Missouri State football coach Ryan Beard said his comfort level has risen heading into his second season leading the Bears during the program’s annual media day on the turf under the summer sun at Plaster Stadium.
An offseason filled with storylines, including the program’s 2025 move to Conference USA and an extension for the head coach, is close to being pushed aside for the actual action on the field during the Bears’ final season in the FCS and Missouri Valley Football Conference.
Much work still needs to be done before the Aug. 31 season opener at FCS national runner-up Montana but there’s no doubt that football season has arrived.
Here are the things you should know immediately after the Bears’ Saturday media day:
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Missouri State football QB Jacob Clark is ‘100%’ healthy and he wants to be the starting quarterback heading into Conference USA
Missouri State senior quarterback Jacob Clark said he is “100%” following shoulder surgery that sidelined him after he started the first four games of last season. Beard has had his quarterback on somewhat of a pitch count but has ramped up the number of balls Clark can throw by the practice.
The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder who was on pace to break Missouri State passing records last season said he’s still waiting for the NCAA to approve his medical redshirt waiver that would give him another season of eligibility in 2025, the Bears’ first when they move to the FBS level in Conference USA.
“I really enjoy being here with this coaching staff and what we do on offense,” Clark said. “I have really strong relationships with guys on the team and I’m really excited for the future for the Bears and I want to be a part of it.”
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Jacardia Wright entered the transfer portal, came back to Missouri State after hearing from power conferences
Jacardia Wright entering the transfer portal during the offseason went under the radar but the Bears’ starting running back was present for media day wearing a Missouri State uniform.
The second-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection entering his senior year is still listed at 220 pounds. Beard and offensive coordinator Nick Petrino spoke about how Wright’s gotten faster with more of his weight turning into muscle.
Wright, who has had conversations with NFL scouts, said he was approached by several power conference programs during the offseason, including those from the Big Ten and Big 12. He said he turned down multiple Name, Image and Likeness deals knowing that his best opportunity to play at the next level would be wearing maroon and white.
“A lot of FBS schools were offering me a lot of money to go play for them,” Wright said. “It’s just not always about the money for me. I definitely could’ve been good coming out of college but I have a higher goal. (NFL scouts) who go to their practices come to our practices as well. It just felt like this was the right place for me.”
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Penn State transfer Davon Townley Jr., Georgia Tech transfer James BlackStrain are turning heads
The two names that pop out the most to fans are the transfers from power programs like Penn State and Georgia Tech.
Early rumblings from Bears coaches say defensive end Davon Townley Jr. (Penn State) and wide receiver James BlackStrain (Georgia Tech) have been worth the hype and will be players everyone will see plenty of this season.
Townley, who would’ve been a Division I basketball recruit, had minimal football experience out of high school but projected well as a four-star prospect. He sat for the most part with the Nittany Lions but will get an opportunity as a 6-foot-6, 275-pounder off the edge.
“The combination of his size and explosiveness is going to be elite,” defensive coordinator L.D. Scott said. “We’ve already seen flashes of it right now. We just got to get him caught up on learning the scheme and the defense. He’s going to be good.”
Earlier in the week, Beard wanted to wait to see BlackStrain live before putting too much stock into him. A few days into camp, he’s all aboard the former four-star prospect he recruited when he was at Louisville. Petrino anticipates using BlackStrain plenty at the X receiver spot.
“He’s looked really good,” Petrino said. “He’s a taller, longer kid who can really run. He’s similar to (Terique Owens) from last year with his body type.”
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Ryan Beard says Missouri State is as deep on offensive, defensive fronts as he’s seen
Missouri State returns its entire starting offensive line from the final game of last season, giving what Beard and Petrino believe the Bears’ deepest offensive line they’ve had since they started with the program in 2020.
On the defensive side, because of the many injuries on its line last season, the Bears have young, experienced players, returning players who were injured and new additions that…
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