Aug. 17, 2009

Lamar Football Roster in PDF Format (as of Aug. 17)

Kyle Gillam, a 2008 Class 4A honorable mention selection, has joined the Lamar University football program, bringing the Cardinals' active roster to 34 scholarship players for fall workouts that will begin next week.

Gillam, a 6-foot-2, 260-pounder, was a three-year starter at center for Lumberton, helping the Raiders go a combined 19-4 and win co-championships in District 20-4A in 2007 and 2008. As a junior, he was the lead blocker for first-team all-state tailback Cody Hussey, and as a junior, his blocking helped tailback Jacob Hanna earn offensive most valuable player recognition in the district.

"We are getting a good player and a very good student," said Cardinal coach Ray Woodard in announcing Gillam's addition to the roster. "Kyle is exactly what we need at Lamar - a local player who can help us on the field and also be a great student in the classroom.

"He did a great job at Lumberton. He's one of the main reasons Lumberton has had great success running the football the past two seasons. He's 260 (pounds), but he'll get even bigger. He's one of those type of guys who will work his way into doing whatever is necessary to being successful."

In addition to earning first-team all-district honors as a center in 2007 and 2007, Gillam was also a two-year regional qualifier as a power lifter.

"Kyle was the major reason Cody Hussey was able to win the Willie Ray Smith Offensive Player Award and make first-team all state in 2007," said Alvin Credeur, Lumberton's athletic director and head football coach. "He was so important to our offense that he was a team captain last season, and we don't pass out that honor to just anyone."

The Cardinal players will report for a team meeting with Woodard and his staff on Friday afternoon, and they will undergo physical examinations Saturday afternoon in McDonald Gym. The scholarship players will have their first practice in helmets, shoulder pads and shorts on Monday afternoon, and the coaches will conduct walkon tryouts on the afternoon of Aug. 26. The first practice in full pads will be held on the afternoon of Sept. 3.

"We have a little wiggle room in that we could award one or two more scholarships to deserving walk-ons," said Woodard. "A few players are already on campus, and they're excited about the beginning of fall workouts."

The Cardinals will play their first football game since 1989 on Sept. 4, 2010, against McNeese State in Lake Charles, La. Lamar's home opener in 17,000-seat Provost Umphrey Stadium will be Sept. 11, 2010, against Webber International.