Positional Breakdown
Lion Football 2013 Todd Washington. The Lutcher native was an honorable mention All-Southland Conference selection as a junior, after breaking up a teamhigh nine passes. Denzel Thompson, Harlan Miller and Tommy Elliott will see increased playing time and Roberts expects the group to thrive. “We’ve got four corners who are in the mix that we think can play and there’s not much separating them,” Roberts said. “Todd
“The good thing is that if they all continue to progress the way they have, they’re all going to play. I think our secondary will be one of the most competitive areas this season for us. Our competition level is a lot higher that it was a year ago and it’s going to be exciting to see which guys are going step up and perform at the level they need to for us to win.”
PK 41 Seth Sebastian (5-10, 180, Sr.) 39 Ryan Adams (6-1, 210, Jr.) Kickoff 39 Ryan Adams (6-1, 210, Jr.) 41 Seth Sebastian (5-10, 180, Sr.) P 15 Matt McCormick (6-0, 200, Sr.) 36 Tim Callian (6-4, 175, Jr.)
▲Xavier Roberson ence,” Roberts said. “We’re real high on Tim Callian and expect him to come in and compete for the job, but he hasn’t kicked a ball for Southeastern yet. Brice Bishop and Peyton Zeringue are battling to replace Rogers and that will continue into the fall.”
LS 88 Brice Bishop (6-4, 205, Fr.) 99 Peyton Zeringue (5-8, 220, Jr.) Holder 15 Jordan Barnett (6-3, 295, Jr.) 10 Paul Kopesky (5-11, 205, So.)
Senior Seth Sebastian will be back to handle the placekicking duties for the fourth consecutive year with junior Jordan Barnett handling holding duties. Junior Ryan Adams is slated to return to handle kickoffs.
KR 1 Xavier Roberson (5-7, 170, So.) 14 Jeff Smiley (5-9, 175, So.) PR 18 Marquis Hayes (5-9, 175, Jr.) 4 Kody Sutton (5-8, 195, So.)
▲Tyler Stoddard has been a great leader for us and Harlan is a tremendous young player. He may be the most talented player we have and his potential is limitless. Denzel and Tommy are really good players and I feel comfortable with all four. They all performed well in the spring and I think we’ll be able to play a lot of guys.” Junior Tyler Stoddard, who was an AllSouthland performer after posting 63 tackles and two interceptions in 2012. Stoddard is the standout among the safeties – a position Roberts believes is the deepest on the team. “Tyler, John Graves and Kevin Harmon all had great springs for us at safety and earned starting jobs,” Roberts said. “Devante Davis, Theo Alexander, Josh Dakin, Delwin Davis and Marice Sutton will all be competing for time. I don’t know how it’s going to pan out with who’s going to start.
Specialists One play during the 2012 season was an early indicator that Roberts and his staff have a unique approach to special teams. The play would eventually be referred to simply as “Mothe to Mueller”. Midway through the fourth quarter in the Southland Conference opener versus McNeese State, punter Beau Mothe faked a punt from his own 34-yard line and found long snapper Rogers Mueller for a 27-yard pass to keep the drive alive. 10 plays later, Southeastern would score the game-winning touchdown in a 25-24 victory. While the principles in that play have exhausted their eligibility, the attitude is unlikely to change. In Roberts’ first season, the Lions returned a combined four punts and kickoffs for touchdowns, while also employing a variety of unique fake punts.
“We’re looking to see improvement at kicker,” Roberts said. “Seth has been good for us and had made some clutch kicks, but I want to see more consistency. Ryan has a big leg and has done some big things for us, but you have to do it every week.” Southeastern had its most success in the return game since the program’s return in Roberts’ first season. Xavier Roberson took over kick return duties late in the season and returned kickoffs for touchdowns in consecutive victories over Stephen F. Austin and Nicholls State to close the season. Newcomers Marquis Hayes and Kody Sutton are among the candidates to replace Robert Alford at punt returner. “Xavier is a heck of a weapon for us in the kick return game and we feel like we have somebody back there that can do it a high level,” Roberts said. “We have to replace Rob at punt returner and worked a lot of guys there in the spring and will continue to work guys there in the fall. The most important thing we’re looking for is a guy who will go catch the ball and not let it hit the ground.”
According to Roberts, one of the primary objectives of fall camp is to find suitable replacements for Mothe and Mueller. “We have 10 players in the secondary that we feel comfortable with,” Roberts added.
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