Lamar University landed 12 players, highlighted by five first-team selections (three offense and two defense) on the 2024 Preseason All-Southland Conference squads announced league officials Monday morning at the league’s annual media day, officially named 2024 Southland Opening Drive.
Known as the official start to the football season around the conference, the Southland also released its preseason poll with the Cardinals picked to finish fourth overall with 88 points. The Cardinals were one of three league schools to receive at least one first-place vote as Nicholls was picked to defend its title.
Returning players who were voted to the previous season’s postseason all-conference teams were automatic selections to the preseason squad with the remaining gaps voted on by the league head coaches. The Southland’s preseason poll was based on a vote by the league head coaches and media relations directors.
Lamar’s first-team offense selections are receiver Andre Dennis and offensive linemen Jevale Roberson and Elias Ripley. That trio is joined by Caleb Williams (defensive line) and Ramond Stevens (defensive back) on the defensive side of the ball.
The Cardinals second-team selections include Khalan Griffin (running back), Devyn Gibbs (tight end), Sevonne Rhea (receiver), Reggie Brooks (offensive line), Chris Esqueda (kicker), Jaymond Jackson (defensive line) and Kristian Pugh (defensive back).
The Cardinals 12 preseason selections are more than LU has received in the six previous seasons combined, and Lamar’s fourth-place nod in the preseason poll is its highest since the 2016 season when it was also picked fourth.
A ton of excitement surrounds the Cardinals’ squad entering the 2024 season under the direction of second-year head coach Pete Rossomando. In his first year on campus, Rossomando changed the direction and perception of the Lamar program. The Cardinals jumped out to their best start in conference play in nearly six decades and posted their first winning season since 2018. By season’s end, the Cardinals posted NCAA FCS football’s fourth-best single-season turnaround.
The Cardinals enter the new campaign with more than just a healthy crop of preseason selections. The Red and White return 53 letterwinners and 20 starters (10 offense, six defense and four special teams) from last year’s squad that remained in the hunt for a share of the conference title until the next to last week of the season. Lamar also returns all but one position coach from the 2023 season.
The 2024 Southland Opening Drive took place at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio.
Social Media