Lamar football gets 21 players on National Signing Day

Twenty-one football players, featuring seven with Southeast Texas ties, make up Lamar University's 2012 National Signing Day recruiting class announced by coach Ray Woodard at a Wednesday afternoon media conference.

Wide receivers Garrett Drake of Silsbee and Jayce Nelson of Port Neches-Groves, offensive linemen Joe Persohn of Hardin Jefferson, Jermaine Bowman of West Brook and Bret Treadway of Silsbee and defensive linemen Corbin Carr of Nederland and David Hollyfield of Silsbee will give additional local flavor to the Cardinal team that will represent Lamar during the 2012 season.

"First, I want to commend my assistant coaches for doing a great job during the recruiting process," said Woodard, Lamar's head coach, upon announcing his fourth Cardinal recruiting class. "I think they worked extremely hard, and we addressed a lot of needs.

"We have especially improved in the running backs and secondary areas. This will give us added depth in places we certainly lacked depth."

Cam Washington, a 5-foot-11, 190-pounder, was a first-team Associated Press Class 4A all-state selection after rushing for a school record 3,208 yards and 46 touchdowns for Corsicana High School last season..

"Cam had a great senior season, taking his team to the state semifinals," said Woodard. "He's coming into a position area that we've needed to address, and I'm looking forward to seeing him in a Lamar University uniform."

Desmond Richards, a 5-10, 180-pounder from Magnolia West High School, was the 2001 District 17-4A Offensive Most Valuable Player after rushing for 2,437 yards and 31 touchdowns while helping lead the team to a 9-2 record.

"Desmond is very elusive," said Woodard. "He's someone we feel will fit in immediately and give us depth where we definitely needed it."

In speaking of the Cardinals' December signing class, Woodard said, "Picking up Tyrus McGlothen (5-8, 180-pound defense back) and Nashon Davis (6-3, 203-pound defensive back) will give us experience and depth in another area in which we needed immediate help. They are great mid-term pickups." In summation of the Cardinals' spring signing class, Woodard said, "As promised, this class is heavy on the high school end. It's the biggest and the best high school class we've had, but we're also proud of the four junior college pickups we had in December.

"Jermaine Longino (5-10, 220-pound linebacker from Trinity Valley Community College) was the Southwest Junior College Defensive Player of the Year, so he should give us immediate depth at the linebacker position.

"Also, Ryan Mosakowski (6-4, 225-pound quarterback from Northwest Mississippi Community College) brings along a lot of experience, and he's going to be fighting for the starting job this spring."