BEAUMONT, Texas – Collegiate football teams across the country have been opening preseason camp this week, and the Lamar University Cardinals joined that number Thursday evening stepping on the field at Provost Umphrey Stadium for their very first workout. Big Red returns 44 letterwinners from last season – a number that includes preseason All-Americans Bret Treadway and Kade Harrington – to go along with a signing class that ranked fourth nationally at the FCS level this past February.
 
Fans of the Red and White have more reasons to smile than just the return of the reigning Southland Player of the Year, as senior quarterback Carson Earp is also back for his final season in a Cardinals' uniform. After a 2015 campaign that saw him locked in a battle for the starting job only to suffer an injury in the fourth game of the year, Earp is back showing no ill effects from that injury. He looked so impressive during spring camp that he was awarded the starting job by head coach Ray Woodard following annual Crawfish Bowl.
 
In addition to the excitement surrounding the start of a new season, the Cardinals also strengthened their roster Thursday by adding a transfer from New Mexico State. Texas City, Texas native, Andrew Allen, has joined the Cardinals roster. A 6-foot, 200-pound product will provide LU with another dual threat option at quarterback.
 
Cardinal fans need to look no further than 2015 to know there is no such thing as too much depth at quarterback, as LU's top three signal callers lost significant portions of the season to injury. Allen will have two years of eligibility with the Cardinals after starting eight of the 17 games he played in with the Aggies.
 
Allen has the ability to hurt defenses with his arm and his feet. He amassed nearly 1,700 yards passing and 16 touchdowns during his two seasons, while rushing for 352 yards during that stretch.
 
A highly recruited prospect from Texas City High School, Allen passed for more than 4,300 yards and 45 touchdowns during his career, while rushing for nearly 700 yards. Allen was a unanimous first-team all-district selection after guiding Texas City to a 25-10 record as a starter, including a near perfect 12-1 mark during the 2013 season.
 
The Cardinals will be back on the field Friday evening with their second workout of fall camp. All practices will begin at 7 p.m. and are open to the public.
 
-LU CARDINALS-