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: BackBCenterCCornerbackCBDefensive backDBDefensive endDEDefensive linemanDLDefensive tackleDTEndEFullbackFBGuardGHalfbackHBKickerKKickoff returnerKROffensive tackleOTOffensive linemanOLLinebackerLBLong snapperLSPunterPPunt returnerPRQuarterbackQBRunning backRBSafetySTight endTEWide receiverWR
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 Lewisville, TX Senior Texas State Knox Boyd OL 6’0 290 Denton, TX Sophomore Charlotte Robert Coleman QB 6’2 200 Riverside, CA Junior Mt. San Jacinto College Koronje (KJ) Gilbert DB 5’10 175 Katy, TX Sophomore Trinity Valley Community College Andrew Hardin S 6’2 200 Woodbridge, VA Sophomore Youngstown State Foday Jollah LB 6’2 220 Reading, PA Senior Eastern Illinois Joshua Landrum S/CB 6’0 190 Cedar Hill, TX Junior Rice James Perkins DL 6’4 260 Monroe, LA Sophomore Louisiana–Monroe Elias Ripley OL 6’2 290 Cedar Rapids, IA Junior Iowa Western Jah'mar Sanders WR 5’11 180 Port Arthur, TX New Mexico Jonavan Tillis LB 6’3 230 Tampa, FL Sophomore Mt. San Jacinto College
Incoming high school recruits Sources: 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.
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.
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
Schedule
Game summaries No. 8 Idaho
@ Louisiana–Monroe
@ South Dakota
Statistics Statistics LamarSouth 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 StatisticsLamar 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 12South 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 StatisticsOaklanders 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
Statistics Statistics LamarHuskies 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 StatisticsLamar 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
Statistics NWSTLAM 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 StatisticsNorthwestern 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 ydsLamar 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
Incarnate Word
Texas A&M–Commerce
Statistics Statistics TAMU–CommerceLamar 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 StatisticsTexas 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
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 StatisticsLamar 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 ydsNicholls 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
Roster
Awards and honors Damashjah Harris was named as the Dave Campbell's Texas Football Non-FBS Special Teams Player of the Year.
Conference awards and honors Weekly awards Cardinals were recognized six times as conference players of the week. Weekly honors Honors Player Position Date Awarded Ref. SLC Offensive Player of the Week Robert Coleman QB October 2, 2023 SLC Special Teams Player of the Week Damashja Harris KR October 9, 2023 SLC Offensive Player of the Week Sevonne Rhea WR October 16, 2023 SLC Special Teams Player of the Week Alphonso Deleon P October 30, 2023 SLC Special Teams Player of the Week Damien Alexander DB November 6, 2023 SLC Special Teams Player of the Week Ramond Stevens DB November 13, 2023
All–Southland The Southland Conference announced the 2023 all-conference football team selections on November 22, 2023. Lamar had a total of 6 players selected.
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
References