Jackson State football starts practice today. Here's what you need to know

[ASFN Admin]

Jackson State football is ready to begin preparing for the 2026 season, with the first day of practice on July 29.

The Tigers will start practicing exactly one month before their season opener against Tennessee State in Nashville on Aug. 29 (7:30 p.m. CT, ESPN+).

JSU is coming off a 9-3 season in which they won the SWAC East Division for the second year in a row. However, the Tigers failed to capture their second consecutive SWAC title, falling 23-21 to Prairie View A&M at home in the SWAC Championship game.

JSU has added nearly 50 new players to its roster in hopes of returning to the Celebration Bowl and winning a second HBCU national title under coach T.C. Taylor in his fourth season.

When does Jackson State start fall practice?​

Jackson State's first day of practice is July 29.

When is Jackson State's season opener?​

Jackson State's season opener is Aug. 29 (7:30 p.m. CT, ESPN+) against Tennessee State in Nashville.

Jackson State football returning starters in 2026​

• WR Nate Rembert
• WR Kobe Paul
• TE Jency Riley Jr.
• OL Quaveon Davis
• CB KJ Chisholm Jr.
• CB Khamauri Rogers
• S Kam Sallis

Note: Starters defined as a player who started six or more games in 2025.

Who Jackson State, TC Taylor added in transfer portal for 2026​

• Valparaiso QB Caron Tyler
• Arkansas RB Elvis Adomako
• Colorado State WR Keynan Higgins
• Johnson C. Smith WR Jaden Lockhart
• West Florida WR Pat Delcour II
• West Florida WR Trevon Kemmerlin
• Eastern Kentucky TE CJ Colbert III
• Franklin TE Elijah Flowers
• Mississippi State OL Jaekwon Bouldin
• UNC Charlotte OL Aiden Martinez
• Western Kentucky OL Melvin Collins Jr.
• Arkansas-Monticello DL Jeremiah Kirk
• Eastern Michigan DL Duke Clayton
• Louisiana-Monroe DL Amarion Ware
• Mississippi State DL Terrance Hibbler Jr.
• Monmouth DL Rob Adamson Jr.
• UCF DL Keshaun Hudson
• Wisconsin-River Fall DL Brian Mikel
• Tennessee State LB Micah Gay
• Virginia Union LB Christian Aiken
• Louisiana-Monroe S Jalen Foster
• Memphis DB Samson Israel
• New Mexico State DB DJ Hill-Smith
• Western Illinois DB Tyrese Buffkin
• Western Kentucky DB Swipe Marshall
• Fort Valley State K Rashdan Tebyasa
• Lincoln K Daylen Ortiz
• Langston LS Landon Green

Jackson State football 2026 recruiting class​

Jackson State signed 14 high school players and six junior college recruits in 2026. Here's each signee.

• QB Sammy Dunn
• QB Darryon Jones
• RB Li'Darious Pryor
• Juco RB Tyler Arrington
• WR Javar Bowden
• Juco WR Brendan Brown
• Juco WR DeJay Welch
• OL Devon Holly
• OL Chad Windham
• Juco OL Key'Mori Kendrick
• DL Davon Merchant
• Juco DL Za'Bauri Chandler
• Juco DL Justin Foster
• LB Michael Johnson Jr.
• LB KJ Luse
• LB Peyton Trigg
• DB Jamison Kelly
• DB Mikey Johnson
• DB Keith Lay
• Juco DB Wildrekus Johnson
• K Andrew Ivanicuic

Jackson State football 2026 schedule​

• Week 0, Aug. 29: at Tennessee State (7:30 p.m. CT, ESPN+)
• Week 1, Sept. 5: vs. Edward Waters (6 p.m. CT, HBCUGO)
• Week 3, Sept 19: vs. Tuskegee (6 p.m. CT, SWAC TV)
• Week 4, Sept. 26: vs. Southern (6 p.m. CT, ESPN Networks)
• Week 5, Oct. 3: vs. Alabama A&M (Gulf Coast Challenge, Mobile) (4 p.m. CT, SWAC TV)
• Week 6, Oct. 10: at Grambling State (4 p.m. CT, SWAC TV)
• Week 7, Oct. 17: vs. Florida A&M (2 p.m. CT, ESPN Networks)
• Week 8, Oct. 24: at Bethune-Cookman (noon CT, SWAC TV)
• Week 10, Nov. 7: vs. Mississippi Valley State (2 p.m. CT, HBCUGO)
• Week 11, Nov. 14: at Alabama State (2 p.m. CT, ESPN Networks)
• Week 12, Nov. 21: at Alcorn State (2 p.m. CT, ESPN Networks)

Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X @tiareid65.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson State football starts practice today. Here's what you need to know

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