2023 Lamar Cardinals football team explained

Year:	2023
Team:	Lamar Cardinals
Sport:	football
Conference:	Southland Conference
Short Conf:	Southland
Record:	6–5
Conf Record:	5–2
Head Coach:	Peter Rossomando
Hc Year:	1st
Off Coach:	Will Fleming
Oc Year:	1st
Def Coach:	Drew Christ
Dc Year:	1st
Stadium:	Provost Umphrey Stadium

The 2023 Lamar Cardinals football team represented Lamar University in the 2023 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 first–year head coach Pete Rossomando. The Cardinals finished the season with a 6–5 overall record, and a 5–2 record in Southland Conference play for a third-place conference finish. The 2023 season was the first season since 2018 with an overall winning record.

Preseason

Recruiting

Sources:^{[1] [2]}

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 11 transfer players. One was signed during the early signing period. The remaining ten were signed on National Signing Day.

Name	Pos.	Height	Weight	Hometown	Year	Prev school
Kevin Anderson	S	6’0	200		Senior	Texas State
Knox Boyd	OL	6’0	290		Sophomore	Charlotte
Robert Coleman	QB	6’2	200		Junior	Mt. San Jacinto College
Koronje (KJ) Gilbert	DB	5’10	175		Sophomore	Trinity Valley Community College
Andrew Hardin	S	6’2	200		Sophomore	Youngstown State
Foday Jollah	LB	6’2	220		Senior	Eastern Illinois
Joshua Landrum	S/CB	6’0	190		Junior	Rice
James Perkins	DL	6’4	260		Sophomore	Louisiana–Monroe
Elias Ripley	OL	6’2	290		Junior	Iowa Western
Jah'mar Sanders	WR	5’11	180			New Mexico
Jonavan Tillis	LB	6’3	230		Sophomore	Mt. San Jacinto College

Incoming high school recruits

Sources:^{[1] [3] [4] [2]} Lamar signed 17 high school recruits with 5 signed on Early Signing Day and 12 added on National Signing Day.

Preseason poll

The Southland Conference released their preseason poll on July 24, 2023. The Cardinals were picked to finish seventh in the conference.^[5]

1	Southeastern Louisiana	93 (9)
2	Incarnate Word	91 (7)
3	McNeese	65
4	Nicholls	62
5	Northwestern State	52
6	Texas A&M–Commerce	33
7	Lamar	28
8	Houston Christian	24

Preseason All–Southland Teams

The Southland Conference announced the 2023 preseason all-conference football team selections on July 21, 2023. Lamar had a total of 4 players selected.^[6]

Offense

1st Team

• Khalan Griffin – running back, JR

2nd Team

• Sevonne Rhea – wide receiver, SO

Defense

2nd Team

• Kristian Pugh – defensive back, SO
• Ramond Stevens – defensive back, JR

Coaching staff and roster

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Game summaries

No. 8 Idaho

See also: 2023 Idaho Vandals football team.

@ Louisiana–Monroe

See also: 2023 Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks football team.

@ South Dakota

See also: 2023 South Dakota Coyotes football team.

Statistics

Statistics	Lamar	South Dakota
First downs	22	22
Total yards	274	401
Rushing yards	105	305
Passing yards	169	96
Turnovers	2	2
Time of possession	31:41	28:19

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Lamar	Passing	Robert Coleman	14/24; 144 yds; 1 Int; long 25 yds; sack 7
Rushing	Khalan Griffin	15 attempts; 63 yds; long 10
Receiving	Kyndon Fuselier	4 receptions; 37 yds; long 12
South Dakota	Passing	Aidan Bouman	7/9; 96 yds; 1 Int; 1 TD; long 29 yds
Rushing	Nate Thomas	19 attempts; 164 yds; long 29; 2 TDs
Receiving	Jack Martens	2 receptions; 34 yds; long 29

Lincoln (CA)

Statistics

Statistics	Oaklanders	Cardinals
First downs	10	26
Total yards	97	480
Rushing yards	75	288
Passing yards	22	192
Turnovers	0	1
Time of possession	29:42	30:18

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Oaklanders	Passing	TJ Goodwin	1/18; 18 yds; long 8; sack 5
Rushing	Otis Weah	13 attempts; 52 yds gain; 9 loss; long 14
Receiving	Shammon Gennes	4 receptions; 14 yds; long 8 yds.
Lamar	Passing	Robert Coleman	15/19; 192 yds; long 54; sack 1
Rushing	Khalan Griffin	12 attempts; 117 yds gain; 1 TD; Long 40 yds
Receiving	Major Bowden	4 receptions; 60 yds; long 38 yds.

@ Houston Christian

See also: 2023 Houston Christian Huskies football team.

Statistics

Statistics	Lamar	Huskies
First downs	22	25
Total yards	412	417
Rushing yards	118	189
Passing yards	294	228
Turnovers	3	1
Time of possession	29:41	30:19

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Lamar	Passing	Robert Coleman	19/30; 294 yds.; 2 TDs; long 41 yds; 3 sacks
Rushing	Khalan Griffin	17 attempts; 74 yds; long 14 yds
Receiving	Izaha Jones	7 receptions; 101 yds; long 36 yds
Houston Christian	Passing	Colby Suits	17/35; 228 yds; long 52 yds; 4 sacks
Rushing	Darryle Evans	24 attempts; 136 yds gain; 4 yds loss; long 24 yds
Receiving	Karl Reynolds	6 receptions; 112 yds; long 52 yds.

Northwestern State

See also: 2023 Northwestern State Demons football team.

Statistics	NWST	LAM
First downs	16	15
Total yards	221	265
Rushing yards	81	122
Passing yards	140	143
Turnovers	1	0
Time of possession	29:52	30:08

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northwestern State	Passing	Quaterius Hawkins	20/33, 140 yards, Int 1; long 28 yds; sack 3
Rushing	Kennieth Lacy	6 rushes; 28 yards; long 10 yds
Receiving	Zach Patterson	4 receptions; 42 yards; long 28 yds
Lamar	Passing	Robert Coleman	9/20, 143 yards, TD 1; long 45 yds; sack 1
Rushing	Khalan Griffin	18 rushes; 96 yards; loss 3 yds; TD 1; long 21 yds
Receiving	Andre Dennis	3 receptions, 78 yards; long 45 yds.

@ Southeastern Louisiana

See also: 2023 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team.

Incarnate Word

See also: 2023 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team.

Texas A&M–Commerce

Statistics

Statistics	TAMU–Commerce	Lamar
First downs	19	16
Total yards	300	342
Rushing yards	102	246
Passing yards	198	96
Turnovers	4	1
Time of possession	27:37	32:23

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Texas A&M–Commerce	Passing	Mirko Martos	9/16; 102 total yds; TD 1; long 24; sacks 1
Rushing	Shamenski Rucker	12 attempts; gained 47 yds; lost 11 yds; long 14 yds
Receiving	Austin Samaha	4 receptions; 65 yards; long 26 yds
Lamar	Passing	Robert Coleman	8/14; 96 yds total; TDs 2; Int 1; long 35 yds; sack 2
Rushing	Khalan Griffin	19 attempts; gained 114 yds; lost 1 yd; TD 1; long 51 yds
Receiving	Andre Dennis	5 receptions; 43 yds; long 25 yds

@ Nicholls

See also: 2023 Nicholls Colonels football team.

Statistics

Statistics	Lamar	Nicholls
First downs	18	24
Total yards	416	455
Rushing yards	127	349
Passing yards	289	106
Turnovers	3	0
Time of possession	26:14	33:46

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Lamar	Passing	Robert Coleman	17/35; 289 total yds; TDs 2; INT 2; long 38 yds; sack 3
Rushing	Robert Coleman	14 attempts; gained 93 yds; lost 21 yds; long 28 yds
Receiving	Kyndon Fuselier	3 receptions; 77 yds; TD 1; long 34 yds
Nicholls	Passing	Pat McQuaide	9/17; 106 yds; TD 3; long 40 yds
Rushing	Jaylon Spears	16 attempts; gained 177 yds; TDs 2; long 69 yds
Receiving	Lee Negrotto	1 reception; 40 yds;

McNeese

See also: 2023 McNeese State Cowboys football team.

^{[7] [8] [9] [10] [11]}

Post season national and state teams

Damashjah Harris was named as the Dave Campbell's Texas Football Non-FBS Special Teams Player of the Year^{[12] [13]}

Conference awards and honors

Weekly awards

Cardinals were recognized six times as conference players of the week.

Weekly honors!style=""

Honors	Player	Position	Date Awarded	Ref.
SLC Offensive Player of the Week	Robert Coleman	QB	October 2, 2023	^[14]
SLC Special Teams Player of the Week	Damashja Harris	KR	October 9, 2023	^[15]
SLC Offensive Player of the Week	Sevonne Rhea	WR	October 16, 2023	^[16]
SLC Special Teams Player of the Week	Alphonso Deleon	P	October 30, 2023	^[17]
SLC Special Teams Player of the Week	Damien Alexander	DB	November 6, 2023	^[18]
SLC Special Teams Player of the Week	Ramond Stevens	DB	November 13, 2023	^[19]

Postseason All–Southland Teams

The Southland Conference announced the 2023 all-conference football team selections on November 22, 2023. Lamar had a total of 6 players selected.^[20]

Offense

2nd Team

• Khalan Griffin – running back, JR
• Jevale Roberson – offensive line, JR
• Elias Ripley – offensive line, JR

Defense

1st Team

• Damashja Harris – kick returner, SO

2nd Team

• Caleb Williams – defensive lineman, JR
• Joshua Ofili – defensive back, SR

Notes and References

1. Web site: James Dixon . Cardinals Add 22 on National Signing Day . Lamar University Athletics . November 13, 2023 . February 1, 2023.
2. Web site: James Dixon . Rossomando Era Begins with Three Early Signees . Lamar University Athletics . November 14, 2023 . December 21, 2022.
3. Web site: James Dixon . Cardinals Add DB on Christmas Eve . Lamar University Athletics . November 14, 2023 . December 24, 2022 . Jamarion Evans signed a National Letter of Intent to play football for and continue his education at Lamar University announced head coach Pete Rossomando Saturday morning..
4. Web site: James Dixon . Cardinals Add Defensive Help . Lamar University Athletics . November 14, 2023 . December 23, 2022 . Silsbee High School standout Jayron Williams (6-2, 230, LB) and two-way standout Iyioluwa Adekoya (6-3, 215, TE/DE) have signed National Letters of Intent to play football and continue their education at Lamar University announced head coach Pete Rossomando Friday morning..
5. Web site: Southeastern Voted Top Spot in 2023 Southland Football Preseason Poll . www.southland.org . 24 July 2023 . en.
6. Web site: Southland Announces 2023 All-Conference Team . www.southland.org . 24 July 2023 . en.
7. Web site: 2023 Lamar Football Schedule. fbschedules.com. January 22, 2023.
8. Web site: 2023 Football Schedule . Lamar University Athletics . July 19, 2023.
9. Web site: Matt Faye . Lamar University announces 2023 football schedule . Hearst . January 31, 2023 . January 30, 2023.
10. Web site: Kevin Kelley . Lamar announces 2023 football schedule . 2023 FBSchedules.com Partner of USATODAY College Sports . March 29, 2023 . January 30, 2023.
11. Web site: Lamar Cardinals Schedule 2023 . ESPN Enterprises, Inc. . June 12, 2023.
12. Web site: Cory Hogue . REVEALED: The 2023 All-Texas Non–FBS Team . Dave Campbell's Texas Football . December 7, 2023 . December 6, 2023.
13. Web site: James Dixon . Harris Named To Dave Campbell’s All-Texas Team . Lamar University Athletics . December 7, 2023 . December 6, 2023.
14. Web site: James Hill . Lamar's Coleman; Nicholls' Morton, Dupre Named Southland Football Players of the Week . Southland Conference . November 22, 2023 . October 2, 2023.
15. Web site: James Hill . Nicholls' Guggenheim, Morton; Lamar's Harris Named Football Players of the Week . Southland Conference . November 22, 2023 . October 9, 2023.
16. Web site: James Hill . Lamar's Rhea, UIW's Foster, HCU's Fedor Earn Southland Football Player of the Week Honors . Southland Conference . November 22, 2023 . October 16, 2023.
17. Web site: James Hill . UIW's Porter, HCU's Cash, Lamar's Deleon Named Southland Football Players of the Week . Southland Conference . November 22, 2023 . October 30, 2023.
18. Web site: James Hill . Nicholls' Guggenheim, Mathews; Lamar's Alexander Named Football Players of the Week . Southland Conference . November 22, 2023 . November 6, 2023.
19. Web site: James Hill . Nicholls' Spears, Southeastern's Randall, Lamar's Stevens Named Southland Players of the Week . Southland Conference . November 22, 2023 . November 13, 2023.
20. Web site: James Hill . Southland Announces 2023 All-Conference Football Team and Superlatives . Southland Conference . November 22, 2023 . November 22, 2023.