By Matt Girard
Head coach Eric Morris became just the fifth coach in program history to lead North Texas to a bowl game last season, but like the previous four coaches who appeared in a bowl game, Morris and the Mean Green were unable to register the program’s first bowl victory after falling short to Texas State, 30-28, in the First Responder Bowl to end the season.
Heading into his third season in Denton, Texas, in 2025, Morris is not only looking for the program’s first bowl win in history but also his first winning season after finishing 6-7 last season and 5-7 in his first season. While the Mean Green did improve on their win total in 2024, another late-season swoon prevented them from finishing a season above .500 for the first time since 2018.
Behind transfer quarterback Chandler Morris, North Texas shot out of the gate going 5-1 and put up video game-like numbers, averaging 40.8 points per game and 507.2 total yards per game. During that stretch, Morris averaged 329.8 passing yards per game and threw 20 touchdowns.
After a 41-37 win against Florida Atlantic, the Mean Green were just one game shy of becoming bowl-eligible. However, their sixth win proved to be elusive. North Texas went on to lose the next five games before ending its skid with a 24-17 win against Temple to end the regular season. During the losing streak, the Mean Green offense cooled off, averaging just 27.8 ppg and 473.6 total yards per game. In the five losses, Morris averaged more than 300 passing yards per game but threw just nine touchdowns and five interceptions.
Potential Star at QB
Although the offense wasn’t as prolific to end the season, the Mean Green were No. 3 in the country in total yards per game (488.8) and were No. 4 in the country in passing yards per game (328.2). Offensive coordinator Jordan Davis will return for a third season, but for the third consecutive year, North Texas will begin the season with a new quarterback after Morris transferred to Virginia before the bowl game.
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Luckily, coach Eric Morris and coach Davis might have found a potential star in Drew Mestemaker. After throwing just four passes during the regular season, the redshirt freshman was thrust into starting duty for the First Responder Bowl and dazzled in his first start since the ninth grade, completing 26-of-41 passes for 393 yards. Mestemaker added two passing touchdowns and a 70-yard touchdown run in the loss to the Bobcats.
Ladies and Gentleman, let us introduce you to Drew Mestemaker pic.twitter.com/wjVnUjItud
— The Get Back Coach (@TheGBCoach) January 4, 2025
North Texas also signed three-star quarterback Chris Jimerson Jr., who led his North Crowley (Fort Worth, Texas) team to an undefeated 16-0 season capped by a Texas 6A D-I state championship win against Austin Westlake as a senior last season. Miami (Fla.) transfer Reese Poffenbarger will fill out the Mean Green quarterback room. Poffenbarger, a three-star transfer, saw limited action last season appearing in four games.
Although North Texas will have a new signal caller under center, the offense won’t lack experience at the skill positions. The Mean Green will have to replace their top three wide receivers from a season ago, but Miles Coleman, Landon Sides, Wyatt Young, and Dalton Carnes combined for over 100 receptions, more than 1,300 yards, and seven touchdowns in 2024. Coleman and Sides were reliable targets for Mestemaker in the bowl game, catching a combined 11 passes for 193 yards with each logging a touchdown reception. Transfers Simeon Evans (Sam Houston State) and tight end Connor Vaughn (Tulsa) will give North Texas more receiving options. Last season, Evans registered 50 receptions for 559 yards and six touchdowns while Vaughn caught three touchdowns.
The Mean Green running back room is brimming with experience. Returners include leading rusher Shane Porter (97 carries, 648 yards, five touchdowns), Mackenzie McGill II (78 carries, 470 yards, 10 touchdowns), Keifer Sibley (44 carries, 206 yards), and Tulane transfer Shaadie Clayton-Jones. A former four-star recruit out of high school, Clayton-Jones played in 11 games for the Green Wave, averaging 6.7 yards per carry.
New Look Mean Green Defense
Along with the offenses’ second-half dip, the Mean Green defense struggled all season, allowing 34.2 ppg (10th American Athletic Conference) and 460.5 total yards per game (13th AAC). During its five-game losing streak, the North Texas defense allowed an eye-popping 39.8 ppg and 508 total yards per game.
Because of those woeful numbers, Morris brought in new defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity from Sam Houston State. In 2024, Cassity’s defense was first in Conference USA in points allowed per game (20.5) and second in total yards allowed per game (321.5) in the conference. The Bearkats defense excelled against the pass, allowing just 177 yards per game, which was No. 13 in the country.
ICYMI — North Texas signed new defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity to a two-year contract.
The deals for the rest of UNT's football assistant coaches are also in place for the 2025 season.
Here are the details …https://t.co/7KRgmuuYse
— Brett Vito (@brettvito) February 25, 2025
To help with the defensive transition, North Texas brought in 13 players via the transfer portal—seven of which played for Cassity last season at SHSU. Cassity will have familiar faces at every position group with the additions of defensive linemen Briceon Hayes (seven tackles for loss, five sacks, one interception), Richard Outland (six tackles for loss, three sacks), and Quincy Wright. Linebackers include Trey Fields (80 total tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack) and S’Maje Burrell. Defensive backs Da’Veawn Armstead and David Fisher (two interceptions) also joined the Mean Green.
Returning from last year’s defense are linebackers Chavez Brown (four sacks), Shane Whitter, and Ethan Wesloski (2.5 sacks), defensive linemen Fatafehi Vailea II (2.5 sacks) and Breylon Charles (4.5 sacks), and defensive backs Quinton Hammonds and Brian Nelson II (four interceptions).
North Texas will open the 2025 season at home at DATCU Stadium against Lamar on August 30, then will go on the road to take on Western Michigan on Sept. 6, followed by a home game against the Washington State Cougars on September 13.
