McNeese State head football coach Matt Viator announced a signing class of 15 student athletes on Wednesday.

            "It's an exciting day for us," Viator said. "This is  a very good class and we are excited about them joining our team. There were areas that we targeted and we feel very good about what we got."

            Viator said that with the limited number of scholarships the team had opened this year, the priority was to fill needs that the team not only would have this year but also on down the road.

            He said he expected the 15 signees to come into August camp and compete for playing time this season and be valuable members of the team for the ensuing years.

            One of the signees was Central High (Baton Rouge) quarterback Will Briscoe who is expected to be one of those contending for the Cowboy slot.  McNeese lost four year starter and SLC and Louisiana player of the year Derrick Fourroux to graduation.

            Briscoe was named the top offensive player in Class AAAAA this past season after he had completed 188 of 283 passes for 3,080 yards and 38 touchdowns.  His three year total as a starter for Central had him passing for 5,848 yards and 60 touchdowns and averaging 208.1 total yards per game.

            Reynaldo Young of East St. John High was signed as an athlete as he started every game for three seasons, playing wide receiver, defensive back and running back.

            The Cowdboys signed five wide receivers including Briscoe's twin brother Wes who caught 57 passes for 1,175 yards and 21 tds last year.  Other receivers signed were Kenny Brown of St. Louis High (Lake Charles), Will Hassien of Sulphur High, Jereon McGilverly of Northside High and Diontae Spencer of Westgate High.

            Brown caught 144 passes for 2,175 yards and 21 touchdowns and had 3,343 all-purpose yards in his career, Hassien caught 40 passes for 576 yards and five tds last season, McGilvery caught 60 passes for 966 yards and nine tds in 2009 and Spencer also played quarterback, passing for 906 yards and seven tds and rushing for 987 yards and 18 tds last season.

            The only offensive lineman the Cowboys signed was Antoine Everett of Lamar Consolidated of Richmond, TX and he also played defensive tackle, earning all-state recognition.

            Defensive linemen signed by the Cowboys were tackle Sean Brown of Central High who had 68 tackles and seven sacks last year, end Everett Ellefson of Mandeville who had 97 yards and nine sacks and Danyel Hunter of Dickinson (TX) High who had 96 tackles and seven sacks.

            Linebackers signed by McNeese were Orrin Fontenot of Parkview Baptist (Baton Rouge) who also played tight end and was a four time all-district pick, Correy Middleton of Richwood High (Monroe) who made 101 tackles and intercepted three passes last season and Deonte Thompson of Evangel Christian (Shreveport) who played on two state championship teams and was credited with 76 tackles, five sacks and three interceptions last year.

            Signing with the Cowboys as a kicker/punter was James Bice of St. Louis High (Lake Charles).  He kicked eight field goals (longest 52 yards) last year and made 31 straight PATs.  He made his last 52 straight PATs and had a career total of 20 field goals, breaking or tying 10 school records.

            All 15 recruits are also outstanding in the classroom and one - Spencer - carries a perfect 4.00 overall grade point average.

Name, School                                                Post.             Ht.            Wt.             Hometown

Will Briscoe, Central HS                                    QB            6-3            185            Baton Rouge, LA           

Reynaldo Young, East St. John HS                        Ath            5-9            170            Garyville, LA

Wes Briscoe, Central HS                                    WR            6-2            175            Baton Rouge,  LA

Kenny Brown, St. Louis HS                        WR            5-11            175            Lake Charles,LA

Will Hassien, Sulphur HS                                    WR            5-11            185            Sulphur, LA

Jereon McGilvery, Northside HS                        WR            6-3            185            Lafayette, LA

Diontae Spencer, Westgate HS                        WR            5-9            175            New Iberia, LA

Antoine Everett, Lamar Consolidated            OL            6-4            278            Richmond, TX

Sean Brown, Central HS                                    DT            6-1            280            Baton Rouge, LA           

Everett Ellefson, Mandeville HS                        DE            6-4            235            Madisonville, LA

Danyel Hunter, Dickinson HS                        DE            6-3            240            Dickinson, TX

Orrin Fontenot, Parkview Baptist HS            LB            6-2            225            Baton Rouge, LA

Correy Middleton, Richwood HS                        LB            6-1            215            Monroe, LA

Deonte Thompson, Evangel Christian            LB            6-2            220            Shreveport, LA

James Bice, St. Louis HS                                    K/P             5-10            170            Lake Charles, LA

WILL BRISCOE,QB, Central High School, Baton Rouge, LA, 6-3, 185....top ranked athlete and student...first team Class AAAAA all-state and named the state's offensive MVP for that class...as a senior he completed 188 of 283 passes for 3,080 yards and 38 touchdowns...only had two passes intercepted...also ran for 221 yards on 82 carries...averaged 254 total yards per game...as a junior he completed 176 of 308 passes for 2,220 yards and 22 touchdowns with 11 interceptions...rushed for 404 yards...career stats for 31 games had him completing 399 of 680 passes (58.7 pct) for 5,848 yards and 60 touchdowns...had 6,452 total yards and a 208.1 yards per game average...for his career he carried the football 192 times for 604 yards and 17 tds (long of 48  yards)...teamed up with twin brother Wes (also a McNeese signee) to form one of the top pass and catching combinations in the state....named offensive MVP on his all-district and all-metro teams...was a Warrick Dunn award finalist and the Cox 4 tv player of the year...honor student with a 3.5 cumulative GPA....will major in Mechanical Engineering...parents are Kyle and Tammy Briscoe

REYNALDO YOUNG, Athlete, East St. John High School, Garyville, LA, 5-9, 170....first team all-district and all-parish...started every game for three seasons...played wide receiver, defensive back and running back...in senior season rushed for 1,192 yards on 145 carries and scored 12 tds...ran back two kickoffs, one for a td....as a junior he caught 35 passes for 625 yards and four tds, returned three kickoffs for touchdowns and two punts for touchdowns...also intercepted five passes and returned one for a td...played three years of baseball as a centerfielder...mother is Arlene Young

WES BRISCOE, wide receiver, Central High School, Baton Rouge, LA, 6-2, 175....earned all-state, all-district and all-city honors...caught 57 passes for 1,175 yards and 21 touchdowns last year...had 27 receptions for 432 yards and four tds as a junior and 20 catches for 250 yards and a td as a sophomore...teamed up with twin brother Will (also a McNeese signee) to form one of the top pass and catching  combinations in the state....was also a basketball standout...all-district and named the Charles T. Kinsley tournament MVP...has produced a 3.25 composite grade point average...will be a Nursing major...parents are Kyle and Tammy Briscoe

KENNY BROWN, wide receiver, St. Louis High School, Lake Charles, LA, 5-11,175....three sport letterman (football,basketball, track) ... three-time first team all-district, all-Louisiana and honorable mention all-state...one of only three players in school history to be named first team all-district three times...school's career receiving leader with 144 catches for 2,175 yards and 21 tds...had 3,343 all-purpose career yards...holds five school records...as a senior he had 56 receptions for 1,066 yards and 12 tds (long of 64 yards)...also returned eight kickoffs for a 19.9 average and returned a punt for a touchdown....as a junior he caught 40 passes for 439 yards and four tds, returned 14 kickoffs for 313 yards and 13 punts for 139 yards...rushed for 103 yards on 10 carries...47 receptions for 670 yards and a td as a sophomore...11 kickoff returns for 228 yards and 12 punt returns for 40 yards...district long jump champion last year and named Mr. Defense in basketball...parents are Bertel and Wanda Brown Reder...stepfather was a standout basketball player at McNeese State

WILL HASSIEN, wide receiver, Sulphur High School, Sulphur, LA, 5-11,185....led his district in receiving last season with 40 catches for 576 yards and five touchdowns...averaged 14.7 yards per catch...named to all-state, all-district and all-Southwest Louisiana teams...recipient of the Nick Ferris award as his team's offensive MVP...also played running back...played football for former McNeese quarterback Paul Bourgeois...lettered in soccer (forward) and in track...named to the all-district team in soccer and was a regional qualifier in track and field...will be a Physical Therapy major...parents are Hollis and Ellis Hassien

JEREON MCGILVERY, wide receiver, Northside High School, Lafayette, LA, 6-3, 185...two time first team all-district and all-Acadiana...as a senior he caught 60 passes for 966 yards and nine touchdowns and as a junior he had 25 receptions for 423 yards and five tds....three year football letterman and also lettered three years in baseball, two in track and field and one in soccer...was a Golden Gloves boxing champion in 2008...will major in Business....mother is Michelle McGilvery

DIONTAE SPENCER, wide receiver, Westgate High School, New Iberia, LA, 5-9, 175...top rated all-around athlete..played wide receiver and quarterback...earned all-state, all-district and all-Acadiana honors...played quarterback as a senior and passed for 906 yards and seven tds and carried the ball for 987 yards and 18 touchdowns...as a wide receiver in junior season he had 47 receptions for 648 yards and eight tds...four letters in baseball (centerfield) and basketball (guard)...all-district in both...top student with 4.00 GPA...named to the academic all-state team...received the Westgate scholars award...will major in Business Administration...mother is Vanessa Spencer

ANTOINE EVERETT, Offensive lineman, Lamar Consolidated, Richmond, TX, 6-4, 278...earned all-state, all-district and all-area honors....also academic all-district...two way starter...also played defensive tackle....only allowed three sacks in a three year career...tossed the shot put and discus in track...earned all-district honors in wrestling...expected to major in Physical Therapy with a minor in business...mother is Pamela Everett

SEAN BROWN, Defensive tackle, Central High School, Baton Rouge, LA, 6-1, 280...two time all-district selection and a three year letterman...as a senior he was credited with 68 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, six quarterback hurries and seven sacks...also caused four fumbles, had three fumble recoveries and knocked down six passes...will major in Mechanical Engineering...parents are Sonda and Spencer Brown

EVERETT ELLEFSON, Defensive End, Mandeville High School, Madisonville, LA, 6-4, 235....three year starter and recipient of the coaches defensive captain award...as a senior he was credited with 97 tackles, 11tackles for a loss, nine sacks, four forced fumbles and five recovered fumbles...career totals had him with 163 tackles, 19 TFLs, 15 sacks, eight forced fumbles and six recovered fumbles...three year honor roll student...will major in Health and Human Performance....father is Eric Ellefson

DANYEL HUNTER, Defensive End, Dickinson High School, Dickinson, TX, 6-3, 240....earned all-district and all-county honors...named team's defensive MVP the past season...senior season had him credited with 96 tackles and seven sacks...had 68 tackles and four sacks as a junior and in his sophomore season he had 50 tackles and one sack...also a shot put letter winner....will major in physical therapy...parents are Donald and Yolanda Hunter

ORRIN FONTENOT, Linebacker, Parkview Baptist High School, Baton Rouge, LA, 6-2, 225...played linebacker and tight end...four time all-district selection  as a linebacker and three times named as a tight end...was an all-state pick as a junior...named U.S. Army Redstick Bowl defensive MVP...selected to play in the Bayou Bowl...senior year was credited with 104 tackles (52 solos), 17 tackles for a loss and five sacks...had one pass interception...played for former McNeese assistant coach Kenny Guillot...also a track and basketball letterman...state discus champion in 2009...all-state and all-metro in track and field (also threw the shot put)...parents are Mike Fontenot and Christy Heck

CORREY MIDDLETON, Linebacker, Richwood High School, Monroe, LA, 6-1, 215....twice named to the all-district team...named outstanding linebacker...named newcomer of year...senior season was credited with 101 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, five sacks...made three pass interceptions and recovered four fumbles...as a junior he made 89 tackles, had nine tackles for a loss and three sacks...one pass interception and two fumbles recovered...also power lifting and track letter winner...honor roll and named to the principal's honor list and National Honor Society...will major in Radiology Technology....parents are Latasha Middleton and Richard Long

DEONTE THOMPSON, Linebacker, Evangel Christian Academy, Shreveport, LA, 6-2, 220....earned all-state, all-district and all-city honors two years running...led team to two state titles and four trips to the state championship game...three year starter and four year letterman...senior season he was credited with 76 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, five sacks, three pass interceptions and four fumble recoveries...honor roll student and named to principal's honor list four years in a row....expected to major in Math...parents are LaTonya Tasby-Thompson and Derryon Renard Thompson

JAMES BICE, Kicker/Punter, St. Louis High School, Lake Charles, LA, 5-10, 170..named to all-state (first team in 2009), all-district (three times) and all-Southwest Louisiana teams (three times)...as a senior he kicked eight field goals (longest 52 yards) and was 31 of 31 on PATs...seven field goals as a junior and five as a sophomore...four field goals of 40 yards or more...career totals of 20 field goals, 98 PATs (98 of 100) and 158 points...made his last 52 PATs in a row...one of only two players in school history to be named to all-SW La. team three years in a row and one of three to be named all-district three years in a row...holds or shares 10 school records...opponents average starting position following his kickoffs was the  21 yard line...also soccer letterman and earned all-district honors...named National Society of High School scholar...coached by former McNeese all-conference kicker Pat Neck...will major in Business...parents are Jay and Fran Bice....uncle Jamie was a standout defensive back at LSU