# 2020 Lamar Cardinals football team

The 2020 Lamar Cardinals football team represented Lamar University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Southland Conference. The Cardinals were led by first-year head coach Blane Morgan and played their home games at Provost Umphrey Stadium. Originally scheduled to play an eleven-game regular season schedule in 2020, the Cardinals played shortened 6 game schedule in Spring 2021 with all games against conference members due to the COVID19 Pandemic. The Cardinals finished the season with a 2–4 overall record. The conference record was also 2–4 tied for fifth place with McNeese.

## Preseason
### Recruiting

Sources:
| Back | B | Center | C | Cornerback | CB | Defensive back | DB |
| Defensive end | DE | Defensive lineman | DL | Defensive tackle | DT | End | E |
| Fullback | FB | Guard | G | Halfback | HB | Kicker | K |
| Kickoff returner | KR | Offensive tackle | OT | Offensive lineman | OL | Linebacker | LB |
| Long snapper | LS | Punter | P | Punt returner | PR | Quarterback | QB |
| Running back | RB | Safety | S | Tight end | TE | Wide receiver | WR |
College recruiting information (2020) :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ |
| Jakevian Wilson DT | Beaumont, Texas | Beaumont United | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 295 lb (134 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Darrell Bush RB | Gilmer, TX | Gilmer | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Ko Clark DB | Houma, LA | Terrebonne High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Timothy Conerly ATH | New Orleans, LA | Sophie B. Wright Charter School | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jacob Dicharry OL | Dallas, TX | J. J. Pearce High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 240 lb (110 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Efosa Evbuomwan LB | Leesville, LA | Leesville High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 4.37 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jacob Fex DB | McKinney, TX | McKinney Boyd High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Devyn Gibbs TE | Mabank, TX | Mabank High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Carson Harris ATH | Carrollton, TX | Hebron High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jaylon Jackson RB | Burleson, TX | Burleson Centennial High School | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Caimyn Layne LB | Waxahachie, TX | All Saints Episcopal School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jacob Loganbill OL | Van Alstyne, TX | Van Alstyne High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 300 lb (140 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Marcques Mayo OL | Opelousas, LA | Northwest High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 245 lb (111 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Adan Pavon OL | Willis, TX | Conroe High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Vencent Rockwell LB | Longview, TX | Spring Hill High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Kendal Rowen LB | Marrero, LA | St. Augustine High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| LaTrell Smith DT | Dallas, TX | Lake Highlands High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Gabriel Stonewall WR | El Paso, TX | Franklin High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 176 lb (80 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Devin Thomas DB | Saginaw, TX | Nolan Catholic High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Chidera Umeh DE | Richmond, TX | St. Thomas High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 255 lb (116 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Connor Venetis TE | Lafayette, LA | Southside High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 240 lb (110 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Ja'Darrius Winans OL | Minden, LA | Minden High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 315 lb (143 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jalen Dummett QB | Oakland, CA | Oakland High School/Feather River College | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Marcus Harry OL | Longview, TX | Longview High School/Tyler JC | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Tylo Phillips DE | Collinsville, MS | West Lauderdale High School/Hinds CC | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Seth Wood LB | Lubbock, TX | Coronado High School/Cisco College | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 245 lb (111 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: |||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. |||||||

### Spring practice and Spring game

Lamar Football announced on February 21 over its Twitter account that Spring practice will start on March 25. Fourteen sessions have been scheduled. The Spring game, scheduled for April 25, will conclude the sessions. The Spring game was canceled on March 19, 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

### Preseason poll

The Southland Conference released their spring preseason poll in January 2021. The Cardinals were picked to finish seventh in the conference. In addition, two Cardinals were chosen to the Preseason All-Southland Team
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Nicholls | 67 (7) |
| 2 | Sam Houston State | 65 (6) |
| 3 | Southeastern Louisiana | 48 |
| 4 | McNeese State | 45 (1) |
| 5 | Incarnate Word | 32 |
| 6 | Northwestern State | 20 |
| 7 | Lamar | 17 |

### Preseason All–Southland Teams
## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| February 27 | 3:00 p.m. | at No. 9 Nicholls | Manning Field at John L. Guidry StadiumThibodaux, LA | | L 0–55 | 3,000 |
| March 6 | 3:00 p.m. | Incarnate Word | Provost Umphrey StadiumBeaumont, TX | | L 20–42 | 3,201 |
| March 13 | 12:00 p.m. | at McNeese State | Cowboy StadiumLake Charles, LA (Battle of the Border) | ESPN+ | W 27–26 | 4,523 |
| March 20 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 7 Sam Houston State | Provost Umphrey StadiumBeaumont, TX | ESPN+ | L 7–62 | 2,845 |
| March 27 | 3:00 p.m. | Northwestern State | Provost Umphrey StadiumBeaumont, TX | ESPN+ | W 31–23 | 3,833 |
| April 3 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 25 Southeastern Louisiana | Strawberry StadiumHammond, LA | ESPN+ | L 12–42 | 2,548 |
| Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### At Nicholls

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| • No. 9 Colonels | 13 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 55 |
| Statistics | LAM | NICH |
| First downs | 6 | 31 |
| Total yards | 91 | 639 |
| Rushing yards | 37 | 392 |
| Passing yards | 54 | 247 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 30:34 | 29:26 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Lamar | Passing | Jalen Dummett | 9/11, 40 yards |
| Lamar | Rushing | Jaylen Jackson | 8 carries, 19 yards |
| Lamar | Receiving | Marcellus Johnson | 3 receptions, 14 yards |
| Nicholls | Passing | Lindsey Scott Jr. | 16/21, 232 yards, 3 TD |
| Nicholls | Rushing | Lindsey Scott Jr. | 10 carries, 108 yards, 3 TD |
| Nicholls | Receiving | K. J. Franklin | 5 receptions, 65 yards, TD |

### Incarnate Word

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • UIW Cardinals | 14 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
| LAM Cardinals | 7 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
| Statistics | UIW | LAM |
| First downs | 28 | 21 |
| Total yards | 626 | 360 |
| Rushing yards | 285 | 196 |
| Passing yards | 341 | 164 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 21:22 | 38:38 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Incarnate Word | Passing | Cam Ward | 29/44, 341 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT |
| Incarnate Word | Rushing | Kevin Brown | 13 carries, 196 yards, TD |
| Incarnate Word | Receiving | Jaelin Campbell | 4 receptions, 78 yards, TD |
| Lamar | Passing | Jalen Dummett | 9/14, 116 yards, 1TD, INT |
| Lamar | Rushing | Chaz Ward | 26 carries, 105 yards, TD |
| Lamar | Receiving | Marcellus Johnson | 7 receptions, 88 yards |

### At McNeese State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 3 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
| Cowboys | 13 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
| Statistics | LAM | MCN |
| First downs | 21 | 18 |
| Total yards | 330 | 399 |
| Rushing yards | 223 | 321 |
| Passing yards | 107 | 78 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 38:15 | 36:45 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Lamar | Passing | Jalen Dummett | 8/11, 100 yards, 2 TD |
| Lamar | Rushing | Marcellus Johnson | 6 carries, 86 yards |
| Lamar | Receiving | Kirkland Banks | 4 receptions, 41 yards |
| McNeese State | Passing | Cody Orgeron | 9/16, 78 yards, INT |
| McNeese State | Rushing | Carlos Williams | 16 carries, 90 yards, 2 TD |
| McNeese State | Receiving | Jamal Pettigrew | 1 reception, 31 yards |

### Sam Houston State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 7 Bearkats | 7 | 31 | 17 | 7 | 62 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Statistics | SHSU | LAM |
| First downs | 22 | 9 |
| Total yards | 531 | 181 |
| Rushing yards | 181 | 28 |
| Passing yards | 350 | 153 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 27:57 | 32:03 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Sam Houston State | Passing | Eric Schmid | 19/29, 343 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Sam Houston State | Rushing | Donovan Williams | 7 carries, 47 yards, TD |
| Sam Houston State | Receiving | Jequez Ezzard | 4 receptions, 130 yards, 2 TD |
| Lamar | Passing | Austin Scott | 10/19, 123 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Lamar | Rushing | Jaylon Jackson | 6 carries, 40 yards |
| Lamar | Receiving | Jaylon Jackson | 3 receptions, 66 yards, TD |

### Northwestern State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Demons | 0 | 7 | 0 | 16 | 23 |
| • Cardinals | 14 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 31 |
| Statistics | NWST | LAM |
| First downs | 17 | 19 |
| Total yards | 409 | 358 |
| Rushing yards | 215 | 239 |
| Passing yards | 194 | 119 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 19:46 | 40:14 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Northwestern State | Passing | Bryce Rivers | 7/19, 136 yards, TD |
| Northwestern State | Rushing | Scooter Adams | 18 carries, 212 yards, 2 TD |
| Northwestern State | Receiving | Marquise Bridges | 1 reception, 45 yards |
| Lamar | Passing | Jalen Dummett | 6/12, 94 yards, TD |
| Lamar | Rushing | Jalen Dummett | 13 carries, 84 yards, TD |
| Lamar | Receiving | Kirkland Banks | 2 receptions, 43 yards |

### At Southeastern Louisiana

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| • No. 25 Lions | 7 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
| Statistics | LAM | SELA |
| First downs | 15 | 26 |
| Total yards | 298 | 468 |
| Rushing yards | 181 | 123 |
| Passing yards | 117 | 345 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 34:26 | 25:34 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Lamar | Passing | Jalen Dummett | 10/15, 111 yards, 2 INT |
| Lamar | Rushing | Jaylon Jackson | 12 carries, 69 yards |
| Lamar | Receiving | Kirkland Banks | 3 receptions, 36 yards |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Passing | Cole Kelley | 23/31, 321 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Rushing | Cephus Johnson III | 3 carries, 48 yards |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Receiving | Javon Conner | 4 receptions, 70 yards |