LAKE CHARLES — Matt Viator is getting to work building the roster.
In the past few days, the McNeese football coach has had three players from FBS programs transfer to play for the Cowboys. Those three players are Texas Tech quarterback Jake Strong, Iowa State defensive back Ryan Robinson, and Kent State defensive lineman Keenan Landry.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Strong appeared in three games as a true freshman during the 2023 season.
He played against Kansas State, BYU, and California, and completed 35-of-65 passes for 409 yards, with two touchdowns and six interceptions. Strong also rushed for 61 yards on six carries.
He did not see any playing time in 2024 as he served as Texas Tech’s scout team quarterback.
Strong was a record-setting quarterback at Northwest High School in Justin, Texas, where he set school records for career passing yards (6,688), passing touchdowns (82), total yards (8,284), and total touchdowns (100).
Strong had scholarship offers from several FBS programs, including Penn State, Auburn, TCU and Florida but chose Texas Tech.
Robinson was a prep star at Edna Karr who began his career as a walk-on at LSU in 2022. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound defensive back appeared in four games as a true freshman on special teams recording three tackles but then was redshirt in the 2023 season.
Robinson did not record any stats in his lone season playing for the Iowa State Cyclones.
Landry comes to McNeese after spending last season playing for the Kent State Flashes. The 6-foot-2, 315-pound defensive tackle appeared in nine games with 15 tackles, forcing one fumble.
The former Jennings High star played two seasons at Florida from 2022-23 appearing in three games. Prior to Florida, Landry appeared in nine games at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College recording 31 tackles during the 2021 season.