The West Texas A&M Buffaloes:

2015 Season Record: Overall (6-4) LSC Record (3-3): Lost to Azusa Pacific (3 point loss); Angelo State (18 point loss); Midwestern State (7 point losses) and Commerce (18 point loss).

Head Coach: Mike Nesbitt (4th Season as Buffaloes Head Coach) Record: 19-12 (61%)


Who returns to the Buffaloes lineup?

WTAMU returns 12 total starters from 2015

The Buffaloes Offense have 4 offensive starters returning to the lineup.

Offensive impact players:
QB, Ethan Brinkley
RB, Devon Paye
C, Austin Carson

PK, Conner Hollabaugh



The Buffaloes Defense have 7 defensive starters returning to play in 2015.


Defensive impact players:
LB, Carter James
LB, Trevor Myklebust
DL, LaPear Willrich
DB, LeAnthony Dawson
DB, Rashawn Dupree

Buffaloes Offense: Spread Offense

Buffaloes Defense: 3-4 Defense with some variations of 4-2-5

2016 West Texas A&M Schedule:











Nov. 19 - NCAA Playoffs Begin

The Buffaloes start their season again with a tough schedule. Playing these same foes last season, put them at a 1-1 mark going into week 3 with a surprising takedown of CSU-Pueblo by a 1 point victory. Some folks wonder why WT plays these hard foes to start the season. The answer is Strength of Schedule, which is part of the formula for teams to make the NCAA Playoffs. The better teams you beat during the year, the more likely of making the playoffs if you have a good record.

After the first 2 games, WT schedule will let up some with the 3 preseason favorites coming in the last 4 weeks in back-to-back-to-back games. That will basically make or break WT if they can start off the season strong heading into the 2nd half of the season.

Coach Nesbitt Comments about their 2015 Schedule:
The players are excited about their schedule and we have to find the kids that are consistent and can handle the pressure of the moment and make those crucial plays. We have to go back to being detail-oriented early.

Coach's Corner with Head Coach Mike Nesbitt
We worked hard on picking up guys this off-season from High School recruits to transfer students. We had a great Spring Ball and some good kids coming into the WT program and buying-in to the team and tradition. We had a good transition with some new coaches coming in and coming around to help some of the players. Overall, the transition has been really good and smooth. We moved into a great camp and kids responded well.





Some notable guys that have stepped-up for us are: WR Avery Lewis, WR Josh Kenebrew and WR P.J. Leone.

To the WT Fans:
We really appreciate your support and backing. You are always around us. We look forward to an exciting fall. We cannot do it by ourselves and need your support at Kimbrough Stadium to get after it and have some buy-in.


Thank you Coach Nesbitt for your time and comments!


Thoughts on the Upcoming Season:
The Buffaloes had an up and down first 2-game series last season with a loss that they gave away to Azusa Pacific in the 2nd

The Buffaloes rushing attack appears to be one of the highlights of the offense. The run game looks stacked behind Devon Paye and Eddy Williams. I expect some big things from these guys and a really good season if the young offensive line can plow the way for them. The Offensive Line is led by Center Austin Carson. The leader of the offense, Geremy Alridge-Mitchell (1,351 rushing yards, 16 TDs; 185 receiving yards, 1 TD), has departed and the Buffs look for a new on the field presence to step up. Additionally, the Buffs have a huge void and hole to fill at the Wide Receiver position with the departure of their top 4 receivers. The Buffs had an unseasonably low amount of receiving yards totaling 2,321 yards.

Ethan Brinkley came in at QB last season for a hurt Preston Rabb and never relinquished command of the offense. Ethan had some growing pains to overcome but showed bright spots of brilliance. He looked good against CSUP and his best game was against ENMU. He concluded the season with a 66.7% completion percentage with 2,157 passing yards and 7 INTs. He averaged 239.7 passing yards per game. Overall, Brinkley looked a little inconsistent passing the ball at times and really good at other times. We look to see what he can do as one of a few returning QBs in all of the Lone Star Conference. The keys to the offense are his, can he step-up and lead this team.

The defense should be pretty interesting to watch this season. The scrimmages and practices that I have seen has shown the defense being better than the offensive unit. The Buffs return the preseason defensive player of the year in Hunter Streuling, the leading Buffs tackler from 2015 with 90 tackles, 3 INTS, 3 breakups and 6 passes defended (incl. 2 fumbles). The defense will be experienced and should make some good plays. Linebacker Carter James comes back to lead the defense (61 tackles, 5 TFLs). He will be joined by his counterpart Linebacker Trevor Myklebust (61 tackles, 3 TFLs). The big defensive uncertainty surrounds the newcomers on the defensive line. The Buffs bring back standout LaPear Willrich (29 tackles, 7 TFLs, 2 sacks) to serve as the leader on the defensive line. Will the defense be the best of the 2 units? We shall see if the new defensive coordinator can take this unit to the next level.

Like last season, the first 2 games will show us a little of what to expect from the WTAMU Buffaloes this season. They kickoff tomorrow at 9PM! Late game.



LSC Preseason Poll:



5. ENMU




Azusa Pacific (0-0) v. West Texas A&M (0-0), Thursday,
9 p.m. Kickoff

Glendora, California Citrus Stadium

nd quarter.

Azusa Pacific is led by QB duo of Andrew Elffers and Chad Jeffries. Elffers will get the start against West Texas. The 2 QBs combined for over 2,000 passing yards and 11 INTs, while rushing for 932 yards. The offense also brings back RB Kurt Scoby (1,167 rushing yards and 11 TDs). The size of the offensive line averages over 300 pounds. To top it all off, AP brings back there top receiver in Ethan Zeidler. (621 receiving yards for 5 TDs).

The Buffs defense will have their hands full with this potent that stacked up 4,326 yards and 44 TDs in 2015 with the majority of their returning key offensive players. AP was really balanced between rushing and passing yards with 2,165 rushing yards and 2,161 passing yards. They tended to favor the rush with 413 attempts compared to the 256 pass attempts. The threat of Elffers, Jeffries and Scoby rushing will be hard to slow or stop the entire game.

Prediction: West Texas A&M 21 Azusa Pacific 18