HAMMOND – A total of 21 student-athletes have chosen to continue their academic and athletic endeavors as members of the Southeastern Louisiana football program, Lion head coach Ron Roberts announced on National Signing Day Wednesday.
 
Wednesday's 21 additions join the seven midyear signees that Southeastern added in December to bring the signing class total to 28.
 
"We felt like we met the majority of our immediate needs during the midyear signing period," Roberts said. "We addressed just about every area, especially the defensive line, secondary, receiver and offensive line. We added some players today that we think can come in and immediately have an impact and compete for playing time. We also brought in some guys who will take some time to grow in our program and give us a great foundation for the future.
 
"We're not done yet," Roberts added. "We will continue to look for student-athletes can come in here and help us compete for a conference championship in 2016."
 
Roberts and his staff headed into the recruiting season with several need areas. The Lions graduated 26 seniors at the end of the 2015 season.
 
"From a personnel standpoint, we knew that we had to sure up our safety position," Roberts said. "We wanted to add some depth and experience at outside linebacker and offensive line, plus we needed to add playmaking skill players on offense. We were able to do that in December.
 
"Heading into the spring, our mindset was to improve our depth at every position," Roberts said. "There's some positions that weren't necessary on paper areas of need, but we wanted to add someone who can push the returners and be ready to step in if we lose a key guy to injury."
 
During the entirety of the ongoing recruiting process, Roberts and his staff were able to bring a nice mix of 14 junior college transfers and 14 incoming freshman.
 
"We're really pleased with the group of high school kids we were able to have join our program today," Roberts said. "We expect several of those guys to compete for playing time right away and then we have some who will need to mature as football players, but are great additions for the future."
 
Roberts and his staff continued to focus on the state of Louisiana, as 10 additions come from in-state, including four Tangipahoa Parish products – Amite High School wide receiver Andrew Jones and Oak Forest Academy tight end Bransen Schwebel, as well a pair of Jewel Sumner High School products in defensive back Kijuan Lee and offensive lineman Landon Rayburn. Southeastern was also able to nab a member of the Times-Picayune's Nifty Fifty – a list of the state's top 50 recruits – in Crowley wide receiver Jacq'co Price.
 
Southeastern added plenty of fire power on the defensive side of the ball with the addition of five defensive lineman, five linebackers and four defensive backs. The Lions were able to beef up the offensive line with the addition of Jermaine Jones and December signee Chris Phillips. The duo made up the left side of the offensive line for Northwest Mississippi Community College on the way to the 2015 national championship. Roberts also expects the trio of Raekeal Beasley, Josh Cleveland and Lakedric Lee to be threats to score every time they touch the ball.
 
Southeastern are a little over a month away from spring practice, which opens March 8 and culminates with the annual spring game on April 16. The Lions open the 2016 season in exactly seven months on Sept. 3 at Oklahoma State.
 
2016 Southeastern Louisiana Football Additions (28 total)
21 signed Wednesday; 7 signed in December
Jaquandre Allen, 6-0, 220, LB, New Iberia, La., Westgate HS
*Raekeal Beasley, 5-7, 155, ATH, Florence, Ala., Moorpark College/Brooks HS
Alfred Beverly, 6-4, 330, OL, Beaumont, Texas, West Brook HS
Ian Brian, 6-1, 195, QB, Baton Rouge, La., Catholic HS
Ronald Cherry, 6-3, 275, DL, Lake Charles, La., Washington-Marion HS
Josh Cleveland, 5-9, 185, ATH, Del Valle, Texas, Navarro College/Del Valle HS
*Julius Craft, 6-2, 185, WR, Mendenhall, Miss., Copiah-Lincoln CC/Mendenhall HS
Chauncey Davis, 6-7, 250, DL, Oakland, Calif., Chabot College/San Leandro HS
Mayori Ellison, 6-4, 180, DB, Hayward, Calif., Chabot College/Hayward HS
Marcus Flavors, 6-1, 290, DL, Crestview, Fla., Crestview HS
Abraham Freeman, 6-2, 225, LB, Telfair, Ga., Iowa Western CC/Telfair County HS
Greg Hardaway, 6-1, 300, DL, San Antonio, Texas, Cisco College/Wagner HS
Ezekiel Jenkins, 6-0, 215, FB, Edmond, Okla., Edmond Santa Fe HS
Jake Jiannoni, 6-0, 220, LB, Palm Springs, Calif., Golden West College/La Quinta HS
Andrew Jones, 6-0, 170, WR, Amite, La., Amite HS
Jermaine Jones, 6-2, 345, OL, Greenwood, Miss., Northwest Mississippi CC/Leflore County HS
Aaron Kent, 6-4, 270, DL, New Orleans, La., Edna Karr HS
Jack Lechman, 6-1, 221, LB, Mansfield, Texas, Mansfield Lake Ridge HS
Kijuan Lee, 5-11, 190, DB, Kentwood, La., Jewel Sumner HS
*Lakedric Lee, 5-11, 210, RB, McComb, Miss., Copiah-Lincoln CC/North Pike HS
Mitchell Lee, 6-4, 240, TE, Orange, Texas, Little Cypress-Mauriceville HS
*Chris Phillips, 6-5, 350, OL, Olive Branch, Miss., Northwest Mississippi CC/Olive Branch HS
Jacq'co Price, 6-2, 175, WR, Crowley, La., Crowley HS
Landon Rayburn, 6-6, 330, OL, Kentwood, La., Jewel Sumner HS
Bransen Schwebel, 6-5, 230, TE, Amite, La., Oak Forest Academy
*Lee Spight, 6-0, 245, LB, Lexana, Kan., Hutchinson CC/Shawnee Mission West HS
*Brayleon Thorns, 5-11, 185, DB, Garland, Texas, Navarro College/South Garland HS
*Jeff Williams II, 6-0, 200, DB, Baton Rouge, La., Sierra College/St. Amant HS
 
* - Signed during December midyear signing period
 
Position Breakdown:
DL – 5 (Ronald Cherry, Chauncey Davis, Marcus Flavors, Greg Hardaway, Aaron Kent)
LB – 5 (Jaquandre Allen, Abraham Freeman, Jake Jiannoni, Jack Lechman, Lee Spight)
DB – 4 (Mayori Ellison, Kijuan Lee, Brayleon Thorns, Jeff Williams II)
OL – 4 (Alfred Beverly, Jermaine Jones, Chris Phillips, Landon Rayburn)
WR – 3 (Julius Craft, Andrew Jones, Jacq'co Price)
ATH – 2 (Raekeal Beasley, Josh Cleveland)
TE – 2 (Mitchell Lee, Bransen Schwebel)
FB – 1 (Ezekiel Jenkins)
QB – 1 (Ian Brian)
RB – 1 (Lakedric Lee)


Where They're From:
Louisiana (10): Jaquandre Allen (New Iberia); Ian Brian (Baton Rouge); Ronald Cherry (Lake Charles); Andrew Jones (Amite); Aaron Kent (New Orleans); Kijuan Lee (Kentwood); Jacq'co Price (Crowley); Landon Rayburn (Kentwood); Bransen Schwebel (Amite); Jeff Williams II (Baton Rouge)
Mississippi (5): Josh Cleveland (McComb); Julius Craft (Mendenhall); Jermaine Jones (Greenwood); Lakedric Lee (McComb); Chris Phillips (Olive Branch)
Texas (5): Alfred Beverly (Beaumont); Greg Hardaway (San Antonio); Jack Lechman (Mansfield); Mitchell Lee (Orange); Braylean Thorns (Garland)
California (3): Chauncey Davis (Oakland), Mayori Ellison (Hayward); Jake Jiannoni (Palm Springs)
Alabama (1): Raekeal Beasley (Florence)
Florida (1): Marcus Flavors (Crestview)
Georgia (1): Abraham Freeman (Telfair)
Kansas (1): Lee Spight (Lexana)
Oklahoma (1): Ezekiel Jenkins (Edmond)


2016 Southeastern Louisiana Football Addition Capsules
Jaquandre Allen, 6-0, 220, LB, New Iberia, La., Westgate HS
Prepped at Westgate High School in New Iberia, Louisiana … Four-year starter at linebacker at WHS.
 
Raekeal Beasley, 5-7, 155, ATH, Florence, Ala., Moorpark College/Brooks HS
Totaled 1,095 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore at Moorpark College in California … In 2015, rushed for 672 yards on 128 carries and caught 44 passes for 423 yards … Standout performer at Brooks High School … Versatile player has the ability to play running back and wide receiver for the Lions … Signed in December.  
 
Alfred Beverly, 6-4, 330, OL, Beaumont, Texas, West Brook HS
Ranked a two-star recruit by Scout.com and Rivals.com … Prepped at West Brook High School … Listed among the top 40 recruits in Southeast Texas by Beaumont Enterprise.
 
Ian Brian, 6-1, 195, QB, Baton Rouge, La., Catholic HS
Quarterbacked Catholic High School in Baton Rouge to its first state championship as a senior … Passed for 2,077 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior … Also rushed for six touchdowns … Father, David, played for the Lions in 1960.
 
Ronald Cherry, 6-3, 275, DL, Lake Charles, La., Washington-Marion HS
Prepped at Washington-Marion High School … Two-star recruit by Rivals.com and 247sports.com … Finished with 89 tackles, 10 sacks and two forced fumbles over his final two high school seasons … Also plays power forward for the WMHS basketball team.
 
Josh Cleveland, 5-9, 185, ATH, Del Valle, Texas, Navarro College/Del Valle HS
2015 First Team All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference selection … Finished with 1,075 yards rushing and 14 total touchdowns as a sophomore … Speed earned him the nickname "Fire" in high school … Rushed for 1,048 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior at Del Valle High School … Junior college teammate of SLU midyear addition Brayleon Thorns … Has the ability to play running back and slot receiver for the Lions.
 
Julius Craft, 6-2, 185, WR, Mendenhall, Miss., Copiah-Lincoln CC/Mendenhall HS
Caught 27 passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns at Copiah-Lincoln Community College … Excelled at football and baseball at Mendenhall High School … Junior college teammate of fellow SLU midyear addition Lakedric Lee …Signed in December … Currently enrolled at Southeastern … Will participate in spring practice.
 
Chauncey Davis, 6-7, 250, DL, Oakland, Calif., Chabot College/San Leandro HS
Finished with 25 tackles and 4.5 sacks in his two seasons at Chabot College … Standout performer at San Leandro High School.
 
Mayori Ellison, 6-4, 180, DB, Hayward, Calif., Chabot College/Hayward HS
Earned first team All-California Region 1 honors as a sophomore at Chabot College … Finished with 35 tackles and six interceptions in 2015 … Played wide receiver and defensive back at Hayward High School.
 
Marcus Flavors, 6-1, 290, DL, Crestview, Fla., Crestview HS
Two-sport athlete at Crestview High School in Florida … Plays both defensive line and fullback for the CHS football team … Athletic big man also plays center for the school's basketball team.
 
Abraham Freeman, 6-2, 225, LB, Telfair, Ga., Iowa Western CC/Telfair County HS
Posted 34 tackles and 11.5 sacks as a sophomore at Iowa Western Community College … Earned first team All-Iowa Community College Athletic Conference honors in 2015 … Talented two-way player at Telfair County High School in Georgia … Was named the GHSA 2-A All-Region Player of the Year as a senior and also earned first team All-Region honors as a fullback.
 
Greg Hardaway, 6-1, 300, DL, San Antonio, Texas, Cisco College/Wagner HS
2015 SWJCFC All-Conference selection at Cisco College … Finished with 17 tackles, two sacks and seven tackles for loss as a sophomore … All-District 23-5A offensive lineman at Wagner High School in San Antonio as a senior.
 
Ezekiel Jenkins, 6-0, 215, FB, Edmond, Okla., Edmond Santa Fe HS
Standout performer at Edmond Santa Fe High School … Played linebacker at ESFHS, recording 37 tackles and four sacks … Expected to play fullback for the Lions … Shares a high school alma mater with SLU defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator Brandon Lacy.
 
Jake Jiannoni, 6-0, 220, LB, Palm Springs, Calif., Golden West College/La Quinta HS
Finished with 81 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and 1.5 sacks as a sophomore at Golden West College … Played both fullback and linebacker at La Quinta College.
 
Andrew Jones, 6-0, 170, WR, Amite, La., Amite HS
Standout performer at Amite High School … 4.0 student was an All-State Academic Scholar selection as a senior.
 
Jermaine Jones, 6-2, 345, OL, Greenwood, Miss., Northwest Mississippi CC/Leflore County HS
Started all 12 games at left guard for Northwest Mississippi Community College and helped his team to the 2015 NJCAA National Championship … First team MACJC All-State selection … Started six games at left guard as a freshman … Offensive line teammate of SLU December signee Chris Phillips ... Three-time All-Commonwealth and first team all-district performer at Leflore County High School.
 
Aaron Kent, 6-4, 270, DL, New Orleans, La., Edna Karr HS
Rated two-star recruit by Rivals.com and 247sports.com … Helped Edna Karr High School to an appearance in the Class 4A state championship game as a senior.
 
Jack Lechman, 6-1, 221, LB, Mansfield, Texas, Mansfield Lake Ridge HS
All-State selection as a senior at Mansfield Lake Ridge High School … Recorded 160 tackles (94 solo), five sacks and three fumble recoveries … Outstanding student was first team Academic All-State selection in 2015 …. Two-time All-District 14-5A honoree.
 
Kijuan Lee, 5-11, 190, DB, Kentwood, La., Jewel Sumner HS
Three-sport athlete at Jewel Sumner High School … Claimed honorable mention Class 3A All-State accolades as a senior … Named first team All-District each of his final two seasons … Also was a member of the Jewel Sumner basketball and track and field teams.
 
Lakedric Lee, 5-11, 210, RB, McComb, Miss., Copiah-Lincoln CC/North Pike HS
Named first team MACJC All-State as a sophomore … Rushed for 710 yards and eight touchdowns in 2015 despite missing final two games with a hand injury … Led CLCC with 1,081 total yards and 10 touchdowns … Finished his junior college career with 987 rushing yards (5.2 yards per carry) and 14 total touchdowns … Standout performer at North Pike High School … Junior college teammate of fellow SLU midyear addition Julius Craft … Signed in December … Currently enrolled at Southeastern … Will participate in spring practice.
 
Mitchell Lee, 6-4, 240, TE, Orange, Texas, Little Cypress-Mauriceville HS
Two-sport standout at Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School in Orange, Texas … Earned All-District honors as senior in football and is also an All-District first baseman on the school's baseball team.
 
Chris Phillips, 6-5, 350, OL, Olive Branch, Miss., Northwest Mississippi CC/Olive Branch HS
Started all 12 games on the offensive line for a Northwest Mississippi Community College team that won the NJCAA National Championship … Started eight games as a freshman … Highly recruited out of Olive Branch High School … Could play both tackle and guard for the Lions … Signed in December … Currently enrolled at Southeastern … Will participate in spring practice.
 
Jacq'co Price, 6-2, 175, WR, Crowley, La., Crowley HS
Rated a two-star recruit by Scout.com and three-star prospect by 247sports.com … Ranked No. 39 in the Nifty Fifty – the Times-Picayune's list of the top 50 recruits in the state of Louisiana …  Earned Class 4A All-State honors as a senior … Finished 2015 with 44 catches, 879 yards and four touchdowns … Named All-District 3-4A as a junior and senior … Caught 30 passes for 434 yards and four touchdowns while also returning a kickoff for a touchdown as a junior … Also a standout on the Crowley HS track and field team.
 
Landon Rayburn, 6-6, 330, OL, Kentwood, La., Jewel Sumner HS
Honorable mention Class 3A All-State offensive lineman as a senior at Jewel Sumner High School … Multi-time first team All-District selection.
 
Bransen Schwebel, 6-5, 230, TE, Amite, La., Oak Forest Academy
Helped Oak Forest Academy to a state championship as a junior … Participated in the MAIS All-Star Football Game … Also plays basketball and baseball at OFA … Named to the MAIS Fab 15.
 
Lee Spight, 6-0, 245, LB, Lexana, Kan., Hutchinson CC/Shawnee Mission West HS
Led Hutchinson Community College and ranked ninth in the conference with 7.5 sacks as a sophomore … Also recorded 43 tackles in 2015 … Credited with 16 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks as a freshman at Hutchinson CC … Named first team All-Sunflower League as a senior at Shawnee Mission West High School … Also earned All-Sunflower League honors in the discus for the SMWHS track and field team … Signed in December … Played defensive end in junior college and high school, but projects as linebacker for the Lions … Currently enrolled at Southeastern … Will participate in spring practice.
 
Brayleon Thorns, 5-11, 185, DB, Garland, Texas, Navarro College/South Garland HS
Honorable mention All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference selection at Navarro College … Recorded 88 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two interceptions and eight pass breakups as a sophomore … All-District performer at South Garland High School … Signed in December … Currently enrolled at Southeastern … Will participate in spring practice.
 
Jeff Williams II, 6-0, 200, DB, Baton Rouge, La., Sierra College/St. Amant HS
Posted 57 tackles, two tackles for loss, one interception and seven pass breakups as a sophomore at Sierra College … Recorded 54 tackles and two pass breakups as a freshman … Prepped at St. Amant High School … Junior college teammate of current Lion defensive back Javon Tillman … Expected to play safety for the Lions … Signed in December … Currently enrolled at Southeastern … Will participate in spring practice.