After bringing in the number one rated recruiting class in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in 2010 according to rivals.com, the Lions football team finished the season 2-9, last place in the Southland Conference (SLC). The Lions took the first step in improving as they signed 28 new recruits on National Signing Day. Five of the signees were mid-year signees who are currently enrolled at the university. The Lions lost 19 seniors last season, including eight starters on the defensive side of the ball, which can explain why 17 of the 28 players signed were defensive players.

“We’re very pleased with our 2011 signing class,” stated Coach Lucas in a public information press release. “We met needs that we had in the program and it was evidence of very hard work by our coaching staff, our university administration and faculty members.”

 The Lions began in the secondary where they inked eight defensive backs. In addition to the defensive backs, the Lions added five defensive linemen, four linebackers, three offensive linemen, three wide receivers, two running backs, two tight ends and a quarterback. Thirteen of the players signed were instate, recruits including, two players from nearby Ponchatoula High School in, defensive linemen Jonathan Kinchen and linebacker Kaleb Muse, Jonathan Miles running back of Slidell, C.J. Patton running back of Baton Rouge, Tyler Tourelle, linebacker of Covington, Brian Ensminger quarterback of Hahnville, Chet Hebert offensive linemen of Marrero, Taylor Jenkins, defensive linemen of Baton Rouge, Carl Pearson, wide receiver of Farmerville, Parris Stewart, linebacker of Geismar, Tyler Stoddard, defensive back of Westlake and Marice Sutton, defensive back of New Orleans.

The remaining 14 players were a combination of the five mid-year signings and nine players from outside the state. The five mid-year signees included Xavier Brown, defensive back from Trinity Valley Community College, C. J. Ogbuehi, tight end of Tyler Junior College, Kevin Roberts, defensive back of East Mississippi Junior College, Marice Sutton, defensive back of New Mexico Prep and Jordan Moon, tight end from Pflugerville High School in Texas. Southeastern searched outside the state for the remainder of the recruits, signing players from Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Missouri. The Lions inked, offensive linemen Nick Lawhorn from Foley, Al., defensive back Givonni Dent from Natchez, MS., wide receiver Dean Johnson from Houston, Texas., defensive back Paul Kopesky from Spring, Texas., defensive linemen Galen Nailor of Aldine, Texas., defensive linemen Mario Stovall from Ocean Spring, MS., defensive back Denzel Thompson of Clear Water, FL., offensive linemen Stone Underwood of Brookhaven, MS. and wide receiver Max Ward of The Woodlands, Texas. Coach Lucas is excited about the recruiting class as a whole and believes that some of the players signed will be able to help the Lions immediately. More info and player bios can be found at www.lionsports.net