By Stephen Featherston, Louisiana Tech Director Strategic Communications
RUSTON — Louisiana Tech head football coach Sonny Cumbie announced the signing of 13 new players during Wednesday’s early signing period.
Cumbie and his staff have strengthened both side of the ball with six players on offense and seven on defense. The 2025 class includes two junior college transfers and 10 high school signees.
Coach Cumbie and the Bulldog football program will host a live season and signing day recap on Facebook at 1 p.m. Thursday. Fans can tune in to hear from Coach Cumbie, Defensive Coordinator Jeremiah Johnson, and Athletic Director Ryan Ivey. The event will be hosted by Malcolm Butler, the Voice of the Bulldogs. Fans can access the event here.
Class Breakdown
By Position:
Offense:
- Wide Receiver: 4
- Quarterback: 1
- Offensive Line: 1
Defense:
- Linebacker: 2
- Cornerback: 2
- Safety: 2
- Defensive End: 1
By State:
- Louisiana: 6
- Mississippi: 4
- Texas: 3
By Star:
- Three-Star: 10
Kameron Carter | CB | 6-1 | 180 | Southwest Mississippi CC | Natchez, Miss.
Junior College: A three-star recruit who chose LA Tech over Liberty, Texas State, Toledo, UTSA, WKU, Western Michigan, UMass, and Jax State … Registered 35 tackles, seven interceptions and six pass breakups while playing in 18 games during his two-year career at SMCC … Recorded 25 tackles, six interceptions and three pass breakups in 2024 … Finished with 10 tackles, three pass breakups and one interception in his first season with the Bears … Prepped at Natchez HS … Tallied 22 tackles, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one fumble recovery during his senior season in 2022 according to MaxPreps … Also played basketball and baseball.
Amari Butler | CB | 5-10 | 180 | Pearl River CC | Petal, Miss.
Junior College: Chose LA Tech over Liberty, Central Arkansas, Old Dominion, UTSA, SEMO and UT Martin … Played in 15 games over two years at Pear River … Finished with 33 tackles, three tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and seven pass breakups … Started all nine games in 2024 and recorded 28 stops, 3.0 TFLs, one forced fumble and seven pass breakups … Prepped at Petal HS … Standout two-way player as a senior … Collected 20 tackles, two TFLs, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and one sack … Tallied nine pass breakups … Tallied one receiving touchdown and a pair of kickoff return touchdowns … Named to the Pine Belt Sports All-Area Team … Named to the 6A Region Most Valuable Player team.
Kolby Thomas | WR | 5-10 | 160 | Calvary Baptist Academy | Shreveport, La.
High School: Chose LA Tech over Louisiana, UAB and Northwestern State … Earned first Team All-District and Second Team All- State after amassing 80 receptions for 817 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior in 2023 … Caught game winning touchdown and two point conversion to win State … Has led his team to a 10-2 record so far this season … Has appeared in all 12 games with 52 catches for 1,151 yards and 17 touchdowns … Is averaging 95.9 yards per game and 22.12 yards per catch … Racked up 242 yards and four scores on six catches in a game against Neville.
Daejawn Smith | WR | 5-11 | 180 | Edna Karr HS | New Orleans, La.
High School: Chose LA Tech over UAPB, McNeese, Southeastern LA and Grambling … Has recorded 14 touchdowns as a senior, including a punt return touchdown … Finished his sophomore season with 38 receptions for 580 yards and nine touchdowns … Ran the ball 32 times for 293 yards and four scores.
Jaylon Parnell | LB | 5-11 | 230 | Pascagoula HS, | Pascagoula, Miss.
High School: A three-star recruit that chose LA Tech over Auburn, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, Memphis, Liberty, Southern Miss and FIU … Ranked as the 21st best player in Mississippi and the 122nd best linebacker in the class of 2025 … Registered 99 tackles, four sacks, seven tackles for loss and two interceptions as a junior in 2023 … Earned First Team All-Region Honors … and Second Team 6A All-State honors … Recorded 30 tackles, four sacks, four tackles for loss, a safety, a pass breakup and blocked a kick in just four games as a senior … Also plays baseball.
Jackson Bradley | QB | 6-3 | 200 | Oak Grove HS | Oak Grove, La.
High School: A three-star recruit who chose LA Tech over ULM … Drew interest from Arkansas, Louisiana, LSU and Tulane … Ranked as the 49th best player in Louisiana and 109th best quarterback in the class of 2025 … Passed for 2,049 yards as a sophomore after completing 115-of-201 passes with 13 touchdowns … Ran for 803 yards and 13 scores … Led Oak Grove to a State Championship as a junior in 2023 … Racked up 3,130 all-purpose yards and 43 touchdowns after passing for 1,641 yards and rushing for 1,391 yards … Tossed 20 touchdown passes and added 20 scores with his feet … Led Oak Grove to 10-2 overall record and a 7-0 record in district play as a senior … Completed 110-of-169 passes for 1,916 yards and 33 touchdowns … Added 575 yards and 10 scores on the ground … Son of former LA Tech tight end Josh Bradley, who caught 131 passes for 1,591 yards and 20 touchdowns during his time with the Bulldogs (1995-97).
Jalen Mickens | WR | 5-9 | 180 | Willis HS | Willis, Texas
High School: A three-star recruit who chose LA Tech over Arkansas State, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin and Texas Southern … Drew interest from Arkansas, Memphis, North Texas, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, and USC … Ranked as the 285th best player in Texas and the 264th best wide receiver in the nation … Finished his three-year varsity career with 159 receptions, 2,787 yards and 33 touchdowns … Hauled in 47 passes for 762 yards and eight scores in 2022 … Caught 50 passes for 1,006 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior in 2023, while earning 1st Team All-District … Led Willis to a 12-1 record as a senior while making 62 receptions for 1,142 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Johnnie Thiel IV | WR | 6-0 | 180 | Destrehan HS | Destrehan, La.
High School: A three-star recruit that chose LA Tech over Ole Miss and UCF … Rated as the 53rd best player in Louisiana and the 329thbest wide receiver in the country … A two-way player for Destrehan … Was named First Team All-District Defense as a flex player … Led his team to a state championship as a sophomore.
Daylin Page | DE | 6-4 | 220 | North Forrest HS | Hattiesburg, Miss.
High School: A three-star recruit who chose LA Tech over Air Force, Arkansas State, Army, UAB and Southern … Ranked as the 33rd best player in Mississippi and the 203rd best defensive lineman in the country … Tallied 57 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, eight sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 24 quarterback hurries during his senior season … Scored three touchdowns as a tight end … Became the first player from North Forrest HS to receive a national ranking.
Zheric Hill | LB | 6-0 | 220 | Ruston HS | Grambling, La.
High School: A three-star recruit that chose LA Tech over Lamar, ULM, Mississippi Valley State, Northwestern State, SEMO and Southeastern … Ranked as the 52nd best player in Louisiana and the 180th best linebacker in the class of 2025 … Led Ruston to a state title as a junior in 2023 … Registered 114 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and an interception … Hill is looking to lead the Bearcats on a second state title run … He amassed 73 stops, 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions and two pass breakups through October … Had a 20 tackles game against Acadiana and a 10-stop performance against Midland Legacy in Texas … Earned Honorable Mention All-State honors.
Sentel Simpson | S | 6-4 | 190 | Frisco Panther Creek | Little Elm, Texas
High School: A three-star recruit that chose LA Tech over Tulsa, Colorado State, Indiana, Lamar, UIW, Pittsburgh, Sam Houston, Texas State, Toledo, UTEP and UTSA … Ranked as the 201st best player in Texas and the 114thbest athlete in the class of 2025 … Was named the District 7-4A D-1 Utility Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2022 … Finished his junior season with 22 tackles and one sack … Rushed for 675 yards and 13 touchdowns on 5.27 yards per-carry … Caught 10 passes for 149 yards … Saw action in nine games as a senior in 2024…Rushed for 688 yards and 11 touchdowns on 109 carries … Tallied 22 tackles and four pass breakups.
Ervin Smith | OL | 6-1 | 280 | Catholic HS | Baton Rouge, La.
High School: A three-star recruit that chose LA Tech over Lamar, McNeese, Prairie View A&M, SEMO, and Southern … Rated as the 51st best player in Louisiana and the 143rd best interior offensive lineman in the class of 2025 … Has played both tackle and center in his high school career … Was named First Team 5A All-State and earned All-District honors twice.
Tobias Gary | S | 6-0 | 180 | South Oak Cliff HS | Dallas, Texas
High School: A three-star recruit who chose LA Tech over Arkansas State, Kansas, North Texas, Texas Tech, UAB and UTSA … Rated as the 231st best player in Texas and the 127thbest safety in the country … Led his team to a state championship appearance as a junior after logging 59 tackles and three interceptions … Team is currently in playoffs, looking for fourth straight state championship game appearance … Has tallied 28 tackles and 2.0 tackles through nine games according to MaxPreps.