COMMERCE – The East Texas A&M University football team has announced the additions of its mid-year transfers for the 2025 season, that will compete for the Lions this spring.
 
All 14 mid-year transfers have already enrolled at East Texas A&M and are eligible to compete in spring practices. More information on this year's spring game will be released in the coming days.
 
Lion fans can meet the newest Lions at an official Meet and Greet during the men's basketball game against Northwestern State on February 1.
 
Here is a look at the transfer class for the Lions. Of the transfers, four are from FBS schools, three are from FCS schools, and the rest are junior college transfers. 
 

Name	Pos.	Height	Weight	Hometown	High School	Previous School
X'Avion Brice	DB	6-1	178	Arlington, Texas	Seguin HS	North Texas
JC Campos	OL	6-4	305	San Francisco, Calif.	Archbishop Riordan HS	City College of San Francisco
Tito Chikere	DL	6-4	265	Houston, Texas	Fort Bend Kempner HS	Prairie View A&M
CJ Garnett	LB	6-0	225	Keller, Texas	Keller Central HS	North Texas
Javon Gillespie	DB	6-1	185	Camden, N.J.	Ridge View HS	Coastal Carolina
Tanner Harrison	WR	6-1	195	St. Martinville, La.	St. Martinville HS	Kilgore College
Andrez Lewis	WR	6-2	195	Omaha, Neb.	Mission Vejo HS	Saddleback College
Ben Mehan	P	6-1	190	Downington, Pa.	Downinington West HS	Cincinnati
Kaleb Miles	DB	5-10	190	Prosper, Texas	Prosper HS	Navarro College
Joshua Pikl	TE	6-4	240	Salem, Ore.	West Salem HS	Saddleback College
Trent Savage	OL	6-3	290	Kingwood, Texas	Kingwood Park HS	HCU
Kendal Septs	OL	6-4	340	Zachary, La.	Fort Bend Austin	HCU
Romello Watson	OL	6-4	316	Arlington, Texas	Seguin HS	Georgia State
Jake Whitehead	WR	6-4	200	Temecula, Calif.	Chaparral HS	Palomar CC

 
X'AVION BRICE
DB • 6-1 • 178
Arlington, Texas • Seguin High School • North Texas 
Joins the Lions with two years of eligibility remaining ... Appeared in seven games last season at North Texas ... Spent the previous two seasons at Texas, appearing in four games ... Was ranked the 23rd-best cornerback prospect in the country coming out of high school ... Two-time all-district wide receiver and defensive back at Seguin High School ... Played quarterback in high school as well ... Also competed in track & field in high school ... Majoring in communications 

JC CAMPOS
OL • 6-4 • 305
San Francisco, Calif. • Archbishop Riordan High School • City College of San Francisco
Joins the Lions with two years of eligibility remaining … Three-time honor roll distinction … first team all-conference and first team all-state selection at City College of San Francisco as a team captain … Competed in track & field and football at Archbishop Riordan High School … Two-year team captain … Majoring in communications
 
WHY EAST TEXAS A&M? "I chose East Texas A&M because it felt like the right fit for me both academically and athletically. The campus environment is welcoming, and I felt like I could grow as a student and a football player here. I am a first-generation student looking to better my future and my family."  
 
TITO CHIKERE
DL • 6-4 • 265
Houston, Texas • Fort Bend Kempner High School • Prairie View A&M
Joins the Lions with two years of eligibility remaining … Part of the SWAC West Championship at Prairie View A&M … Played football, basketball, and track & field at for coach Darrin Andrus at Kempner High School … Finished the 2019 season with most sacks in the district … Majoring in kinesiology & sports studies
 
WHY EAST TEXAS A&M? "I chose East Texas A&M to develop my skills on and off the field and fulfill my goal of playing at the next level."
 
CJ GARNETT
LB • 6-0 • 225
Keller, Texas • Keller Central High School • North Texas
Joins the Lions with one year of eligibility remaining … Spent four seasons at North Texas … Played for coach Bart Helsley at Keller Central High School … Two-time all-district, including first team in 2019 … also competed in wrestling and powerlifting … Majoring in health kinesiology & sports studies
 
WHY EAST TEXAS A&M? "I chose East Texas A&M because of the culture of winning championships and the opportunity to further my academic and athletic career."
 
JAVON GILLESPIE
DB • 6-1 • 185
Camden, N.J. • Ridge View High School • Coastal Carolina
Joins the Lions with three years of eligibility remaining … Spent two seasons at Coastal Carolina … Played for coach Derek Howard II at Ridge View High School in South Carolina … Earned two letters and earned a spot on the South Carolina Football Coaches Association (SCFCA) All-State team … Majoring in computer science
 
TANNER HARRISON
WR • 6-1 • 195
St. Martinville, La. • St. Martinville High School • Kilgore College
Joins the Lions with three years of eligibility remaining … Two-time conference champion at Kilgore College … Earned all-conference honors … Played for coach Vince Jones at St. Martinville High School … Totaled over 2,000 passing yards and 1,800 rushing yards … Named District MVP … Played basketball and track & field as well … Majoring in kinesiology & sports studies
 
WHY EAST TEXAS A&M? "I chose East Texas A&M because it gives me the best opportunity to pursue my dreams while getting the best education."  
 
ANDREZ LEWIS
WR • 6-2 • 195
Omaha, Neb. • Mission Vejo High School • Saddleback College
Joins the Lions with two years of eligibility remaining … All-3C2A conference wide receiver at Saddleback College … Played for coach Chad Johnson at Mission Vejo High School … Competed in track & field and basketball as well … Majoring in business
 
WHY EAST TEXAS A&M? "I chose East Texas A&M because the coaches made it feel like home evert time I interacted with them."
 
BEN MEHAN
P • 6-1• 190
Downington, Pa. • Downington West High School • Cincinnati
Joins the Lions with four years of eligibility remaining … Dean's list recipient at Cincinnati last season … Played for coach Tom Kline at Downington West High School … Earned two letters and was named to first team All-Chestmont … Part of the 2022 Chesmont Championship winning team … Majoring in sociology
 
WHY EAST TEXAS A&M? "I chose East Texas A&M because of the opportunity to compete at the Division I level and how the program fit me."
 
KALEB MILES
DB • 5-10 • 190
Prosper, Texas • Prosper High School • Navarro College
Joins the Lions with two years of eligibility remaining … Graduated Navarro College with Magna Cum Laude honors … Part of two Southwest Junior College Football Conference championship winning teams … Played for coach Tyrel Lenard at Prosper High School … Team MVP and all-district selected … Also named to second team all-state and twice to all-area teams … Majoring in marketing
 
WHY EAST TEXAS A&M? "I chose East Texas A&M because of the success that great defensive backs have had here, and I wanted to learn from the same coaching staff."
 
JOSHUA PIKL
TE • 6-4 • 240
Salem, Ore. • West Salem High School • Saddleback College
Joins the Lions with two years of eligibility remaining … All-Conference tight end and participated in the Patriotic Bowl at Saddleback College … Played for coach Shawn Stanley at West Salem High School … First team all-conference tight end and linebacker … Also competed in basketball … Brother, Matthew Lester, played baseball at Vanguard … Majoring in construction engineering
 
WHY EAST TEXAS A&M? "I chose East Texas A&M because of the family culture it offered and how close the team is with each other."  
 
TRENT SAVAGE
OL • 6-3 • 290
Kingwood, Texas • Kingwood Park High School • HCU
Joins the Lions with three years of eligibility remaining … Dean's List recipient at HCU, starting 11 games last season on the offensive line … Played coach Clayton Maple at Kingwood Park High School … Two-time all-district selection, including first team in 2023 … Majoring in kinesiology & sports studies
 
KENDAL SEPTS
OL • 6-4 • 340
Zachary, La. • Fort Bend Austin High School • HCU
Joins the Lions with one year of eligibility remaining … Team captain and started 18 games in his career at HCU … Played for coaches Daniel Schriber and Brian Derringer at Fort Bend Austin High School … Competed in track & field as well … Three-time team captain and earned four letters … Three-time all-district selection, including first team twice … Team MVP … Brother, Kensley, played football at Grambling and Jackson State … Majoring in business administration
 
WHY EAST TEXAS A&M? "I chose East Texas A&M for a chance to play with hometown friends and the opportunity to bring more attention to what a great place this is."
 
ROMELLO WATSON
OL • 6-4 • 316
Arlington, Texas • Seguin High School • Georgia State
Joins the Lions with one year of eligibility remaining … Dean's list recipient at Georgia State, spent time at Tennessee State and Grambling as well … All-American and two-time all-conference at Kilgore College … Played for coach Joe Gordon at Seguin High School … two-time all-conference offensive lineman and an all-state wrestler … Majoring in computer science
 
WHY EAST TEXAS A&M? "I chose East Texas A&M so that I can remain close to home and excel on the field in front of family."
 
JAKE WHITEHEAD
WR • 6-4 • 200
Temecula, Calif. • Chaparral High School • Palomar CC
Joins the Lions with two years of eligibility remaining … Two-time dean's list recipient at Palomar Community College … Team leader in receiving yards and was ranked a top 20 junior college wide receiver … Played football and track & field for coach Andrew Ramer at Chaparral High School … Majoring in economics