Southeastern Louisiana University head football coach Dennis Roland announced today the signing of 17 student-athletes to national letters of intent to play football and continue their education as Lions next season.

The class, which adds to two previously signed junior college transfers during the early period and one Division I-A transfer who are all currently enrolled at Southeastern, addresses immediate needs of the program as well as building for the future. It is also a remarkable number for a new head coach who took over the program just over two weeks ago.

"I'm very pleased with the class we were able to put together in such a short period of time," replied Roland who was officially named head coach January 18. "We were fortunate to have great connections which helped cut through some of the time it usually takes in recruiting.

"Our intention is to mainly recruit in state with our focus on the north shore, New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas but we were hampered this season coming in at such a late date. But we believe we've complied a solid group, some of who will help us right away and some with great potential we'll be able to develop over time."

Of the Lions' 17 signees, nine are from the high school ranks, seven are transfers from junior college and one is a Division I-A transfer. Of the 17 players, 10 are offensive picks with seven defensive signees.

The Lions added three quarterbacks including St. Amant's Brian Babin, one receiver in local product Merrick Lanaux, two running backs including Auburn transfer Jerald Watson (Morgan City) and four offensive linemen to help fill the void left by three departing seniors.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Lions added three defensive lineman, one linebacker and three defensive backs including New Orleans product Keithshone Dantzler (Brother Martin).

--complete list with biographical information follows--

Southeastern Louisiana University
2005 Football Signing Class
as of 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2005

Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Previous School Hometown
Brian Babin QB 6-4 180 St. Amant HS Gonzales, La.
Keithshone Dantzler DB 6-0 190 Brother Martin HS New Orleans, La.
Pinkne Hardiman LB 6-3 220 Holmes (Miss.) CC Grenada, Miss.
Zach Harrington QB 6-2 180 Oak Grove HS Hattiesburg, Miss.
Brandon Jones QB 6-4 185 Collins Hill HS Lawrenceville, Ga.
Merrick Lanaux WR 6-4 180 Hammond HS Hammond, La.
Corlando McChristion CB 6-1 195 Holmes (Miss.) CC Grenada, Miss.
Trey Powell OL 6-4 325 Itawamba (Miss.) JC Baldwin, Miss.
Aaylon Putt OL 6-3 280 Northwest Miss. CC Senatobia, Miss.
Marquis Rogers DT 6-2 290 Holmes (Miss.) CC Brunswick, Ga.
Garrett Ryan DE 6-4 230 Walton HS Marietta, Ga.
Sam Savoy RB 5-11 185 N. Gwinnett HS Suwanee, Ga.
Brad Steube OL 6-3 290 Pearl River (Miss.) CC Pass Christian, Miss.
Chad Tedder OL 6-3 280 Holmes (Miss.) CC Eupora, Miss.
Walter Vaughn DE 6-4 260 Spalding HS Griffin, Ga.
Jerald Watson RB 5-11 205 Auburn Univ. Morgan City, La.
Jacquez Wiggins DB 5-11 195 Chattooga HS Chattooga, Ga.


Signees List Breakdown
17 Total Signees

9 High School
(Babin, Dantzler, Harrington, Jones, Lanaux, Ryan, Savoy, Vaughn, Wiggins)
7 Junior College
(Hardiman, McChristion, Powell, Putt, Rogers, Steube, Tedder)
1 Division I Transfer
(Watson)

Two of above added during early signing period
(Tedder, Putt)

By Position
Offense
Quarterback - 3
(Babin, Harrington, Jones)
Wide Receiver - 1
(Lanaux)
Running Back - 2
(Savoy, Watson)
Offensive Line - 4
(Powell, Putt, Steube, Tedder)

Defense
Defensive Line - 3
(Rogers, Ryan, Vaughn)
Linebacker - 1
(Hardiman)
Defensive Back - 3
(Dantzler, McChristion, Wiggins)


2005 Southeastern Signee Information Briefs

Brian Babin QB 6-4 180 St. Amant HS Gonzales, LA

Threw for 4,700 yards and 45 touchdowns in final two seasons … 2600 yards passing with 23 touchdowns as a senior earning honorable mention all-state … was District 4-5A Most Valuable Player as a junior … made state Coaches Association All State Second Team … on All Baton Rouge Metro Team … parents are Denny and Stacey Babin … brother Seth Babin was a member of the Lions 2003 squad.


Keithshone Dantzler DB 6-0 190 Brother Martin H.S New Orleans, La.

Two-time all-district 10-5A selection … two time All Metro selection … member of all-state Coaches Team … 2004 Blue Chip "Best of the Rest" Team … Times Picayune Pre-Season All Metro Team … All New Orleans Parish Team selection.


Pinkne Hardiman LB 6-3 220 Holmes (Miss.) C.C. Grenada, Miss.

Finished 2004 second on team in total tackles with 79 … had 42 solo stops and 37 assists … record three tackles for loss, one hurry, one pass breakup and one forced fumble … Mississippi All-State pick … played in Mississippi North-South All-Star game … best game came in '04 against Jones C.C. with 16 tackles, 6 for loss, 2 forced fumbles and one sack.


Zach Harrington QB 6-2 180 Oak Grove H.S Hattiesburg, Miss.

Set a new Mississippi state 5A single season passing record with 3,608 yards as a senior … threw for 28 TDs to only 11 picks in final high school campaign … season tally ranks second all-time in state for passing yardage in single season … went 228-for-361 completing 61 percent of his attempts … best gamewas against Meridian going 28-of-52 for 467 yards with four TDs to no picks … all-state 5A selection … Athlete of the Year and Most Valuable Offensive Player by WDAM-TV … also named all-area and all-conference … three-time state Player of the Week … also named area Academic Player of the Week … helped squad to one south state football championship, three district titles and two state baseball championships … nominated to Congressional Youth Leadership Council … recipient of 2004 Martin Luther King Leadership Award.


Brandon Jones QB 6-4 185 Collins Hill HS Lawrenceville, Ga.

Led Collins Hill to a regional championship with a 9-1 mark in 2004 … threw for 2,500 yards and 19 TDs as a senior … second team all-state selection … 2004 Gwinnett County QB of the Year … team captain.


Merrick Lanaux WR 6-4 180 Hammond HS Hammond, La.

Recorded 35 catches for nearly 500 yards with six TDs in his senior campaign … all-district selection who was also a member of the all-state Academic team … FPTV Player of the Game against Northside … four year honor roll student.


Corlando McChristion CB 6-1 195 Holmes (Miss.) C.C. Grenada, Miss.

Recorded 59 tackles including 36 solo stops in 2004 season for Holmes … had seven pass breakups and one interception along with a fumble recovery … participant in Mississippi North-South All-Star game … two-time all-state pick … at Grenada High School was a member of 2003 Bernard Blackwell All-Star North Team and played against current Southeastern signal caller Martin Hankins and alongside fellow signee OL Aaylon Putt … Clarion Ledger Top 40 pick.


Trey Powell OL 6-4 325 Itawamba (Miss.) JC Baldwin, Miss.

Two time all-state in high school … three-time all-area … three time all county … MVP Offensive line on three occasions … two-time powerlifting state champion … JUCO preseason all American … high school honorable mention all-American.


Aaylon Putt OL 6-3 280 Northwest Miss. CC Senatobia, Miss.

Two-year starter at Northwest Mississippi … committed to Southeastern in December and is currently enrolled … was a 2004 second team preseason all-American … first-team all-state pick … participated in Miss. JUCO All-Star game as well as Miss. North-South All-Star game … team was second in NJCAA rankings in rushing average at 310.6 yards per game… was honorable mention all-state as a freshman … in high school was a member of the 2003 Bernard Blackwell All-Star North team playing along fellow signee Corlando McChristion and against current Southeastern QB Martin Hankins.

Marquis Rogers DT 6-2 290 Holmes (Miss.) C.C. Brunswick, Ga.

Recorded 48 total tackles including two for loss in 2004 … had 29 solo and 19 assisted stops including 2.5 sacks.

Garrett Ryan DE 6-4 230 Walton HS Marietta, Ga.

A three-time all-Cobb County selection … earned first-team notice following a senior season in which he led his squad with eight sacks and 17 tackles for loss … batted five passes, had one interception, three fumble recoveries and five QB hurries … named team defensive MVP twice during the season … was also named to the Atlanta Journal Constitution All-Metro team … Marietta Journal All-Star recipient … All Region First Team selection.


Sam Savoy RB 5-11 185 N. Gwinnett HS Suwanee, Ga.

Second Team All-Gwinnett County as a defensive back … Bowen Building Block Player of the Week and Gwinnett County Player of the Month as as a junior … Selfless Effort Team award winner and two-time special teams player of the week.

Brad Steube OL 6-3 290 Pearl River (Miss.) C.C. Pass Christian, Miss.

Talented offensive lineman at Pearl River C.C. who was a 2004 Preseason NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American … helped guide Pearl River to a NJCAA national championship title in 2004 with a 35-14 win over Butler CC in the title game … team posted a perfect 12-0 record en route to the national championship - its first since 1961 … freshman season helped team to state championship … helped PRCC QB Jimmy Oliver set new school records for completions (384), attempts (339), passing yardage (3,482), and TD passes (38)… team led nation in passing yardage at 301.5 per game .


Chad Tedder OL 6-3 280 Holmes (Miss.) C.C. Eupora, Miss.

First-team all-state and first-team all-district selection … 2004 Preseason NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American … Mississippi Super Prep Top 22 … Team Best Offensive Lineman Award winner … selected Southeastern over Louisiana-Monroe and Southeast Missouri State … signed early and is reunited with fellow Holmes teammate Pinkne Hardiman.



Walter Vaughn DE 6-4 260 Spalding HS Griffin, Ga.

First-team All-Area … Defensive Lineman of the Year … All-Kudza Life Team selection … Led team in tackles for loss and forced fumbles … team leader in sacks as a senior with 7 … high school teammate of current Lions running back Mario Gilbert.


Jerald Watson RB 5-11 205 Auburn Univ. Morgan City, La.

Saw action in six games as a true freshman at Auburn … rushed 22 times for 52 yards and caught one pass for three yards … In high school, rushed for 6,100 yards and 62 touchdowns in four seasons ... Despite injuries, rushed for 1,000 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior ...Ran for 1,432 yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging over seven yards a carry as a junior ... SuperPrep Louisiana Top 10 ... SuperPrep All-Region ...Rivals.com Southeast Elite 88 ... Rivals.com Louisiana Top 25 ... Rivals.com all-purpose backs Top 10 ... Also played baseball and batted .565 as a junior ... All-state selection in track ... Competed in the 100-meters at the 2003 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships ... Set the freshman and sophomore national records in the 60-meters at the Nike Indoor Championships ... PERSONAL: Born December 11, 1985 ... Son of Mary and Jerald Watson … originally committed to LSU out of high school before opting to attend Auburn.


Jacquez Wiggins DB 5-11 195 Chattooga HS Chattooga, Ga.

Led team to a 7-3 regular season record and berth in the state playoffs as a two-way player (QB/DB) … 2004 Preseason all-area pick … as a senior was named first team all-region defense … second-team pick as a junior … team most valuable player and team captain.