BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University signed four high school standouts to National Letters of Intent, and added four transfers announced head coach Mike Schultz at a press conference Wednesday at the Dauphin Athletics Complex.
Wednesday’s signing class adds to the 10 athletes the Cardinals signed during the early period, which brings the total signing class to 18 (nine signees and nine transfers). The newest additions to the class have a heavy focus on the offensive side of the ball with six signees.
The position breakdown on offense consists of two offensive linemen, two receivers, a running back and a quarterback. The defensive signees consist of a defensive back and a defensive lineman.
The breakdown for the overall class consists of 11 offensive players and seven on defense. The overall position breakdown on offense includes five offensive linemen, two receivers, two running backs and two quarterbacks. The overall number on defense consists of three defensive backs, three defensive linemen and a linebacker.
“I think we have a nice blend of positions filled during this class, in addition to a nice blend of high school signees and junior college transfers,” said Schultz. “We had needs at every position going in and I feel like we met our needs. We felt like we had a really good signing class during the early period, and we were able to back it up with another nice mixture of talented student-athletes today. We were able to build on what we established with the initial signing in December.”
Big Red also added another player from the Golden Triangle. The newest member to the Cardinals’ roster to ink with the hometown school is West Orange-Stark receiver Blake Robinson.
The second half of the 2018 class expands beyond the borders of the state of Texas. The newest members to LU roster represent Texas, California and Hawaii.
The Cardinals continue to bulk on the front lines with the additions of three more offensive linemen and a defensive lineman. The offensive line signees average 6-3, 293 pounds.
“We’re really excited about what we’ve been able to add to the offensive line in our first two recruiting classes, dating back to last season,” said Schultz. “The great thing is we were able to redshirt several guys from last year’s class and we were able to back them up with a nice blend of high school and junior college players. We’ve added more mass and strength to that position between our signees and what we have coming back.”
The battle for the starting quarterback will become even more heated in August with the addition of Jordan Hoy (6-1, 195 pounds). A native of Rockwall, Texas, Hoy comes to Beaumont with NCAA Division I experience after spending last year at Old Dominion.
“Jordan is a very athletic quarterback,” said Schultz. “He will provide us with more competition at that position, and competition breeds excellence. Darrel Colbert Jr. returns as the starter from last year, but we are going to play the best player and Jordan will be a part of that battle in the spring.”
-LU CARDINALS-
2018 Lamar University Signing Day Roster
Signees
Jacob Brown • DL • 6-1 • 250 • Arlington, Texas/Mansfield Timberview HS
Julio Cuello • OL • 6-4 • 280 • Edinburg, Texas/Vela HS
Erik Pizarro • WR • 5-9 • 195 • Rio Hondo, Texas/Rio Hondo HS
Blake Robinson • WR • 5-10 • 170 • Orange, Texas/West Orange-Stark HS
Transfers
Jordan Hoy • QB • 6-1 • 195 • Rockwall, Texas/Rockwall-Heath HS (Old Dominion)
V’Siol Jones • DB • 6-1 • 175 • Oakland, Calif./Liberty HS (Laney College)
Tamatoa Neher • OL • 6-2 • 305 • Hauula, Hawaii/Kahuku HS (Snow College)
J.T. Smith • RB • 5-11 • 193 • Klein, Texas/Klein Oak HS (Tyler JC)
2018 Lamar University Signee Bios
Signees
Jacob Brown • DL • 6-1 • 250 • Arlington, Texas/Mansfield Timberview HS
High School: A two-star prospect according to 247Sports.com … Ranked among top 500 players in the state of Texas … Rated among the top 200 defensive linemen in the state … Received attention from McNeese … Was also a standout on the Timberview track and field team.
Julio Cuello • OL • 6-4 • 280 • Edinburg, Texas/Vela HS
High School: Invited to play in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl in New Orleans … First-team all-district selection … Also garnered first all-area and all-valley honors … Guided Vela High School to a 12-1 (.923) overall record and a perfect 7-0 district mark.
Erik Pizarro • WR • 5-9 • 195 • Rio Hondo, Texas/Rio Hondo HS
High School: A first-team all-state receiver … District 16-4A Offensive Player of the Year … Played in the Blue-Grey All-America game … Named Offense MVP at the All-American Bowl … Recorded 89 catches for 1,660 yards (18.7 ypc) and 20 touchdowns as a senior … Averaged better than 150 receiving yards per game during his final high school season … Completed his high school career with 132 catches for 2,454 yards (18.6 ypc) and 30 touchdowns … Averaged better than 120 receiving yards per game in his final two seasons … As a senior was sixth in the state of Texas, and 19th nationally, in receiving yards … Also, a standout in baseball and track and field.
Blake Robinson • WR • 5-10 • 170 • Orange, Texas/West Orange-Stark HS
High School: A second-team all-district receiver as a junior … Was part of a Mustangs’ squad that made a run to four consecutive state championship games, including two state titles … West Orange recorded a 13-1 (.929) overall record with the lone setback coming in the state championship game … A member of a football team that recorded a 40-game win streak … A standout on the baseball diamond as well.
Transfers
Jordan Hoy • QB • 6-1 • 195 • Rockwall, Texas/Rockwall-Heath HS (Old Dominion)
Old Dominion: Played in three games, making first career start against North Carolina … Completed 8-of-19 passes for 73 yards … Rushed 12 times for 26 yards and a touchdown … Transferred to ODU from Fullerton College … Completed 246 passes for 3,434 yards and 37 touchdowns … Also carried the ball 131 times for 712 yards and nine scores … Named SCFA Player of the Year … High School: As a senior at Rockwall-Heath, passed for 1,400 yards, rushed for 1,000 and earned team MVP honors … Was an all-district selection … Personal: Son of Jeff Hoy and Raquel Castille.
V’Siol Jones • DB • 6-1 • 175 • Oakland, Calif./Liberty HS (Laney College)
Junior College: Two-year starter … Guided Laney to an 18-4 (.818) record during his two seasons … Helped Laney to a conference championship and a state playoff berth … Recorded 30 tackles and six interceptions … High School: A two-time honorable mention all-district selection … Recorded 31 tackles during his senior season, with an interception and a defensive touchdown … Personal: Son of Karen Bowler … Born Sept. 11, 1997, in Berkeley, Calif.
Tamatoa Neher • OL • 6-2 • 305 • Hauula, Hawaii/Kahuku HS (Snow College)
Junior College: Has been ranked as high as the No. 7 junior college offensive lineman … Garnered All-WSFL honors … Also received attention from Brigham Young … High School: Hawaii Prep World First-Team All-State … Scoring Live First-Team All-State … Cover 2 First-Team All-State selection … OIA First-Team All-Star.
J.T. Smith • RB • 5-11 • 193 • Klein, Texas/Klein Oak HS (Tyler JC)
Junior College: Two-year letterwinner … Rushed for nearly 800 yards and six touchdowns during his two seasons with the Apaches … High School: Was one of 11 players from Klein Oak that season to sign a scholarship to play football at the next level.
–
McNeese signs nine players from Texas
ZACORI ALEXANDER • WR • 6-1 • 190 • DALLAS, TEXAS • WOODROW WILSON HS
CALVIN BARKAT • OL • 6-3 • 300 • SACHSE, TEXAS • SACHSE HIGH SCHOOL
JOHN BLUNT, JR. • DB • 6-1 • 160 • ARLINGTON, TEXAS • MANSFIELD TIMBERVIEW HS
JORDAN BULLARD • DB • 6-2 • 170 • HOUSTON, TEXAS • EISENHOWER SENIOR HS
RONELL BURBANK • DT • 6-3 • 250 • NEW ORLEANS, LA. • EDNA KARR
DEON CORMIER • WR • 6-0 • 182 • HUMBLE, TEXAS • SUMMER CREEK HS
DARIUS DANIELS • ATH • 5-10 •190 • IOWA, LA. • IOWA HIGH SCHOOL
CHASE DAVIS • DT • 6-2 • 260 • SACHSE, TEXAS • SACHSE HIGH SCHOO
ZACH HAYES • QB • 5-11 • 175 • WELSH, LA. • WELSH HIGH SCHOOL
NICK HOLIDAY • OL • 6-5 • 322 • CIBOLO, TEXAS • STEELE HS
TREVOR MOYE • ATH • 6-3 • 206 • SHEPHERD, TEXAS • SHEPHERD HIGH SCHOOL
DANUEL OSCAR • RB • 5-11 • 170 • SEBASTIAN, FLA. • SEBASTIAN RIVER HS
TAHJ SAMUEL • LB • 5-11 • 235 • RUSTON, LA. • RUSTON HIGH SCHOOL
CJ SEMIEN III • DE • 6-3 • 212 • LAKE CHARLES, LA. • BARBE HIGH SCHOOL
CHAD TILLERY • DB • 5-11 • 160 • ST. FANCISVILLE, LA. • WEST FELICIANA HIGH SCHOOL
REGINALD “TREY” WILLIAMS III • ATH • 5-9 • 165 • HOUMA, LA. • ELLENDER HIGH SCHOOL
TRENT WINBUSH • DB • 5-11 • 180 • RAYNE, LA. • RAYNE HIGH SCHOOL
CHARLEY ZENO • OL • 6-2 • 290 • CIBOLO, TEXAS • STEELE HS
Social Media