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Post by Cajundemon11 on Jan 22, 2018 16:44:43 GMT
This is the list of commitments I have personal knowledge of based on these individuals announcing on Twitter.
Curtis Williams RB 5'8" 175 Mesquite, TX West Mesquite HS
William Hooper DB 6'0" 180 Killeen, TX Shoemaker HS
Nathalohn Nanai DL 6'0" 250 Killeen, TX Shoemaker HS
Frederick Lee DB 6'2" 180 Rayville, LA Rayville HS
Aaron Howell ATH 6'2" 190 Natchitoches, LA St. Mary's HS
Brody Griffin TE 6'4" 265 New Iberia, LA New Mexico Military (JUCO)
Jarviar Wade DE 6'3" 230 Monroe, LA Richwood HS
Jalen Angelle LB 6'1" 210 Carencro, LA Carencro HS
Coby McGee WR 5'11" 180 Shreveport, LA Airline HS
Jordan Hester DB 6'1" 180 Shreveport, LA Woodlawn HS
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Post by seat16demon on Feb 9, 2018 13:02:58 GMT
While this class looks good on paper and the video screen, the energy and excitement coming out of the field house is more impressive. I am glad we have Coach Laird and the staff he has built. I feel like our coordinators have a steady, veteran presence with lots of energy.
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Post by Cajundemon11 on Feb 9, 2018 15:05:21 GMT
While this class looks good on paper and the video screen, the energy and excitement coming out of the field house is more impressive. I am glad we have Coach Laird and the staff he has built. I feel like our coordinators have a steady, veteran presence with lots of energy. I couldn’t agree more seat16. That’s what I’m excited about... |
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Post by NSU2003 on Feb 10, 2018 13:41:31 GMT
While this class looks good on paper and the video screen, the energy and excitement coming out of the field house is more impressive. I am glad we have Coach Laird and the staff he has built. I feel like our coordinators have a steady, veteran presence with lots of energy. I couldn’t agree more seat16. That’s what I’m excited about... The university, outside of athletics, has a lot of positive energy since Jim Henderson and now Chris Maggio have taken over with record enrollments... The way things have gone, overall, in the athletic dept the past couple years we DESPERATELY need something to get excited about. Track has been the lone bright spot lately and I didn't think I would EVER type those words! |
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Post by mccauley318 on Feb 11, 2018 13:22:02 GMT
Updated list: 25 total
NEWS
WEATHER
Speed easy to see as fans enjoy reveal of Demons' 2018 signing class
By: Tim Owens
Posted: Feb 07, 2018 10:14 PM CST
Updated: Feb 07, 2018 10:14 PM CST
NATCHITOCHES – When Northwestern State’s new football coaching staff took to social media as recruiting cranked up last month, they used the hashtag #SpeedDemons.
Wednesday at NSU’s National Signing Day Demon Quarterback Club Luncheon with about 200 supporters at the Friedman Student Union, it was obvious that emphasis paid dividends in a 25-man signing class, the first under new head coach Brad Laird.
“We see this group as 25 Strong,” said Laird. “You look at these 25, and see length, see speed and you see athleticism. We were able to do that across the board, offensively and defensively. We looked at needs for this football team as we began this process and we were able to answer those needs.”
Numerous highlight videos of receivers, running backs and defenders showed future Demons blazing past competitors downfield, or swiftly closing on ballcarriers. Included in the class are competitors who either already have state championship sprinting honors or are considered contenders for top honors this spring. Both running back signees, JaQuan Jackson (6-0, 177) of DeKalb (Texas) High and Curtis Williams Jr., a New Orleans native who played at West Mesquite (Texas) High, left defenders far behind on explosive downfield runs.
NSU added 11 offensive players: three linemen, three receivers, a pair of quarterbacks and the running backs duo, along with a tight end. The 14-man defensive haul featured six defensive backs, five linebackers and three defensive linemen.
Another noticeable feature of the Demons’ class was local flavor. Signing Wednesday were Haughton High athlete Lavonta Gipson (6-0, 197), Shreveport-Woodlawn defensive back Jordan Hester (6-0, 175), Natchitoches-St. Mary’s quarterback Aaron Howell (6-3, 210), cornerback Fred Lee (6-2, 175) from Rayville, Bossier City-Airline receiver Coby McGee (5-11, 180), defensive end Jarviar Wade (6-2, 230) from Monroe-Richwood, and Many cornerback Tobias Williams II (5-11, 180).
“When I got the job I wanted to hone in on (recruiting) north Louisiana. There are a lot of good football players right around us,” said Laird, who was a state champion quarterback, and from 2013-16, head coach at Ruston High School. “We are ultimately getting eight from the 318 area code, four from Shreveport-Bossier, and to be able to get them here will bring more good players here, and more support for our program.”
Along with considerable athletic credentials, the new Demons have plenty of academic accomplishment, with some National Honor Society members among nearly a dozen with high school grade point averages over 3.0. None of the newcomers have academic hurdles to clear to be eligible next fall.
“We’re bringing in good football players, but better than that, we’re bringing in guys who do the right things off the field,” said Laird. “The academic achievement they bring is going to carry over here. The way they conduct themselves will continue here.”
Making the recruiting sales pitch stronger was the core identity of the university and its hometown. Each of the three January recruiting weekends ended with family members and prospects meeting with Laird, and each Sunday morning, he appreciated hearing a consistent theme recapping their official visits.
“It was about the people of Natchitoches, it was about the people of Northwestern State, starting with (president) Dr. (Chris) Maggio and going around our campus, all the way through our student-athletes, and the momentum these people sensed is going on not just within the football program, but all around our university,” said Laird. “They realize first and foremost it’s about the academics and eventually walking across that stage at commencement with a diploma, and second it’s about being productive on the field.”
NSU’s new coordinators, Brad Smiley (offense) and Mike Lucas (defense), narrated highlights of each signee, frequently noting the opportunity for the new Demons, not just the five junior college signees, to make impact immediately.
“Competition. We talk about it as a staff, bringing in guys to compete,” said Laird, “and we’ve done that with this class. Whether you’re a senior or a freshman, competition will bring out the best in all of us, and we’re bringing in guys to compete to get out on the field and win championships.”
Laird said he and his staff will turn their focus to the Demons already on campus for the rest of the month, with spring practice set to start March 2.
Northwestern State Demons Football
Class of 2018 – 25 signees
Cedric Anderson, DB, 6-3, 185, Clinton, La.-East Feliciana HS
Jalen Angelle, LB, 6-1, 222, Lafayette, La.-Carencro HS
Shemar Bartholomew, CB, 6-0, 188, New Orleans, La.-Cypress Ranch (Texas) HS
Bishop Breaux, LB, 6-2, 215, Lafayette, La.-Acadiana HS
Khalil Corbett-Canada, OL, 6-5, 290, Harker Heights, Texas-Harker Heights HS (Trinity Valley CC)
Tyree Cormier, DE, 6-2, 240, Beaumont, Texas-West Brook HS
Shelton Eppler, QB, 6-1, 200, Navasota, Texas-Navasota HS (Trinity Valley CC)
Lavonta Gipson, ATH, 6-0, 197, Elm Grove, La.-Haughton HS
Brody Griffin, TE, 6-5, 260, Jeanerette, La.-Highland Baptist Christian School (New Mexico Military Institute)
Jordan Hester, DB, 6-0, 175, Shreveport, La.-Woodlawn HS
William Hooper, CB, 5-11, 175, Montgomery, Ala.-Shoemaker (Texas) HS
Aaron Howell, QB, 6-3, 210, Natchitoches, La.-St. Mary’s Catholic School
JaQuan Jackson, RB, 6-0, 177, De Kalb, Texas-DeKalb HS
Fred Lee, CB, 6-2, 175, Rayville, La.-Rayville HS
Coby McGee, WR, 5-11, 180, Bossier City, La.-Airline HS
Nathalohn Nanai, DT, 6-2, 270, Killeen, Texas-Shoemaker HS
Blake Stephenson, LB, 6-1, 220, Deer Park, Texas-Deer Park HS (Trinity Valley CC)
Alyzcha Ulufale-Hentz, OL, 6-6, 305, Killeen, Texas-Killeen HS
Jomard Valsin Jr., LB, 6-3, 237, Port Arthur, Texas-Memorial HS
Jarviar Wade, DE, 6-2, 230, Monroe, La.-Richwood HS
Quindarrius Whitley, LB, 6-2, 210, Inverness, Miss.-Gentry HS (Holmes CC)
Curtis Williams Jr., RB/WR, 5-7, 172, Mesquite, Texas-West Mesquite HS
Tobias Williams II, CB, 5-11, 180, Many, La.-Many HS
Jalen Willis, WR, 6-3, 183, Mandeville, La.-Lakeshore HS
Reggie Young, OL, 6-5, 280, New Orleans, La.-Edna Karr HS
Northwestern State
Demon Football
2018 Signing Class
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Post by LairdANDclear on May 22, 2018 5:03:30 GMT
This was the one spot I'm struggling with. I noticed that McNeese had signed a very talented player out of the Ruston High School program. I hearing that it wasn't even a close decision between them and us. Am I missing something here? I love our coaches, but I thought Smiley would be bringing a few of the hard to get mid major players to NSU and I figured with Laird's history and ties to Ruston we could land him. I asked a few of my Tech buddies and they said that even Buggs at Alabama isn't really a Laird fan. I love Laird, just curious if anyone knows why we couldn't land one of his former players. Anyone??
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