Northwestern State adds nine on early National Signing Day

NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State’s 2022 early signing class has a decidedly junior college lean to it.

Head coach Brad Laird on Wednesday’s early National Signing Day announced the addition of nine new Demons, seven of which hail from the JUCO ranks.

“It’s a good start,” Laird said. “That’s what it is. It’s a good start as we build toward the 2022 season. When you talk about recruiting, it doesn’t stop. Today is signing day, but this thing will continue to press forward. We were able today to fill some holes we needed with some older guys mixed in with a couple of high school guys. It’s a start, and we look forward to 2022 as this continues to grow.”

Joining the Demons from the junior college level by signing national letters of intent were: East Central (Mississippi) defensive lineman Ray Gibson, Kilgore College running back Kennieth Lacy, Itawamba Community College defensive tackle JaQuon Lott, Jones College offensive lineman Matt Mabry, East Mississippi wide receiver/return specialist Zach Patterson, Copiah-Lincoln wide receiver Erick Rogers and Coahoma Community College linebacker Dez Williams.

Six of the junior college signees hail from the talent-rich Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference, which long has been a fertile recruiting ground for Northwestern State.

Williams was a first-team All-MACCC North selection at Coahoma, recording 57 tackles to lead the Cougars. He is joined by a pair of defensive linemen in Itawamba’s Lott, who was a preseason All-American, and East Central’s Gibson, who notched 31 tackles and two sacks in two seasons at the Decatur, Mississippi, school.

NSU’s Mississippi JUCO haul was split evenly with a trio of offensive players joining the three defenders.

Patterson joined Williams on the MACCC All-State team, earning first-team honors as a return specialist who averaged 23.6 yards per kick return and 8.5 per punt return. In addition to his return skills, Patterson was the Lions’ third-leading receiver, hauling in 27 passes for 357 yards and a team-best eight touchdowns. Fellow receiver Rogers caught 70 passes in his Copian-Lincoln career, covering 776 yards in 21 games.

Up front, Mabry has a reputation as a locker room leader who “plays fast in the run game and very long in pass protection.” In East Central’s five-game COVID-shortened 2020 season, Mabry posted a single-game high grade of 93 percent against East Central.

Lacy led Kilgore College in rushing in the fall with 474 yards and added 134 more yards in the passing game. In Kilgore’s shortened spring season, Lacy showed his big-play ability, rushing for 604 yards on 72 carries, an average of 8.4 yards per rush.

“Offensively, we were able to add some experience on the interior of the offensive line, at running back and added a couple of guys at receiver,” Laird said. “Defensively, we got a couple of defensive linemen and linebackers who will continue to grow in that area. I’m excited about what our coaches were able to do. This time frame of playing in the spring, fast forward to playing 11 games in the fall and to end it with the signing period is a credit to our coaches, our staff and our players for what they did throughout this process.”

Laird credited assistant coaches Josh Jones and Joey Fitzgerald for the success in recruiting Mississippi.

“Their experiences they had recruiting those areas in the past and the relationships they had built in the past really helped us there,” Laird said.

Both of the Demons’ high school signees in the early signing period came on the defensive side of the ball.

Edna Karr linebacker Tory Morgan and Port Arthur (Texas) Memorial defensive end Christian Thomas became the first two prep signees in NSU’s class of 2022.

Thomas, a three-time Super Gold Team selection, hails from the same high school as current Demon linebacker Jomard Valsin while Morgan is the younger brother of former Demon running back Trevor Morgan.

Morgan meanwhile led Louisiana Class 4A defenders in tackles as a junior with 131 (42 for loss) and followed that by earning Defensive Player of the Year honors in the district as a senior, finishing with 119 tackles (25 for loss). A year ago, Morgan played his first career game at Turpin Stadium, racking up 16 tackles in a loss to Carencro.

“We’re going to sign the majority of our high school young men in February,” Laird said. “Both of them had been on campus, which was key for us to be able to sign them. They had been here and had the opportunity to see Natchitoches and Northwestern State and mingle with our coaches. That was important in our process to sign them.”

Morgan’s performances in his final two seasons did not surprise Laird.

“I remember watching him as a sophomore in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs and seeing the impact he had for that program he had for that program then,” Laid said. “Then you add the relationship with his brother, Trevor who played for us for the past five years. To be able to get that caliber of player from that program was big for us.”

2022 Northwestern State Early Signing Class
Ray Gibson, DL, 6-2, 305, Philadelphia, Mississippi, Neshoba Central HS/East Central CC
Kennieth Lacy, RB, 5-9, 185, Kilgore, Texas, Kilgore HS/Kilgore College
JaQuon Lott, DL, 6-4, 315, Lambert, Mississippi, Madison S. Palmer HS/Itawamba CC
Matt Mabry, OL, 6-3, 305, Mendenhall, Mississippi, Mendenhall HS/Jones College
Tory Morgan, LB, 5-11, 213, New Orleans, Louisiana, Edna Karr HS
Zach Patterson, WR/RS, 5-11, 180, Corinth, Mississippi, Corinth HS/East Mississippi CC
Erick Rogers, WR, 5-11, 190, Shannon, Mississippi, Shannon HS/Copiah-Lincoln CC
Christian Thomas, DE, 6-2, 235, Port Arthur, Texas, Memorial HS
Dez Wililams, LB, 6-0, 217, Mound Bayou, Mississippi, Cleveland Central HS/Coahoma CC

Ray Gibson
DL, 6-2, 305, Philadelphia, MS, Neshoba Central HS/East Central CC
Prior to NSU: Played two seasons at East Central Community College in Decatur, Mississippi … collected 17 tackles, two blocked kicks, a sack, a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery as a sophomore … had 14 tackles (3.5 for loss) and a sack in his freshman season.
High School: Three-year letterman at Neshoba Central … recorded 78 tackles (47 solo), 2.5 sacks, one interception and a forced fumble as a senior … notched 69 tackles (47 solo), two pass breakups and a fumble recovery as a junior … racked up 77 tackles (57 solo), three fumble recoveries, one sack and a forced fumble as a sophomore … team won 20 games in his final two seasons … also competed in powerlifting … member of the Bible Club.
Personal: Son of Mary and Ray Gibson … has two brothers – Malik Triplett and N’kosi Gibson … majoring in health and exercise science who hopes to play in the NFL … life’s ambition is for his family to be settled and never to worry about anything else.

Kennieth Lacy
RB, 5-9, 185, Kilgore, TX, Kilgore HS/Kilgore College
Prior to NSU: Played two seasons at Kilgore College, earning all-conference honors … led the Rangers with 474 rushing yards and caught nine passes for 134 yards as a sophomore, totaling three touchdowns … rushed for 604 yards on 72 carries (8.4 average) and scored four touchdowns as a freshman … added eight catches for the Rangers in his first season.
High School: Two-year letterman for coach Mike Wood’s Bulldogs … two-time, first-team all-district selection … named one of Texas’ top 100 running backs as a senior … helped lead Kilgore to back-to-back first-round playoff appearances … three-year track and field letterman was part of a state meet 4×100 relay participant as a sophomore … reached the regionals in the 4×100 as a junior … graduated with a 3.2 grade point average.
Personal: Son of Yolanda English and Burnett Lacy Jr. … has six brothers and two sisters … majoring in psychology … wants to play in the NFL, coach or use his degree … draws inspiration from his mother.

JaQuon Lott
DT, 6-4, 315, Lambert, MS, Madison S. Palmer HS/Itawamba CC
Prior to NSU: Played three seasons at Itawamba Community College … preseason fourth-team All-American and member of the Rivals.Com Defensive Tackle Watch List … notched nine tackles in nine games in 2021 … had 10 tackles in five games in the spring 2021 season … had six tackles (one for loss) in the 2019 season … graduated with a 3.21 grade point average.
High School: Four-year letterman helped Palmer reach the playoffs three straight seasons … team reached the second round of the playoffs and won eight games his senior year … earned all-state and all-region honors … Student Council President also was a member of the Beta Club, the President’s List and the honor roll … graduated with a 3.62 grade point average.
Personal: Son of Taira Lott and Richard Digg’s … has two sisters – Angel Bee and Camille – and one brother, Richard Digg’s Jr. … majoring in criminal justice and wants to become state trooper then possibly work for the FBI … life’s ambition is “to own a security firm for famous people and own a couple of businesses.”

Matt Mabry
OL, 6-3, 305, Mendenhall, MS, Mendenhall HS/Jones College
Prior to NSU: Played three seasons at Jones College … regarded as a leader in the offensive line room … had a season-best grade of 93% against East Central in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season … honor roll student was a member of the All-MACJC Academic Team as a freshman.
High School: Played for coach Monroe Allen’s Tigers … helped Mendenhall win the 2017 district championship … graduated with a 3.0 grade point average.
Personal: Son of Lashonda and Lamont Mabry … has one brother, Jay, and one sister, Madison … majoring in criminal justice … life’s ambition is to play in the NFL.

Tory Morgan
LB, 5-11, 213, New Orleans, LA, Edna Karr HS
High School: Named district Defensive Player of the Year as a senior after recording 119 tackles (25 for loss), eight sacks and four forced fumbles as Karr reached the state quarterfinals … two-year team captain led Louisiana Class 4A in tackles as a junior with 131, including 42 for loss … also broke up three passes and recovered two fumbles for the state runner-ups … recorded 73 tackles (15 for loss), forced one fumble and had one sack for the state champions in his sophomore year … saw time on special teams as a freshman for a 14-0 state title team … four-sport letterman at Karr also played basketball and baseball and ran track … owns a 3.7 grade point average and is part of the A-B Honor Roll.
Personal: Son of Lorna Morgan and Vincent Troullier … has two brothers, Trevor and Taylor … Trevor is a former NSU football player … plans to major in business administration with a marketing concentration … would like to play in the NFL or begin his own real estate business … life’s ambition is to create generational wealth for his family and to take his hard work and talent to the highest level. “Every day, I do it for my mom in heaven looking down on me, just to make her and my family proud.”

Zach Patterson
WR, 5-11, 180, Corinth, MS, Corinth HS/East Mississippi CC
Prior to NSU: Played two seasons at East Mississippi Community College, helping lead the Lions to an undefeated regular season … earned first-team All-MACCC North Division honors as a return specialist, averaging 23.6 yards per kick return and 8.5 yards per punt return … third-leading receiver, catching 27 passes for 357 yards and a team-leading eight touchdowns in 2021 … caught 21 passes for 218 yards as a freshman in 2019 … averaged 20.8 yards per kick return and 6.9 per punt return as a freshman … returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown in a playoff loss to eventual national champion Mississippi Gulf Coast … ranked second on the team in all-purpose yardage (808) as a freshman … was a 2019 teammate of current NSU safety PJ Herrington at East Mississippi.
High School: Three-year letterman for coach Justin Dye’s Warriors … first-team all-state selection as a senior and played in the Bernard Blackwell Classic All-Star Game … rushed for 1,542 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior, averaging 11.7 yards per carry … rushed for more than 1,000 yards in his junior and senior seasons and set the school record for single-season touchdowns as a senior … earned Daily Corinth Player of the Week honors twice and the Wendy’s Giant Player of the Week once … two-year track letterman was the state 200-meter champion as a senior … two-year powerlifting letterman was a champion each season … graduated with a 3.2 grade point average and was a member of the principal’s honor roll and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Personal: Son of Tammy Leatherwood and Gene Patterson … has one sister, Zariah … majoring in electrical engineering technology … plans to become a coach or start his own business … life’s ambition is to “become an inspiration to others, travel the world and be financially secure.”

Erick Rogers
WR, 5-11, 190, Shannon, MS, Shannon HS/Copiah-Lincoln CC
Prior to NSU: Played three seasons at Copiah-Lincoln Community College … caught 70 passes for 776 yards and seven touchdowns in 21 career games … best season came in 2021 with 27 catches for 315 yards and three scores.
High School: Played for coach Daryl Carter’s Red Raiders … graduated with a 3.0 grade point average.
Personal: Son of Robin Bryant and Buddy Rogers … majoring in business administration … wants to own a business … life’s ambition is to “take care of everybody.”

Christian Thomas
DE, 6-2, 235, Port Arthur, TX, Memorial HS
High School: Three-time all-district and two-time Super Gold first-team selection for the Titans … helped lead Memorial to the playoffs all three seasons … nominated for the Willie Ray Award as a junior.
Personal: Son of Sabrina and Chris Thomas … has one brother, Chris Jr., and one sister, Krissy … plans to major in health and exercise science … wants to play in the NFL or coach at the high school level … life’s ambition is to graduate college and pursue his dreams.

Dez Williams
LB, 6-0, 217, Mound Bayou, MS, Cleveland Central HS/Coahoma CC
Prior to NSU: First-team All-MACCC honoree in 2021, notching 57 tackles (2 for loss), one pass breakup, one quarterback hurry and 0.5 sacks as Coahoma’s top tackler in his sophomore season … had 24 tackles (2 for loss), two sacks and an interception as a freshman.
High School: Played for coach Kendrick Woodard’s Wolves … graduated with a 3.1 grade point average.
Personal: Son of Jennifer Williams … has four siblings … majoring in criminal justice … plans to get his degree and play in the NFL.