In Depth Look At The McNeese Football Early Signings

LAKE CHARLES, LA - McNeese third-year head coach Gary Goff announced the Cowboys' 2024 early period signing class on Wednesday, one that totals 19 players.

McNeese University

The list includes 15 transfers, six of those from FBS programs and one from the FCS, and four high school signees. Position breakdown includes five linebackers, four wide receivers, three offensive linemen that average 6-foot-4 and 320-pounds, three defensive linemen that average 6-foot-3.5 and 304-pounds, two quarterbacks, a defensive back and a punter.

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McNeese Football Head Coach Gary Goff Said:

I am very excited about this signing class. Our coaches and administration have worked extremely hard to bring in a class that would have an immediate impact on our program. This class not only brings in some exciting talent, but also players with on-field experience that is much-needed. We cannot wait to get to work with these young men in January, but recruiting is far from over. We will continue to recruit on a daily basis in order to make our roster as strong as possible for the upcoming fall season.

Sixteen of the signees will enroll in January will begin offseason workouts on time.

Joey Jinks Photography for TSM

2024 McNeese Football December Signing Class:

Jordan Allen | OLB | 6-5 | 220 | Clarksdale, Miss. | Clarksdale HS | East Mississippi CC
Landon Barrett | LB | 6-0 | 183 | Tallahassee, Fla. | FAMU DRS | Coffeyville College
Cody Brackeen | OL | 6-3 | 309 | Springtown, Texas | Springtown HS | SW Baptist University
William Bressi | OL | 6-6 | 340 | Forney, Texas | North Forney HS | SW Baptist University
Jesse Campbell | WR | 6-1 | 178 | Chula Vista, Calif. | Mater Dei HS | So. Utah | Riverside CC
Tyrique Carter | WR | 5-9 | 175 | Hillsboro, Texas | Huntsville HS | Lamar | Snow JC
Curtis Deville | WR | 6-2 | 212 | Kinder, La. | Iowa HS | Purdue
Tristan Driggers | LB | 6-1 | 202 | Hallsville, Texas | Hallsville HS | Kilgore JC | ULM
Alex Flores | QB | 6-2 | 192| La Mirada, Calif. | La Mirada HS | Mt. San Antonio College
Connor Knight | DL | 6-3 | 298 | Trussville, Ala. | Hewitt-Trussville | UAB
Thomas Lane | DL | 6-6 | 340 | Forney, Texas | North Forney HS | Butte College | Marshall
Jackson LaTour | QB | 6-2 | 190 | Oviedo, Fla. | Oviedo HS
Finn Lappin | Punter | 5-11 | 178 | Melbourne, Australia | University of Melbourne
Yusef Leak | DB | 6-0 | 183 | Orlando, Fla. | Master’s Academy | Univ. of St. Thomas (MN)
Sandy Lewis | LB | 6-2 | 240 | Breaux Bridge, La. | Lafayette Christian Academy
Sam Liu | OL | 6-3 | 318 | Dallas, Texas by way of New Zealand | Parish Episcopal HS
Matthew McCallister | WR | 6-0 | 189 | West Monroe, La. | West Monroe HS | La. Tech
Marques White | LB | 6-2 | 232 | Glendale, Ariz. | Brophy Prep HS | Dartmouth
Myles Winslow | DL | 6-3 | 275 | Orlando, Fla. | Tohopekaliga HS | Georgia Southern

Jordan Allen | OLB | 6-5 | 220 | Clarksdale, Miss. | Clarksdale HS | East Mississippi CC

• Played for two seasons at East Mississippi Community College under head coach Buddy Stephens.

• Helped lead team to a 10-3 record a conference championship, and to the NJCAA national championship game where it fell to Iowa Western Community College.

• Recorded a sack and 1.5 tackles for a loss in six games played in 2023.

• As a senior at Clarksdale HS, selected to play for the North Team in the 2021 Bernard Blackwell All-Star Game which is put on by the Mississippi Association of Coaches.

Landon Barrett | LB | 6-0 | 183 | Tallahassee, Fla. | FAMU DRS | Coffeyville College

• In two seasons at Coffeyville, picked off six passes, broke up eight, recorded 49 tackles with 1.5 sacks and six tackles for a loss.

• In high school, named the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Defensive Player of the Year following his senior season at Florida A&M Univ. Developmental Research School where he recorded 110 tackles, 22 tackles for a loss, forced four fumbles recovering two and had an interception returned for a touchdown.

• Swapped jerseys a couple of times in the season to play on the offensive line when the OL was depleted with injuries.

Cody Brackeen | OL | 6-3 | 309 | Springtown, Texas | Springtown HS | SW Baptist University

• Played two years at Southwest Baptist University where he earned All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors his sophomore season.

• Team captain as a sophomore.

• Offense averaged 27 points per game and scored 30 or more four times and 60 or more twice.

• 3.3 grade point average.

• SW Baptist is a member of the NCAA Division II ranks.

William Bressi | OL | 6-6 | 340 | Forney, Texas | North Forney HS | SW Baptist University

• First Team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference as a sophomore in 2023.

• Rated as the No. 2 transfer offensive lineman in the D2 ranks by AthlLinkd.

• Chose McNeese over Lamar and Texas A&M-Commerce as his top three choices.

• Also offered by Western Illinois, Bryant, Houston Christian, SEMO, Eastern Kentucky, Lindenwood and Austin Peay, among others.

• Played two years at Southwest Baptist University, an NCAA Division II school.

• Earned 2nd Team All-GLVC honors as a freshman.

• North Forney HS Offensive MVP and MVP Falcon Foundation Award recipient.

• Texas All-State Academic NFHS Football as a senior.

• 2nd Team District 8-5A All-District.

• Pulled in 38 passes for 601 yards and nine touchdowns for Riverside CC in 2023, helping guide his team to a 12-1 record and California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) State Championship.

• Opened the season with a 120-yard receiving game on five catches in a win at Long Beach.

• Signed with Southern Utah out of high school and competed in five games in 2021.

• First team all-conference in high school.

• Led the conference in receiving yards and touchdowns.

• Three-year starter on the varsity squad.

• San Diego Union Tribune Academic Honoree with a 3.5 GPA.

• At Snow Junior College in 2023, caught 26 passes for 351 yards and three touchdowns.

• Averaged 13.5 yards per catch and best game came against Lackawanna College with 7 catches for 79 yards in a big 50-21 win over the 15th-ranked team.

• Helped team to a 9-3 record on the season and an appearance in the Game One Bowl.

• Signed with Lamar out of high school and played two seasons and nine total games with the Cardinals, making two catches and returning a kick.

• All-State honors as an all-purpose back and first team all-district as a wide receiver at Huntsville HS.

• During his senior season, recorded 40 catches for 564 yards (14.1 ypc) and eight touchdowns.

• Ended his career with 92 catches, 1,074 receiving yards and 17 total touchdown catches.

• Also completed 25 of 50 passes for 335 yards and seven TDs while carrying the ball 147 times for 705 yards (4.8 ypc) and 16 rushing TDs in his career.

Curtis Deville | WR | 6-2 | 212 | Kinder, La. | Iowa HS | Purdue

• Deville returns to Southwest Louisiana after spending the last two seasons at Purdue.

• Took a redshirt his freshman year in 2022

• Consensus 3-start WR at Iowa HS.

• Ranked as the No. 20 prospect in the state of Louisiana according to Rivals.

• Also competed in track & field and played basketball.

• Third in the high jump at the 2021 Louisiana Class 3A State Track & Field meet and ran the second leg of the Iowa HS 4x100-meter relay team.

• Coming out of HS, received seven total offers and committed to Purdue over Florida State and Louisville, among others.

• He was Iowa High School’s first-ever football player to sign with a Power 5 school

• As a senior at Iowa, helped the team to a 10-2 record and an appearance in the Class 3A regional round of the playoffs.

• Recorded 2,186 all-purpose yards that season adding in 944 yards rushing on 59 carries and made 34 catches for 763 yards.

• Averaged more than 20 yards every time he touched the ball and had more than a dozen plays that went for 40 yards or more.

• Scored 23 touchdowns his senior season, touching the endzone at least once every game, and scored 14 two-point conversions.

• 1st Team Louisiana Class 3A All-State… 1st Team All-District.

Tristan Driggers | LB | 6-1 | 202 | Hallsville, Texas | Hallsville HS | Kilgore JC | ULM

• Transfer from ULM where he played two seasons and recorded 83 tackles with 2.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for a loss.

• At Kilgore JC, ranked among the nation’s Top 10 JUCO safeties, according to ESPN (No. 8).

• Two-year starter (spring 2021 and fall 2021) for Coach Willie Gooden at Kilgore (Texas) College

• Two-time All-Southwestern Junior College Football Conference honorable mention.

• Started 10 games in 2021; led the Rangers in tackles for loss (13 for 33 yards) and pass break-ups (6).

• Ranked among the SWJCFC Top 10 in both tackles for loss and pass break-ups (tied for eighth in both categories).

• Finished fifth on the team with 44 tackles (37 solos, 7 assists).

• Helped lead the Rangers to a 7-1 record during the COVID-abbreviated eight-game schedule in the spring of 2021.

• Ranked second on the team in tackles for loss (5 for 11 yards) and third in total tackles with 47 (32 solos, 15 assists); also credited with three pass break-ups.

• His two-year JC totals included 91 total tackles, including 18 for losses, nine pass break-ups and one interception.

• Redshirted in 2019.

• Three-year starter at multiple positions for Hallsville (Texas High School) where he played one season for Coach David Plunk and his last two years for Coach Joe Drennon.

• Named Texas Sports Writers Association Class 5A All-State Football Team at multiple positions as a senior in 2018: first-team punt returner and second-team running back as well as honorable mention defensive back, kick and punter.

• Selected to The Associated Press Sports Editors Class 5A All-State Second-Team defense as a senior in 2018.

• Earned All-East Texas First-Team honors after averaging 43.0 yards on 22 punts as a senior.

• Garnered All-District 9-5A Division II First-Team honors as a punt returner in 2018.

Alex Flores | QB | 6-2 | 192| La Mirada, Calif. | La Mirada HS | Mt. San Antonio College

• Threw for 1,844 yards on 162 of 239 passes (67.8%) along with 22 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions in 2023.

• Led team to an undefeated 10-0 record and a National Central Conference championship.

• Threw for 290 yards and two TDs while completing 27 of 36 passes (75%) in a 65-24 win over Ventura.

• Led the offense to seven games where scoring 40 or more and three times scoring 60 or more.

• Team led the California Community College Athletic Association in scoring offense with a 46.5 average… entire conference includes 10 different sub-conferences, including the NCC which Mt. SAC is included, and a total of 67 teams.

Connor Knight | DL | 6-3 | 298 | Trussville, Ala. | Hewitt-Trussville | UAB

• 3-star recruit by 247 sports.

• Took a redshirt in 2023 at UAB so has four years of eligibility remaining.

• Chose UAB out of high school over offers from teams such as Kentucky, Miami, South Carolina, Missouri, Arkansas, Oregon State, Notre Dame and Florida State, among others.

• Committed and offered by Marshall University last May but did sign.

• Played the last two seasons at Butte College.

• Started all 11 games his sophomore season, recording 35 tackles, two sacks, and a team-high three forced fumbles.

Jackson LaTour | QB | 6-2 | 190 | Oviedo, Fla. | Oviedo HS

• 3-Star QB by QB Hit List who describes him as a pure pocket passer with good vision downfield, very accurate with throws made with consistency and sound mechanics, high velocity throws, has a solid vertical passing game with deep passes over coverage, can move around with good speed and footwork, can get to the outside with balanced stride and quickness… working out of a spread formation allows him to read the defense prior to snap… shows good touch on deep passes with efficient delivery and has a tight trajectory on longer passes.

• Set several Oviedo HS season passing records in 2023, including passing yards (2,805) and touchdown passes (36), also added four rushing TDs for a total of 40 in the season… threw only two interceptions and completed 65% of his passes.

• Oviedo HS career record holder with 62 TD passes.

• Broke school records previously held by former NFL quarterback Blake Bortles.

• Named MVP of the Seminole Country Cure All-Star game played on Dec. 15.

• Helped guide his team to an 8-3 record and a district championship.

• 1st Team All-Seminole Athletic Conference honors.

(Bio information coming)

Yusef Leak | DB | 6-0 | 183 | Orlando, Fla. | Master’s Academy | Univ. of St. Thomas (MN)

• Started all 11 games for St. Thomas this past season, recording 47 total tackles with an interception, 10 pass break-ups, fumble recovery and half a tackle for a loss.

• Helped St. Thomas to an 8-3 record including a 7-1 record in the Pioneer League, its third season as a Division I school.

• Earned All-PFL honors in 2022 after collecting 68 tackles with three interceptions as his team won the PFL championship but was ineligible for postseason play due to the D1 transition.

• Intercepted seven passes in his career at St. Thomas.

• In high school, helped Master’s Academy to three Florida State championships.

• Earned first team all-district play on both offense and defense.

• School record holder in interceptions.

• Part of a 4x400m relay Florida State championship team and the Master’s Academy school record in the 4x400 relay.

Sandy Lewis | LB | 6-2 | 240 | Oviedo, Fla. | Lafayette Christian Academy

• 3-Star linebacker who chose McNeese over several SEC schools such as Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas A&M, as well as an in-state offer from Tulane.

• The younger brother of Cowboy defensive lineman Masey Lewis.

• Helped guide LCA to three straight LHSAA Division II Select Football championship games played in the Caesar’s Superdome.

• As a senior, recorded 41 tackles with four sacks and 11 quarterback hurries.

• Four tackles and a sack against St. Thomas More in the state championship game.

• Earned All-District honors.

Sam Liu | OL | 6-3 | 318 | Dallas, Texas by way of New Zealand | Parish Episcopal HS

• 3-Star OL by 247 Sports who moved to the Dallas area six years ago from his native country of New Zealand.

• Rated as the No. 7 player in the state of Texas by TX Private School Football.

• Helped lead his team to two TAPPS 6A state championships.

• Anchored an offensive line that guided team to 450 total offensive yards 45 points per game.

• Two-time 1st Team All-State and two-time 1st Team All-District.

• Originally committed to ULM before flipping to McNeese.

• Also offered by Marshall, SMU, Tulsa, Sam Houston State and Arkansas State.

Matthew McCallister | WR | 6-0 | 189 | West Monroe, La. | West Monroe HS | La. Tech

• Transfer from Louisiana Tech where he signed out of high school in 2021 from West Monroe.

• Appeared in seven games in 2023, primarily on special teams; recorded two catches for 27 yards.

• Played in seven games as a redshirt freshman in 2022, mostly on special teams.

• Redshirt in 2021.

• At West Monroe HS, earned all-district, all-state and all NELA honors.

• Competed in football, baseball, track, soccer and basketball.

Marques White | LB | 6-2 | 232 | Glendale, Ariz. | Brophy Prep HS | Dartmouth

• Graduate transfer from Dartmouth where he earned All-Ivy League honors in his four playing years.

• Recorded 58 total tackles with 9.5 sacks and 15 tackles for a loss.

• Earned All-Ivy League honors his junior year where he finished with 40 tackles, five sacks and 9.5 tackles for a loss.

• In high school, played for former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna at Brophy.

• Ran for 464 yards and caught 15 passes playing primarily at running back as a senior.

• Finished career with 167 tackles (117 solo) and seven interceptions along with five forced fumbles despite a meniscus injury in the second game of his senior season.

• Listed sixth among Arizona’s top 10 safeties.

Myles Winslow | DL | 6-3 | 275 | Orlando, Fla. | Tohopekaliga HS | Georgia Southern

• Transfer from Georgia Southern were he signed out of high school but did not see any action last season due to an injury early in the fall.

• In high school as a senior, ranked the No. 106 weakside defensive end in the country by 247Sports Composite Rankings.

• Rated as the No. 172 defensive end in the country by ESPN.com.

• Named MVP for NUC All-American Game in 2019.

• A second-team all-state selection as a junior.

• Ranked in the Central Florida Super 60.

• Tallied 105 tackles in his career.

• Had 26 tackles, including 9.0 for loss and 4.0 sacks, along with 13 hurries as a senior.

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