McNeese Football Announces 2026 Signing Class

Lake Charles, Louisiana (KNGT-FM) - McNeese Football has been hard at work shaping its roster for the 2026 season, and on Wednesday, they announced their 2026 transfer portal class.

The landscape of College Athletics is a little bit different from the last time Matt Viator donned the sidelines of Navarre Stadium. It's the wild, wild west these days.

Last season was the first year back coaching at McNeese for the Hall of Fame coach. The year brought many ups and downs for the Cowboys, but they ended up winning three of their last four and finishing 5-7 on the season.

READ MORE: McNeese Football 2026 Schedule

On Wednesday, McNeese announced the addition of 21 portal players to their 2026 roster, which goes along with the 7 players that the Cowboys added in December during the early signing period.

Viator is big on recruiting locally. In this class, McNeese added players with local ties, including athletes from Lake Charles, Jennings, Lafayette, Alexandria, and other parts of Louisiana.

Most of the new additions are on the defensive side of the ball. Vitaor and company were focused on adding size and depth. McNeese signed 16 defensive players, including eight defensive linemen, four safeties, two linebackers, and one cornerback.

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Full 2026 McNeese Football Signing Class

DL, Cullen McIntosh (6'5-220), Oak Grove, LA, Oak Grove HS
SAF, Erick Franklin (5'10-190), Lake Charles, LA, LCCP
SAF, Sentario Willis (6'2-200), Hazelhurst, MS, Hazelhurst HS / Southern Miss
LB, Lee Holmes (6'2-215), Tylertown, MS, Tylertown HS
CB, Lorenzell Dubose (6'0-185), Monroe, LA, Neville HS / UL-Lafayette
SAF, Kylon Polk (5'10-170), Loreauville, LA, Loreauville HS / Louisiana-Christian
SAF / CB, Amyrion Mingo (6'0-185), Alexandria, LA, Alexandria HS / Arkansas-Pine Bluff
LB, Trace Meadows (6'0-220), College Station, TX, A&M Consolidated HS / UTEP
LB, Sam Williams (5'11-215), Houston, TX, St. Pius X HS / Fort Union Military Academy
DL, Alijah Alexander (6'4-285), Savannah, GA, Benedictine HS / Eastern Michigan
DL, James Kate (6'2-280), McComb, MS, North Picken HS / Prairie View
DL, Isiaiah Fowler (6'0-280), Gary, IN, Chesterton HS / Valparaiso
DL, Caden Brandston (6'3-290), Peoria, AZ, Liberty HS / Colorado State
DL, Royce Maloles (6'2-250), Cypress, TX, Cy Ranch HS / Lamar University
DL, Sean Dubose (6'2-240), Katy, TX, Tompkins HS / Houston Christian
DL, Iyioluwa Adedkoya (6'4-260), Round Rock, TX, Cedar Ridge HS / Lamar University

On offense, McNeese added 12 players. That group includes four wide receivers, three offensive linemen, three running backs, one quarterback, and one tight end.

QB, Brady Barrier (6'2-205), Barbers Hill, TX, Barbers Hill HS
TE, Parker Ireson (6'5-240), Keller, TX, Keller HS
WR, Jaelen Smith (6'2-190), Houston, TX, Klein Cain HS / Michigan State
WR, Solomon Lewis (5'10-180), Lake Charles, LA, LCCP / Louisiana Tech
WR, Elisha Edwards (6'2-210), Fort Lauderdale, FL, Keiser Univ. / Charlotte
WR, Johnnie Barbie (6'0-180), Menlo Park, CA, Southern Oregon / Foothill JC
OL, Sami Abdelhuak (6'3-300), Baton Rouge, LA, Southern Lab HS
OL, John Long (6'4-320), Kempner, TX, Lampasas HS / Rice (TX)
OL, Chris Edwards (6'5-305), Arlington, TX, Juan Seguin HS / Sul Ross (TX)
RB, Hutch Swilley (5'11-195), Lafayette, LA, St. Thomas More HS / UL-Lafayette
RB, Omiri Wiggins (5'10-205), Lafayette, LA, Acadiana HS / Coffeyville CC / LA Tech
RB, Re'John Zeno (5'10-200), Jennings, LA, Jennings HS / Millikin University