2024 Lamar Cardinals football team explained

The 2024 Lamar Cardinals football team represented Lamar University in the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Cardinals played their home games at Provost Umphrey Stadium in Beaumont, Texas, and competed in the Southland Conference. They were led by second–year head coach Pete Rossomando. The Cardinals finished the season with a 7–5 overall record, and a 4–3 record in Southland Conference play tied with Stephen F. Austin for a third–place conference finish. The 2023–24 seasons mark the Cardinal's first consecutive winning seasons since 1966–67.^[1]

Preseason

Recruiting

Sources:^{[2] [3]}

Back	B		Center	C		Cornerback	CB		Defensive back	DB
Defensive end	DE		Defensive lineman	DL		Defensive tackle	DT		End	E
Fullback	FB		Guard	G		Halfback	HB		Kicker	K
Kickoff returner	KR		Offensive tackle	OT		Offensive lineman	OL		Linebacker	LB
Long snapper	LS		Punter	P		Punt returner	PR		Quarterback	QB
Running back	RB		Safety	S		Tight end	TE		Wide receiver	WR

Incoming transfers

The Cardinals added 9 transfer players. Two were signed during the early signing period. The remaining seven were signed on National Signing Day.

Name	Pos.	Height	Weight	Hometown	Year	Prev school
Christian Booker	DL	6’2	277		Junior	East Texas Baptist
Xavier Coleman	RB	5’8	185		Junior	Boston College
Dominic Eldridge	OL	6’5	310		Junior	Blinn
Edward Gilds	DB	6’0	185		Junior	Riverside City College
Ronnie Hamrick	DB	6’0	195		Junior	Texas State
DeJuan Lewis	DB	5’10	195		Sophomore	Prairie View A&M
Hamilton Moore	DB	6’0	220		Senior	Yale
Dameon Smallwood	OL	6’5	315		Junior	North Texas
Amari Williams	DL	6’0	220		Junior	Fullerton College/Liberty

Incoming high school recruits

Sources:^{[2] [3]} Lamar signed 20 high school recruits with 15 signed on Early Signing Day and 5 added on National Signing Day.

Preseason poll

The Southland Conference released their preseason poll on July 22, 2024. The Cardinals were picked to finish fourth in the conference and received one first-place vote.^[4]

1	Nicholls	119 (9)
2	Incarnate Word	113 (8)
3	Southeastern Louisiana	94
4	Lamar	88 (1)
5	Stephen F. Austin	72
6	McNeese	64
7	Houston Christian	41
8	Texas A&M–Commerce	37
9	Northwestern State	25

Preseason All–Southland Teams

The Southland Conference announced the 2024 preseason all-conference football team selections on July 22, 2024. Lamar had a total of 12 players selected.^[5]

Offense

1st Team

• Andre Dennis – wide receiver, JR
• Jevale Roberson – offensive lineman, SR
• Elias Ripley – offensive lineman, SR

2nd Team

• Khalan Griffin – running back, SR
• Deryn Gibbs – tight end/halfback, JR
• Sevonne Rhea – wide receiver, SR
• Reggie Brooks – offensive lineman, JR
• Chris Esqueda – placekicker, SR

Defense

1st Team

• Caleb Williams – defensive lineman, SR
• Ramond Stevens – defensive back, SR

2nd Team

• Jaymond Jackson – defensive lineman, SR
• Kristian Pugh – defensive back, JR

Coaching staff and roster

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Game summaries

at Texas State (FBS)

See also: 2024 Texas State Bobcats football team.

Statistics	LAM	TXST
First downs	18	39
Total yards	63–288	81–486
Rushing yards	29–51	41–213
Passing yards	237	273
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	16–34–0	28–40–1
Time of possession	27:56	31:59

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Lamar	Passing	Robert Coleman	16/34, 237 yards, 2 TD
Rushing	Khalan Griffin	16 carries, 71 yards
Receiving	Kyndon Fuselier	6 receptions, 107 yards
Texas State	Passing		21/30, 238 yards, 3 TD, INT
Rushing		28 carries, 156 yards, TD
Receiving	Joey Hobert	6 receptions, 91 yards, 2 TD

Mississippi Valley State

See also: 2024 Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils football team.

Statistics	MVSU	LAM
First downs	20	24
Total yards	72–280	67–438
Rushing yards	36–72	37–222
Passing yards	208	216
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	21–36–2	12–30–1
Time of possession	31:47	28:13

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Mississippi Valley State	Passing	Jayden Sisk	18/31, 171 yards, 1 TD
Rushing	Ty'Jarian Williams	10 carries, 45 yards
Receiving	Nathan Rembert	9 receptions, 95 yards
Lamar	Passing	Robert Coleman	12/30, 216 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing	Khalan Griffin	23 carries, 197 yards, 2 TD
Receiving	JaCorey Hyder	4 receptions, 117 yards, 1 TD

No. 20 Weber State

See also: 2024 Weber State Wildcats football team.

Statistics	WEB	LAM
First downs	18	16
Total yards	66–331	62–385
Rushing yards	36–147	42–203
Passing yards	185	182
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	22–30–0	11–20–1
Time of possession	27:33	32:21

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Weber State	Passing	Richie Munoz	22/30, 184 yards, 1 TD
Rushing	Damon Bankston	23 carries, 84 yards 1 TD
Receiving	Jacob Sharp	7 receptions, 81 yards
Lamar	Passing	Jakolby Longino	5/6, 121 yards, 2 TD
Rushing	Khalan Griffin	21 carries, 91 yards
Receiving	Damien Moore	1 reception, 72 yards 1 TD

Texas Southern

See also: 2024 Texas Southern Tigers football team.

Statistics	TXSO	LAM
First downs	18	17
Total yards	59–278	52–249
Rushing yards	49–223	35–186
Passing yards	55	63
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	6–10–0	9–17–1
Time of possession	35:17	24:43

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Texas Southern	Passing	Jordan Davis	6/10, 55 yards, 0 TD
Rushing	Quintell Quinn	23 carries, 149 yards 0 TD
Receiving	Kerien Charlo	2 receptions, 23 yards 0 TD
Lamar	Passing	Jakolby Longino	9/16, 63 yards, 1 TD
Rushing	Khalan Griffin	22 carries, 132 yards 2 TD
Receiving	Izaha Jones	3 receptions, 27 yards 0 TD

at No. 7 Central Arkansas

See also: 2024 Central Arkansas Bears football team.

Statistics	LAM	UCA
First downs	16	26
Total yards	220	439
Rushing yards	108	281
Passing yards	112	158
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	11-20-1	5-22-1
Time of possession	26:28	33:32

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Lamar	Passing	Robert Coleman	11/20 122 yds. 1 INT
Rushing	Khalan Griffin	18 carries, 74 yds, 1 TD
Receiving	Sevonne Rhea	5 Receptions, 55 yds
Central Arkansas	Passing	Will McElvain	15/22 158 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing	ShunDerrick Powell	25 carries, 187 yds, 2 TD
Receiving	Trejan Bridges	4 receptions, 60 yds

Stephen F. Austin

See also: 2024 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team.

Statistics	SFA	LAM
First downs	24	25
Total yards	64–443	78–456
Rushing yards	27–114	36–162
Passing yards	329	294
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	26–37–0	23–42–1
Time of possession	27:08	32:52

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Stephen F. Austin	Passing	Sam Vidlak	26/37, 329 yards, TD
Rushing	Qualan Jones	21 carries, 119 yards, 2 TD
Receiving	Kylon Harris	10 receptions, 106 yards, TD
Lamar	Passing	Robert Coleman	22/41, 279 yards, TD, INT
Rushing	Khalan Griffin	11 carries, 59 yards, TD
Receiving	Sevonne Rhea	6 receptions, 166 yards, TD

at Texas A&M–Commerce

Statistics	LAM	TAMC
First downs	23	17
Total yards	73–388	62–269
Rushing yards	44–262	21–27
Passing yards	126	242
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	14–29–0	24–41–1
Time of possession	33:28	26:32

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Lamar	Passing	Robert Coleman	12/26, 98 yards, TD
Rushing	Khalan Griffin	23 carries, 158 yards
Receiving	Devyn Gibbs	4 receptions, 39 yards, TD
Texas A&M-Commerce	Passing	Ron Peace	22/38, 237 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing	K. J. Shankle	6 carries, 15 yards
Receiving	Christian Jourdain	8 receptions, 136 yards, TD

at Northwestern State

See also: 2024 Northwestern State Demons football team.

Statistics	LAM	NWST
First downs	22	18
Total yards	493	329
Rushing yards	268	98
Passing yards	225	231
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	11-17-0	19-38-2
Time of possession	29:28	30:32

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Lamar	Passing	Robert Coleman	8/14, 202 yds, 3 TD
Rushing	Khalan Griffin	19 carries, 120 yds, 1 TD
Receiving	Sevonne Rhea	2 receptions, 74 yds, 1 TD
Northwestern State	Passing	Quaterius Hawkins	14/25, 139 yds, 2 INT
Rushing	Kareame Cotton	5 carries, 40 yds
Receiving	Myles Kit-Denton	5 receptions, 77 yds

Southeastern Louisiana

See also: 2024 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team.

Statistics	SELA	LAM
First downs	17	21
Total yards	73–593	70–354
Rushing yards	32–89	47–230
Passing yards	204	124
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	24–41–1	11–23–2
Time of possession	28:06	31:48

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Southeastern Louisiana	Passing	Eli Sawyer	23/38, 208 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing	Antonio Martin, Jr.	18 carries, 62 yards, 2 TD
Receiving	Darius Lewis	7 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TD
Lamar	Passing	Robert Coleman	9/19, 81 yards, 2 INT
Rushing	Khalan Griffin	29 carries, 144 yards
Receiving	Kyndon Fuselier	4 receptions, 70 yards, 1 TD

at No. 8 Incarnate Word

See also: 2024 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team.

Statistics	LAM	UIW
First downs	18	26
Total yards	61–330	72–606
Rushing yards	29–72	38–204
Passing yards	258	402
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	21–32–0	23–34–0
Time of possession	31:10	28:50

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Lamar	Passing	Robert Coleman	17/22, 238 yards, 3 TD
Rushing	Major Bowden	5 carries, 44 yards
Receiving	Kyndon Fuselier	6 receptions, 90 yards
Incarnate Word	Passing		23/33, 402 yards, 5 TD
Rushing	Dekalon Taylor	15 carries, 98 yards
Receiving	Jalen Walthall	7 receptions, 165 yards, TD

Nicholls

See also: 2024 Nicholls Colonels football team.

Statistics	NICH	LAM
First downs	16	17
Total yards	266	301
Rushing yards	68	150
Passing yards	198	151
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	21-34-3	12-21-2
Time of possession	28:32	31:28

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Nicholls	Passing	Pat McQuaid	21-34-3, 198 yds, 1 TD
Rushing	Colin Guggenheim	7 carries, 22 yds
Receiving	Terry Matthews	7 receptions, 85 yds
Lamar	Passing	Robert Coleman	12-21-2, 151 yds, 2 TD
Rushing	Khalan Griffin	21 carries, 89 yds
Receiving	Kyndon Fuselier	3 receptions, 84 yds

at McNeese (Battle of the Border)

See also: 2024 McNeese Cowboys football team and Battle of the Border (Lamar–McNeese).

Statistics	LAM	MCN
First downs	24	22
Total yards	404	386
Rushing yards	247	130
Passing yards	157	256
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	12–26–0	24–34–0
Time of possession	27:43	32:16

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Lamar		Passing	Robert Coleman	8/15, 100 yards, 1 TD
Rushing	RJ Carver	22 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Kyndon Fuselier	5 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD
McNeese	Passing	Alex Flores	24/34, 256 yards, 1 TD
Rushing	Joshon Barbie	24 carries, 98 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Jer'Michael Carter	6 receptions, 77 yards, 1 TD

^{[6] [7] [8] [9] [10]}

Conference awards and honors

Cardinal players received player of the week recognition four times during the season.

Weekly awards

Weekly honors!style=""

Honors	Player	Position	Date Awarded	Ref.
SLC Special Teams Player of the Week	Chase Leon	K/P	September 9 2024	[11]
SLC Defensive Player of the Week	DeJuan Lewis	DB	September 16, 2024
SLC Special Teams Player of the Week	Ben Woodard	K/P	October 21, 2024
SLC Offensive Player of the Week	Kyndon Fuselier	WR	November 18, 2024

Postseason All–Southland Teams

The Southland Conference announced the 2024 all-conference football team selections on November 26, 2024. No Lamar players were named as first team members. Lamar had a total of 8 players including 6 offensive and 2 defensive selected as second team members.^[12]

Offense
2nd Team

• Khalan Griffin – Running back, SR
• Devyn Gibbs – Tight end, JR
• Kyndon Fuselier – Wide receiver, JR
• Elias Ripley – Offensive lineman, SR
• Jevale Roberson – Offensive lineman, SR
• Kortez Winslow – Offensive lineman, R–FR

Defense
2nd Team

• Caleb Williams – Defensive lineman, SR
• Kristian Pugh – Defensive back, JR

Notes and References

1. Web site: James Dixon . Cardinals Take Thrilling Victory in Battle of the Border . Lamar University Athletics . November 26, 2024 . November 23, 2024.
2. Web site: James Dixon . LU Football Adds 12 on National Signing Day . Lamar University Athletics . February 7, 2024 . February 7, 2024.
3. Web site: James Dixon . Rossomando Adds 17 Players to Roster on Early Signing Day . Lamar University Athletics . February 7, 2024 . December 20, 2023.
4. Web site: Southland Conference Announces 2024 Football Preseason Poll and All-Conference Team . www.southland.org . 24 July 2024 . en.
5. Web site: Cards Land 12 On Preseason All-SLC Squads; Picked 4th in Preseason Poll . lamarcardinals.com . James . Dixon . 22 July 2024 . 26 July 2024 . en.
6. Web site: 2024 Lamar Football Schedule. fbschedules.com. January 27, 2024.
7. Web site: 2024 Football Schedule . Lamar University Athletics . January 27, 2024.
8. Web site: Lamar Cardinals Schedule 2024 . ESPN Enterprises, Inc. . August 25, 2024.
9. Web site: Lamar Cardinals . CBS Interactive . November 26, 2024.
10. Web site: Lamar Cardinals . FOX SPORTS™, SPEED™, SPEED.COM™ & © 2024 Fox Media LLC and Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC . November 26, 2024.
11. Web site: James Hill . UIW's Walthall, Nicholls' Ennis, McNeese's Johnson Named Opening Jersey Mike's Football Players of the Week . Southland Conference . November 26, 2024 . November 26, 2024.
12. Web site: James Hill . Southland Announces 2024 All-Conference Football Team and Superlatives . Southland Conference . November 27, 2024 . November 26, 2024.