Louisiana Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie today announced the addition of 19 transfers to the Bulldogs’ 2023 football roster.
“We’re excited to add 19 transfers to our football program as we prepare for spring training starting March 21,” said head coach Sonny Cumbie called. “Adding you to our returning squad will make our football team stronger. We look forward to a competitive spring and a spring of daily improvements.”
Of the 19 transfers, 12 were defensive, six were offensive, and the Bulldogs brought in a special team addition.
Tech added more depth to the linebacker position Jeslord Boateng from Akron, Kolbe Fields out of Brevin Randle via Stephen F. Austin and Zach Zimos from Arkansas.
Boateng led the Zips with 80 tackles in 2021, including four-and-a-half for losses and a sack. In the 2022 season, he had a total of 27 tackles in 11 games. Prior to Akron, Boateng played three seasons at Michigan State, appearing in 18 games and recording 18 tackles.
Fields played in 11 games for LSU last season and made four tackles while playing both defensively and on special teams. Fields spent the 2021 season in South Carolina, where he appeared in four games. The New Orleans product was prepared at Archbishop Rummel High School, where he was named a District 9-5A Defensive MVP and First-Team All-State in 2020.
Randle is familiar with the defensive coordinator ScottPower, after playing under him for three seasons at SFA. Randle, a native of Marshall, Texas, played in 37 games during his four years as a lumberjack, totaling 184 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
As a university graduate, Zimos makes his way to Tech. The 6-4, 233-pound linebacker appeared in 14 games in his four years as a razorback. Zimos was prepared at Fort Bend Travis High School in Richmond, Texas, where he was a four-star prospect, according to Rival’s Recruiting Service.
Randle is joined by teammate Stephen F. Austin belongs to Myles. Heard had 211 tackles, seven forced fumbles and three interceptions in his four seasons at Safety with the Lumberjacks. He led SFA in tackles in 2022 and 2021 with 69 and 80, respectively.
At the forefront of offensive transfers is the quarterback Hank Bachmeier who came to Tech through Boise State. Bachmeier started in 25 games in his four seasons as a Bronco and completed 53 of his 870 pass attempts for 6,605 yards and 41 touchdowns while also rushing for 140 yards and three touchdowns. Bachmeier was a Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Watch List selection in 2022 and was named to Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List in 2023.
wide receiver The coldest Crawford returns to the 318 after spending his freshman season in Nebraska, where he was sidelined through injury. The Shreveport product had a distinguished career at Green Oaks High School. Crawford helped Green Oaks to three playoff appearances in his four seasons, totaling nearly 150 catches and more than 2,200 receiving yards. The electric playmaker was a consensus three-star prospect, ranked among the top 20 players in Louisiana and the top 80 receivers in the country by Rivals.
The Bulldogs achieved a physical tight end by adding Cal Poly Transfer Ryan Rivera. Rivera started 2021 in nine games on his way to earn second-team All-Big Sky honors from league coaches and Phil Steele. The Tracy, Calif. product appeared in 31 games during his four years at San Louis Obispo for the Mustangs, catching 12 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns.
Cumbie and staff also added an offensive lineman Mykel Janise and running backs Craig “Sqwirl” Williams and Tire Shelton.
Janise joins Tech from Wyoming, where he completed a redshirt in his freshman season. The Beaumont, Texas product was a three-star recruit and had an offer from LA Tech after high school.
Williams played in 11 games last season and made seven starts at running back at Baylor. He finished the year with 101 carries for 557 yards and four touchdowns. The Lone Star State native rushed 25 times for 192 yards and two TDs, including a last-minute first-down rush and a fall inside the 10-yard line, for Baylor to time out the clock with the winning formation in a 38-35 failed victory over Oklahoma. Williams rushed for a total of 804 yards and seven touchdowns during his collegiate career. Williams has breathtaking speed, having previously clocked 4.36 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
Shelton joins Ruston from Miami, Ohio, where he was teammates with the current Bulldog Cecil Singleton Jr. from 2019-21. Shelton was active in 11 games last season, rushing for 321 yards and three touchdowns in 85 attempts. In total, he has rushed for 1,153 yards and seven touchdowns in his career.
Long snapper Gab Pugh was the only special team addition for the Bulldogs. Pugh spent the 2019-22 seasons in Alabama, where he was a member of the 2020 Crimson Tide national championship team.
Tech added defensive ends on the Iowa State transfer Jayden Grey And Ezekiel Durham-Campbell by Lenoir Rhyne.
Gray spent the 2021-22 seasons as the Cyclone, appearing in six games while scoring two tackles while primarily appearing on special teams. Gray was a three-star 247Sports and Rivals recruit graduating from VR Eaton High School in Fort Worth, Texas. He finished his senior season with 72 tackles, five sacks, 10 TFL, a forced fumble and 35 QB pressures.
Durham-Campbell appeared in 11 games as a true freshman at Lenoir Rhyne, making 23 total tackles, including eight losses. He prepared at Marietta High School in Marietta, Georgia and helped lead her to a state title in 2019.
Cumbie and his staff reinforced Bulldog Secondary with five transfer additions Demarcus Griffin-Taylor transferred from Houston, Tulsa Zion’s hopes, Roderick Roberson from SMU and twins Kejuan and Keon Markham over the state of Arizona.
Griffin-Taylor played in all 13 games in Houston last season, totaling 16 tackles and 12 solo stops while recording one pass break and one tackle for loss.
Hopes switched to redshirt as a freshman at Tulsa and appeared in 11 games while making two tackles in 2022. Hopes prepared at Jefferson High School in Jefferson, Texas, where he was a three-star recruit.
Roberson comes to Ruston after spending four years with SMU, where he appeared in 26 games and made 54 tackles. Roberson, a three-star recruit from 247sports.com and a 5A All-State Honorable Mention Selection, had 55 tackles (39 solo), two blocked field goals and seven kickoff returns for 154 yards as a senior in 2018 at Royse City high school
The Bulldogs completed their defensive back transfers with twins Kejaun and Keon Markham.
Kejuan appeared in 21 games and had 50 tackles and two interceptions in his four seasons with the Sun Devils. He was the second-highest freshman safety in the Pac-12, according to Pro Football Focus in 2020.
Keon appeared as the Sun Devil in nine games, recording a total of 29 tackles and one interception.
The 2023 transfer supplements join the 21 high school signers the Bulldogs previously signed during the early and late signing periods.
The Bulldogs begin with the Spring Ball on Tuesday, March 21 and end on April 22 when they host their annual spring game at Joe Aillet Stadium at 11 a.m