Lions Add Five for 2017 on Opening Day of Midyear Signing Period

HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana head football coach Ron Roberts announced the addition of five student-athletes who will continue their academic and athletic endeavors as members of the SLU football program beginning with the 2017 season, as the midyear signing period opened on Tuesday.

 

The newest Lions include quarterback Chandler Eiland (Canton, Texas), offensive lineman Lorenz Jones (Jackson, Mississippi), wide receiver Nih-Jer Jackson (Stockton, California), as well as defensive linemen Jon Miller (Pelham, New York) and Imani Mitchell (Compton, California).

 

Eiland will have three years of eligibility remaining, while the remaining four will have two years to play in the green and gold. All five will enroll at Southeastern in January and participate when spring practice opens on March 7.

 

“We were able to fill some needs today at positions where we lost some players to graduation,” Roberts said. “All five of these young men can come in and have an immediate impact, fight for starting jobs and provide competition at their positions.”

 

Eiland comes to Hammond after an impressive freshman campaign at Kilgore College. In 2016, Eiland threw for 2,341 yards and 16 touchdowns, while also contributing 16 rushing touchdowns.

 

Eiland originally signed with ULM out of Canton High School and spent a redshirt season with the Warhawks in 2015. At CHS, the 6-1, 195-pound signal caller was a multi-time All-District performer on both the gridiron and on the baseball diamond.

 

Roberts believes Eiland can help the Lions replace 2016 senior quarterbacks Justin Alo and D’Shaie Landor.

 

“Chandler can come in and help us right away,” Roberts said. “He’s a dual-threat that can run and has a great arm. He’s a tough young man and has shown a great deal of football intelligence. We’re excited to have him for the next three years.”

 

Jones, a two-year starter at Hinds Community College, helps SLU offset the loss of senior tackles Taylor Gadbois and Justin Barksdale.

 

“On the offensive side of the ball, we felt we needed to add an immediate impact player to help us replace two senior tackles,” Roberts said. “We think Lorenz can definitely help in that area right away.”

 

Jackson will look to be one of SLU’s top targets in 2017. The McNair High School alum comes to Hammond after a 2016 season that saw him catch 38 passes for 835 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore are Merced College. Jackson will be charged with helping Southeastern replace the production of 2016 All-Southland Conference senior wideout Brandon Acker.

 

“Nih-Jer is extremely fast and will really stretch the field,” Roberts said. “He’s an athletic young man with good hands. We expect Nih-jer to be a big-time deep threat for us.”

 

Rounding out the midyear additions are Miller and Mitchell, who will be asked to step in and contribute immediately on the defensive line. Miller posted 109 tackles, 14.5 sacks and 29.0 tackles for loss in his two seasons at Hudson Valley Community College, while Mitchell totaled 38 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore at East Los Angeles College.

 

For Roberts, it was the duo’s character as much as their production on the field that made them attractive, as he and his staff looks to replenish a defensive line corps that featured five seniors in the primary rotation.

 

“Both Jon and Imani can help us right away on and off the field,” Roberts commented. “In addition to coming in and competing for jobs right away, both of them have been captains of their teams who will bring maturity and leadership to our program. Both Jon and Imani are high-character young men who excel in the classroom and will be excellent additions to our team.”

 

The Lions will open the 2017 season on the road, facing in-state and FBS foe Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 2.

 

Southeastern Louisiana Football – 2017 Midyear Additions
Chandler Eiland – QB – 6-1 – 195 – Canton, Texas – Kilgore College/Canton HS
Nih-Jer Jackson – WR – 6-3 – 175 – Stockton, Calif. – Merced College/McNair HS

Lorenz Jones – OL – 6-5 – 280 – Jackson, Miss. – Hinds CC/Provine HS

Jon Miller – DL – 6-1 – 272 – Pelham, N.Y. – Hudson Valley CC/Pelham Memorial HS

Imani Mitchell – DL – 6-2 – 275 – Compton, Calif. – East LA College/Long Beach Poly HS