McNeese Football
McNeese State has signed one of its largest ever football recruiting 
classes, the three time Southland Conference champions inking 33 players.
Six of the newcomers are transfers, all six of them currently enrolled 
in class at the university.

"This is an outstanding class," Cowboy head coach Tommy Tate said of the 
recruits, "and credit has to go to our assistant coaches for finding 
these players and getting them to come here. This is really an 
impressive, athletic group who just may be - as a group - the tallest we 
have ever signed."
Tate, who has now led the Cowboys to three conference titles in the four 
years he has been the head coach, said that some of the newcomers had a 
chance to see action in the fall.
The McNeese coach said that he was also proud of the fact that of eight 
local high school seniors who signed college scholarships, seven of them 
signed with the Cowboys.
"That is a compliment to the type of programs (high school) that we have 
here in Calcasieu Parish," Tate added.
Local players signing with the Cowboys were offensive lineman Jimbo Hill 
, defensive end Allen Gullett and defensive lineman Vaalyn Jackson all 
of Sulphur High, quarterback Mark Fontenot of Iowa, tight end Kyle Link 
and offensive lineman David Ballard of Barbe High and tight end Josh 
Louviere of Sam Houston High.
Transfers who have joined the Cowboys are tailbacks Jordy Johnson of 
Baton Rouge (Tulane) and Cody Thibodeaux of Winnie, TX (Houston, TX), 
wide receiver Andy Bertrand of Miami, FL (North Carolina State), 
defensive end Anthony Camp of Baton Rouge (Arkansas State), offensive 
lineman Lance Fremin of Starkville, MS (Mississippi State) and defensive 
lineman Sylvester McGrew of New Orleans (Florida). All are eligible to 
go through spring training which will begin in March.




McNeese State 2004 Football Signees


David Ballard - OL, 6-5, 300 - Barbe High, Lake Charles, LA - four year 
letterman in football as offensive tackle; also named to academic 
all-state team with a 3.7 GPA; outstanding senior year; recruited by 
numerous other schools

Trey Bennett - LB, 6-1, 230 - Newton High, Newton, TX - one of the top 
recruits in Texas; first team all-state and three time all-district; 
district MVP for two years running; nominee for Willie Ray Smith award 
which is given to outstanding defensive player in SE Texas; also earned 
all-district honors as tight end; baseball, track and powerlifting 
letterman; honor roll student

Andy Bertrand - WR, 6-2, 195 - Hialeah Lakes HS, Miami, FL - transfer 
from North Carolina State where in last three years he has caught eight 
passes for 203 yards and a td; played in 33 games; started in Gator Bowl 
win over Notre Dame in 2002; also played in Tangerine Bowl; clocked with 
4.34 speed in the 40; all-conference, all-Dade County and selected to 
play in Florida vs Georgia all-star game; state track participant in 
4x100, 400 meters and 4x400

Marcus Brown - DB, 6-0, 185 - Kentwood High, Tangipahoa, La - led 
Kentwood to state finals last year; named game's defensive MVP with two 
pass interceptions, a fumble recovery and six tackles; all-state and 
all-district honors; last year had 43 tackles, six pass interceptions, 
two fumbles forced, one recovered and 30 passes broken up; also played 
running back; four year track letterman and state champion three years 
running in long jump and triple jump; all-district in basketball; honor 
roll student; brother of Cowboy wide receiver Darrik Brown

Anthony Camp - DE, 6-3, 245 - Parkview Baptist High, Baton Rouge, LA - 
transfer from Arkansas State and in nine games last year had five 
tackles (four solos) with 2.5 TFLs and one sack; year before as a true 
freshman made eight tackles with one TFL and a fumble recovery; was a 
Louisiana Football Magazine Top 100 recruit; all-state, all-metro and 
all-district; senior year made 130 tackles (20 for loss and six sacks), 
two pass interceptions; was a four year starter; helped lead team to 
state title; played for former McNeese assistant coach Kenny Guillot and 
for current Cowboy assistant coach Chuck Gorman; also baseball and 
basketball letterman; honor roll student; teammate of Cowboy signee 
Jordy Johnson at Parkview Baptist

J. T. Casanova - LB, 6-1, 230 - Notre Dame High, Church Point, LA - 
all-state, all-district and all Acadiana; district MVP; 125 tackles last 
year (63 solos), 14.5 TFL (79 yards), seven sacks (39 yards), two pass 
interceptions, seven passes broken up, fumble return for td, forced six 
fumbles, blocked a kick; also basketball and track (javelin) letterman; 
nephew of former LSU and pro great Tommy Casanova

Larry Coleman - LB, 6-1, 190 - Aldine High, Houston, TX - all-district 
performer who had 100 tackles and 16 assists last season; two year 
letterman; played on the Global Jr USA team

Mark Fontenot - QB, 6-0, 185 - Iowa High, Iowa, LA - all-state, 
all-district, all-SW Louisiana; MVP in district and also MVP on the 
all-SW Louisiana team; passed for 1800 yards and rushed for 800 yards 
last year; as junior passed for 2000 yards and rushed for 500 yards; 
accounted for 59 tds in his last two years of prep ball (38 passing and 
21 rushing); also a baseball letterman and an honor roll student

Lance Fremin - OL, 6-2, 290 - Starkville High, Starkville, MS - transfer 
from Mississippi State where he redshirted last year; first team 
all-state and also earned all-region honors in high school; had 115 
pancake blocks during prep career; three year letterman; son of former 
McNeese assistant coach Jerry Fremin

Allen Gullett - DE, 6-5, 250 - Sulphur High, Sulphur, LA - all-district, 
all-SW Louisiana and second team all-state; last year's totals had him 
with 53 tackles, 16 assists, 15 TFLs, five sacks, six hurries, two 
fumbles caused, three fumbles recovered, four pass deflections, and a 
blocked field goal; named to Sulphur Iron Man team; runnerup in school 
lift-a-thon; also throws discus in track

Jeremy Haynes - WR, 5-11, 182 - Waller High, Waller, TX - first team 
all-district as a wide receiver and return specialist; caught 43 passes 
for 650 yads and 10 tds senior season; had 15 catches for 360 yards and 
two tds as a junior; district leader in both punt and kickoff returns; 
also basketball and track letterman; all-district in basketball; 
teammate of Cowboy signee Tyrone Jackson

L. J. Henry - WR, 6-3, 200 - Buras High, Buras, LA - earned all-district 
and all-metro honors; team's quarterback and last season passed for 
1,219 yards and rushed for 1,012 with a total of 26 tds; also earned 
all-district honors in basketball

Jimbo Hill - OL, 6-2, 275 - Sulphur High, Sulphur, LA - earned 
all-state, all-district and all-SW Louisiana honors; four year football 
letterman; also four year track letterman; was the 2003 indoor state and 
2003 outdoor state champion in the shot put; district discus champion

Kelvin Jackson - WR, 6-2, 195 - Memorial High, Port Arthur, TX - 
all-district as a senior and named to the Super Gold team; caught 49 
passes for 916 yards and 14 tds last year; three year letterman in 
basketball and a two-time all-district pick

Tyrone Jackson - WR, 6-4, 188 - Waller High, Waller, TX - all-district 
honorable mention senior season; second team all-district as a junior; 
caught 21 passes for 412 yards and four tds last year; totaled 13 tds in 
his career and 48 catches; prep teammate of McNeese signee Jeremy 
Haynes; four year football, basketball and track letterman; all-district 
in basketball and defensive player of year as a junior

Vaalyn Jackson - DL, 6-0, 275 - Sulphur High, Sulphur, LA - second team 
all-state last year and twice named to the all-district and to the 
all-SW Louisiana team; also a wrestling and track letterman; was the 
state wrestling heavyweight champion last year and was runnerup at the 
state meet in the shot put

Garren Jim - LB, 6-1, 235 - Carencro High, Lafayette, LA - twice named 
to the all-state team and three times named all-district, all-Acadiana 
and all-parish; twice named district MVP and named state MVP; had 161 
tackles last year along with 29 TFLs, 13 sacks, nine fumbles caused, 
three pass interceptions and scored two tds; career totals are 398 
tackles, 28 sacks, 61TFLs, 13 fumbles caused and five pass 
interceptions; team MVP; also track letterman and state finalist on 
4x100 and 4x200 relays; coached by former McNeese player Mac Barousse

Jordy Johnson - TB, 5-11, 205 - Parkview Baptist High, Baton Rouge, LA - 
transfer from Tulane where he redshirted last year; led team to state 
title his junior year at Parkview Baptist; twice named to all-state 
team; three times all-district; nominee for Wendy's high school Heisman; 
ran for 807 yards and 14 tds in senior year before injury sidelined him; 
rushed for 1,300 yards and 31 tds as junior and 868 yards and 18 tds as 
soph; all-district in track; teammate of Cowboy signee Anthony Camp at 
Parkview Baptist; played prep ball for former Cowboy assistant coach 
Kenny Guillot and current Cowboy assistant Chuck Gorman; honor roll 
student and member of Beta Club

Jamelle Juneau - DB, 6-2, 205 - Bunkie High, Bunkie, LA - standout 
two-sport (football and basketball) letterman in high school and will 
continue to play both at McNeese; played both quarterback and defensive 
back and earned all-district and all-Cenla honors; all-state, 
all-district and all-Cenla (player of year) in basketball; last year 
intercepted five passes, had 50 tackles and six passes broken up on 
offense and ran for 600 yards and eight tds and completed 35 of 70 
passes for 598 yards and 10 tds; in his career he intercepted nine 
passes, had 120 tackles, 1500 yards rushing, 1100 passing yards, 19 tds 
rushing and 21 tds passing; currently averaging 27 points and 12 
rebounds per game in basketball; also track letterman and ran on third 
place 4x200 relay team at state

LaDarius Key - DB, 5-10, 170 - Wossman High, Monroe, LA - all-district 
and all-Northeastern; credited with 60 tackles and three pass 
interceptions last season; had a 90 yard kickoff return made 130 tackles 
in career and intercepted nine passes; member of state champion track 
team; ran leg on state champion 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams

Brant Linde - DB, 6-1, 175 - Mandeville High, Mandeville, LA - 
all-district, all-parish, all-metro; MVP in district; made seven pass 
interceptions his senior year and four as a junior; averaged 50 tackles 
each year; scored three tds as both a junior and senior; also played 
wide receiver; all-district in track and all-parish in basketball; honor 
roll student

Kyle Link - TE, 6-7, 260 - Barbe High, Lake Charles, LA - all-state, 
all-district, all-Southwest Louisiana; eight catches for 90 yards and 
two tds as a senior and 19 catches for 240 yards and seven tds as 
junior; also carried football 11 times for 77 yards; center in 
basketball and discus thrower in track (all-district); named to academic 
all-state team with 3.3 GPA

Josh Louviere - TE, 6-5, 235 - Sam Houston High, Moss Bluff, LA - 
all-state, all-district and all-SW Louisiana honors; four year letterman 
in football and track; honor roll student

Kenneth Lundy - DE, 6-2, 225 - Woodlawn High, Bogalusa, LA - 
all-district and four year letterman; last season had 68 tackles, seven 
sacks and three TFLs

Sylvester McGrew - DL, 6-3, 285 - St. Augustine High, New Orleans, LA - 
transfer from Florida where he played for two seasons; earned 
all-district and all-American honors at St. Augustine High; senior 
season had 80 tackles and 14 sacks

Steven Mistretta - QB, 6-2, 195 - Assumption High, Napoleonville, LA - 
all-district, all-region and MVP of region; completed 97 of 210 passes 
last year for 1,468 yards and 11 tds; also ran the ball 63 times for 343 
yards and five tds; honor roll student and named to academic all-state 
team; also baseball letterman as a catcher

Reynard Mitchell - Athlete, 6-1, 180 - Warren Easton High, New Orleans, 
LA - all-district last two seasons as defensive back, wide receiver and 
kick return specialist; last year caught 45 passes for seven tds; had 
four interceptions and ran one back for a td; returned two punts for tds 
and a kickoff for a td; as a junior had five interceptions and returned 
one for a td and ran back two punts for tds; invited to the LHSAA 
all-star game; also basketball, track and baseball letter winner

Allen Nelson - LB, 6-1, 190 - Ozen High, Beaumont, TX - all-district and 
last year was credited with 80 tackles; 14 sacks, two fumbles recovered, 
two fumbles caused and 15 hurries; also track letterman

Antonio Prealow - WR, 6-1, 185 - Red River High, Coushatta, LA - 
all-district (wide receiver and defensive back), all-area, team MVP and 
area and district MVP on defense; 47 catches for 867 yards and 12 tds 
last year; 45 catches for 720 yards and eight tds in 2002; also 
basketball and track letterman..father - Reginald Prealow - is head 
coach at Red River High

Cody Thibodeaux - TB, 6-1, 223 - East Chambers High, Winnie, TX - 
transfer from the University of Houston where he played two seasons; 
earned all-state honors in high school and three times named offensive 
player of year; also honorable mention all-American as a safety; in 
senior year rushed for 800 yards and made 10 pass interceptions (missed 
part of year due to injury); as a junior rushed for 2,100 yards and 25 
tds and made over 100 tackles on defense; as soph rushed for 1,200 yards 
and 20 tds and made over 100 tackles; also all-district in basketball 
and baseball and letterman in track

Jerrell White - DE, 6-6, 230 - Benton High, Benton, LA - all-state, 
all-district, all-metro, two time district MVP; last season had 101 
tackles, 17 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, 15 sacks, one 
interception, four pass deflections; career totals of 205 tackles, 27 
TFL, three pass itnerceptions, 22 sacks, nine pass deflections, five 
fumble recoveries; also all-district in basketball and played baseball

Steven Whitehead - WR, 5-8, 165 - Salmen High, Slidell, LA - all-state, 
all-district and all-metro honors; district MVP; played quarterback, 
running back and kick returner his senior year and passed for 950 yards 
and rushed for 850; had 28 total tds and returned two punts for tds; as 
a junior he was a running back and wide receiver and caught 34 passes 
for 350 yards and rushed for 600 yards with 14 total tds; also baseball, 
track and power lifting letter winner; a state qualifier in track and 
finished second at state in power lifting

Roy Womack - DE, 6-6, 220 - Huffman-Hargrave High, Huffman, TX - 
all-district as a defensive end last season; four year letterman in 
football and also a basketball letter winner