Feb. 1, 2006

McNeese State added a group of 20 football signees Wednesday, athletes who head football coach Tommy Tate said possessed speed, toughness, size, range and a lot of athleticism.

"This was a very important day for our football program," he said. "We signed 10 offensive players and 10 defensive players.

"It's a good class with speed and toughness and we're very excited about this class. I want to commend our coaching staff because they put in a lot of hard work."

Tate went on to add that three players - linebacker Kenton Alleyne, defensive back John Vigers and defensive back Ray Bartholomew - have rejoined the team after missing last season.

He also added that spring football drills for the Cowboys will begin on March 14.

McNeese State football signees

Damion Aultman DL 6-3, 175 Geismar, LA (Dutchtown High)

Corday Clark WR 6-3, 210 Baton Rouge, LA (Glen Oaks High)

Avery Curry FB 6-0, 245` Galveston, TX (Ball High)

Hunter Davis DE 6-3, 230 Groves, TX (Port Neches-Groves High)

Kirt Duhon TB 5-10, 190 Lake Charles, LA (Washington-Marion)

Josh Ellison DE 6-3, 220 Houston, TX (Westfield High)

Wilfred Franklin LB/DE 6-5, 235 Baton Rouge, LA (Istrouma High)

Seth Harley TE 6-4, 230 Orange, TX (Little Cypress-Mauriceville)

Bernardo Henry WR 5-11, 180 Leesville, LA (Leesville High)

Byron Landor DB 6-1, 190 Lake Charles, LA (Washington-Marion)

Frank Larry LB 6-2, 200 Leesville, LA (Leesville High)

John LeDay Athlete/WR 6-4, 210 Opelousas, LA (Opelousas High)

Wes Mangan TE/WR 6-3, 220 Brenham, TX (Brenham High)

Deron Minor LB 6-1, 210 Beaumont, TX (Ozen High)

Jordan Page LB 6-3, 215 Baton Rouge, LA (Istrouma High)

Toddrick Pendland TB 5-10, 165 Newton, TX (Newton High)

Geremy Pilate LB/SS 6-1, 210 Crowley, LA (Crowley High)

Christopher Royal WR 6-2, 205 Beaumont, TX (Ozen High)

David Webster C/G 6-4, 300 Pearland, TX (Pearland High)

Brandon Zanders DL 6-2, 275 Baton Rouge, LA (Glen Oaks High)

PLAYER PROFILES

Damion Aultman, Dutchtown High (Geismar, LA)..DL, 6-3, 275..all-district, all-metro and all-parish...52 tackles, 15 assists and eight sacks in 2005...letterman in track (discus) and basketball?four year football letterman...parents are Alfred and Dana Aultman...projected major: Education

Corday Clark, Glen Oaks High (Baton Rouge, LA)..WR, 6-3, 210..all-district?caught 20 passes for 350 yards and nine tds in 2005..two letters in football...mother is Valerie and grandmother is Catherine...undecided on major

Avery Curry, Ball High (Gavleston, TX)..FB, 6-0, 245..all-district as both fullback and linebacker..all-county as fullback..three year letterman in football and power lifting...team MVP...mother is Debra Curry..undecided on major

Hunter Davis, Port Neches-Groves High (Groves, TX)..DE, 6-3, 230..all-district...named to Port Arthur News super team and Beaumont Enterprise Super Gold team...named to all-Houston area team..named southeast Texas defensive lineman of year...76 tackles, seven sacks, nine tackles for loss, five passes broken up and 20 QB hurries in 2005...136 tackles in career along with 12 sacks and 30 QB hurries...also track letterman...parents are Shaun and Tammy Davis..undecided on major

Kirt Duhon, Washington-Marion High (Lake Charles, LA)...Tailback, 5-10, 190...all-state, all-district, all-Southwest Louisiana...voted best running back and top area prospect...three year letter winner in football and track...parents are Debra and Kirt Duhon..undecided on major

Josh Ellison, Westfield High (Houston, TX)...Defensive End, 6-3, 220...first team all-district...played on state runnerup team in 2004 and semi-finalist team in 2005...33 tackles including four QB sacks I 2005...named to Who's Who among American high school students...parents are Gregory and Donna Ellison...will study Engineering

Wilfred Franklin, Istrouma High (Baton Rouge, LA)..Linebacker/Defensive End, 6-5, 235..all-state, all-metro and all-district..named district MVP..95 tackles, 12 sacks, nine tackles for loss in 2005..mother is Linda Franklin..undecided on major

Seth Harley, Little Cypress-Mauriceville High (Orange, TX)..TE, 6-4, 230..all-district tight end and punter..also all-district in basketball and soccer..34 catches for 415 yards and three tds in eight games as a senior...79 receptions for 1,140 yards and 10 tds in career..school record for tight end..team's leading scorer in basketball and named to all-Oange county team and to Pt. Arthur News dream team..power lifting letter winner..parents are Darin and Shelly Harley...undecided on major

Bernardo Henry, Leesville High (Leesville, LA)..WR, 5-11, 180..all-state, all-district, all-CENLA..district MVP and CENLA MVP..all-state performer in track..district and regional champion in 200 meters.21.1 in 200 meters and has run a 4.3 in 40 yard dash..parents are Mary and Johnny Henry..will be a business major

Byron Landor, Washington-Marion High (Lake Charles, LA)..Defensive back, 6-1, 190..all-district as both a wide receiver and a defensive back..24 solo tackles and three pass interceptions last year..also letter winner in basketball..undecided on major

Frank Larry, Leesville High (Leesville, LA)..Linebacker,6-2, 200..all-district two years running..was defensive MVP on all-district team in 2005..also twice named to all-CENLA team..also basketball letterman...and all-district in basketball..parents are Frank and Tammy Ford..undecided on major

John Leday, Opelousas High (Opelousas, LA)..Athlete / Wide Receiver..6-2, 199...all-district and all-parish..caught 28 passes for 310 yards..scored total of 15 tds..also played quarterback and completed 41 of 106 passes for 532 yards..rushed for 490 yards on 135 carries...basketball letterman (center)...father is John Leday Sr..undecided on major

Wes Mangan, Brenham High (Brenham, TX) .. Tight End / Wide Receiver..6-3, 220..all-district, all-Brazos Valley as wide receiver...caught 31 passes for 492 yards and five tds last year..nine catches for 102 yards and a td in 2004..also baseball letterman as outfielder and first baseman..all-district and all-Brazos Valley in baseball..in 2004 in baseball batted .320 with seve homers and 28 RBIs and in 2005 batted .280 with two homers and 16 RBIs...named to academic all-district team in both sports..honor roll student..parents are Walt and Brandy Mangan and Kyle and Shelley Duge...will major in education or general studies

Deron Minor, Ozen High (Beaumont, TX)..LB, 6-1, 210..all-district, all-area, named to Port Arthur News Super Team and to the Beaumont Enterprise Super Gold team..last year had 98 solo tackles, seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss..275 tackles in career along with 17 sacks and 21 tackles for loss..also played defensive end, fullback and tight end in career..all-district in baseball as centerfielder and first baseman...parents are the Rev. and Mrs. Durward L. Minor I

Jordan Page, Istrouma High (Baton Rouge, LA)..LB, 6-3, 215..all-district..78 tackles including six sacks and eight tackles for loss in 2005..also played at Carver High in New Orleans before having to evacuate due to Hurricane Katrina..parents are Jordan Page and Lynette Page..undecided on major

Toddrick Pendland, Newton High (Newton, TX)...Tailback..5-10, 165..all-state and all-district..district MVP..named Super Gold player of the year..ran for 1,180 yards as a senior, 2,300 as a junior and 890 as a sophomore...grandmother is Mary Taylor...undecided on major

Geremy Pilate, Crowley High (Crowley, LA)..Linebacker/Srong Safety..6-1, 210..all-district..37 tackles, 34 assists, three tackles for loss, five sacks, five passes broken up and three interceptions in 2005..also blocked a kick...caught 10 passes for 169 yards and two tds..returned nine kickoffs for 211 yards..also all-district in baseball and lettered in basketball...played at LaGrange High before moving to Crowley due to Hurricane Rita..parents are Greg and Janice Pilate...will major in plant technology

Christopher Royal, Ozen High (Beaumont, TX)...Wide Receiver, 6-2, 205..all-district..named to Beaumont Super Gold and Port Arthur Super Team..named all-Greater Houston team..caught 29 passes for 697 yards and eight tds last year..honor roll student....parents are Ella and Sanders Royal..will major in electrical engineering

David Webster, Pearland High (Pearland, TX)...Center/Guard, 6-4, 300..all-district..top grading offensive lineman on team..played on team that was 10-1 in 2005 and produced 4,026 total yards that included 3,175 rushing and 851 passing...named to Who's Who among high school students..was an Eagle Scout..parents are Mike and Jackie Webster..will major in Engineering

Brandon Zanders, Glen Oaks High (Baton Rouge, LA)..Defensive Line, 6-2, 275..all-district and pre-season all-Louisiana...50 tackles and 10 sacks in 2005..three year letterman as defensive lineman...will major in Mass Communications