HAMMOND, La. – When the Southeastern Louisiana University football team takes the field for the 2025 season opener, the secondary will feature three players that SLU head coach Frank Scelfo and his staff were not sure they would have at their disposal when they walked off the field at Nicholls following the 2024 regular season finale.
 
The team's leading tackler from 2023, safety Ian Conerly-Goodly, returns to Hammond after spending the 2024 season at Troy. 2024 All-Southland Conference selection Khamron Ford, who plays the star position for the Lions, walked last year on Senior Day and thought his career was done after the 19-16 win over the Colonels last November.
 
However, the NCAA's ruling last December in reaction to the Diego Pavia lawsuit gave all student-athletes in a similar situation as Pavia, who started his collegiate career in junior college, a waiver for an extra year of eligibility. Ford, who played two seasons at Northwest Mississippi Community College, fit the same profile as Pavia.
 
"I was ecstatic," Ford commented. "I didn't feel like I did all I could last year. A lot of people gave me my flowers, but I never felt like it was enough. I'm blessed to be a part of this program and have another opportunity to showcase my skills."
 
His attitude heading into the season is shared throughout the secondary room.
 
"I've had a lot of people ask me what I think our record is going to be this year," Ford said. "We're just putting our energy towards game one. All our focus is on that first game and we'll take everything after that at as it comes."
 
Scelfo is excited to have the Olive Branch, Mississippi native back with Southeastern for the 2025 season.
 
"Khamron's a great athlete and performer on the field, but he's just as good of a person," Scelfo commented. "He's a leader for us and to be able to get him back is an awesome bonus for us."
 
One Lion who will be making his long-awaited Southeastern debut is safety Shakespeare Louis. In his first season in Hammond, the transfer from Robert Morris suffered a season-ending injury prior to the 2024 opener and had to rehab to get ready for the 2025 campaign.
 
"Everyday I feel grateful, because last year I was just sitting underneath the tent on the training table watching our team practice," Louis commented. "It was a challenge coming back from an injury, but if it was going to happen, I'm glad it happened here.
 
"Everyone around the program – my teammates, the coaching staff and athletic training staff – has been so great to me throughout the rehab process." Louis added. "I feel good and am blessed to be back."
 
When the Lions kick off next Saturday at Louisiana Tech, Louis will be playing in a football game for the first time in 651 days.
 
"The emotions will be running high," Louis said of his return to action. "I'm looking forward to feeling that adrenaline. There's nothing like a college football Saturday."
 
Conerly-Goodly, Ford and Louis are part of a deep secondary group that return veterans in Blayne Delahoussaye, Zack Vicknair, Carter Hanberry, Mike Mitchell, Tylon Cooper and Tyler Mansfield among others. Scelfo also touted newcomers Zach Johnson, Kamron Norwood, Jakyri Jones and Lennis Finister Jr. as players that have impressed in their first fall camp.
 
SLU opens the 2025 campaign Saturday with a 6:30 p.m. contest at Louisiana Tech. The Lions open their five-game home schedule Sept. 13, hosting Mississippi Valley State at 6 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium.
 
TICKETS
For ticket information, contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net. Southeastern will continue offering mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets. All tickets will be available via e-mail or text message in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Football, follow @LionUpFootball and @Coach_Scelfo on X, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and follow lionupfootball on Instagram.
 
TOUCHDOWN CLUB/S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the football program are encouraged to join the Touchdown Club. Lion football alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Touchdown Club and S Club (football) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern football program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics observes a clear bag policy for all ticketed events. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.