Lamar sports information

BEAUMONT – For a second straight year the Lamar football team has been recognized for its recruiting efforts.

Just a year after bringing in the nation’s fourth-ranked FCS recruiting class, the 2017 class has been considered the second-best within the Southland Conference. The thing that makes this class even more special is the fact that the Cardinals’ coaching staff was assembled after Christmas and had been together just a month by the time National Signing Day arrived.

“This was a race from the get-go,” said LU head coach Mike Schultz. “After we assembled our staff, these guys hit the ground running. We got a late start, but I believe they did a great job of putting together a very competitive recruiting class, and we did it in a very short period of time.”

The 2017 class was ranked second to only Sam Houston State, and consisted of 20 individuals – 15 high school standouts and five transfers. Eight of the Cardinals’ signees were rated as a two-star prospect by 247Sports.com, seven of those players were ranked among their respective state’s top 500 recruits and two of those were considered among the top 100.

Although not ranked by 247Sports.com, running back signee Myles Wanza was ranked among Texas’ top 100 prospects according to the Houston Chronicle. Wanza was one of two running backs signed by the Cardinals in February. LU also added Texas A&M transfer James White, who has had three years of experience competing in the Southeastern Conference.

One of the most prominent signees on Feb. 1 was that of West Orange-Stark’s Jack Dallas. He guided West Orange-Stark to three consecutive appearances in the state title game.