RUSTON – Louisiana Tech football head coach Sonny Cumbie announced the addition of 15 players to the 2024 signing class.
 
"We are really excited to officially sign 15 members to our football program today," Cumbie said. "We were able to bring in a good mix of high school and junior college signees that are very skilled with a highly competitive character that will positively impact our team. We look forward to their arrival and immersing them into our culture at Louisiana Tech."
 
The early edition of the 2024 class includes eight offensive players and seven defensive players. Louisiana is the most well represented state with five in-state signees, followed by four players from Mississippi and Texas and one from Alabama and Georgia respectively.
 
Of the 15 signees nine will be heading to Ruston from the high school ranks while six will arrive by the way of junior college.
 
Three offensive linemen, two running backs, two wide receivers and a quarterback make up the offensive side of the ball while three defensive lineman, two defensive back and two linebackers represent the defensive signees.


 
2024 Early Signing Class
 
Navarion Benson | DB | 6-0 | 165 | Copiah Lincoln CC | Crystal Springs, Miss.
Junior College: Three-star recruit … Chose LA Tech over Buffalo, FIU, ULM, Jax State, New Mexico State, Grambling State and Troy… Tallied 78 total tackles including 5.5 for loss and two interceptions during his two-year career at Copiah-Lincoln Community College ... Earned second-team NJCAA All-American distinction in 2023 … Registered 41 tackles, including 2.5 for loss in addition to a fumble recovery and four pass breakups in 2023 while earning all-region and first team all-conference honors … Finished his freshman campaign with 37 tackles, including three for loss, a fumble recovery and six pass breakups … Helped lead the Wolves to a 10-2 mark in 2023 and a 5-4 record in 2022.

Coach Cumbie on Navarian Benson…
"Navarion Benson is a corner from Copiah-Lincoln Community College. He has length and athleticism. Navarion is a very competitive corner that has the ability to shutdown opponents. He shows physicality in the run game."
 
Jacob Bradford | DL | 6-2 | 265 | St. Stanislaus HS | Pass Christian, Miss.
High School: Three Star recruit who chose Louisiana Tech over offers from Colorado, Army, Jacksonville State and Navy … Lettered all four years at St. Stanislaus where he has tallied over 300 tackles, 67 tackles for loss and 23 sacks during his career… Holds the all-time St. Stanislaus sacks record … Three-time all-state selection … Academic Honor Roll recipient … Registered 101 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss and seven sacks as senior … Led St. Stanislaus to a 9-2 mark and district title as a senior… Tallied 112 tackles, 9.5 sacks and 30 tackles for loss as a junior … As a sophomore Bradford recorded 85 tackles including 16 for loss… He is the younger brother of former Bulldog Jordan Bradford who played at Tech from 2015-18 and earned All-Conference USA Honorable Mention honors."

Coach Cumbie on Jacob Bradford…
"Jacob Bradford is a big physical interior defensive lineman. He is very athletic and creates problems with his athleticism and ball get off. His older brother played here and it means a lot to him to be a Louisiana Tech Bulldog."
 
Cyler Corn | OL | 6-6 | 295 | Groesbeck HS |Groesbeck, Texas
High School: Chose Louisiana Tech over Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Iowa State … Earned first-team all-district honors as an offensive lineman under head coach Jerry Bomar at Groesbeck High School… He also served as the Goats punter, tallying over 600 yards punting during his prep career. Led the Goats to a 7-4 overall record and a 4-2 record in district play as a senior ... Also competes in track and field ... Posted junior shotput reps of 45-9 and 45-5, along with discus throws of 133-3 and 124-5.

Coach Cumbie on Cyler Corn…
"Cyler Corn is very athletic, powerful and big offensive lineman from Groesbeck, Texas. We evaluated him at one of our camps and Coach Nathan Young and I have loved him ever since."

Austin Ellis | OL | 6-4 | 290 | Bullard HS | Whitehouse, Texas
High School: Three Star recruit … Drew interest Tarleton State, Texas A&M Commerce and UNLV… Was a first-team all-district and first-team All-Rose Country selection at offensive tackle… Also earned KETK Athlete of the Week honors during his prep career …  Played a pivotal role in the Panthers turnaround during his time at White house improving the team from 0-10 his sophomore year to 6-4 as a senior … Also participates in powerlifting … Brother Payton plays football at Texas A&M Commerce.

Coach Cumbie on Austin Ellis…
"Austin Ellis is from Bullard High School. He is an interior offensive lineman that is very smart. He is a coach's kid that has been around the game his whole life. He'll do a great job with identifications with us and projects as a guard or center but has played many positions in high school."
 
Jakari Foster | DB | 6-0 | 202 | Hutchinson CC | Piedmont, Ala.
 
Junior College: Appeared in 11 games in two seasons at Hutchinson Community College where he helped lead the Blue Dragons 21-2 overall record and a NJCAA National Championship appearance in 2022 … Tallied 25 total tackles, a forced fumble and one interception and three pass breakups in 2023 … Tallied four tackles and one pass breakup in 2022 … Spent his freshman year at North Alabama where he did not see game action … Prepped at Piedmont High School, playing both defensive back and wide receiver … Earned first-team all-state honors at defensive back in 2020 and 2019 … Finished with 45 tackles, eight tackles for loss, nine pass breakups and two interceptions in 2020 … Caught the game-winning touchdown pass in Piedmont's victory over Mobile Christian in the 2019 3A title game.

Coach Cumbie on Jakari Foster…
"Jakari Foster is a safety from Hutchinson Community College. We saw him play in person in the NJCAA Semifinals. He is a very physical player that plays sideline-to-sideline. He got his opportunity as the season went on and made an impact." 
 
Tamarcus Gray Jr. | WR | 6-1 | 180 | Texas HS | Texarkana, Texas
UTSA … Earned first-team all-district honors as a senior … Led Texas high to a 11-2 record and a district championship in 2023 … Finished his junior season with 38 catches for 785 yards and seven touchdowns to earn first-team all district honors while helping lead Texas High to an 8-3 mark and playoff spot… Also lettered in track and basketball … Ran 200 meter times of 23.16 and 23.37 in the spring of 2022.

Coach Cumbie on Tamarcus Gray Jr…
"Tamarcus Gray is an explosive receiver from Texas High. He can stretch the field vertically and has great ball skills. He is a really good route runner. I anticipate him being here this spring and being able to learn our offense and impact our team in the fall." 
 
Ty Keyes | QB | 6-2 | 225 | East Mississippi CC | Taylorsville, Miss.
Three-star recruit … Chose LA Tech over offers from Arkansas State, Charlotte and East Carolina, ULM, Stephen F. Austin, UT Martin, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Florida A&M and McNeese State … First-Team NJCAA All-American in 2023 ... Led the NJCAA with 3,350 passing yards and 33 touchdowns while completing 58.2 percent of his passes in 2023 … Finished second nationally with an average of 257.7 passing yards per game … NJCAA Region 23 Most Valuable Player … MACCC All-North Division Offensive Player of the Year … Also rushed for 243 yards on 71 carries and three touchdowns … Helped East Mississippi CC go 10-3 overall with an undefeated 6-0 mark in conference play with a national runner-up finish … Spent his freshman year at Southern Miss … Threw for 355 yards and three touchdowns with four interceptions while at Southern Miss … In high school he was a three-time state champion quarterback as a freshman, junior, and senior at the Mississippi 2A level while at Taylorsville High School … Was rated as the No. 7 dual threat quarterback in the country coming out of high school and was the Gatorade High School player of the year in the state of Mississippi in 2019 and 2020.

Coach Cumbie on Ty Keyes…
"Ty Keyes is a quarterback from East Mississippi Community College and one of the leading passers in all of junior college throwing the football. He led his team to the national championship game this past season. He is a winner that is very accurate with the football and is able to make throws in the pocket and also on the move. We are excited to add him into our quarterback room."
 
Adam Lamar | DL | 6-3 | 274 | Hutchinson CC | Macon, Ga.
Junior College: Chose LA Tech over offers from Ball State, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Incarnate Word, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Lamar and Stephen F. Austin, UAB and ULM … Appeared in 19 games in two seasons at Hutchinson Community College where he helped lead the Blue Dragons 21-2 overall record and a NJCAA National Championship appearance in 2022 … Tallied 17 total tackles, 2.5 sacks and three tackles for loss while also registering two pass breakups in 2023 … Recorded 15 tackles, two sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss in 2022 while appearing in nine games.

Coach Cumbie on Adam Lamar…
"Adam Lamar is a defensive lineman from Hutchinson Community College. He has a quick first step and is an interior defensive lineman. Adam is athletic and has very strong hands. He will be here in the spring for us."
 
Jadon Mayfield | LB | 6-0  | 220 | Ruston HS | Ruston, La.
High School: Three star recruit … Held offers from 12 schools including Central Michigan, Middle Tennessee and Sam Houston … Accumulated 235 tackles, 10.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions his junior and senior seasons … Led the Bearcats to 14-0 record and a state championship as a senior while tallying 116 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and six sacks… Registered 12 tackles, including two for loss and 2.5 sacks in a state championship win over Zachary … As a junior in 2022 he earned first-team all-state and all-district honors while being named District MVP, Lincoln Parish MVP and Defensive MVP of the 5A State Championship game, helping lead Ruston to 13-2 record and 5A State Championship runner-up finish … Tallied 119 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two interceptions while also adding six rushing touchdowns in 2022… Garnered first-team all-state and all-district honors in 2021 while recording 100 tackles, three sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

Coach Cumbie on Jadon Mayfield…
"Jadon Mayfield is an all-everything linebacker from the state champion Ruston Bearcats. Jadon has a high football IQ and makes plays sideline-to-sideline. He has the potential to be an impact player on our defense."
 
Andrew Richard | OL | 6-3 | 300 | Central HS | Central, La.
High School: Chose LA Tech over Troy, ULL, Southern Miss, Mississippi Valley State, Nicholls and Southeast Missouri State … Three-time second-team all-district selection … Led Central to a 9-4 record and 5A state quarterfinal appearance in 2023 … Graded out at 89% during his high school career in 1,853 snaps of game action … Paved the way for over 1,000 rushing yards during his senior season … Led the Wildcats to a 7-4 mark and No. 6 seed in the 2021 LHSAA playoffs as a sophomore.

Coach Cumbie on Andrew Richard…
"Andrew Richard is a powerful center from Central High School in Baton Rouge. He came to camp. He is athletic and very powerful. Andrew has a good first step and can move people off the ball in the run game."
 
Fred Robertson | RB | 5-9 | 185 | Warren Easton HS | New Orleans, La.
High School: Three-star recruit … Chose Louisiana Tech over Arkansas State, Indiana, ULM, Marshall, Memphis, Southern Miss, Toledo and Troy… Ran for over 800 yards in a limited with seven touchdowns while averaging 7.7 yards per carry in a shortened senior season… Rushed for 2,178 yards and 32 touchdowns as a junior to earn LHSAA 4A All-State Honors propelling Warren Easton to a district 11-4A title and a No. 1 seed in the Division I select playoffs … Ran for a season-high 320 yards three touchdowns against McDonogh 35 in 2023 … Also lettered in track … Ran 100-meter times of 11.19, 11.22 and 11.25 as a junior in the spring of 2023.

Coach Cumbie on Fred Robertson…
"Friday night Fred from Warren Easton High School. He is a dynamic playmaker that has elite speed and power to break tackles. We are excited to have Fred coming to us from New Orleans as a difference-maker in our backfield."
 
Jay Simon | WR | 5-10 | 170 | Calvary Baptist HS | Shreveport, La.
High School: Three-star recruit … Has accumulated over 2,000 career all-purpose yards during his time at Calvary Baptist High School in Shreveport while earning all-district, all-metro and academic honor roll distinction … Led the Cavaliers to a 14-0 record and a state championship as a senior… As a junior in 2022 he caught 24 passes for 371 yards and seven touchdowns helping Calvary Baptist post a 9-3 record … Recorded 33 receptions for 516 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore in 2021 … Averaged over 15 yards a catch as a junior and sophomore … Son of former Tech standout, NFL player John Simon.

Coach Cumbie on Jay Simon…
"Jay Simon is a receiver out of Calvary Baptist and the son of John Simon who is a Louisiana Tech legend. We are looking forward to Jay getting into our offense. He has great ball skills and is a coach's kid that understands the game. It means a lot to him to be at Louisiana Tech. He is a super-talented receiver that will look to have an impact in our offense."
 
Trevell Vivians | DL | 6-4 | 315 | Hinds CC | Philadelphia, Miss.
Junior College: Chose Louisiana Tech over Georgia State, Alcorn State, Lamar, Samford, Akron, Texas State, Coastal Carolina and UMass … Appeared in nine games in 2023 at Hinds CC … Tallied 21 tackles, including five for loss and three sacks … Also registered a pass breakup … Registered 22 tackles, including 5.5 for loss and two sacks in 2022 … Prepped at Choctaw Central High School.

Coach Cumbie on Trevell Vivians…
"Trevell Vivians is a defensive lineman from Hinds Community College. We project him as an interior defensive lineman. He is very powerful and has a low center of gravity. He was a very productive player at Hinds CC and will be here in the spring."
 
Cole Watson | LB | 6-1 | 195 | Tatum HS | Marshall, Texas
High School: Three-star recruit … Accumulated over 200 tackles and 2,700 yards of total offense during his high school career … Helped lead Tatum to a 6-6 overall record including a 4-1 mark in district play as a senior … Rushed for over 1,000 yards and passed for over 1,000 yards with 30 combined touchdowns as a quarterback in 2023 … Watson was a Dave Campbell Mr. Texas Football Player of the Week nominee in week nine of his senior season after throwing for 148 yards and a touchdown in addition to 174 yards rushing and two touchdowns and 16 tackles and a pick-six … Was named  Texas District 11-3A-II Co-MVP as a sophomore and junior … Clocked in at 4.42 in the 40-yard dash while squatting 500 pounds … Also lettered in baseball, basketball, powerlifting and track.

Coach Cumbie on Cole Watson…
"Cole Watson is a linebacker out of Tatum High School that is another coach's kid. His father is the defensive coordinator that has been around his game his whole life. He is a football player that has played numerous positions in high school and comes from a winning program. He has a high competitive character."
 
Omiri Wiggins | RB | 5-10 | 205 | Coffeyville CC | Lafayette, La.
Junior College: Played at Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, Kan. in 2023 … Registered 719 rushing yards on 112 carries for five touchdowns as a freshman in 2023 … Average 6.4 yards per rush and 71.9 yards per contest … Prepped at Acadiana High School in Lafayette, La. … Rushed for over 900 yards with 13 touchdowns to earn District 3-5A Offensive MVP honors as a junior.

Coach Cumbie on Omiri Wiggins…
"A running back from Coffeyville Community College that is originally from Acadiana. Being able to bring him home is important. He is a playmaker out of the backfield that is very difficult to tackle. He is a very productive running back."