20/20 Hindsight: Grambling’s 2004 signing class

Grambling signed 21 players in 2004, prospects who would have been cycling out of the program last season if they had either redshirted or lost a year to injury.

Just six would go on to make significant contributions, and none saw Grambling secure its 22nd Southwestern Athletic Conference championship last December.

GSU had its greatest successes out of this signing day at quarterback. Two of four signees who worked primarily as prep passers, Brandon Landers (Carroll-Monroe, La.) and Larry Kerlegan (La Marque, Texas), started under center at Grambling.

Landers subsequently helped GSU to a Bayou Classic win in ’04, and to a Western Division title in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in 2007. Kerlegan, despite an outsized athleticism, never completely realized his potential at Grambling – the fault of a deep talent pool (record-smashing quarterback Bruce Eugene returned to help the Tigers to a SWAC title in 2005), injuries and grade problems.

Grambling signed RB Michael Rainey out of Vicksburg, Miss., but he never panned out as a successor to Ab Kuuan, who took over as a starter that season with Henry Tolbert’s move to the slot.

The gems of this class, Melvin Spears’ first, were Clyde Edwards (Westbury-Houston, Texas), who set a series of school marks for receiving, and OL Tavarus Cockrell.

Wide out Xavier Jackson (Parker-Birmingham, Ala.) also contributed. But three other receivers and three linemen never saw significant playing time, none of GSU’s new defensive backs played and its tight end signee didn’t pan out, either.

The defensive line and linebacker corps went largely unaddressed since GSU coaches were happy with the development of several players there — including Jason Banks and Jason Hatcher, eventually drafted by the NFL’s Cowboys. But a pair of new defensive backs were desperately needed with the graduation of both starters.

That meant recruits like Robby Smith (Ruston, La.), Guy Henderson (Karr-New Orleans, La.) and Deshon Pennie (Nimitz-Houston, Texas) were signed to get immediate reps and, possibly, playing time. It didn’t happen.

WHAT I SAID AS THEY SIGNED IN 2004:

OL TAVARUS COCKRELL, Parker (Birmingham, Ala.): All-State as offensive tackle and defensive tackle, also played basketball.

WR CLYDE EDWARDS, Westbury (Houston, Texas): Good academic performer; received first-team District 18-5A honors this season.

WR XAVIER JACKSON, Parker (Birmingham, Ala.): Had more than 900 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.

QB LARRY KERLEGAN, La Marque (Texas): Ranked No. 11 nationally among dual-threat quarterbacks by Rivals.com.

QB BRANDON LANDERS, Carroll (Monroe, La.): Offensive Player of the Year on 2003 All-Northeast Louisiana team.

RB MICHAEL RAINEY, Vicksburg (Miss.): Rushed for 359 yards and also caught 22 passes for 207 yards last season.