The 2023 Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football team represented Texas A&M University–Commerce as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Lions were led by first-year head coach Clint Dolezel and played home games at the Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium in Commerce, Texas.
Preseason
Preseason poll The Southland Conference released their preseason poll on July 24, 2023. The Lions were picked to finish sixth in the conference.
Preseason All–Southland Teams The Southland Conference announced the 2023 preseason all-conference football team selections on July 21, 2023. TAMUC had a total of 4 players selected.
Defense
2nd Team Leon Young – defensive lineman, JR Max Epps – defensive back, JR Daryion Taylor – defensive back, SR Sean Krystoff-King – kick returner, SO
Schedule Texas A&M–Commerce and the Southland Conference announced the 2023 football schedule on December 14, 2022.
Game summaries at Sacramento State
Statistics TAMCSAC First downs 13 28 Total yards 216 503 Rushing yards 144 311 Passing yards 72 192 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–27–1 17–26–1 Time of possession 29:08 30:52 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas A&M–Commerce Passing Peter Parrish 12/25, 63 yards, INT Rushing Reggie Branch 14 carries, 65 yards Receiving Micaelous Elder 6 receptions, 33 yardsSacramento State Passing Kaiden Bennett 14/22, 176 yards, TD, INT Rushing Kaiden Bennett 10 carries, 101 yards, 2 TD Receiving Coleman Kuntz 4 receptions, 68 yards
McNeese
at Incarnate Word
at Lamar
Statistics TAMCLAM First downs 19 16 Total yards 300 342 Rushing yards 102 246 Passing yards 198 96 Turnovers 4 1 Time of possession 27:37 32:23 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas A&M–Commerce Passing Mirko Martos 9/16, 102 yards, TD Rushing Shamenski Rucker 12 rushes, 36 yards Receiving Austin Samaha 4 receptions, 65 yardsLamar Passing Robert Coleman 8/14, 96 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Khalan Griffin 19 rushes, 113 yards, TD Receiving Andre Dennis 5 receptions, 43 yards
National and state recognition Three Southland Conference players and one team were nationally recognized during the season. Texas A&M–Commerce's Max Epps was recognized on September 25 as National defensive player of the week.
Weekly awards One Southland Conference team and conference players received national recognition over the course of the season. One of the players, Texas A&M–Commerce's Max Epps, was recognized on September 25 as National defensive player of the week. Weekly honors Honors Player Position Date Awarded Ref. FedEx Ground National Defensive Player of the WeekMax Epps DB September 25, 2023
Dave Campbell's Texas Football post season All-Texas Non-FBS teams Levi Drake Rodriguez was named to the 2023 All-Texas Non-FBS Defense team.
Conference awards and honors
Weekly awards One Lion received conference player of the week recognition. Weekly honors Honors Player Position Date Awarded Ref. SLC Defensive Player of the WeekMax Epps DB September 25, 2023
Postseason All–Southland Teams The Southland Conference announced the 2023 all-conference football team selections on November 22, 2023. Three Texas A&M–Commerce players were selected to the All–Conference defensive team.
Defense
1st Team Levi Drake Rodriguez – defensive lineman, SR Max Epps – defensive back, JR Daryion Taylor – defensive back, SR
References