TJC Apaches have high expectations for 2024

Published 6:15 pm Monday, August 26, 2024

Tyler Junior College went 5-4 on the gridiron and 4-3 in conference play in 2023.

The Apaches will look to improve on those marks in year three under head football coach Tanner Jacobson.

“I am really excited about our group,” Jacobson said. “We have a lot of returnerS from spring ball. Typically, we have nine or 10 of our spring starters leave us during the summer (for Division I programs), but I’m really excited because this year we only lost two potential starters from our spring game. It’s a given at this level that you’re going to lose basically all of your starters year in and year out. You don’t have time to rebuild, you’ve got to reload year in and year out, so the ability to have some continuity from spring ball to fall camp is something I’m really excited about.”

Jacobson was joined by sophomore wide receiver JaQuan McGee, freshman running back Hawk Patrick-Daniels, sophomore safety Sam Fongang and sophomore defensive end Emmanuel Oguns at a fall sports media day at the CHRISTUS Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute on Aug. 1 to talk about the upcoming season.

“I would say the expectation is to win a natty, but first we have to win the conference championship and just have a winning season, in general,” McGee said.

“Coming in here, I can play running back, slot or anywhere they need me to be,” said Patrick-Daniels, a former Aledo High School standout. “I feel like I can help us win a natty, as well.”

“The expectations for the Apaches are to win a conference championship, win a national championship and just to compete,” Fongang said. “Our goal is to play hard every game, compete and have fun.”

“The key for us having a successful season is have fun and hold each other accountable,” Oguns said. “We can’t let anybody drop below the standard we need to play at to accomplish our goals.”

The Apaches will open the season at 7 p.m. Thursday against Dodge City Community College at Memorial Stadium in Dodge City, Kansas.