game Ten – Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs (0–0) at Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Runnin' Bulldogs 0 0 000
Tigers 0 0 000

at Nissan Stadium • Nashville, TN

  • Date: Saturday November 15, 2025
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics GWU TNST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Gardner–Webb Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Tennessee State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Charleston Southern

[edit]
See also: 2025 Charleston Southern Buccaneers football team
Game Eleven – Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) at Charleston Southern Buccaneers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Tigers 0 0 000
Buccaneers 0 0 000

at Buccaneer Field • North Charleston, SC

  • Date: Saturday November 22, 2025
  • Game time: TBA
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics TNST CSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Tennessee State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Charleston Southern Passing
Rushing
Receiving

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2025 FCS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports.
  2. ^ "2025 FBS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports.
  3. ^ "2025 FCS-to-FBS Transfers". herosports.
  4. ^ a b c "Football Adds Six in February Signing Period". tsutigers. February 5, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  5. ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/DDKdjVkxFPt/?img_index=1 [bare URL]
  6. ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/DDKw3mJyAjx/?img_index=1 [bare URL]
  7. ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/DDKzePUyX_z/?img_index=1 [bare URL]
  8. ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/DDK2BBHy0Oj/?img_index=1 [bare URL]
  9. ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/DDLMx9TSflF/?img_index=1 [bare URL]
  10. ^ https://x.com/TysonCraig_4/status/1920250759720939833 [bare URL]
  11. ^ https://x.com/TSUTigersFB/status/1929947803322561002 [bare URL]
  12. ^ "Tennessee State University Names Reggie Barlow as Head Football Coach". tsutigers. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  13. ^ "Football Names Gregg Williams Defensive Coordinator". tsutigers. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  14. ^ Organ, Mike. "New Tennessee State football coach Reggie Barlow not swayed by school's financial woes". tennessean. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  15. ^ "Football Adds Veteran Coach Cedric Thornton to Defensive Staff". tsutigers. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  16. ^ "2025 Tennessee State Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved December 21, 2024.