Texas State football added 10 to its 2024 newcomer class with the start of the spring semester this week.

The Bobcats' newcomer class grew to a total of 32 players, including 23 enrolled this spring and set to participate in spring workouts and practice. The 10 additions in January include:

• Tunmise Adeleye, DL, JR (RS), Katy, Texas (Last school: Michigan State)
• Torrance Burgess, RB, JR (RS), Pearland, Texas (UTEP)
• Jayden de Laura, QB, SR, Honolulu, Hawaii (Arizona)
• Brendan Franke, K, JR (RS), Gretna, Neb. (Georgia Southern)
• Max Harris, LB, JR, Montgomery, Ala. (ULM)
• Tellek Lockette, OL, JR, Miami, Fla. (ULM)
• Alex Merritt, DL, SR (RS), Cincinnati, Ohio (Eastern Michigan)
• Steven Parker, DE, SR (RS), Dallas, Texas (UIW)
• Blake Smith, TE, JR, Southlake, Texas (Oklahoma)
• Donte Thompson, CB, JR (RS), Pensacola, Fla. (Arkansas State)

During the early signing period this past December, Texas State announced 22 players from the high school, junior college and four-year college ranks.
 
Among the 10 additions announced in January, each of them is transferring to Texas State from an FBS program or played at an FBS program earlier in their career.
 
On the offensive side, Texas State added quarterback Jayden de Laura, who has started 31 games in four years at Washington State and Arizona in his career. He was the 2021 Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year while at Washington State and spent the last two years at Arizona. He has accumulated nearly 9,000 yards of offense and scored 75 total touchdowns in his career.
 
De Laura is joined in the backfield by running back Torrance Burgess Jr., who played for newly-named running backs coach Barrick Nealy at UTEP over the last two seasons. Burgess is coming off a 2023 season in which he was an All-CUSA Honorable Mention performer as both a running back and punt returner. He had 1,116 all-purpose yards in 11 contests and was second in CUSA with 101.5 all-purpose yards per game.
 
Up front on offense, offensive lineman Tellek Lockette and tight end Blake Smith are set to join the Bobcats. Lockette started all 12 games this past season at ULM at right guard and was one of the highest rated pass blocking guards, according to PFF. Smith, who began his career at Texas A&M, is returning to his home state of Texas after playing at Oklahoma in 2023. He had two catches for 30 yards and a touchdown in 10 games for the Sooners.
 
Along the defensive line, the Bobcats added Tunmise Adeleye, Alex Merritt and Steven Parker. Adeleye played in six games last year for Michigan State after the former five-star recruit began his career at Texas A&M. Merritt played in 33 career games at Eastern Michigan, including nine last year when he totaled career-highs in tackles and tackles for loss. Parker, who played for Texas State head coach GJ Kinne at UIW in 2022, was an All-American for UIW In 2023 after totaling 14.5. tackles for loss and seven sacks as an edge rusher.
 
Linebacker Max Harris, who also played for Kinne at UIW In 2022, returns to Texas after playing in 12 games (11 starts) for ULM in 2023. The Mansfield Legacy High product was second on the Warhawks with 79 tackles last season.
 
Cornerback Donte Thompson, another member of UIW in 2022, also joins the Bobcats from a Sun Belt team as the redshirt junior played in three games last season at Arkansas State. With UIW, he was an All-Southland First Team selection and ranked third in the country in pass breakups.
 
Kicker Brendan Franke rounds out the January additions as the placekicker is transferring from Georgia Southern. The Gretna, Neb. native took over the kickoff duties for Georgia Southern to close out the season. He began his Division I career at Nebraska (2021-22) and has a career touchback rate of 63 percent.
 
The full class of 2024 newcomers, which features summer enrollees and the previously announced group from December, includes:
 
Midyear Enrollees (23)

 
Summer Enrollees (9)

 
Total: 32