HAMMOND, La. – With a little over a week to go before its season opener, the Southeastern Louisiana football team continues to progress.
Perhaps no position group has more new faces than the Lion secondary. Senior Shamar Busby is the lone Southeastern defensive back with starting experience from a season ago returning for 2018.
Among the returners expected to make the most of more playing time will be junior Dejion Lynch, junior Tre’ Spann, senior Brayleon Thorns and senior Aaron Craig.
The Southeastern defensive backfield will be bolstered by the addition of a pair of FBS transfers in senior Zeke Walker (Indiana) and Xavier Lewis (LSU). Navarre College product Matthew Wright and true freshman Donniel Ward-Magee, a St. Augustine HS alum, could also make immediate impacts, along with freshman Ferlando Jordan and junior Keith Benjamin – both of whom redshirted in 2017.
Assistant coach Tarence Calais, SLU’s first-year defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator, believes his group continues to grow together.
“Our players have been very accepting of what we’re teaching from the beginning of spring,” Calais commented. “With a new defensive staff in place, a lot of our returners felt like they had a clean state and another opportunity to prove themselves. This group has a great work ethic and have been consistently doing what we ask of them.”
Calais has been pleased with the group’s steady improvement since the spring and hopes the upward momentum carries in to the season.
“Our secondary has taken ownership in the scheme and are more consistent with their assignments,” Calais said. “We have to learn from and correct our mistakes when we make them, so that we can keep climbing and getting better every week.”
SLU returns to the practice field on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. The Lions open the 2018 season with a 7 p.m. contest on Aug. 30 at ULM.
SEASON TICKET INFORMATION
For season ticket information, please contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net/tickets. The Lions will welcome conference foes Central Arkansas (Sept. 15), Northwestern State (Sept. 29), Houston Baptist (Oct. 13 – Homecoming), Abilene Christian (Oct. 20 – Hall of Fame Game) and McNeese (Nov. 3).
Season ticket holders will also be able to participate in the Season Ticket Party, set for Aug. 25 from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in the south end zone of Strawberry Stadium.
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics has instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events, effective with the start of football season. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.
TOUCHDOWN CLUB/S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the football program are encouraged to join the Touchdown Club. Lion football alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letterwinners.
All membership fees and donations to both the Touchdown Club and S Club (football) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern football program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at la*@so**********.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
SOCIAL MEDIA/#SelfieWithScelfo
For more information on Southeastern Football, follow @SLUFootball and @Coach_Scelfo on Twitter, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
Fans can also win a pair of SLU Football season tickets by participating in the #SelfieWithScelfo campaign during the month of August. Follow @SLU_athletictix on Twitter for more information.
FRANK SCELFO COACHES SHOW
The Frank Scelfo Coaches Show will debut on Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. at Tope La Catering (113 East Thomas Street) in downtown Hammond. The season’s first show will air on Tuesday due to Labor Day. The season’s remaining shows will be held each Monday through Nov. 12 with a 7 p.m. start for each.
The show will air on the Southeastern Sports Radio Network (KSLU-FM (90.9), Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM and WFPR 1400 AM). Fans can also listen live at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the Radio FX and TuneIn Radio apps. A live video stream of the show will be available via Facebook Live at www.facebook.com/sluathletics.
Fall Camp Key Dates
Aug. 25 – 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Season Ticket Party); 2 p.m. (Media Day)
By: Southeastern Athletics
