BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University Cardinals signed 15 high school standouts to National Letters of Intent, and added five transfers (three junior college and two FBS) announced first-year head coach Mike Schultz at a press conference in the Dauphin Athletics Complex Wednesday afternoon.
The signing class puts a focus on offensive talent with 13 of the signees coming on the offensive side of the ball. LU also added six defensive players and one specialist.
“This has been a race from the get go,” said Schultz, who becomes LU’s second head coach since the program’s rebirth. “The first thing I needed to do was recruit the returning players, while doing that I also had to assemble a staff and from there we immediately went into recruiting. We obviously got a little bit of a late start due to the situation, but I believe our staff did a great job of putting together a very competitive recruiting class in a very short period of time. This class was aided by our Texas ties, and the relationships that have been built over the years by our coaches.”
The position breakdown on offense consists of five offensive linemen, four wide receivers, two running backs, a quarterback and a tight end. On the defensive side of the ball, LU added four linebackers and two defensive linemen. The Cardinals also signed a kicker on special teams.
A source of pride for the Cardinals since re-establishing the program has been its ability to keep Southeast Texas talent close to home. The 2017 class added three more Southeast Texas standouts which includes Reggie Boseman (Beaumont, Texas), Jack Dallas (Orange, Texas) and Tyris Williams (Liberty, Texas).
“We were able to sign a few athletes from the Southeast Texas area,” said Schultz. “We’re not where we want to be there but once we get into a full recruiting cycle we will be a lot better off.”
The 2017 class also expanded beyond the reach of just the Lone Star State. The newest members to the LU football family represent four different states including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Pennsylvania. In addition to bringing in talent from four different states, the Cardinals also went into the backyard of Southland rivals McNeese and Sam Houston State to sign athletes. Receiver Kirkland Banks is from Charles, La., while Elvin Martinez hails from Huntsville, Texas.
One of the most prominent names on the list is West Orange Stark quarterback Jack Dallas. A Willie Ray Smith Award winner, and state championship game MVP, Dallas guided West Orange Stark to three state championship appearances and two state titles, including a perfect 16-0 season in 2016. Dallas also guided the Mustangs to a state championship appearance on the baseball diamond as well.
“There are certain quarterbacks who have the ‘it’ factor,” said Schultz. “The guys who have that are winners. Jack has proven that he has the ‘it’ factor. The more you watch him play you begin to see all of the positive things he does on the field. Jack is a competitive player who always seems to find a way to win.”
The Cardinals strengthened their offensive line with the addition of five signees, including Texas State transfer Willie Williams (6-3, 285). The Cardinals’ four prep additions on the line are Humberto Lopez (6-6, 295), Micah McComb (6-5, 300), Colton Peterson (6-4, 300) and JT Vongor (6-2, 315). The offensive front was a pressing need for the Cardinals who graduated three letterwinners, including two starters, following the 2016 campaign.
“I’m really excited about the offensive linemen that we have coming in,” said Schultz. “We have helped ourselves immensely in this area. These are big, physical guys that come to Lamar averaging 6-4, 300 pounds. These guys not only look the part, but they’re very talented. We couldn’t be more excited about this group.”
The position of running backs took some heavy, and unexpected losses during the offseason. All-American Kade Harrington exhausted his eligibility, and the need at running back was made more pressing by the announcement that rising sophomore Austin Krautz would not be returning for the 2017 campaign. The coaching staff was able to fill this gap with two signees, including Texas A&M transfer James White. A Pearland native with three years’ experience in the SEC, White has one year of eligibility remaining at LU. He rushed for nearly 500 yards and seven scores during his time in College Station.
The Cardinals also added Summer Creek High School standout Myles Wanza. One of the state’s most sought-after running backs, Wanza was named to the Houston Chronicle’s Top 100 following a standout prep career. Wanza rushed for more than just 1,600 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior.
-LU CARDINALS-
2017 Signing Class Roster
Brandon Arnold • DL • 6-2 • 250 • Spring Branch, Texas/Smithson Valley HS
Kirkland Banks • WR • 5-10 • 170 • Lake Charles, La./Barbe HS
Detrick Bell • LB • 6-0 • 215 • Houston, Texas/Aldine Davis HS
Reggie Boseman • DE • 6-2 • 250 • Beaumont, Texas/Central HS
Abel Daily • LB • 6-0 • 195 • College Station, Texas/A&M Consolidated HS
Jack Dallas • QB • 5-11 • 180 • Orange, Texas/West Orange Stark HS
Tanner Douglas • WR • 5-10 • 175 • Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland HS
Josh Jinning • LB • 6-2 • 200 • The Colony, Texas/The Colony HS
Humberto Lopez • OL • 6-6 • 295 • Austin, Texas/Reagan HS
Elvin Martinez • K • 5-9 • 168 • Huntsville, Texas/Huntsville HS
Micah McComb • OL • 6-5 • 300 • El Campo, Texas/El Campo HS
Colton Peterson • OL • 6-4 • 300 • Tomball, Texas/Memorial HS
J.T. Vongor • OL • 6-2 • 315 • Grand Prairie, Texas/S. Grand Prairie HS
Myles Wanza • RB • 5-9 • 180 • Houston, Texas/Summer Creek HS
Tyris Williams • LB • 6-2 • 225 • Liberty, Texas/Liberty HS
2017 Transfers
Dorian Gaston • WR • 6-2 • 195 • Ripley, Miss./Ripley HS (Itawamba CC)
Isaiah Howard • WR • 6-4 • 210 • Fulton, Miss./Ripley HS (Itawamba CC)
James White • RB • 6-0 • 220 • Pearland, Texas/Dawson HS (Texas A&M)
Willie Williams • OL • 6-3 • 285 • Pearland, Texas/Pearland HS (Texas State)
Jarod Wood • TE • 6-3 • 225 • Kilgore, Texas/Kilgore HS (Kilgore College)
2017 Signing Class Bios
Brandon Arnold • DL • 6-2 • 250 • Spring Branch, Texas/Smithson Valley HS
High School: Helped lead Smithson Valley to a top-25 state ranking … Garnered 2016 first-team all-district honors … A second-team all-area selection … The true-definition of a student-athlete recording Academic All-District selection.
Kirkland Banks • WR • 5-10 • 170 • Lake Charles, La./Barbe HS
High School: Ranked as the No. 97 prospect in the state of Louisiana according DandyDon.com … Garnered 5A All-State honors as a kick returner … Named District Offensive Player of the Year … Received second-team all-district honors as a kick returner … Guided his squad to a share of the district title as a senior … Rushed for more than 1,300 yards and 22 touchdowns during his senior season … Received recruiting attention from Arkansas State and Louisiana Tech … Two-way sports start at Barbe High School … Helped guide Barbe HS to three state titles on the baseball diamond.
Detrick Bell • LB • 6-0 • 215 • Houston, Texas/Aldine Davis HS
High School: Second-team all-district selection … Also a standout in the classroom receiving academic all-district honors as a junior and senior.
Reggie Boseman • DE • 6-2 • 250 • Beaumont, Texas/Central HS
High School: Three-time all-district honoree … Received first-team all-district honors as a senior … A 2015 District 22-5A Defensive MVP … Posted 116 tackles, including seven sacks during his junior campaign … Named 2014 District 22-5A Newcomer of the Year … Received an invite to play in the Max Emfinger All-American Bowl … Also recruited by Southern … A multi-sport athlete, Boseman was also a standout thrower on the Central track and field team … Personal: Is a black belt in Taekwondo.
Abel Daily • LB • 6-0 • 195 • College Station, Texas/A&M Consolidated HS
High School: A two-time all-district selection … Received first-team all-district recognition … Recorded 64 tackles, including 21 unassisted, and 15 tackles for losses … Guided A&M Consolidated to eight wins and the third round of the playoffs as a senior.
Jack Dallas • QB • 5-11 • 180 • Orange, Texas/West Orange Stark HS
High School: Two-time Willie Ray Smith Award finalist … Won the Willie Ray Smith Award following his junior season … All-state selection … Guided West Orange Stark to three consecutive state championships, including a state title as a junior and senior … Named MVP of the 2015 and 2016 state championship game … District Offensive MVP … Recorded 8,000 total yards of offense … Had 128 total touchdowns … Completed 524-of-850 (61.6 percent) of his pass attempts … Threw for 3,113 yards and 44 touchdowns during his junior season … Followed that up by passing for 2,399 yards and 38 touchdowns as a senior … Rated as a two-star prospect according to 247Sports.com … Mustangs went 31-1 (.969) in his final two seasons … Guided Mustangs to a 17-1 (.944) district record … A two-sport star, also led West Orange Stark to a state title game in baseball.
Tanner Douglas • WR • 5-10 • 175 • Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland HS
High School: Garnered 2016 Northern Seven Second-Team All-Conference honors … Guided Pine-Richland High School to a seven win season, and a 4-2 mark in league play … Pine-Richland advanced to the second-round of the playoffs.
Josh Jinning • LB • 6-2 • 200 • The Colony, Texas/The Colony HS
High School: A two-star athlete according to 247Sports.com … Ranked among the top 400 prospects in the state according to 247Sports.com … A first-team all-district selection … Recorded 107 total tackles, including 23 for losses, and 11 sacks as a senior … He also picked off a pass and forced five fumbles in 2016 … Was named SportsDayHS Hero after recording 12 tackles, including eight tackles for losses, and intercepting a pass in the eighth game of the season … He also recorded four sacks and forced a fumble in that same contest … Received recruiting attention from Iowa.
Humberto Lopez • OL • 6-6 • 295 • Austin, Texas/Reagan HS
High School: A first-team All-25-5A District selection … A standout thrower on the Reagan track and field team.
Elvin Martinez • K • 5-9 • 168 • Huntsville, Texas/Huntsville HS
High School: A two-time honorable mention all-district selection … Booted a 53-yard field goal during the spring scrimmage as a sophomore … Earned honorable mention all-district honors as a senior … Has served as Huntsville’s primary kicker since midway through his sophomore season … Also competed for the Huntsville HS powerlifting team.
Micah McComb • OL • 6-5 • 300 • El Campo, Texas/El Campo HS
High School: Two-time all-district selection … First-team all-district honoree … A 2016 Victoria Advocate First-Team All-Area selection … Guided El Campo HS to an 11-1 record … Received recruiting attention from Texas.
Colton Peterson • OL • 6-4 • 300 • Tomball, Texas/Memorial HS
High School: Received two stars from Rivals.com … A two-star prospect according to 247Sports.com … Ranked among the top 400 prospects in the state by 247Sports.com … First-team all-district selection … Ranked as one of the top 35 commitments within the Southland Conference … Received recruiting attention from Houston, Texas State, Tulane and UTSA.
JT Vongor • OL • 6-2 • 315 • Grand Prairie, Texas/S. Grand Prairie HS
High School: Two-star offensive lineman according to 247Sports.com … Considered one of the top 50 centers nationally by 247Sports.com … Ranked as one of the top five centers in the state of Texas … A top-400 recruit in the state of Texas … A 2015 First-Team All-District 8-6A selection … Chose Lamar University over Air Force and New Mexico.
Myles Wanza • RB • 5-9 • 180 • Houston, Texas/Summer Creek HS
High School: A Houston Chronicle Top 100 recruit … Earned second-team all-district honors as a junior … Rushed for more than 1,600 yards and 22 touchdowns through just nine games this past season … Earned honorable mention all-district honors as a sophomore … Received attention from Rutgers and UMass … Was also a standout on the track.
Tyris Williams • LB • 6-2 • 225 • Liberty, Texas/Liberty HS
High School: Recorded 113 total tackles, including 65 unassisted stops … Had 23 tackles for losses … Was also credited with five sacks, five forced fumbles and picked off a pass … Had nearly 200 tackles during his final two varsity seasons … A two-time first-team all-district honoree … Earned first-team all-district honors during his junior season, despite missing three games due to injury … Transferred to Liberty HS after spending his sophomore season at Dayton HS … Received player of the week honors after recording 18 tackles, including two for losses, and forcing three fumbles … He also carried the ball 11 times for 103 yards in that game … Received recruiting attention from UL-Lafayette.
2017 Transfers
Dorian Gaston • WR • 6-2 • 195 • Ripley, Miss./Ripley HS (Itawamba CC)
Junior College: Hauled in 44 passes for 793 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore … Averaged 88.1 receiving yards per game … Had 31 receptions for 572 yards (95.3 ypg) with eight touchdowns in conference games … Named to the National Guard JUCO Team of the Week for hauling in nine passes for 164 yards and a score against Pearl River … Also received recruiting attention from UTEP … High School: Invited to play in the Northeast Mississippi Football Coaches Association (NEMFCA) All-Star Game … Personal: JUCO teammate, Isaiah Howard, also signed with LU.
Isaiah Howard • WR • 6-4 • 210 • Fulton, Miss./Ripley HS (Itawamba CC)
Junior College: Played in 10 games hauling in 59 passes for 739 yards and four touchdowns during his two seasons … Helped guide Itawamba to a No. 19 ranking in the final NJCAA poll … Also received recruiting attention from Middle Tennessee State and UTEP … High School: Caught 69 passes for 970 yards and 10 touchdowns during the regular season as a senior … Personal: JUCO teammate, Dorian Gaston, also signed with LU.
James White • RB • 6-0 • 220 • Pearland, Texas/Dawson HS (Texas A&M)
Texas A&M: Rushed for 462 yards and seven touchdowns during his three seasons with the Aggies … Also had five catches for 16 yards … Carried the ball 11 times for 62 yards against LU as a freshman … Named to the 2015 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll … High School: Coached by Eric Wells at Dawson High School in Pearland, Texas … Member of the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football’s Super Team second team … In his 2012 senior season, had 185 carries for 1,697 yards and 22 TDs, which earned him 4A first-team All-State (AP) and first-team All-Greater Houston (Houston Chronicle) honors … Earned District 24-4A honors after rushing for 1,840 yards and 23 TDs as junior in 2011 … Had 77 carries for 596 yards and 7 TDs as a sophomore … Three-star recruit by Rivals.com and a four-star recruit by Scout.com … Rated No. 28 RB by Rivals.com … Rated No. 25 RB by Scout.com … Personal: James McMadison White is the son of Beverly and Johnny White of Pearland, Texas … Born Sept. 8, 1994 in Houston.
Willie Williams • OL • 6-3 • 285 • Pearland, Texas/Pearland HS (Texas State)
Texas State: Played in two games earning a start in the season finale against Arkansas State … High School: A three-star prospect by 247Sports.com … Named two-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com … Rated among Houston’s Top 100 recruits by the Houston Chronicle … Three-time first-team all-district selection … Was a finalist for the Houston Touchdown Club’s Greater Houston Offensive Player of the Year … Named All-District 22-6A selection as a senior … Made 39 consecutive starts for a Pearland squad that posted a 32-7 record during that stretch … Recorded 48 pancake blocks without giving up a sack … Graded out at 91 percent as a senior … Earned first-team all-state honors by the Texas Sportswriters Association and All-District 22-5A honors after recording 35 pancake blocks and grading out at 95 percent as a junior … Named to VYPE Magazine All-Houston team … Lead Pearland to the 2013 state title game … First-team all-district as a sophomore … Personal: Born May 29, 1997 … Son of Kelvin and Valerie Williams.
Jarod Wood • TE • 6-3 • 225 • Kilgore, Texas/Kilgore HS (Kilgore College)
Junior College: Brings size and strength to the position … Two-year letterwinner … Rated as a two-star prospect by 247Sports.com … Guided Kilgore to a top-20 national ranking … First-team all-conference selection … Played in nine games as a sophomore and ranked among the league’s top 25 in receptions and top 15 in receiving yards … Had 23 receptions for 413 yards and seven touchdown grabs during his sophomore year … Chose the Cardinals over UL Monroe … High School: Selected to play in the Chick-Fil-A Heart of a Champion Bowl All-Star Game.
Social Media