Bears Named to Conference USA Preseason Watch List
July 16, 2026 | Football
DALLAS – Conference USA has released its 2026 Football Preseason Watch List, as selected by the league's 10 head coaches, on Thursday (July 16). Five student-athletes from each of the conference's 10 member institutions are recognized as key players to watch ahead of the 2026 season.
Missouri State's preseason honorees include: TE Jeron Askren (Wichita, Kan.), DT Tim Brantley Jr. (Allen, Texas), OL Matthew Greene (Centennial, Colo.), LB Jared "Bird" Lloyd (Daytona Beach, Fla.), and WR/RS Jmariyae Robinson (Cocoa, Fla.).
Jeron Askren
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 in 2025. 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).
Tim Brantley Jr. Â Â
Beginning 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).
Matthew Greene
Greene played in 12 straight games to end his sophomore season (618 snaps), including six starts at right guard over the final seven games of the campaign. He made first career start in Mo State's overtime victory at New Mexico State (10/22/25) on national TV and ended the year with a start in the Xbox Bowl game vs. Arkansas State (12/18/25) in Frisco, Texas. The UNLV transfer helped Missouri State's offense average 392.2 yards per game in its first FBS season, including 279.7 passing yards per game, while leading Conference USA in pass efficiency (151.59) and yards per play (5.98).
Bird Lloyd
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).
Jmariyae Robinson
The multi-faceted standout is entering his fifth season at Missouri State and played in 12 games with seven starts in 2025. He logged multiple pass receptions in each outing and finished the season with team highs in receptions (44), receiving yards (632) and touchdown catches (7). His touchdown total tied for fifth on MSU's single-season list, while Robinson finished ninth in CUSA in receiving yards per game (52.67) and 10th in receptions per game (3.67) to earn Phil Steele All-CUSA fourth team distinction. The 2023 Phil Steele Freshman All-American also averaged 19.4 yards on 13 kickoff returns last season.
Askren and Lloyd will represent Missouri State, along with first-year head coach Casey Woods, at the Conference USA Kickoff event in Arlington, Texas early next week. The CUSA Preview Show will air live on ESPN+ on Monday, July 20 with the Bears featured at 1 p.m. (Central).
Missouri State begins the season on Saturday, Sept. 5 at No. 11 Texas A&M before its home opener at Robert W. Plaster Stadium on Sept. 12 against Lindenwood.
Season tickets and single-game (home and away)Â tickets are available 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. Mini season ticket plans are also available. Summer box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Paciolan account assistance is available by phone or email (MissouriStateTix@missouristate.edu.)
CUSA's season opens with a pair of Week Zero tilts on Saturday, Aug. 29, with Jax State visiting North Dakota State on CBS Sports Network and New Mexico State taking on Florida State on The CW. The league's 22nd Conference USA Football Championship Game is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 4.
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Missouri State's preseason honorees include: TE Jeron Askren (Wichita, Kan.), DT Tim Brantley Jr. (Allen, Texas), OL Matthew Greene (Centennial, Colo.), LB Jared "Bird" Lloyd (Daytona Beach, Fla.), and WR/RS Jmariyae Robinson (Cocoa, Fla.).
Jeron Askren
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 in 2025. 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).
Tim Brantley Jr. Â Â
Beginning 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).
Matthew Greene
Greene played in 12 straight games to end his sophomore season (618 snaps), including six starts at right guard over the final seven games of the campaign. He made first career start in Mo State's overtime victory at New Mexico State (10/22/25) on national TV and ended the year with a start in the Xbox Bowl game vs. Arkansas State (12/18/25) in Frisco, Texas. The UNLV transfer helped Missouri State's offense average 392.2 yards per game in its first FBS season, including 279.7 passing yards per game, while leading Conference USA in pass efficiency (151.59) and yards per play (5.98).
Bird Lloyd
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).
Jmariyae Robinson
The multi-faceted standout is entering his fifth season at Missouri State and played in 12 games with seven starts in 2025. He logged multiple pass receptions in each outing and finished the season with team highs in receptions (44), receiving yards (632) and touchdown catches (7). His touchdown total tied for fifth on MSU's single-season list, while Robinson finished ninth in CUSA in receiving yards per game (52.67) and 10th in receptions per game (3.67) to earn Phil Steele All-CUSA fourth team distinction. The 2023 Phil Steele Freshman All-American also averaged 19.4 yards on 13 kickoff returns last season.
Askren and Lloyd will represent Missouri State, along with first-year head coach Casey Woods, at the Conference USA Kickoff event in Arlington, Texas early next week. The CUSA Preview Show will air live on ESPN+ on Monday, July 20 with the Bears featured at 1 p.m. (Central).
Missouri State begins the season on Saturday, Sept. 5 at No. 11 Texas A&M before its home opener at Robert W. Plaster Stadium on Sept. 12 against Lindenwood.
Season tickets and single-game (home and away)Â tickets are available 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. Mini season ticket plans are also available. Summer box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Paciolan account assistance is available by phone or email (MissouriStateTix@missouristate.edu.)
CUSA's season opens with a pair of Week Zero tilts on Saturday, Aug. 29, with Jax State visiting North Dakota State on CBS Sports Network and New Mexico State taking on Florida State on The CW. The league's 22nd Conference USA Football Championship Game is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 4.
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