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.
Preseason Recruiting Sources: BackBCenterCCornerbackCBDefensive backDBDefensive endDEDefensive linemanDLDefensive tackleDTEndEFullbackFBGuardGHalfbackHBKickerKKickoff returnerKROffensive tackleOTOffensive linemanOLLinebackerLBLong snapperLSPunterPPunt returnerPRQuarterbackQBRunning backRBSafetySTight endTEWide receiverWR
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 Humble, TX Junior East Texas Baptist Xavier Coleman RB 5’8 185 Willingsboro, NJ Junior Boston College Dominic Eldridge OL 6’5 310 Dallas, TX Junior Blinn Edward Gilds DB 6’0 185 New Orleans, LA Junior Riverside City College Ronnie Hamrick DB 6’0 195 Lilburn, GA Junior Texas State DeJuan Lewis DB 5’10 195 Pearland, TX Sophomore Prairie View A&M Hamilton Moore DB 6’0 220 Raleigh, NC Senior Yale Dameon Smallwood OL 6’5 315 Denison, TX Junior North Texas Amari Williams DL 6’0 220 North Miami Beach, FL Junior Fullerton College/Liberty
Incoming high school recruits Sources: 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.
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.
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
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries at Texas State
Statistics LAMTXST 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 StatisticsLamar Passing Robert Coleman 16/34, 237 yards, 2 TD Rushing Khalan Griffin 16 carries, 71 yards Receiving Kyndon Fuselier 6 receptions, 107 yardsTexas State Passing Jordan McCloud 21/30, 238 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Ismail Mahdi 28 carries, 156 yards, TD Receiving Joey Hobert 6 receptions, 91 yards, 2 TD
Mississippi Valley State
Statistics MVSULAM 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 StatisticsMississippi 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 yardsLamar 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
Statistics WEBLAM 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 StatisticsWeber 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 yardsLamar 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
Statistics TXSOLAM 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 StatisticsTexas 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 TDLamar 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
Statistics LAMUCA 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 StatisticsLamar Passing Robert Coleman 11/20 122 yds. 1 INT Rushing Khalan Griffin 18 carries, 74 yds, 1 TD Receiving Sevonne Rhea 5 Receptions, 55 ydsCentral 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
Statistics SFALAM 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 StatisticsStephen 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, TDLamar 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 LAMTAMC 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 StatisticsLamar Passing Robert Coleman 12/26, 98 yards, TD Rushing Khalan Griffin 23 carries, 158 yards Receiving Devyn Gibbs 4 receptions, 39 yards, TDTexas 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
Statistics LAMNWST 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 StatisticsLamar 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 TDNorthwestern 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
Statistics SELALAM 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 StatisticsSoutheastern 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 TDLamar 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
Statistics LAMUIW 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 StatisticsLamar Passing Robert Coleman 17/22, 238 yards, 3 TD Rushing Major Bowden 5 carries, 44 yards Receiving Kyndon Fuselier 6 receptions, 90 yardsIncarnate Word Passing Zach Calzada 23/33, 402 yards, 5 TD Rushing Dekalon Taylor 15 carries, 98 yards Receiving Jalen Walthall 7 receptions, 165 yards, TD
Nicholls
Statistics NICHLAM 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 StatisticsNicholls Passing Pat McQuaid 21-34-3, 198 yds, 1 TD Rushing Colin Guggenheim 7 carries, 22 yds Receiving Terry Matthews 7 receptions, 85 ydsLamar 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)
Statistics LAMMCN 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 StatisticsLamar 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 TDMcNeese 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
Roster
Conference awards and honors Cardinal players received player of the week recognition four times during the season.
Weekly awards Weekly honors Honors Player Position Date Awarded Ref. SLC Special Teams Player of the Week Chase Leon K/P September 9, 2024 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.
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
References