LAKE CHARLES – McNeese football head coach announced the signing of 17 players during Wednesday's football early signing period, a class that has the Cowboys ranked No. 1 in the Southland Conference and 13^th in the FCS according to 247Sports.
 
Included in the signing class are three players rated at 3-star recruits according to 247Sports.com – offensive lineman Sami Abdelhak (6-3, 310) out of Southern Lab High School in Baton Rouge, offensive lineman Jadyn Rhodes (6-5, 300) from West Orange Stark HS and West Orange, Texas, and quarterback Brady Barrier (6-2, 205) from Barbers Hills HS in Anahuac, Texas.
 
"I'm very excited about this class," said Viator. "It's a very fluid operation now. We have some kids we signed are still playing. This is just the first phase of this. Then in a couple of weeks, we'll bring in some more kids. Then on January 2 the portal opens and that'll be a whole other deal. And then the next signing day for high school kids will be February 4."
 
Viator expects more signings over the next few weeks. Junior college and Division 2 players have until the start of spring classes to sign, which falls on January 20 for McNeese.
 
"We're still going to recruit a few more high school guys that we're interested in. We have a couple that are committed to us but chose not to sign today."
 
Of the 17 that signed, four are from the JUCO ranks while 13 are high school players. Breaking down by position – four offensive linemen, four defensive linemen, four defensive backs (two safeties, two cornerbacks), and one each at quarterback, tight end, wide receiver and running back.
 
Eight are from Louisiana, seven from Texas, one from Mississippi and one from California.
 
2025 McNeese Football Signees (bios will be updated as information is received)
 
JUCO Signees
Erick Franklin, S, Butler CC, Lake Charles, La.
Played in nine games as a redshirt freshman and recorded 19 total tackles… tied for second on the team with five pass break-ups… added a half tackle-for-a-loss… career-high seven tackles in a win over Independence… team posted a 7-3 record… rated a 3-star recruit coming out of high school at Lake Charles College Prep… earned 1^st team All-District and All-State honors.
 
Parker Ireson, TE, Tyler JC, 6-5, 230, North Richland Hills, Texas
Mene Va'aalii, DL, 6-2, 275, Moorpark JC, Simi Valley, Calif.
Sentario Willis, S, Co-Lin JC, 6-2, 180, Crystal Springs, Miss.
 
High School Signees
Sami Abdelhak, OL, 6-3, 310, Southern Lab HS, Baton Rouge, La.
Rated a 3-star recruit by 247Sports… ranked a top 65 player in Louisiana… offered by South Alabama.
 
Brady Barrier, QB, 6-2, 205, Barbers Hills HS, Anahuac, Texas
3-star recruit according to 247Sports… ranked a top 150 quarterback and top 350 overall players in the state of Texas… offered by Central Michigan among others.
 
Paityn Collins, CB, 6-0, 185, Ferriday HS, Ferriday, La.
Miguel D'Angelo, OL, 6-6, 310, Walker HS, Denham Springs, La.
Trevor Haman, WR, 6-0, 185, The Dunham School, Baton Rouge, La.
Denrie Hamilton, CB, 6-3, 170, Morton Ranch HS, Houston, Texas
Kameron Harris, S, 6-4, 220, Minden HS, Minden, La.
 
Lenord Howard, DL, 6-2, 280, Westgate HS, Broussard, La.
1^st Team All-District 4-4A… helped lead his team to the second round of the LHSAA Division I Non-Select playoffs…
 
Cullen McIntosh, DL, 6-5, 220, Oak Grove HS, Oak Grove, La.
Hudson Mock, OL, 6-4, 275, Kingswood HS, Houston, Texas
Jacob Molina, DL, 6-1, 275, Friendswood HS, Friendswood, Texas
 
Jadyn Rhodes, OL, 6-5, 300, West Orange HS, West Orange, Texas
A 3-star recruit according to 247Sports… received offers from Oklahoma State, ULL, Houston, UTEP, UTSA, Texas State, as well as Southland Conference teams UIW and Lamar.
 
Peyton Thomas, RB, 5-7, 190, Cypress Ranch HS, Houston, Texas