Southeastern Louisiana University head football coach Hal Mumme announced today the signing of 18 student-athletes to national letters of intent to play football for the Lions next season.
The class, which adds to three transfers signed during the early period who are currently enrolled at Southeastern, has a Louisiana flavor with 12 hailing from the Bayou State. Six are from Mississippi with Florida (2) and Texas (1) also represented.
The new additions will address needs made evident after the Lions' return to the gridiron in 2003. Last season was the first for the Lions' in 18-years following the disbanding of the program following the 1985 season due to budget cuts. The first-year program finished a solid 5-7 and made significant strides during the season including winning its final two games and three of its last five.
"Defensive backs and offensive lineman were two areas we really felt we needed to concentrate on," remarked Mumme. "Our goal offensively is to play at a fast paced level and we needed to increase our numbers of quality offensive lineman so we don't fade late in games. We also needed to improve on our depth and speed at defensive back so Woody (Defensive coordinator Woody Widenhofer) would be able to do more blitzes and things he likes to do and let those guys cover.
"I'm really very pleased with all of our signees. I think our assistant coaches did a great job recruiting and I'm looking forward to watching these guys grow over the next few years."
Three transfer student-athletes including Tagarius Spikes, a defensive lineman who transferred from Division I Troy State along with junior college transfers Charles Hall, a defensive back from Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College and Jermaine Spencer, an offensive lineman from Holmes Junior College, joined the Lions in January and will participate in spring drills that begin March 16.
A complete list of Southeastern signees as well as bio capsules on each follows.
2004 SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL
SIGNEE LIST AND PROFILES
Southeastern Louisiana University Football Signees
Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004
Brad Bardy OL 6-0/265 Covington (St. Paul's HS)
Jonathan Byrd DB 6-2/185 Greensburg (St. Helena Central HS)
Torey Byrd DT 6-4/333 Baton Rouge (Redemptorist HS)
Brent Blazevich DL 6-2/320 Hammond (St. Thomas Aquinas HS)
William Dede DB 6-1/190 Metairie (Ridgewood Prep)
Calvin Greenwood OL 6-6/335 Flora, Miss. (Northeast Mississippi CC)
Chase Holbrook QB 6-6/225 Dallas, Texas (L.D. Bell High)
Terrell Howard OL 6-4,/275 Charleston, Miss. (NW Mississippi CC)
Eric Jackson DB 6-0/175 Amite (Amite HS)
Burnell Joseph RB 6-2/195 Lutcher (Lutcher HS)
Brandon McKnight DL 6-5/325 Baton Rouge (Glen Oaks HS)
Charlie Pittman DB 5-10/185 McComb, Miss. (Southwest Mississippi CC)
Robert Pool DB 6-6/290 St. Francisville (West Feliciana HS)
Travis Sartin OL 6-3/240 Baton Rouge (Istrouma HS)
Jarvis Townes OL 6-1/310 Nesbit, Miss. (Northwest Mississippi CC)
Corey Veazy WR 6-3/180 Panama City, Fla. (Bay HS)
Louis West DL 6-8/385 Baton Rouge (Istrouma HS)
Richard Williams DB 6-1/190 Baton Rouge (Belaire HS)
Early Signees
Currently enrolled at Southeastern
Entered January 2004
Charles Hall DB 6-1/180 Gulfport, Miss. (Mississippi Gulf Coast JC)
Jermaine Spencer OL 6-3/320 Flora, Miss. (Holmes, Miss. Junior College)
Tagarius Spikes DL 6-3/283 Bradenton, Fla. (Troy St./Ellsworth, Iowa CC/Bayshore HS)
Breakdown by Position
Defensive Linemen (6) Byrd, Blazevich, McKnight, Pool, Spikes, West
Offensive Linemen (5) Bardy, Greenwood, Howard, Spencer, Townes
Defensive Backs (6) Byrd, Dede, Hall, Jackson, Pittman, Williams
Quarterback (1) Holbrook
Running Back (1) Joseph
Linebacker (1) Sartin
Wide Receiver (1) Veazy
Breakdown by State
Louisiana (12) Bardy, J. Byrd, T. Byrd, Blazevich, Dede, Jackson, Joseph, McKnight, Pool, Sartin, West, Williams
Mississippi (6) Greenwood, Hall, Howard, Pittman, Spencer, Townes
Florida (2) Spikes, Veazy
Texas (1) Holbrook
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY
STUDENT-ATHLETE SIGNEE PROFILES
Brad Bardy
Offensive Lineman, 6-0, 265
Covington (St. Paul's HS)
Coach at St. Paul's: Ken Sears
A two-time first team all-district 5-5A selection…also named all-St. Tammany Parish by The Times-Picayune as a senior.
Jonathan Byrd
Defensive Back, 6-2, 185
Greensburg (St. Helena Central HS)
Two-time all-district and all-state defensive back who recorded 40 career interceptions … returned three interceptions for touchdowns … a two-way player, also passed for over 1,200 yards as a junior and for over 1,400 yards in his senior season.
Torey Byrd
Defensive Tackle, 6-4, 333
Baton Rouge (Redemptorist HS)
Coach at Redemptorist: Sid Edwards
Was a member of one of Louisiana's most successful prep programs over the past four years…In his four years with the Wolves, Redemptorist was 51-6 and reached three state championship games, winning the Class 3A title in 2002 and the Class 4A title in 2003…was a two-year all-district selection in District 8-3A in 2002 and District 7-4A in 2003…named to the Baton Rouge all-metro large schools team and all-state Class 4A in his senior season…also recruited by LSU, Texas, McNeese St., Northwestern St.….a high school teammate of current Southeastern tight end Josh Wilson.
Brent Blazevich
Defensive Lineman, 6-2, 320
Hammond (St. Thomas Aquinas HS)
Coach at STA: Randy Johnson
Becomes the Lions' first scholarship signee from St. Thomas Aquinas, located less than three miles from the Southeastern campus…a two-year all-district 8-2A selection for the Falcons, who reached the state playoffs in each of Blazevich's four seasons with the team…chose to stay close to home at Southeastern instead of Louisiana Tech and Nicholls St…a high school teammate of Kyle Clements, who walked on to the Lions' squad as a receiver in 2003.
William Dede
Defensive Back, 6-1, 190
Metairie (Ridgewood Prep)
Coach at Ridgewood: Norman Ryan
Was a three-year all-district 9-1A selection, as well as a two-time all-East Bank selection by The Times-Picayune…helped the Eagles reach the state playoffs in 2003…chose Southeastern over Clark-Atlanta, Norfolk St. and Northwestern St.
Calvin Greenwood
Offensive Lineman, 6-6, 335
Flora, Miss. (Northeast Mississippi Community College)
Coach at NEMCC: Andy Greening
Named to the all-MJCAA team and was a participant in the MJCAA North-South all-star game…named all-district as a senior at Flora High School…chose Southeastern over Florida A&M…a high school teammate of signee Jermaine Spencer.
Charles Hall
Defensive Back, 6-1, 180
Gulfport, Miss. (Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College)
Coach at Gulf Coast: Bill Lee
Signed with Southeastern prior to the 2003 season…is enrolled in school and will be eligible to participate with the Lions in spring practice…was an all-region selection in 2002 with 55 total tackles…rushed for more than 1,000 yards during his senior season at Gulfport High and was a three-time all-district selection for the Admirals…also won two state championships in the 100-meter dash…chose Southeastern over UAB, UL-Lafayette and Jackson St.
Chase Holbrook
Quarterback, 6-6, 225
Dallas, Texas (L.D. Bell High)
Coach at L.D. Bell: Ross Dodson
A second team all-district selection as a senior…named team MVP and won the school's Fighting Heart Award… Holbrook passed for 547 yards and two TDs in his senior season in guiding Bell to a 5-5 record….rushed 73 times for 314 yards including five TDs … as a junior, Holbrook passed for 668 yards … most productive game through the air came in a 29-26 loss to Colleyville Heritage throwing for 212 yards and a score … rushed for 94 yards on 13 carries in a 40-6 win over Boswell … as a junior, Holbrook led team to its first winning record since 1997 and a playoff appearance…chose the Lions over TCU, Tulsa, Missouri and Stephen F. Austin.
Terrell Howard
Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 275
Charleston, Miss. (Northwest Mississippi Community College)
Coach at NWMCC: Bobby Franklin
Named NJCAA all-district, as well as MJCAA all-state, in 2003…an all-district selection in high school, he was named his team's MVP as a senior…teammate of signee Jarvis Townes…chose Southeastern over Memphis, Louisiana Tech and Florida A&M.
Eric Jackson
Defensive Back, 6-0, 175
Amite (Amite HS)
Coach at Amite: Donald Currier
Continues the Lions' strong ties to schools in Tangipahoa Parish…was named first team all-district 9-3A and all-state Class 3A as a senior…helped the Warriors reach the Class 3A semifinals in 2001 and 2003 and the quarterfinals in 2002…was also recruited by Alabama St…was a high school teammate of current Lions defensive back Ross Currier, the son of Amite High coach Donald Currier and nephew of Kentwood High coach David Currier.
Burnell Joseph
Running Back, 6-2, 195
Lutcher (Lutcher HS)
Coach at Lutcher: Tim Detillier
Rushed for more than 900 yards in 2003, helping the Bulldogs win the Class 3A state championship, Lutcher's first title in 20 years…scored two touchdowns in the championship game … named first team all-district 10-3A and all-River Parishes by The Times Picayune…will play in the Louisiana all-star game in July…chose Southeastern over Nicholls St. and Southern.
Brandon McKnight
Defensive Lineman, 6-5, 325
Baton Rouge (Glen Oaks HS)
Coach at Glen Oaks: Gary Burnett
A first team all-district 6-4A selection in 2003…helped the Panthers reach the state playoffs in each of his four seasons at Glen Oaks.
Charlie Pittman
Defensive Back, 5-10, 185
McComb, Miss. (Southwest Mississippi Community College)
Coach at SWMCC: Dom Green
An all-state Mississippi JUCO selection in 2003 …chose the Lions over Alcorn St. and Valdosta St., where Southeastern coach Hal Mumme served as head coach from 1992-96…was a junior college teammate of current Southeastern linebackers Rudy Johnson and Marvin Jones, along with defensive backs Birk McGee and Steven Erdey.
Robert Pool
Defensive End, 6-6, 290
St. Francisville (West Feliciana HS)
Coach at West Feliciana: Bill Parkerson
A two-year all-district 8-3A selection for the Saints…helped WFHS reach the state playoffs from 2000 through 2002…started on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Saints…will play in this summer's Louisiana all-star game…chose the Lions over Southern and UL-Monroe.
Travis Sartin
Outside Linebacker, 6-3, 240
Baton Rouge (Istrouma HS)
Coach at Istrouma: Troy Jones
Was part of Indian club that went 9-1 and won a share of the District 7-4A championship during the 2003 regular season…Istrouma reached the Class 4A quarterfinals, the school's best finish since 1976…named first team all-district, all-metro Baton Rouge large schools and all-state Class 4A as a senior…was part of a playoff team in 2002 after Indians went 1-9 in 2001…teammate of Southeastern signees Louis West…chose the Lions over McNeese St., Nicholls St. and Southern.
Jermaine Spencer
Offensive Lineman, 6-3, 320
Flora, Miss. (Holmes, Miss. Junior College)
Coach at Holmes: Hugh Shurden
Was a MJCAA all-state selection and was an MJCAA all-star as a sophomore….was an all-state selection at Flora High School…picked Southeastern over Alcorn St. and Jackson St…a high school teammate of signee Calvin Greenwood.
Tagarius Spikes
Defensive Lineman, 6-3, 283
Bradenton, Fla. (Troy State/Ellsworth, Iowa CC/Bayshore HS)
Coach at Bayshore: Ray Woodie
Coach at Ellsworth: John Sala
Originally signed with Troy State out of junior college, but came to Southeastern after one semester at the Alabama school…has already enrolled in school at Southeastern and will participate in the Lions' spring practice…a two-year starter at Ellsworth, he was team captain in 2002 and finished with 56 tackles, seven sacks and three forced fumbles…earned all-region honors as a freshman in 2001 with nine sacks, 57 tackles and four forced fumbles…was an all-district and all-county selection as a senior, posting 60 tackles, 14 sacks, eight forced fumbles and an interception….also a basketball player in high school, he was named to Who's Who of American High School students…was a high school teammate of current Lions cornerback David Daniels.
Jarvis Townes
Offensive Lineman, 6-1, 310
Nesbit, Miss. (Northwest Mississippi Community College)
Coach at NWMCC: Bobby Franklin
An NJCAA all-district selection in 2003…was a two-year all-district selection at Hernando High School…named to the Mississippi Elite 11 and was an all-metro selection as a senior…chose Southeastern over Jackson St. and Nicholls St…a teammate of signee Terrell Howard.
Corey Veazy
Wide Receiver, 6-3, 180
Panama City, Fla. (Bay HS)
Coach at Bay: Jim Scroggins
Selected to play in two all-star games following his senior season: the Florida-Georgia All-Star Game and the Florida North-South All-Star Game…the District 2-3A Player of the Year, he was also an all-Bay County selection…chose Southeastern over Florida and North Alabama .. also plays point guard on the Bay HS basketball team .. was starting point guard on Final Four team as a junior.
Louis West
Defensive Lineman, 6-8, 385
Baton Rouge (Istrouma HS)
Coach at Istrouma: Troy Jones
A first team all-district selection for three years in District 7-4A…named the defensive MVP in 7-4A by The Advocate as a junior…helped the Indians complete a 9-1 regular season in 2003 and reach the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state playoffs…helped the Indians improve from 1-9 as a sophomore in 2001 to 6-5 and a state playoff berth in 2002…a teammate of Southeastern signees Travis Sartin…chose Southeastern over Southern, McNeese St. and Nicholls St.
Richard Williams
Defensive Back, 6-1, 190
Baton Rouge (Belaire HS)
Coach at Belaire: Ron LeJeune
A first team all-district 6-4A selection as a senior on defense and second team offensive selection…helped the Bengals improve from 0-10 his freshman year all the way to 8-4 in 2003…was part of Belaire team that won the school's first playoff game since 1986.
