SAN MARCOS – Texas State football head coach GJ Kinne understands the threat Incarnate Word poses better than most.
UP NEXT
TEXAS STATE VS. INCARNATE WORD
When/where:
5 p.m. Saturday in San Marcos.
TV/radio:
USA.
It’s not just about Kinne’s history at UIW or his relationship with current head coach Clint Killough. The roots of the Bobcats’ offense trace back to San Antonio, even before Kinne took over Texas State in 2021.
Texas State’s offensive line coach and run game coordinator Jordan Shoemaker was at UIW from 2018-21 alongside strength and conditioning coach Bret Huth. Kinne said Tuesday he talked to the two of them during his hiring process in 2021.
“I figured out pretty quickly that they were an important piece of this thing,” Kinne said.
MORE:Texas State Bobcats reload their offensive line in preparation for Pac-12 defenses
The Bobcats’ offensive line development is the most underrated aspect of their success in the Kinne era. Nash Jones, Dorion Strawn, Emeka Obigbo and Caleb Johnson all came from UIW to Texas State in 2023 as Shoemaker’s first class, while Alex Harkey transferred from Colorado. Jones and Harkey left in 2025, the former for the NFL draft and the latter to Oregon. Obigbo and Strawn departed this offseason, alongside 2024 recruit Brock Riker, who committed to Penn State. Amidst the constant turnover, the trench play remains steady. Shoemaker and Huth have a knack for unearthing talent and forging the players into multi-year starters.
Sully Burns emerged at right tackle in 2025, and transitioned seamlessly to the left side in 2026. Transfers Mikel Udengwu, William Boone and Rasheed Jackson are thriving. Justin DeLeon and Bamidele Badusi are recruits from the 2023 signing class. They’re the latest products of the “Shoe Factory.”
The group has given up one sack this season, and Texas State is averaging 262.3 rushing yards.
“He’s (Shoemaker) the highest-paid (assistant) coach on our staff for a reason,” Kinne said.
Behind The Shoe’s process
Texas State’s process has been heavily influenced by Jeff Stoutland, one of the greatest NFL offensive line teachers. Although the Philadelphia Eagles no longer employ him, he’s shaped some of the best linemen in NFL history, including Jason Peters, Lane Johnson and Jason Kelce. Kinne was with the Eagles from 2013-15 as a player and on staff, where he worked under Stoutland as “the offensive line GA.”
“One of my biggest jobs was during the draft process … going to the NFL combine, evaluating these guys and ranking them,” Kinne recalled.
Kinne said Stoutland has had success in drafting physical marvels and training them to play the position. Jordan Mailata is a prime example. A 6-foot-8 former rugby player, he had never played football before the Eagles drafted him in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He eventually became quarterback Jalen Hurts’ blind-side protector and earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2024.
Xxx
The Bobcats operate in a similar fashion. Shoemaker said one of the first things he looks for is the requisite size. The average weight of Texas State’s current starters is 330 pounds, among the heaviest in the nation, according to CollegeFootballData.com.
The frame isn’t everything. Shoemaker drills his players on the fundamentals: hand fighting, lateral movement and conditioning. But Huth is the one who transforms physical tools into functional strength and athleticism.
“He does a great job, like in the weight room with mobility, with strength,” Shoemaker said. “He knows exactly how I like the O-linemen to be in fall camp, and he gets them there.”
Shoemaker expressed admiration for Stoutland’s reputation, although he said that the two are slightly different schematically. Part of Shoemaker’s success comes from his adaptable mind. He said he changes his process based on an individual’s makeup, and isn’t afraid to move them around the line to get the best five on the field at any given time.
“You kind of mold the scheme, the techniques and things like that to the players,” Shoemaker said.
Texas State has held onto Shoemaker not just by throwing him the bag. The coach said he’s extremely loyal, and he enjoys how he and Kinne work and think together. Their collective success speaks for itself.
If Shoemaker continues churning out linemen, greater opportunities might come calling. But for now, he’s satisfied in San Marcos.
“I don’t worry about any of that stuff. My focus is that I want Texas State to win a championship.”
This article originally published at The Shoe factory: The secret behind Texas State football’s offensive line development.
Discover more from NAIRAVOICE.COM.NG
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
