Offense in flux with 3 absences

The first week of fall camp has been full of surprises for the Bobcats. Texas State coach Everett Withers announced that three key offensive players wouldn’t be practicing quarterback Damian Williams, wide receiver T.V. Williams and running back Stedman Mayberry.

Damian Williams, a graduate transfer from Mississippi State, and T.V. Williams, who transferred from Kentucky last season, have been suspended for academic and personal reasons, Withers said.

“That’s the last time I’ll talk about that,” Withers told reporters this week. “There’s no telling when they’ll get back or if they’ll get back.”

Mayberry, who started 11 games last year and led the team in rushing, has left the program. The Bobcats aren’t expecting him back, the coach said.

“He decided to go pursue a career, and I think the crowded running back room had a lot to do with it,” Withers said.

Damian Williams was expected to be Texas State’s starting quarterback after enrolling in January and going through spring workouts. But he had yet to take the GRE standardized test to get into graduate school; he took the test last week and could rejoin the team when the results come back, possibly in about two weeks.

Without him, the Bobcats will look at four freshmen — Jaylen Gipson, Jalin Nelson, Kishawn Kelley and Willie Jones III. Nelson was initially listed as a running back but has moved to quarterback, which he played in high school.

T.V. Williams, who sat out last year after transferring, could rejoin the team during the season if he pulls his grades up this semester.

Withers also said that another running back, sophomore Tyler Tutt, might miss the season; he is still recovering from a knee injury sustained last year.

Two tight ends commit: