BEAUMONT, Texas – An entire offseason has come and gone since Lamar made its run to the NCAA FCS Playoffs, and with players having officially reported for preseason camp, it's time for the 2026 version of the Cardinals to write their own chapter. It also means LamarCardinals.com will once again be posting its annual position-by-position breakdown leading up to the team's season opener Saturday, Aug. 29 at home against Abilene Christian.
 
Today LamarCardinals.com will break down LU's wide receivers.
 
QB Quick Facts:
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 3/6*
Starters Returning/Lost: 1/2*
Newcomers: 7
*These numbers could change in a very positive way for Lamar following the pending outcome of an NCAA appeal regarding class of 2022 freshmen.
 
Stats: Lamar's wideouts hauled in 116 passes last season for 1,452 (12.5 ypr) yards and 11 touchdowns.
 
Key Player: Blake Thomas is the team's top returning receiver. A sophomore with big-play capabilities, he hauled in 15 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns a season ago. He recorded a team-long 85-yard touchdown reception in the team's victory over Nicholls. In the team's most recent scrimmage, he accounted for three touchdowns – one rushing, one passing and one receiving.
 
The Storyline
Lamar lost its top two receivers from last season's playoff team – both in terms of receptions and yards – but again, this number could change following the pending outcome of an NCAA appeal. For the sake of this article, we will focus on the squad prior to that outcome.
 
The Cardinals' receivers are headlined by three returning letterwinners – Thomas (5-11, 192, So.). Jadyn Girard (6-0, 190, Sr.) and Brit Simmons (5-10, 180, So.). This trio alone consists of 27 games played and seven starts. Thomas proved he has big-play potential with multiple receptions of at least 30 yards while both Girard and Simmons saw time on special teams as return men.
 
Thomas led this group with 32 catches for 279 yards and three scores, while Girard made 17 grabs for 182 yards and a touchdown. Simmons hauled in four passes for 58 yards in limited action. In addition to the three returning letterwinners, LU also brings back two players who redshirted the 2025 campaign – Cam Patterson (5-10, 192, Fr.) and Bisi Billo (5-10, 173, Fr.)
 
The coaching staff also added seven newcomers to the receiver room, a group that includes three transfers. The newcomers include Devan Williams (6-1, 188, Sr., Houston), Jet Thompson (5-11, 175, UTEP) and Malachi Casey (6-1, 212, Sierra College), Torrey Paul (5-8, 155, Fr.), Holden Miller (6-1, 170, Fr.), Abraham Munguia (5-7, 170, Fr.) and Aaron Brooks (5-9, 155, Fr.).
 
Prior to his time at Houston, Williams also spent two seasons at Tulsa. He brings with him experience that equals 21 games played and eight starts at the FBS level totaling 40 receptions for 526 yards (13.2 ypr) and three scores. It is a similar situation for Thompson who transferred to UTEP from Georgia Southern and has played in 39 games. Thompson brings speed to the position room because there is no way the nickname "Jet" sticks with you into college if your clocking times similar to that of a turtle.
 
A native of Anchorage, Alaska (not often Lamar athletics has been able to boast of that), Casey brings good size to the position. A standout at Sierra College, Casey made 21 starts during his career and hauled in 39 catches for 569 yards and five touchdowns last season. Those numbers would have pushed for all-conference honors in the Southland last year.