Ten Bears Honored on Phil Steele's Preseason All-Conference Team
June 17, 2026 | Football
CLEVELAND -- Ten Missouri State standouts were named to the Phil Steele Preseason All-CUSA team, the college football preview publication announced this week.
The 2026 Bears begin their second season in Conference USA and the FBS ranks under new head coach Casey Woods.
Mo State players recognized by the Phil Steele magazine as some of Conference USA's top players to watch this fall are first-team kick returner and second-team wide receiver Jmariyae Robinson (Sr., Cocoa, Fla.), second-team tight end Jeron Askren (So., Wichita, Kan.), second-team linebacker Jared "Bird" Lloyd (Sr., Daytona Beach, Fla.), second-team punter Stewart McDonald (So., Rogersville, Mo.), third-team defensive tackle Tim Brantley, Jr. (Jr., Allen, Texas), fourth-team running back Ramone Green Jr. (Jr., Nixa, Mo.), fourth-team wide receiver Makai Cope (Sr., Los Angeles, Calif.), fourth-team offensive tackle King Large (So., Bellflower, Calif.), fourth-team safety Christian Ford (Jr., McKinney, Texas) and fourth-team kicker Yousef Obeid (Jr., Dearborn, Mich.).
Missouri State's honoree profiles include:
Jmariyae Robinson (1st team KR, 2nd team WR)
 Entering his fifth season at Missouri State, Robinson played in 12 games with 7 starts during his junior campaign in 2025 with multiple catches in each outing. He finished with team highs in receptions (44), receiving yards (632) and touchdown catches (7) while his touchdown total tied for fifth on MSU's single-season list. Robinson finished ninth in CUSA in receiving yards per game (52.67) and 10th in receptions per game (3.67) and was named to the Phil Steele All-CUSA fourth team. The talented wideout also snagged 4 receptions for season-high 96 yards and a TD in the Xbox Bowl game vs. Arkansas State (12/18/25) to extend his streak to 35 straight games with a pass reception. He was also a 2023 Phil Steele Freshman All-America selection.
Jeron Askren (2nd team TE)
 Askren is in his third season with the Bears after earning 11 starts at tight end a year ago, including the last nine games of the campaign. He earned All-Conference USA honorable mention laurels after snagging 19 passes for 224 yards to go with an MSU freshman record five touchdown catches. He caught the game-winning touchdown at Marshall (9/6/25) with 2:12 remaining to help the Bears earn their first-ever FBS victory which earned him CUSA Freshman of the Week honors. He also had five receptions for 35 yards and a 9-yard TD catch in the win at New Mexico State (10/22/25) and a pair of touchdowns in the home win over UTEP (11/15/25).
Bird Lloyd (2nd team LB)
 The fifth-year Bears linebacker is coming off a stellar comeback season in 2025 in which he started all 13 games and collected a team-high 77 total stops. He also registered 33 solo tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks a year ago and tied for 21st in Conference USA in tackles per game (5.92). Lloyd also posted double-figure tackles in the last two regular-season games, including 11 stops vs. LA Tech (11/29/25) with a pair of QB hurries, and 10 tackles at Kennesaw State (11/22/25).
Stewart McDonald (2nd team P)
 McDonald begins his third season with the Bears after averaging 42.71 yards per punt as a redshirt freshman last season, which was seventh-best in CUSA and 49th in FBS. He finished the season with 13 punts inside the 20 and 11 attempts of 50 or more yards. He averaged 49.6 yards on five punts in the CUSA opener vs. WKU (9/27/25), had a 47.25 average on four punts vs. SMU (9/13/25), and 47.17 on six attempts in win at Liberty (11/8/25), including a season-long 71-yarder.Â
Tim Brantley Jr. (3rd team DT)
 Now starting his fourth season at Missouri State, Brantley played in 12 games last season, starting the final two games vs. LA Tech (11/29/25) and vs. Arkansas State (12/18/25) in the Xbox Bowl in Frisco. He finished the year with 32 total stops, 11 solos, 2.5 tackles for loss, a pair of quarterback hurries and a half sack. His best performance came in regular-season finale vs. LA Tech with eight total stops and three solos. He also brought down seven ball carriers at Kennesaw State (11/22/25).
Ramone Green Jr. (4th team RB)
 Beginning his fourth season at Mo State, Green played in all 13 games a year ago with a well-deserved start in the Xbox Bowl vs. Arkansas State (12/18/25). He had multiple carries in every contest and finished the campaign with 278 yards on 52 carries -- both second on the club -- along with 19 pass receptions for 446 yards and three scores. He finished fifth on the team in receiving yardage. Green had breakout games at New Mexico State (10/22/25) -- with 51 rushing yards and 61 receiving yards -- and vs. WKU (9/7/25) in the CUSA opener with 57 ground yards on 6 carries in the CUSA opener. He also collected a career-high 123 receiving yards on four receptions in the team's first FBS victory at Marshall (9/6/25), including a 57-yard TD pass.
Makai Cope (4th team WR)
 In his first season at Missouri State, Cope played in 12 games in 2025 with five starts. He finished the campaign with 20 receptions for 260 yards with multiple catches in seven contests. His best effort came in the home win over FIU (10/29/25) with two receptions for 52 yards, including a season-long 27-yard first down pass from Jacob Clark. He also logged three receptions (48 yards) in the home win over UTEP (11/15/25), three receptions in the win at Marshall (9/6/25), and three catches (26 yards) in the home opener vs. SMU (9/13/25).Â
King Large (4th team OT)
 The SMU transfer played in two ball games a year ago for a 9-4 Mustangs squad, including the season opener vs. East Texas A&M (11/22/25). He played under head coach Rhett Lashlee and (now Missouri State head coach) offensive coordinator Casey Woods for two seasons and was part of an 11-3 SMU squad in 2024 that played in the ACC Championship game and the College Football Playoff.
Christian Ford (4th team S)
 Ford played in all 13 games for the Bears a year ago with starts in the final 12 contests of the season. He finished sixth on the club with 52 total tackles, including 39 solos, with three pass breakups, a forced fumble and a tackle for loss. He logged a season-high eight total tackles in the CUSA opener vs. WKU (9/27/25) and produced seven tackles -- all solos -- in the 2025 home opener vs. SMU (9/13/25). He also brought down seven ball carriers in MSU's regular-season finale vs. LA Tech (11/29/25) with five solo tackles.
Yousef Obeid (4th team K)
 Obeid begins his third season at Mo State after earning All-Conference USA honorable mention honors a year ago. He ranked sixth in CUSA in kick scoring (6.08), eighth overall in scoring, and tied for sixth in field goals per game (1.08). Obeid tallied a team-high 79 total points on 37-of-38 extra points and 14-of-22 field goals and ended the 2025 season with a streak of 26 consecutive extra points made. In 2024, he was named as a Freshman All-America selection by Stats Perform, Phil Steele, and FCS Football Central.
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Single-game and season Tickets are available for purchase in most seating sections. Fans may purchase tickets via phone at (417) 836-7678, in person at the Great Southern Bank Arena box office, or ONLINE through the university's new Paciolan ticketing platform. Summer box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Season ticket mini-plans are also available for the upcoming season: Maroon Plan |  White Plan.
Prospective season ticket buyers may also submit a Season Ticket Inquiry Form which designates a season ticket representative to begin formulating a season-ticket package that caters to that individual's specific seat preferences and price range. A follow-up phone call will come from a ticketing agent in the coming days to finalize details and answer any questions.
Woods inherits an upstart Missouri State program that finished 7-6 overall and 5-3 in Conference USA in its inaugural season at the FBS level while earning a berth in the first XBox Bowl in Frisco, Texas. Woods returns 61 players, 30 lettermen and eight starters from that 2025 squad.
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The 2026 Bears begin their second season in Conference USA and the FBS ranks under new head coach Casey Woods.
Mo State players recognized by the Phil Steele magazine as some of Conference USA's top players to watch this fall are first-team kick returner and second-team wide receiver Jmariyae Robinson (Sr., Cocoa, Fla.), second-team tight end Jeron Askren (So., Wichita, Kan.), second-team linebacker Jared "Bird" Lloyd (Sr., Daytona Beach, Fla.), second-team punter Stewart McDonald (So., Rogersville, Mo.), third-team defensive tackle Tim Brantley, Jr. (Jr., Allen, Texas), fourth-team running back Ramone Green Jr. (Jr., Nixa, Mo.), fourth-team wide receiver Makai Cope (Sr., Los Angeles, Calif.), fourth-team offensive tackle King Large (So., Bellflower, Calif.), fourth-team safety Christian Ford (Jr., McKinney, Texas) and fourth-team kicker Yousef Obeid (Jr., Dearborn, Mich.).
Missouri State's honoree profiles include:
Jmariyae Robinson (1st team KR, 2nd team WR)
 Entering his fifth season at Missouri State, Robinson played in 12 games with 7 starts during his junior campaign in 2025 with multiple catches in each outing. He finished with team highs in receptions (44), receiving yards (632) and touchdown catches (7) while his touchdown total tied for fifth on MSU's single-season list. Robinson finished ninth in CUSA in receiving yards per game (52.67) and 10th in receptions per game (3.67) and was named to the Phil Steele All-CUSA fourth team. The talented wideout also snagged 4 receptions for season-high 96 yards and a TD in the Xbox Bowl game vs. Arkansas State (12/18/25) to extend his streak to 35 straight games with a pass reception. He was also a 2023 Phil Steele Freshman All-America selection.
Jeron Askren (2nd team TE)
 Askren is in his third season with the Bears after earning 11 starts at tight end a year ago, including the last nine games of the campaign. He earned All-Conference USA honorable mention laurels after snagging 19 passes for 224 yards to go with an MSU freshman record five touchdown catches. He caught the game-winning touchdown at Marshall (9/6/25) with 2:12 remaining to help the Bears earn their first-ever FBS victory which earned him CUSA Freshman of the Week honors. He also had five receptions for 35 yards and a 9-yard TD catch in the win at New Mexico State (10/22/25) and a pair of touchdowns in the home win over UTEP (11/15/25).
Bird Lloyd (2nd team LB)
 The fifth-year Bears linebacker is coming off a stellar comeback season in 2025 in which he started all 13 games and collected a team-high 77 total stops. He also registered 33 solo tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks a year ago and tied for 21st in Conference USA in tackles per game (5.92). Lloyd also posted double-figure tackles in the last two regular-season games, including 11 stops vs. LA Tech (11/29/25) with a pair of QB hurries, and 10 tackles at Kennesaw State (11/22/25).
Stewart McDonald (2nd team P)
 McDonald begins his third season with the Bears after averaging 42.71 yards per punt as a redshirt freshman last season, which was seventh-best in CUSA and 49th in FBS. He finished the season with 13 punts inside the 20 and 11 attempts of 50 or more yards. He averaged 49.6 yards on five punts in the CUSA opener vs. WKU (9/27/25), had a 47.25 average on four punts vs. SMU (9/13/25), and 47.17 on six attempts in win at Liberty (11/8/25), including a season-long 71-yarder.Â
Tim Brantley Jr. (3rd team DT)
 Now starting his fourth season at Missouri State, Brantley played in 12 games last season, starting the final two games vs. LA Tech (11/29/25) and vs. Arkansas State (12/18/25) in the Xbox Bowl in Frisco. He finished the year with 32 total stops, 11 solos, 2.5 tackles for loss, a pair of quarterback hurries and a half sack. His best performance came in regular-season finale vs. LA Tech with eight total stops and three solos. He also brought down seven ball carriers at Kennesaw State (11/22/25).
Ramone Green Jr. (4th team RB)
 Beginning his fourth season at Mo State, Green played in all 13 games a year ago with a well-deserved start in the Xbox Bowl vs. Arkansas State (12/18/25). He had multiple carries in every contest and finished the campaign with 278 yards on 52 carries -- both second on the club -- along with 19 pass receptions for 446 yards and three scores. He finished fifth on the team in receiving yardage. Green had breakout games at New Mexico State (10/22/25) -- with 51 rushing yards and 61 receiving yards -- and vs. WKU (9/7/25) in the CUSA opener with 57 ground yards on 6 carries in the CUSA opener. He also collected a career-high 123 receiving yards on four receptions in the team's first FBS victory at Marshall (9/6/25), including a 57-yard TD pass.
Makai Cope (4th team WR)
 In his first season at Missouri State, Cope played in 12 games in 2025 with five starts. He finished the campaign with 20 receptions for 260 yards with multiple catches in seven contests. His best effort came in the home win over FIU (10/29/25) with two receptions for 52 yards, including a season-long 27-yard first down pass from Jacob Clark. He also logged three receptions (48 yards) in the home win over UTEP (11/15/25), three receptions in the win at Marshall (9/6/25), and three catches (26 yards) in the home opener vs. SMU (9/13/25).Â
King Large (4th team OT)
 The SMU transfer played in two ball games a year ago for a 9-4 Mustangs squad, including the season opener vs. East Texas A&M (11/22/25). He played under head coach Rhett Lashlee and (now Missouri State head coach) offensive coordinator Casey Woods for two seasons and was part of an 11-3 SMU squad in 2024 that played in the ACC Championship game and the College Football Playoff.
Christian Ford (4th team S)
 Ford played in all 13 games for the Bears a year ago with starts in the final 12 contests of the season. He finished sixth on the club with 52 total tackles, including 39 solos, with three pass breakups, a forced fumble and a tackle for loss. He logged a season-high eight total tackles in the CUSA opener vs. WKU (9/27/25) and produced seven tackles -- all solos -- in the 2025 home opener vs. SMU (9/13/25). He also brought down seven ball carriers in MSU's regular-season finale vs. LA Tech (11/29/25) with five solo tackles.
Yousef Obeid (4th team K)
 Obeid begins his third season at Mo State after earning All-Conference USA honorable mention honors a year ago. He ranked sixth in CUSA in kick scoring (6.08), eighth overall in scoring, and tied for sixth in field goals per game (1.08). Obeid tallied a team-high 79 total points on 37-of-38 extra points and 14-of-22 field goals and ended the 2025 season with a streak of 26 consecutive extra points made. In 2024, he was named as a Freshman All-America selection by Stats Perform, Phil Steele, and FCS Football Central.
---
Single-game and season Tickets are available for purchase in most seating sections. Fans may purchase tickets via phone at (417) 836-7678, in person at the Great Southern Bank Arena box office, or ONLINE through the university's new Paciolan ticketing platform. Summer box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Season ticket mini-plans are also available for the upcoming season: Maroon Plan |  White Plan.
Prospective season ticket buyers may also submit a Season Ticket Inquiry Form which designates a season ticket representative to begin formulating a season-ticket package that caters to that individual's specific seat preferences and price range. A follow-up phone call will come from a ticketing agent in the coming days to finalize details and answer any questions.
Woods inherits an upstart Missouri State program that finished 7-6 overall and 5-3 in Conference USA in its inaugural season at the FBS level while earning a berth in the first XBox Bowl in Frisco, Texas. Woods returns 61 players, 30 lettermen and eight starters from that 2025 squad.
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Players Mentioned
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