BEAUMONT, Texas – For the past two seasons, the Lamar University football team has been recognized as having one of the more dominant passing attacks in the nation. Two years ago the Cardinals ended the year ranked 15^th nationally recording nearly 290 passing yards per game. Last season, LU led the conference and ranked seventh nationally (314.3 ypg) behind the accuracy of quarterback Caleb Berry and playmaking receivers like Mark Roberts and Reggie Begelton.
 
Big-time names at receiver is nothing new to fans of the Red and White, in fact, it got started along with the rebirth of the program. Following the 2011 season, Lamar's second year back, and first as a member of the Southland Conference, receiver J.J. Hayes was named to the All-Southland second team.
 
Just a few months later, Hayes' teammate, Marcus Jackson, signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons becoming the first LU player to sign with an NFL franchise since the program's resurrection. It has almost become an expectation of Lamar to produce some of the nation's top receivers.
 
Last season, that tradition was continued with All-America Mark Roberts. A West Orange native, Roberts returned to the Golden Triangle following a two-year stint at the University of Houston. In only two seasons, Roberts managed to rewrite the school record books. Even though Roberts has exhausted his eligibility, the Cardinals won't allow the opposing secondary to relax. Led by another native son from the Golden Triangle, LU should once again have one of the top passing offenses in the country.
 
Already the school's all-time leading receiver (170 receptions), former West Brook star Reggie Begelton enters another campaign with high expectations. A preseason first-team All-Southland selection, Begelton had recorded 149 receptions in the past two seasons and is on pace to become the school's all-time leader in receiving yards and touchdown catches.
 
"When you lose a player like Mark (Roberts) there is a fear that can set in among some people," said second-year receivers coach Arlington Nunn. "Thoughts of 'how will we replace this guy,' but what most people forget is he wasn't an All-American when he came here. Through hard work and using the ability he is blessed with Mark became one of the best receivers in the country. Now it's time for someone else to step up.
 
"Reggie has that type of ability. He is a dynamic player who brings so much to the huddle. The guy is a leader both on and off the field and is willing to do what it takes for this team to get better," added Nunn.
 
Following a sophomore campaign that saw Begelton lead the Southland with 82 receptions, he put up All-America type numbers last season hauling in 67 passes for 860 yards and six touchdowns.
 
For fans who might be concerned Begelton will be a one-man show, or for opposing defensive coordinators who are hoping that's the case – the exact opposite is true. The Cardinals return names like Gratian (Gee) Gladney, Jayce Nelson, Devonn Brown and Michael Handy while adding Georgia transfer Brendan Langley and Martell Hawthorne, who redshirted last season.  
 
"As a group, our receivers look real good this year," said Nunn. "This a deep, experienced squad that can do a lot of things on the field. Everyone knows about Reggie, but backing him up, Gee Gladney has the ability to be a starter for a lot of teams in our league. Devonn started for us last season and also proved his worth returning kicks. We've also added Brendan Langley who might just be one of the fastest guys in the conference. I believe he will be able to stretch the field for us offensively."
 
"This is one of the most experienced groups I've been around," added Begelton. "We may have lost a couple guys last year but we have a very deep team returning. I thought we had a very good spring, and that has transitioned into a good start this fall. Mark is gone, but the coaches brought in Brendan who is a burner on the outside. The coaching staff here has always done a good job of adding quality talent during the recruiting process."
 
Brown, Gladney and Nelson each have experience in the starting lineup during their careers. Brown hauled in 33 passes last season for nearly 400 yards and three touchdowns. He also proved his versatility on special teams averaging nearly 18 yards per kickoff return. A former Port Neches-Groves standout, Nelson hauled in 24 passes for more than 300 yards and six scores in 2014, while Gladney has 31 catches for nearly 400 yards and three touchdowns during his career.
 
Hawthorne adds some immediate size to the Cards' roster. Recruited out of Lake Charles, La., Hawthorne was a highly sought after target who redshirted last season. At 6-4, 200 pounds, Hawthorne creates matchup problems for opponents.
 
"Both Gee and Jayce are great football players in my eyes," said Nunn. "They haven't always been in the starting lineup but they give you everything they have. Those two are going to be huge assets to this squad.
 
"You can see Martell's confidence grow this year. He has become a more physical player. He is young but I believe he can have a real impact this season," added Nunn.
 
The LU tight ends are at the exact opposite end of the spectrum from the receivers in terms of experience – although it wasn't supposed to be that way. Following the end of the 2014 season, the Lamar coaching staff knew four-year letterman Payden McVey had exhausted his eligibility, but Dillon Barrett was returning for his senior year and was the presumed starter. Then following spring camp Barrett announced his intentions to transfer.
 
In addition to Barrett's sudden decision to leave, Coach Woodard also had to replace tight ends coach Brett Ramsey. If that wasn't enough adversity for one position group, one of the two returning tight ends – Brannon Beaton – got injured during the offseason.
 
Woodard tasked Jeff Breaux with the assignment coaching a very young group of tight ends. With the addition of a junior college transfer and the progress of some talented freshman excitement is beginning to grow for the LU tight ends.
 
"It was a unique situation to step into," said Breaux. "First we lose the guy we felt was going to be our starter, a senior. Then one of the two returning guys gets injured, but I don't think anyone on staff ever looked at this as a hopeless situation. We brought in a JC guy by the name of DeAndre Jennings and we've been real impressed with what we've seen from him. In addition, Tate (Smith) has done some really good things in camp so far. We've also got three true freshman competing hard so there is reason to be excited.
 
"If we had to play Bacone tomorrow, I think DeAndre would be our starter, but we've got a good battle going on for that second spot. There are several guys in the mix and it will be exciting to see how it all breaks down," added Breaux.
 
One obvious question that is on everyone's mind is who is going to get the ball in the hands of these weapons. That answer to that question, is not coming anytime soon. Similar to the tight ends, that is a battle that will take place throughout camp. No matter who wins the battle, Begelton believes the Cardinals are in good hands.
 
"I'm confident in either guy who wins the starting quarterback job," said Begelton at the SLC Football Media Day event in Lake Charles. "Both guys are really intelligent and understand the game. They both are very talented but each one brings something different to the huddle. I have complete confidence in both guys, I look forward to catching passes from whoever wins the battle."
 
Who is the next LU receiver to step out of the shadows and claim the spotlight? A local hero with high expectations, a returner who does more than what is expected, or will it be one of the fresh faces that not too many people know anything about. That question will be answered beginning Saturday, Sept. 5, when the Cardinals open the season against Bacone College.
 
-LU-