HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University football coach
Ron Roberts announced the signing of 11 players, including an FBS transfer running back, for the 2013 season.
Southeastern, which finished 5-6 overall and posted its best record (5-2) in the Southland Conference since joining the league in 2005, focused on upgrading the offensive line where the Lions signed four players – Johnathan Braddock,
Ryan Cockerton,
Laurence Ramsey and
Jordan Sutherlin.
“We addressed some immediate needs, we added depth and size to both the offensive and defensive line,” Roberts said. “We added two cornerbacks that we expect to help immediately and a deep threat receiver.”
The Lions added defensive backs
Eric Jenkins and Pat Malone, defensive linemen
John Andrews and
Jacob Newman, kicker/punter
Tim Callian and receiver
Marquis Hayes. Jenkins, a New Orleans native, prepped at McMain and spent the past season at the Atlanta Sports Academy.
Looking to add more depth at running back, Southeastern announced the transfer of running back
Kody Sutton from Wyoming. Sutton, a Texarkana, Texas native who will have three years of eligibility remaining, averaged 4.9 yards per carry and was the Cowboys' fifth-leading rusher as a true freshman in 2011. As a high school product, Sutton rushed for over 3,700 yards and 37 touchdowns in three seasons at Texarkana's Texas High School.
“
Kody Sutton is an explosive running back that gives us another weapon on offense,” Roberts said. “These players will all enroll in January and will be us for spring practice. We expect them to push for starting jobs and take the next step forward towards winning a national championship.”
Southeastern, which returns 49 letterwinners is tentatively scheduled to open spring practice on Feb. 25 with the annual Green and Gold Spring Game set for March 23.
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA 2013 MID-YEAR SIGNEES
John Andrews, DE/LB, 6-1, 270, Round Rock, Texas (CISCO College/Connally HS)
Johnathan Braddock, OL, 6-4, 275, Ripley, Miss. (Northeast Mississippi JC/Ripley HS)
Tim Callian, K/P, 6-4, 175, Irvine, Calif. (New Mexico Military Institute/Irvine HS)
Ryan Cockerton, OL, 6-3, 290, Kelseyville, Calif. (Diablo Valley College/Kelseyville HS)
Marquis Hayes, WR, 5-9, 175, Brookhaven, Miss. (Copiah-Lincoln CC/Loyd Star HS)
Eric Jenkins, DB, 5-10, 170, New Orleans, La. (Atlanta Sports Academy/McMain HS)
Pat Malone, DB, 6-0, 180, Byhalia, Miss. (Itawamba CC/Byhalia HS)
Jacob Newman, DL, 6-2, 275, Visalia, Calif. (College of the Sequoias/El Diamante HS)
Laurence Ramsey, OL, 6-1, 310, Gulfport, Miss. (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC/Gulfport HS)
Jordan Sutherlin, OL, 6-5, 295, Bay St. Louis, Miss. (Pearl River CC/Bay HS)
Kody Sutton, RB, 5-8, 195, Texarkana, Texas (Wyoming/Texas HS)
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA MID-YEAR SIGNEE CAPSULES
John Andrews, DE/LB, 6-1, 270, Round Rock, Texas (CISCO College/Connally HS)
The fifth-leading tackler for CISCO College, recording 44 tackles with six tackles for loss and a pair of sacks as a sophomore … named Honorable Mention All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference … totaled 34 tackles with five stops for loss and two sacks as a freshman.
Johnathan Braddock, OL, 6-4, 275, Ripley, Miss. (Northeast Mississippi CC/Ripley HS)
Two-year letterwinner at Northeast Mississippi Community College … as a freshman, helped the Tigers to a 6-4 record that included wins over eventual Junior College National Champion East Mississippi and nationally-ranked rivals Mississippi Gulf Coast and Northwest Mississippi … as a sophomore, helped NEMCC to a 3-6 record.
Tim Callian, K/P, 6-4, 175, Irvine, Calif. (New Mexico Military Institute/Irvine HS)
A second-team All-WSFL selection as a sophomore at New Mexico Military Institute … made seven of 10 field goals on the season with a long of 49 yards … converted on 45 of 52 extra point attempts on the season … ranked as the No. 23 punter by the NJCAA … averaged 35.9 yards per punt, posting a long of 65 yards with 10 punts placed inside the 20-yard line.
Ryan Cockerton, OL, 6-3, 290, Kelseyville, Calif. (Diablo Valley College/Kelseyville HS)
A first-team All-Mid Empire Conference selection at Diablo Valley College … anchored an offensive line that helped lead the Vikings to a 7-4 record while leading the MEC in scoring offense (36.3 points), total offense (473.2) and passing offense (381.7)
Marquis Hayes, WR, 5-9, 175, Brookhaven, Miss. (Copiah-Lincoln CC/Loyd Star HS)
Caught 29 passes for 572 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore at Copiah-Lincoln Community College … helped Co-Lin to a 9-3 record and its first Mississippi JUCO state championship since 1985 … in the MAJAC championship game against Mississippi Gulf Coast, eight passes for 231 yards, including touchdowns of 51, 71 and 46 yards in a 41-37 win.
Eric Jenkins, DB, 5-10, 170, New Orleans, La. (Atlanta Sports Academy/McMain HS)
Named to the Class 3A All-State team as a senior in 2011 at New Orleans' McMain High School … helped the Mustangs to a 9-4 record a berth in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs … spent the 2012 season at the Atlanta Sports Academy … will have four years of eligibility for the Lions.
Pat Malone, DB, 6-0, 180, Byhalia, Miss. (Itawamba CC/Byhalia HS)
Recorded 29 tackles with one sack and three tackles for loss at Itawamba Community College … broke up seven passes and registered a safety … part of a defensive unit that allowed 279.4 yards per game … had a season-high six tackles against Northwest Mississippi … had four stops and three pass breakups against Copiah-Lincoln.
Jacob Newman, DL, 6-2, 275, Visalia, Calif. (College of the Sequoias/El Diamante HS)
A two-time First-Team Valley All-Conference selection at College of the Sequoias … recorded 21 tackles with eight tackles for loss and three sacks as a sophomore … registered a season-high five tackles, with three for loss and a sack, in a win over Foothill College … played in six games as a freshman and tallied 16 tackles with nine stops for loss and three sacks.
Laurence Ramsey, OL, 6-1, 310, Gulfport, Miss. (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC/Gulfport HS)
A second-team All-MACJC selection for Steve Campbell at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College … helped the Bulldogs to a 9-2 record and a No. 6 ranking in the final NJCAA national poll … competed in the MACJC All-Star game.
Jordan Sutherlin, OL, 6-5, 295, Bay St. Louis, Miss., (Pearl River CC/Bay HS)
A two-year letterwinner at Pearl River Community College … helped the Wildcats to a 3-6 record as a sophomore after PRCC posted a 4-5 mark in 2011 … part of an offensive line that helped quarterback Marvin German throw for over 3,000 yards in 2011 and Dylan Favre toss for over 2,000 yards in 2012.
Kody Sutton, RB, 5-8, 195, Texarkana, Texas (Wyoming/Texas HS)
Played in five games as a true freshman at Wyoming in 2011, gaining 146 yards on 30 carries, highlighted by a season-high 56-yard performance against Air Force … averaged 4.9 yards per carry and finished fifth for the Cowboys in rushing … did not play in 2012 after leaving UW for personal reasons … was an Honorable Mention All-State Class 4A selection by the Texas Associated Press Sports Editors in 2010 at Texas High … earned First Team All-District 13-4A and All-Area honors as a running back his senior season as he rushed for 1,718 yards and scored 17 touchdowns … ran for 1,187 yards and scored 10 touchdowns as a junior … became a starter his sophomore year and gained 861 yards with 10 rushing touchdowns.
