I still remember the first time I watched Texas Southern Tigers play last season - the energy at Alexander Durley Stadium was absolutely electric, and honestly, I've been hooked ever since. As someone who's followed college football for over a decade, I've got to say the Tigers' 2023 season was something special, finishing with a respectable 6-5 record that showed significant improvement from their previous 4-7 campaign. What really stood out to me was their explosive offense, particularly quarterback Jace Wilson's performance - the kid threw for 2,847 yards and 24 touchdowns, numbers that frankly surprised even longtime fans like myself.

The connection to international leagues has been particularly fascinating to watch unfold. Just last week, I was reading about how defensive end Marcus Johnson became the latest Fighting Maroon to sign with an Asian professional team, following in the footsteps of several Texas Southern alumni who've made similar moves overseas. Johnson's stats were impressive - 8.5 sacks and 42 tackles in his final season - but what really makes these international transitions work, in my opinion, is how well the Tigers' coaching staff prepares players for diverse playing styles. I've noticed that Texas Southern graduates tend to adapt quicker to international rules and field dimensions, which probably explains why Asian leagues keep coming back to recruit from our program.

Watching running back Dominic Rodriguez evolve throughout the season was pure entertainment. His 1,203 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns don't even tell the full story - the way he could change direction at full speed reminded me of some pro players I've seen. What many casual observers might not realize is how these standout performances directly translate to international opportunities. The Asian leagues particularly value versatile players who can handle multiple roles, and Rodriguez's ability to both run and catch (he had 38 receptions for 312 yards) makes him exactly the type of player I'd expect to see overseas in a year or two.

The international pipeline has become such a significant part of the Texas Southern story that I find myself tracking former players in Japan's X-League and China's AFL during the offseason. It's remarkable how many Tigers alumni are building professional careers abroad - at last count, there were seven former players across various Asian leagues, with more likely to join after the upcoming draft. This global connection actually enhances the college program's appeal, in my view, giving current players additional motivation and career pathways beyond the traditional NFL route.

What I loved most about last season was seeing how the team's improved performance (they scored 35+ points in six different games) created this positive feedback loop - better stats led to more professional opportunities, which in turn attracted better recruits to the program. The defense deserves more credit than they typically get too, with players like safety Kevin Mitchell grabbing 5 interceptions and linebacker David Chen recording 98 tackles. These are the kinds of performances that international scouts absolutely notice, even if they don't always make national headlines here in the States.

As we look ahead to next season, I'm genuinely excited to see which current Tigers might follow the international path. The way I see it, Texas Southern has quietly become this incredible launching pad for global football careers while maintaining competitive Division I performance. Their 387 total points scored last season ranked among the program's best offensive outputs in recent memory, and I suspect we'll see even more players taking their talents overseas because of it. For any young athlete considering where to play college ball, the Tigers' combination of on-field development and international connections makes them a surprisingly smart choice in today's globalized sports landscape.