Grambling recruiting: Making offers to improve on defense

Grambling has reportedly made early offers to an inside linebacker and a defensive end in an effort to rebuild its faltering defense.

Three-star Rivals recruit Seth Ancar, a 6-0, 198-pound South Plaquemines insider linebacker, has also apparently been offered by Louisiana Tech, McNeese State, Northern Illinois and Tulane. Ancar is a mid-season Top 50 prospect for next year, according to Rivals. He runs a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash.

GSU also reportedly made a scholarship offer to Grossmont Community College defensive end Ja’Rodd Watson of El Cajon, Calif., who runs a 4.8 in the 40. He has likewise been offered by Colorado State, Nevada and Illinois, as well, and expressed interest in a number of other FBS programs — including Cal, Texas Tech and Utah, according to various reports.

Meanwhile, dual-threat quarterback Darryl White (6-4, 186; 4.6 in 40) of Kimball High in Dallas, Texas, has expressed interest in Grambling — along with Oklahoma, Michigan, Houston, Tennessee, Texas Tech, Wisconsin and others. Running back Bryant Dunn (6-1, 190; 40-time unavailable) from Donaldsonville (La.) High has expressed interest in both Grambling and Southern. Fullback Mario Turner (5-11, 228; 4.8 in 40) of Mays High in Atlanta, Ga., is considering Grambling, along with Texas, Auburn, Georgia Tech and Oregon.

Athlete Lifford Jackson (5-9, 160; 4.49 in 40) from Shreveport’s Northwood (La.) High is considering Grambling, Louisiana Tech and Tulane. Acadiana (La.) High wide receiver Michael Tate (5-11, 150; 40-time unavailable) of Scott has expressed interest in Grambling, as well as Ole Miss, Duke, Mississippi State, Purdue, Tulane, Alabama-Birmingham and Southeastern Louisiana.

Grossmont Community College offensive tackle Charles Wiley (6-5, 285; 40-time not available), also of El Cajon, Calif., has Grambling on a list that includes Auburn, Eastern Michigan and Liberty. Offensive guard Malcolm Gordin (6-1, 215; 4.95 in 40) from Canyon Springs (Mareno Valley Calif.) High is interested in Grambling, as well as San Jose State and Washington State.

Three-star Rivals recruit James Polk (6-7, 290; 5.6 in 40), an offensive tackle, expressed interest in Grambling among others before committing to Texas Tech.

Hargrave Military Academy defensive tackle Robert Kearney (6-4, 290; 40-time unavailable) of Chatham, Va., considered Grambling and North Carolina Central before committing to Kent State on Dec. 9. Neville (La.) High defensive tackle Simeon Stevenson (6-0, 273; 4.9 in 40) has Grambling on a long list of programs he’s considering, including Florida, Michigan, Nebraska, UNLV, Syracuse, Central Florida and Northwestern State.

ALL-AMERICA: Grambling defensive lineman Christian Anthony has been named a first-team American Football Coaches Association FCS All-American. The AFCA has selected an All-America team every year since 1945.

Grambling (1979-DL Joe Gordon, LB Aldrich Allen and DB Robert Salters) and Jackson State (1996-QB Grailyn Pratt, LB Otha Evans and DB Sean Woodson) are the only schools to have more than two players named to the AFCA FCS Coaches’ All-America Team in one year.

SPEARS UPDATE: Former Grambling State head coach Melvin Spears has been released as an assistant on the staff of Texas Southern head coach Johnnie Cole, part of a group of four to depart. TSU athletic director Charles McClelland confirmed the moves on Tuesday. Spears’ ouster came five days after NewOrleans.com reported Spears’ expressed interest in the head coaching position vacated by Pete Richardson at Southern.