The 2025 Tennessee State Tigers football team represented Tennessee State University as a member of the OVC–Big South Football Association during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by first year head coach Reggie Barlow. The Tigers played their home games at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
Offseason Preseason poll The Big South-OVC Conference released their preseason poll on July 16, 2025. The Tigers were picked to finish eight in the conference.
Transfers Outgoing Jordan GantRBAkronKaleob OnyeahialamOLAlabama A&MSaidou BaOLAustin PeayAlexis SanchezOLBowling GreenEriq GeorgeDLBowling GreenJalen McClendonDBBowling GreenKaderris RobertsRBBowling GreenCaden MarshallLBBowling GreenJourden Hale-FraterOLEastern IllinoisBlake GamezOLEastern KentuckyDion VilliersDBFlorida A&MAlex ValbuenaOLJackson StateAce MeadowsOLJackson StateJordan HeltonSJackson StateGerald BullockTEKennesaw StateBoogie TrotterDBMarshallJalen BellDLMemphisJamari FreemanOLMercerHadine DiabyOLNevadaAdam DamanteQBNew Mexico StateMecca Carr-BordeauxDLNorth Carolina A&TTevin CarterQBPrairie View A&MKheagian HeckamanTEPrairie View A&MSanders EllisLBPurdueCJ EvansRBSamfordTucker KyneTETennessee TechBryant WilliamsWRTennessee TechConnor MeadowsOLUCFJordan BuchananDBUNLVDavid JonesDBUTEPCameron BlaylockDTUTSAKarate BrensonWRWake ForestJaden McGillRBWestern KentuckyMalik BillingsleyWRUnknownTyler MooreDLUnknownAhmed MohamedP/KUnknownRo AbercrombieTEWithdrawn
Incoming Jackson HowellOLAlabamaRavon JohnsonDEAlabama A&MLuke HarklessWRAlabama StateAdam DamanteQBArizonaJack BrandonQBBoston CollegeJonathan PalmerQBGardner–WebbJesse IgweOLGardner–WebbFreddy PerezKGeorgia MilitaryBreon BrownOLJames MadisonJayden CookDBKansas StateDenzel HolderOLKilgoreBrock MontgomeryWRMarshallTyson EdwardsWRMemphisJames StewartDEMiddle TennesseeCaleb ReidLBMiddle TennesseeShamar CrawfordOLMiddle TennesseeSyncere SafeeullahDBNebraskaAlexis SanchezOLNorthern ArizonaBraelen PerryDTPrairie View A&MShaun AyersDTSacred HeartGavin ForshaLBSouth AlabamaKendric RhymesRBSouthernBrendan HaleDBSouthern UtahAlijah BivansLBTowsonCaleb McCrearyQBTroyJelani WillisLBWestern Michigan
Recruiting class
Devaughn Slaughter ATH 6-0 160 Indianapolis, IN Cathedral Christopher Barnett OL 6-4 280 Murfreesboro, TN Blackman Steven Nelson OL 6-3 265 Murfreesboro, TN Rockvale Jaylon Price DE 6-3 220 Sunflower, MS Southwest Mississippi CC Parker Harden OL 6-4 330 Pickerington, OH Pickerington Central Jayden Guy WR 6-0 165 Murfreesboro, TN Blackman Brandon Collins DT 6-2 235 Nashville, TN Ensworth Tyson Craig ATH 5-11 180 Lawrenceville, GA Archer Nick Cyrus QB 6-6 190 Brooklyn, NY South Shore
Coaching staff additions NameNew PositionPrevious TeamPrevious Position SourceReggie BarlowHead coachDC DefendersHead coachGregg WilliamsDefensive coordinatorDC DefendersDefensive coordinatorShannon HarrisCo-Offensive coordinator/QuarterbacksDC DefendersHead coachToriano MorganCo-Offensive coordinator/Running BacksEdward WatersHead coachCedric ThorntonAssociate head coach/LinebackersAlabama A&MDefensive tackles/Special teams
Schedule
Game summaries vs. North Carolina A&T
Statistics NCAT TNST First downs 1511 Total yards 335252 Rushing yards 125 129 Passing yards 210 123 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–22–0 11–21–1 Time of possession 32:55 27:05 Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Carolina A&T Passing Braxton Thomas 11/13, 169 yards, 1 TD Rushing Wesley Graves 14 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD Receiving Amonte Jones 4 receptions, 91 yards, 1 TD Tennessee State Passing Jonathan Palmer 11/21, 123 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Kendric Rhymes 21 carries, 174 yards, 2 TD Receiving DeVaughn Slaughter 4 receptions, 102 yards, 1 TD
vs. No. 1 North Dakota State
Statistics NDSU TNST First downs 24 4 Total yards 433 131 Rushing yards 191 70 Passing yards 242 61 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–23–1 8–18–1 Time of possession 33:37 26:23 Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Dakota State Passing Cole Payton 13/16, 166 yards, TD Rushing Barika Kpeenu 10 carries, 57 yards, 3 TD Receiving Mekhi Collins 1 reception, 68 yards, TDTennessee State Passing Jonathan Palmer 5/13, 38 yards Rushing Kendric Rhymes 12 carries, 43 yards Receiving Tyson Edwards 1 reception, 16 yards
vs. Alabama A&M
Statistics AAMU TNST First downs 19 21 Total yards 422 336 Rushing yards 67 179 Passing yards 355 157 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–35–0 17–27–1 Time of possession 24:16 35:44 Team Category Player StatisticsAlabama A&M Passing Cornelious Brown 21/33, 329 yards, 2 TD Rushing Maurice Edwards 10 carries, 38 yards Receiving Travaunta Abner 6 receptions, 104 yardsTennessee State Passing Byron McNair 17/27, 157 yards, TD, INT Rushing Kendric Rhymes 24 carries, 111 yards, TD Receiving Kendric Rhymes 7 receptions, 64 yards, TD
vs. No. 13 Tennessee Tech (Sgt. York Trophy)
Statistics TNTC TNST First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee Tech Passing Rushing Receiving Tennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving
at Eastern Illinois
Statistics TNST EIU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving Eastern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
at Southeast Missouri State
Statistics TNST SEMO First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving Southeast Missouri State Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Howard
Statistics HOW TNST First downs 10 7 Total yards 183 262 Rushing yards 67 88 Passing yards 116 174 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–27–2 18–22–0 Time of possession 31:37 28:23 Team Category Player StatisticsHoward Passing Tyriq Starks 14/27, 116 yards, 2 INT Rushing Anthony Reagan Jr. 12 carries, 44 yards, TD Receiving CJ Neely 4 receptions, 56 yardsTennessee State Passing Byron McNair 18/22, 174 yards, 3 TD Rushing Byron McNair 6 carries, 47 yards Receiving Kendric Rhymes 2 receptions, 46 yards
vs. Western Illinois
Statistics WIU TNST First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving Tennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Lindenwood
Statistics LIN TNST First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsLindenwood Passing Rushing Receiving Tennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving
at UT Martin (Sgt. York Trophy)
Statistics TNST UTM First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving UT Martin Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Gardner–Webb
Statistics GWU TNST First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsGardner–Webb Passing Rushing Receiving Tennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving
at Charleston Southern
Statistics TNST CSU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving Charleston Southern Passing Rushing Receiving
References