BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University signed five high school standouts to National Letters of Intent Wednesday afternoon announced head football coach Blane Morgan. With the five additions, the Cardinals' most recent signing class stands at 30 players – all incoming freshmen.
 
A historic first for Morgan and LU, as Morgan – who was hired in December 2019 – has just finished up his second official recruiting class without having coached a game for the Cardinals, due to the COVID pandemic which forced the 2020 football season to the spring semester.
 
"This is an extremely balanced class with an emphasis on the guys up front," said Morgan. "We had a very strategic plan from the very beginning, and I thought we were very thorough in how we followed that plan. Our recruiting coordinator is a very detailed coach. The questions that we ask kids, and the detail that we go into when we recruit young men is a very involved process. Our staff has worked real hard evaluating thousands of prospects to find the right fits for this program. They've done a great job. It is a testament to our staff."
 
The most recent additions to the roster have a focus on defense. The position breakdown of the five newest players include three defensive linemen (two defensive ends and a tackle), a linebacker and a receiver.
 
The overall 2021 class remains pretty balanced with a slight edge to the defensive side of the ball. The entire class consists of 16 players on defense, 14 offensive players and two specialists (with two players currently listed as possibilities on the both sides of the ball).
 
The position breakdown on defense includes six defensive linemen, six defensive backs (four corner backs and two safeties) and four linebackers. The offensive side of the ball includes five offensive linemen, four wide receivers, three quarterbacks and two running backs. The Cardinals' staff also added two kickers/punters.
 
Big Red was able to stay fairly close to home to lockup in the incoming crop of talent, with all 30 signees coming from Texas (22) – including one Southeast Texan (Ayden Bell – Silsbee, Texas) and Louisiana (8).
 
"In my opinion, the hardest positions to recruit are the guys up front," said Morgan. "With the exception of the quarterback, it's where the game begins and ends. If you look at the guys we're bring in up front you're going to see some talented guys, with size, strength and a huge upside. In the middle, we've added some playmaking linebackers and running backs and on the outsides we've added some skill at defensive back and receiver."
 
The Cardinals officially kick off their 2021 spring season Saturday, Feb. 20^th, when they host Northwestern State. The game against the Demons will kick off at 3 p.m. from Provost Umphrey Stadium.
    Caleb Arnold – OLB – 6-1 – 185 – Texarkana, Texas/Texas HS
High School: Two-year starter … Received first-team all-district honors as a senior … A second-team all-district selection in 2019 … Guided Texarkana to a perfect 11-0 season and a district title with a 7-0 mark … Recorded 89 total tackles during his career, with 56 solo stops … Also picked off seven passes and recorded three tackles for losses … Credited with 15 pass breakups … As a junior, Arnold picked off five passes and returned one for a touchdown … An all-district performer on the basketball court as well … Academic All-District … Also received attention for Texas Southern.
 
Treviance Bronson – DT – 6-3 – 290 – Katy, Texas/Taylor HS
High School: A 2020 first-team all-district selection … In 26 career games on varsity, he recorded 116 total tackles, including 47 solo stops … Had eight tackles for losses and five sacks … Recorded 43 tackles, including four for losses and 1.5 sacks during his junior season … Was also credited with two pass breakups and a forced fumble … Followed that up with a 73-tackle season (37 solo and 36 assisted) as senior … Recorded eight tackles, including three sacks in a game against Cinco Ranch during his senior season … Guided Taylor HS to a state semifinal appearance as a junior where he recorded 15 tackles in the game … Also received attention from New Mexico State, Texas Southern, Houston Baptist and UIW.
 
Breylon Charles – DE – 6-5 – 250 – New Orleans, La./Destrehan HS
High School: A three-star athlete according to 247Sports.com … Ranked as the No. 77 defensive end nationally and the 49^th overall rated prospect according to 247Sports.com … Guided Destrehan to an 11-1 (.916) overall record and a 7-0 mark in district as a senior … Received offers from Purdue, UAB, Houston Baptist and Arkansas-Pine Bluff … Also received attention from Louisiana Tech, Tulane, Mississippi State, McNeese and South Alabama … Also lettered in basketball.
 
Canden Grogan – WR – 6-3 – 165 – Mont Belvieu, Texas/Barbers Hill HS
High School: A two-time All-District 12-5A selection … A 2020 first-team all-district selection as a senior … Garnered honorable mention all-district honors following his junior season after recording 451 receiving yards … Also a standout sprinter on the Barbers Hill track and field team.
 
Damashja Harris – RB – 6-2 – 200 – Killeen, Texas/Ellison HS
High School: Carried the ball 195 times for 1,459 rushing yards as a senior (7.5 ypr) … Averaged better than 104 rushing yards per game during his career, and nearly 110 yards per game as a senior … Also recorded 12 rushing touchdowns (13 Total TDs) … Garnered second-team all-district honors as a junior … A two-year starter who helped guide Ellison to a city championship as a sophomore … Clocked a time of 4.42 in the 40 … Competed at the 2017 Michael Vick V7 Camp … Also lettered in track and field and basketball.
 
Keshaun Lazard – WR – 6-0 – 175 – Opelousas, La./Northwest HS
High School: A first-team all-district and all-parish in football … Also earned first-team all-area honors … Guided Northwest HS to conference, section and regional championship … Hauled in 37 catches with 11 touchdowns during his final two seasons … Earned all-state honors on the basketball court … Also a standout in track and field … Received attention from Virginia, Utah State and McNeese.
 
Jaymond Jackson – DE – 6-3 – 212 – Lindale, Texas/Lindale HS
High School: A three-star prospect according to 247Sports.com … A top 200 recruit in the state of Texas, and considered the No. 64 outside linebacker by 247Sports.com … Rated as a top 250 recruit in the region by ESPN … Considered a two-star prospect by Rivals.com … A 2020 first-team all-district selection … Recorded 59 tackles, 10.5 sacks, seven tackles for losses, broke up seven passes forced three fumbles and intercepted a pass as a senior ... Also hauled in nine passes for 135 yards and five scores on the offensive side of the ball … Guided Lindale to the Class 4A Division I championship game … Also received offers from Arkansas, SMU, Southern Miss and UL Monroe.
 
Tonga Lolohea – DE – 6-5 – 240 – Euless, Texas/Trinity HS
High School: A three-star prospect according 247Sports.com … A top 200 recruit in the state of Texas, he is considered the No. 79 strong side defensive end in the Lone Star State … Two-time all-district selection … Closed out his prep career by earning first-team all-district honors … Recorded 60 tackles, including 11 for losses and six sacks as a junior … Tacked on 22 total tackles, including 12 solo stops as a senior … Two of his tackles went for losses including one sack …Guided Euless Trinity to a 2020 6A Division I Bi-District title … A 2019 second-team all-district selection … Also received interest from Florida International, UNLV, Houston Baptist, UIW and Liberty.
 
Adrian Owens – LB – 6-2 – 220 – Houston, Texas/Langham Creek HS
High School: Unanimous first-team all-district 16-6A linebacker … Recorded 109 total tackles … Was also credited with 8.5 tackles for losses and three forced fumbles and recovered another … Picked off two passes and broke up four others …  Considered a 6A Region II Under the Radar Prospect by PrepRedzone.com … Considered an Underrated Prospect according to TheOldCoach.com … Also received interest from Arkansas Tech, Arkansas-Monticello and Southern Arkansas.
  
Daelyn Williams – QB – 5-10 – 160 – Houston, Texas/Dekaney HS
High School: A two-star dual-threat quarterback according to Rivals.com … Named 2019 District MVP … Named MaxPreps Player of the Game 13 times during his prep career … Played in 30 games completing 308-of-531 passes (.580) for 4,320 yards and 49 touchdowns … Also carried the ball 209 times for 1098 yards (5.3 ypr) and 18 touchdowns … Recorded four 100-yard rushing performances … Entered his senior season as the VYPE Preseason Offensive MVP … Also a standout guard on the basketball court and on the Dekaney track and field team … Also received offers from Air Force, Army, Navy and Texas Southern.