LAKE CHARLES – McNeese State football head coach Matt Viator announced the signing of 20 high school players to his 2015 signing class on Wednesday, Football National Signing Day, and with the addition of Texas A&M defensive lineman Isaiah Golden last month, the final list includes 21 names.
 
"It's a big day for us here and our football program," said Viator at a noon press conference. "The coaches and I are very excited to add these young men to our football program to first off feel needs into positions that we need. I think our coaches did an outstanding job evaluating the talents."
 
The Cowboys' class is a balanced one with 12 defensive players, eight on offensive, and one special teams. Breaking it down further, McNeese signed five defensive backs, four defensive linemen and three linebackers, and on offense, there were two offensive linemen, two running backs, two wide receivers, two tight ends, two running backs, and a long snapper was signed on special teams.
 
The following are bios of each signee:
 
Brandon Blackwell • DE • 6-4 • 218 • Lake Charles, La. • Hamilton Christian Academy
Senior year: 1^st Team All-District 4-1A at defensive line… 1^st Team All-District 4-1A at tight end… District 4-1A Defensive MVP… All-State Honorable Mention… District champion… Team Captain… Junior year: 1^st Team All-District defensive line… Sophomore year: Honorable Mention All-District… lettered in basketball and track & field… Played for former McNeese assistant coach Tim Sensley… Parents are Freda Blackwell and Walter Edwards… Born Nov. 8, 1996.
 
Marval Bourgeois • DL • 6-0 • 275 • Larose, La. • South Lafourche HS
Senior year: All-District 7-5A honors… Hard Hat Award… Team Captain… Recorded 38 tackles, 7 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, and 5 quarterback hits… Junior year: All-District honors… 48 tackles, 2 sacks, 15 tackles for a loss… Sophomore year: Played on a 9-0 team that won the district championship… Played for Coach Dennis Skains at South Lafourche High School… Born May 1, 1997… Son of Tommy and Diana McBride… Plans to major in chemical engineering.
 
Grant Burguillos • OL • 6-4 • 299 • Mandeville, La. • Mandeville HS
3-Star rating by 247Sports… 2-Star rating by Rivals… One of the top offensive line prospects in Louisiana… Senior year: 1^st Team All-District 6-5A… 1^st Team All-Metro… 2^nd Team LFCA 5A All-State… Play in the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl… Junior year: 2^nd Team All-District 6-5A… Sophomore and freshman years: Played varsity ball and lettered as a sophomore… Teams combined for a 31-9 in his four years… Played for Coach Guy Lecompte at Mandeville High School… Born April 30, 1996… Son of Michael Burguillos and Nannette Nealy.
 
Petey Butler • DB • 5-10 • 177 • Monroe, La. • Neville HS
Senior year: 1^st Team All-District… 1^st Team All-NELA… Team finished the season 14-1 and won the Louisiana Class 4A State Championship… Recorded 77 tackles, 60 of those solos, picked off 2 passes with 69 return yards, 2 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery… Junior year: 1^st Team All-District… 2^nd Team All-NELA… 2^nd Team All-Ouachita Parish… Team finished 13-1 and played in the state semifinals… Recorded 55 tackles with 45 solos, 5 interceptions for 74 yards, 3 tackles for loss, and 1 fumble recovery… Sophomore year: Starting free safety on team that finished 13-1 and was the state runner-up… recorded 45 tackles with 30 solos, 2 interceptions for 30 yards and a fumble recovery… In three varsity years, teams combined for a 38-3 won-lost record… Played for Coach Mickey McCarty… Lettered three years in basketball as a guard… Mother is Nikky Butler… Born March 24, 1997.
 
Calum Foster • DB • 5-11 • 175 • Bon Wier, Texas • Newton HS
Senior year: 2^nd Team All-State Texas both on offense and defense… 1^st Team All-District 11-3A on both offense and defense… 11-3A Division II District Champions… 3A Division II State Finalist… KBMT Channel 12 Player of the Week… Junior year: 1^st Team All-District offense, defense and special teams… named district's Special Teams Returner of the Year… 10-2A Division I District Champions… 10-2A Division I Regional Finalist… Football team captain… Lettered four years in basketball and track… 20-2A Offensive Player of the Year and 1^st Team All-District in basketball… 2013 State Champion as a member of the 4x100 relay team… 2014 third place at the state meet in the 4x100 and third place in the 4x200 relays… Honor Roll student and named Academic All-State… Played for Coach William "WT" Johnston at Newton High School… Son of Bryan Foster Sr. and Raquel Foster… Dad was a running back for the Cowboys from 1992-95 and is currently ranked 27^th on the McNeese all-time career rushing list with 1,453 yards… He was part of two Southland Conference championship teams and a senior on the 1995 regular season, unbeaten team that advanced to the FCS semifinals… Both of Calum's parents are McNeese graduates… Born Sept. 3, 1996… Plans to major in Mechanical Engineering.
 
Isaiah Golden • DL • 6-2 • 310 • Carthage, Texas • Carthage HS • Texas A&M Transfer
2013 at Texas A&M as a Freshman: Played in 11 games and started in six as a true freshman … Recorded 30 stops on the season, including eight solo tackles … Had 3.0 tackles for a loss of six yards … Had a season-high six stops against Auburn … Earned starts in conference games at Ole Miss (Oct. 12), vs. Auburn (Oct. 19), vs. Vanderbilt (Oct. 26), vs. Mississippi State (Nov. 9) and at LSU (Nov. 23)… HIGH SCHOOL: Coached by Scott Surratt at Carthage High School in Carthage, Texas ... US Army All-American ... Member of the Dave Campbell's Texas Football's Super Team second team ... Earned a spot on the Class 3A All-State second-team and was named District 20-3A Defensive MVP after making 76 tackles, 4 sacks, 32 TFL, 4 FF, and 2 FR as a senior in 2012 ... Also earned Class 3A All-Region III honors ... Recorded 78 tackles, 8 sacks, 14 TFL in his junior season, which earned him first-team All-District 8-2A honors ... 4-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com, and Scout.com ... Rated No. 20 DT by ESPN.com ... Rated No. 8 DT by Rivals.com ... Rated No. 9 DT by Scout.com ... Chose A&M over Baylor, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, and TCU.
 
Stephen Guidry • WR • 6-4 • 175 • New Roads, La. • Livonia HS
Senior year: 1^st Team LFCA Class 3A All-State… 1^st Team LSWA Class 3A All-State… 1^st Team NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune All-Baton Rouge Area Team… MVP of the 13^th Annual Red Stick Bowl with 130 yards receiving… Made 36 catches on the year for 854 yards and scored 13 touchdowns… Averaged 23.7 yards per catch… Led his team to the Class 3A State Championship as well as district title… Junior year: Caught 37 passes for 1,064 yards and 17 touchdowns… Also lettered in basketball and track for three years… Mother is Michelle Guidry… Born March 25, 1997.
 
Trent Jackson • DB • 6-2 • 180 • Shreveport, La. • Evangel Christian Academy
Senior year: Earned Honorable Mention All-City honors… Recorded 70 tackels with 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries… Helped team win the district championship… Team Captain… Junior year: Recorded 61 tackles with 2 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble… District champions and Louisiana State Runner-Up… Sophomore year: Had 44 tackles, 6 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble in helping team with the district title… Freshman year: Member of district championship team… Played for Coach Byron Dawson… Other: Earned all-district honors in track as a sophomore and junior on the 4x400 meter relay team… Squad won the Class 3A state championship in the 4x400 relay as a sophomore while placing second in the 800 meter run… Principal's List every year… Parents are Eugene Jackson Jr. and Twana F. Jackson… Born Nov. 26, 1996… Plans to major in physical therapy.
 
Tyrae Johnson • OL • 6-2 • 280 • League City, Texas • Clear Creek HS
Senior year: Unanimous selection as a First Team member of the All-District squad… First Team All-County… Starter in every game at the right tackle position… Team Captain… Junior year: 2^nd Team All-District and Honorable Mention All-County… Starter in all games at right tackle and helped team win the District 24-6A Championship… Sophomore year: Starter at right tackle… Freshman year: Saw action in varsity games at the right guard position… Played for Coach Darrell Warden at Clear Creek High School… Lettered three years in varsity track and field in the shot put event… Recipient of the French Award… Parents are Earl and LaShonda Johnson… Born May 22, 1996… Plans to major in nursing.
 
Bryce Jones • LB/DB • 6-2 • 190 • New Roads, La. • Livonia HS
2-Star rating by 247Sports and Rivals… Senior year: 1^st Team LFCA Class 3A All-State… 1^st Team All-District 5-3A… LSWA Class 3A Honorable Mention… Helped his team win the Class 3A State Championship as well as the district title… Recorded 79 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles, and 6 pass breakups… Team Captain… Junior year: While at Pointe Coupee Central, earned 1^st Team LFCA Class 1A All-State… 1^st Team All-District 5-1A… Led team to district championship… Recorded 87 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 3 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, and 4 pass breakups… Also played tight end and had 27 catches for 606 yards… Sophomore year: Earned 2^nd Team All-District 6-1A honors while playing for his stepfather Cleotha Johnigan Jr. at Pointe Coupee Central… Recorded 54 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 2 forced fumbles… Freshman year: Lettered at Catholic of Pointe Coupee as a wide receiver and on special teams… Other: Earned 1^st Team All-District 5-1A as a forward in basketball at PCC while lettering three years… Lettered two seasons in baseball… Parents are Latasha and Cleotha Johnigan and Brandon Jones… Born Nov. 27, 1996… Plans to major in health and human peformance.
 
Jonta Jones • DT • 6-2 • 285 • Vacherie, La. • St. James HS
Senior year: LFCA All-Star Game participant… 1^st Team LFCA 3A All-State… All-District and All-Metro honors as a defensive lineman… Recorded 71 tackles, 3 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles and 2 pass break ups… helped lead his team to the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs… Team Captain… Junior year: 1^st Team All-District at defensive line… 67 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery and 1 pass break up… Starter on the offensive line his freshman and sophomore seasons… Played for Coach Dwain Jenkins at Livonia High School… Lettered two years in basketball and helped lead his team to the Top 28 state tournament in 2014… Parents are Tawanna Jones and Tyrone Broden… Member of the Principal's Honor Roll.
 
Mason Knighton • TE/DE • 6-2 • 230 • Moss Bluff, La. • Sam Houston HS
Senior year: 1^st Team All-Louisiana… 1^st Team All-Southwest Louisiana… 1^st Team All-District… LFCA 5A All-State Honorable Mention… Recorded 156 total tackles (119 solos, 37 assists), 7 sacks, 28 tackles for a loss, 4 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries (1 for a 46 yard touchdown), 1 interception, and 3 blocked punts… Team Captain… Team qualified for the playoffs for the first time in school history in the 5A ranks… Junior year: 1^st Team All-District… 1^st Team All-Southwest Louisiana… All-State Honorable Mention… 116 total tackles (87 solos, 29 assists), 3 sacks, 24 tackles for loss, 4 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions… Sophomore year: All-District Honorable Mention… 73 total tackles (56 solos, 17 assists), 3 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception… Career stats: 359 total tackles, 13 sacks, 62 tackles for loss, 11 forced fumbles, 8 fumble recoveries, 4 interceptions, 3 blocked punts, 1 touchdown return… Played for Coach Vaughn Eggleston at Sam Houston High School… Lettered three years in baseball… Parents are Stacy and Deanna Knighton… Born Sept. 10, 1996… 4-year Honor  Roll student… Plans to major in business.
 
Khoury Kraus • LB • 6-2 • 225 • Lake Charles, La. • Barbe HS
Senior year: 1^st Team All-District… 1^st Team All-Southwest Louisiana… 2^nd Team LFCA 5A All-State… Selected to play in the Louisiana All-Star Game… Team Captain… District champion and regional finalist… made 107 tackles on the season… Junior year: Honorable Mention All-District honors… made 89 tackles and team advanced to the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs… Sophomore year: Recorded 69 tackles… District champion and state championship runner-up… Played for Coach Mike Cutrera at Barbe High School… also lettered in track and earned 1^st team all-district honors and was district champion in the javelin throw as a junior and sophomore… Parents are Mike and Merzie Kraus… Born Sept. 27, 1996… Plans to major in engineering with a minor in business management.
 
Chris Livings • DE • 6-2 • 210 • Lake Charles, La. • Barbe HS
Senior year: 1^st Team LSWA 5A All-State… 1^st Team All-District 3-5A… 1^st Team All-Southwest Louisiana… Set a single-season school record with 12 sacks on the year… added 77 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss, 4 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries, and 1 blocked kick… Team Captain… Junior year: Recorded 44 tackles and had 3 sacks… District champion and state playoff quarterfinalist… Member of 2011 and 2012 district championship teams and 2012 state championship runner-up… Played for Coach Mike Cutrera at Barbe High School… Parents are Michael and Carla Livings… Born Feb. 23, 1997… Plans to major in business marketing.
 
Grant Merka • LS • 6-3 • 190 • Elgin, Texas • Elgin HS
Senior year: 1^st Team All-District 17-5A long snapper… Special Teams MVP… No. 2 ranked deep snapper in Texas by Rubio Long Snapping and No. 5 long snapper in the nation by Komblue's Fab 50 Ranking… Bi-District champions and area qualifier… Junior year: 1^st Team All-District long snapper… District champs and regional qualifier… Sophomore year: Bi-District and Area champs… Regional qualifier… Lettered two years in baseball… Academic All-District as a sophomore, junior and senior… Parents are Eric and Cynthia Merka… Born Jan. 9, 1997.
 
Raekwon Morgan • DB • 5-11 • 175 • Destrehan, La. • Destrahan HS
Senior year: First Team All-District… Recorded 47 tackles and a forced fumble while helping Destrahan to a 14-1 record, district championship, and a state championship runner-up finish… Team Captain… Junior year: First Team All-District… 65 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 4 forced fumbles… team finished 13-1 and won the district title… Sophomore year: Recorded 26 tackles, 3 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery… Career: 3 years lettered… 138 tackles, 3 interceptions, 8 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery… Played for Coach Stephen Robicheaux at Destrahan High School… Parents are Dennis and Lisa Morgan… Born Dec. 27, 1995… Plans to major in business with a minor in education.
 
Austin Nelson • TE • 6-3 • 245 • Sulphur, La. • Sulphur HS
Senior year: 1^st Team All-District tight end… made 17 catches for 206 yards and 4 touchdowns… helped lead Sulphur to the state playoffs for the first time in three years… Recipient of the Rodney Spell Team Leadership Award… Was his first year to play football… Played for Coach Jeff Wainwright… An All-District baseball player, earning 1^st team honors as a first baseman his junior year and at third base as a freshman… an injury sidelined him his sophomore season… Ranked as the No. 29 baseball prospect in the state of Louisiana by Perfect Game… Parents are Danny and Jenny Nelson… Born Aug. 12, 1996.
 
Lawayne Ross • RB • 6-0 • 250 • Richwood, Texas • Brazoswood HS
Senior year: District 24-6A Co-MVP… 1^st Team All-District… 1^st Team All-Southern Brazoria County and Offensive Player of the Year… LZ Bryan Captain Award… Brazospor Facts MVP… Rushing for 1,474 yards and 19 touchdowns… Averaged 6.5 yards per carry and had a long rush of 87 yards… Made 23 receptions for 307 yards and had 5 touchdown catches… Averaged 13.4 yards per catch with a long of 56 yards… Junior year: 1^st Team All-District as a linebacker… Linebacker MVP Award… 1^st Team All-Southern Brazoria Country linebacker.. Made 90 tackles, 42 solos, and had 2 tackles for loss and an interception… Rushed for 340 yards and scored 8 touchdowns… Had a long of 46 yards and averaged 8.3 yards per carry… Sophomore year: 266 yards rushing with 4 touchdowns… Averaged 6.1 yards per rush… Played for Coach Dean Deatley at Brazoswood HS… Parents are Randy and Yolanda Ross… Older brother, Ryan Ross, will be a sophomore running back for the Cowboys in 2015 and ranked second on the team in rushing in 2014 as a true freshman with 599 yards… Born Nov. 20, 1996.
 
Sage Seay • LB • 6-3 • 205 • Nederland, Texas • Nederland HS
Senior year: Blue-Grey All-American Bowl… District 22-5A MVP… 1^st Team All-District… Port Arthur News Super Team MVP… Beaumont Enterprise QB and Offense Super Gold MVP… Willie Ray Smith Offense finalist… 3-time Team Captain… District champion… Junior year: Utility Player of the Year… 1^st Team All-District at safety… 1^st Team All-District at wide receiver… 2-time 12-Star Athlete of the Week… District champion… Sophomore year: Newcomer of the Year… District champion… Played for Coach Larry Neumann… Parents are Charlie Seay and Laynie DeSerrano… Born June 10, 1996… Plans to major in health & human performance.
 
Demarcus Smith • RB/WR • 5-8 • 170 • Beaumont, Texas • West Brook HS
Senior year: 1^st Team All-District 21-6A… District 21-6A Offensive MVP… Rushed for 1,622 yards and 22 touchdownsTeam Captain… Beaumont Enterprise Super Gold Team… Port Arthur News Super Gold Team… Athlete of the Week… Junior year: All-District Honorable Mention honors… Bruin Heart Award… Freshman year: Team Offensive MVP… Lettered in track and field… Played for Coach Kevin Flanigan at West Brook High School… Father's name is Matthew Davis… Born July 26, 1996… Plans to major in engineering… also has interest in accounting, computer science, and athletic training.
 
Donald Stokes • WR • 6-2 • 190 • Carencro, La. • Carencro HS
Senior Year: Made 23 catches and had over 700 all-purpose yards… scored 8 touchdowns… made 8 tackles and forced a fumble… Junior year: Had 33 catches and 656 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns… Sophomore year: 1 catch for 56 yards and a td… Other: Lettered three years in track & field and earned 1^st Team All-District honors in the 400 meters, 4x200 relay and 4x400 relay… All-State honorable mention in the 400 meters and ranked in the top 5 in the state… ran the anchor on the 4x200 and 4x400 relays… also ran the 200 meters… Mother is Angela Toussaint… Born Nov. 25, 1996… Recorded one of the highest ACT scores in his senior class at Carencro High School… Plans to major in business & finance with a minor in English.