Coach Keeler on Overcoming Training Camp Challenges and Building a Competitive Roster
HUNTSVILLE, Texas — The Sam Houston football program encountered an unexpected hurdle during this year’s training camp, as unusual summer weather forced the team to relocate their operations to Huntsville High School temporarily. Despite this significant disruption, Head Coach KC Keeler praised his team’s ability to adapt and turn the challenge into a growth opportunity.
“We had a lot of sudden change when it came to training camp,” Keeler stated. “We did not anticipate having to move our entire operation, but due to the weather, we were way behind schedule on putting our field in.”
The Bearkats were left without a home field for most of their camp, a situation that could have derailed their preparations for the upcoming season. However, Keeler and his staff chose to see the move as an advantage. “Every obstacle is an opportunity, and we took it as such,” he explained. The late-afternoon practice sessions, designed to mimic the conditions of their evening games, allowed the team to acclimate to playing under the unique humidity that often defines night games in Texas.
Keeler emphasized the importance of these sessions as the Bearkats look ahead to their season opener against Rice, noting that eight of their twelve games will be played in the evening. “I think we really benefited a lot from it,” he said. “Our bodies had to get used to practicing and playing in the evening, and I think that’s going to help us this season.”
In addition to adjusting to a new practice schedule, the Bearkats also faced the challenge of integrating new staff members and players into the program. “We’ve kind of re-made the program,” Keeler said, referencing the changes brought about by the move to the FBS level. “Coach Corn (Brad Cornelsen), our offensive coordinator, Clayton Barnes, my general manager, and Skyler Cassity, my defensive coordinator, all brought fresh ideas to the table. We sat down and looked at everything from soup to nuts.”
Keeler expressed confidence in the team’s roster, which has seen significant improvements through both high school recruiting and strategic transfers. “I think we really added some talent to this team. This is a better roster than the roster we had last year,” he remarked. Despite the departure of key players like linebacker Trevor Williams, Keeler believes the team is stronger overall. “I think we’re better at almost every position on the field.”
One area of particular focus has been the defensive line, where competition for starting spots has been fierce. “CK has played really well, and he’s battling Javon Leon for a starting spot,” Keeler noted. “Issaiah Nixon, on the other side, has been tough to block, and the guys we’ve added inside, like Denver Warren, have really made a difference.”
Keeler also highlighted the wide receiver and tight end positions as areas of strength for the team. “The wide receiver room has a chance to be as good as any in this conference,” he said, pointing to key players like Noah Smith and Ife Adeyi, both of whom are NFL prospects. “We’ve got seven or eight guys in that wide receiver room that we can turn to, and that’s a great position to be in.”
The offensive line has also seen notable improvements, thanks in part to the efforts of new strength coach Kevin Schadt. “Kevin has done a great job getting our guys bigger and stronger,” Keeler said. “We’ve also upgraded our nutritional program, thanks to support from alumni like Don Sanders, who donated money so we could have milkshakes post-practice and feed the team every day during the summer.”
The quarterback position remains one of the most competitive on the team, with three players vying for the starting role. “All three quarterbacks are on our Leadership Council, which tells you a lot about how the players feel about them,” Keeler explained. “Keegan Shoemaker had a really good year last year, and Grant Gunnell had a strong spring. Hunter Watson is that athlete who can make plays, and Jase Bauer has played at a high level before.”
As the team transitions into its first year of eligibility for bowl games and a conference championship in Conference USA, Keeler is focused on winning the close games that will define the season. “We’re a bowl team, and we want to win the conference,” he asserted. “It’s almost comical to project what programs can do now with all the transition taking place, but we feel good about our roster. Now we just have to go out and win those 50/50 games.”
Keeler also addressed the team’s scheduling strategy, highlighting the importance of playing games against Texas opponents like Texas State and Rice. “We love playing teams in Texas,” he said. “In an ideal world, you’d have a Power Five game, an FCS game you feel confident about winning, and two 50/50 games. That’s where we want to get by the 2026 season.”
The Bearkats are especially excited about their newly renovated home field at Bowers Stadium, which Keeler described as “without exaggeration, the best field I’ve ever been on.” The upgrades include top-of-the-line turf with cooling pellets to reduce surface temperature by up to 20 degrees, as well as expanded practice space due to the removal of the track. “It’s great to be back at Bowers,” Keeler said. “The extra space is going to make practice a lot easier in terms of spacing.”
Sam Houston State’s 2024 season opens on the road against Rice at 6 PM on Saturday, August 31st. The Bearkats are eager to prove that the challenges they’ve faced in training camp have only made them stronger as they embark on their first year in Conference USA.
For ticket and schedule information, visit GoBearkats.com.
