2,500-Yard Running Back Transferring to AAC Program

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Jan 17, 2025 3:10 PM ET

With 2,514 rushing yards in his collegiate career, former Sam Houston State Bearkats running back Jay Ducker is joining the Temple Owls via the transfer portal.

Ducker rushed for 745 yards and seven touchdowns for SHSU last season. He entered the portal in December after one season with Northern Illinois and two seasons at Memphis.

The 5-foot-10, 205-pound back was the MAC Freshman of the Year in 2021 with the Huskies. He ran for 1,184 yards and three touchdowns that season. The Bellevue, Nebraska native committed to NIU over offers from Army, Purdue, Northern Iowa and others.

Temple has 19 players exiting the program via the transfer portal, four of which are running backs.

Sam Houston State running back Jay Ducker has committed to Temple, his agent @PLO50 tells @On3sports.

The 2021 MAC Freshman of the Year at NIU has rushed for 2,488 career yards and 17 touchdowns.https://t.co/VxSGJEUisH pic.twitter.com/OX87ATzRcP
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) January 17, 2025

In December, the Owls hired K.C. Keeler, the 2016 Eddie Robinson Award winner, as their new head coach. He had previously been the head coach of Sam Houston State from 2014 to 2024.

Keeler, a two-time FCS champion, replaces Stan Drayton, who oversaw the Owls from 2022 to 2024.

Keeler won the Division I-AA Championship at Delaware in 2003 and the Division I Championship in 2020 with SHSU.

With a 271-112-1 record as a head coach over 31 seasons, Keeler ranks 21st all-time among college football career coaching wins and third-most among active head coaches.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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