By: Brad Welborn, Assistant Sports Information Director
NATCHITOCHES -- Below are bio capsules on Northwestern State's players who signed during the Early Signing Day during the winter 2025.
Isaac Aranda – Houston, Texas / North Shore HS // Offensive Line // 6-3 // 270 // Fr.
High School
Playing in Regional Semi-Final of Division I 6A UIL Playoffs against Dickinson on Dec. 5, 2025
Three-year letter winner and one of the anchors or perennial Texas high school power North Shore's offensive line...member of line that helped the Mustangs advance to the 6A state semi-finals in 2024 and to the state championship game in 2023
…high school teammates with another member of NSU's 2026 signing class, defensive lineman Jayden Curry.
Son of Norma Acuna and Santos Aranda…has four siblings, brothers Pable, Rick and Santos and sister Alyssa…plans to major in health and exercise science and wants to become a coach.
Vincent Canzano – The Colony, Texas / The Colony HS // Tight End // 6-5 // 230 // Fr.
High School
Two-way athlete for The Colony HS as a tight end and defensive end…caught 38 passes for 393 yard and five touchdowns in two seasons as an offensive player…part of a group of four upperclassmen in receiving corp that accounted for 2,000 yards through the air in each of his final two prep seasons…finished second on the team in touchdown grabs in his junior season.
Personal
Son of Melissa and Philip Canzano…has three siblings, brothers Nicholas and Domanick and sister Gianna…plans to major in business administration…life's ambition is to play in the NFL or pursue a career in law enforcement.
Harrison Carter – Spring, Texas / Klein Oak HS // Defensive Back // 6-2 // 160 // Fr.
High School
Two-sport athlete in football and track and field at Klein Oak HS…collected 48 tackles during his senior season along with three PBUs, a pair of fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown…earned an all-district honorable mention following his junior season in 2024 and is a two-time academic all-district selection…participated in both the triple and long jumps of the field events and a member of the 200 meter relay team on the track…earned a state qualifier spot in the 6A long jump as a junior in 2025…earned community service honors with Jack and Jill of America…high school teammates with another member of NSU's 2026 signing class, wide receiver Johnny Craven.
Personal
Son of LaQuita and Dana Carter…has two siblings, brother Quincy and sister Trinity…plans to major in industrial engineering technology…plans to pursue a career in aviation.
Marcus Gadlin III – Katy, Texas / Cinco Ranch HS // Running Back // 5-11 // 188 // Fr.
High School
Three-year letter winner at running back for Cinco Ranch HS…rushed for more than 2,000 yards in three prep seasons with 29 total touchdowns…two-time All-District 19-6A Second Team selection following his junior and senior seasons…had a career-best 868 yards and 13 touchdowns, the second of two straight double-digit touchdown seasons, during his senior season with three 100-yard rushing performances...averaged 84.5 all-purpose yards per game in 2025…scored 11 touchdowns and ran for 578 yards as a junior…amassed more than 600 yards with five scores in his first season of competition as a sophomore in 2023.
Personal
Son of Ashley Tellison and Marcus Gadlin Jr. …has three siblings, brothers Maverick and Mike and sister Megan…plans to major in health and exercise science…wants to play in the NFL or become a physical therapist.
Damarion Cooper – Waxahachie, Texas / Waxahachie HS //
Linebacker // 6-1 // 190 // Fr.
High School
Playing in Regional Semi-Final of Division I 6A UIL Playoffs against Duncanville on Dec. 6, 2025
Four-year letter winner at Waxahachie HS that helped his team advance to the regional round of the playoffs twice and the regional final in his second season…totaled 81 tackles as a senior with 8.0 tackles for loss and a 5.0 sacks.
Personal
Son of Shac and Brandon Cooper…has four sister, Taryiah, Jada, Jayla and Courtney…plans to major in business administration…wants to start his own business.
Graham Harris – Baton Rouge, La. / Central HS // Offensive Line // 6-2 // 290 // Fr.
High School
Anchor of offensive line at Central HS in Baton Rouge that advanced to three straight quarterfinal appearances in the state playoffs…helped lead the Wildcats to their first state championship in 58 years during his junior season of 2024…earned all-district honorable mention following his sophomore season.
Personal
Son of Mandi and Glenn Harris…has one brother, Grayden who is a pitcher at Southern Miss…plans to major in communication…wants to work in a major news media outlet or company covering sports…is a black belt in taekwondo.
Jonny Craven – Spring, Texas / Klein Oak HS //
Wide Receiver // 6-3 // 180 // Fr.
High School
Multi-year letter winner at Klein Oak HS in the Houston area…made 27 catches during his senior season for 332 yds, and average of12.3 yards per catch, with three touchdowns…high school teammates with another member of NSU's 2026 signing class, defensive back
Harrison Carter.
Personal
Son of Moya Craven…has four siblings, brothers Kason, Nate and Xander and sister Zayna…plans to major in business administration…aspires to play in the NFL.
Will Ashworth – Rockwall, Texas / Rockwall HS // Defensive Back // 5-11 // 180 // Fr.
High School
Three-year letter winner at Rockwall HS where he led the team in tackles in his final two seasons…collected 243 total tackles in three seasons with 7.0 TFLs…had a career-best 104 stops during his junior season, averaging nearly 10 tackles per game…earned All-District 10-6A Second Team honors that season and finished ranked in the top 10 in school history in tackles…led the team in stops again as a senior with 85…totaled 54 tackles in his first season on the field as a sophomore where he was part of a defense that led Rockwall to the regional semifinals in 2023.
Personal
Son of Alicia Gwynn and Jeff Ashworth.
Luke Delafield – Stonewall, La. / North DeSoto HS // Quarterback // 6-2 // 190 // Fr.
High School
Playing in Semi-Final of LHSAA Division II Non-Select Playoffs vs. Plaquemine on Dec. 5, 2025
Two-sport athlete baseball and football at DeSoto HS…four-year starting quarterback for the Griffins that has thrown for more than 10,000 yards and 130 touchdowns in his career…has a career completion percentage of .635 with a 117.4 quarterback rating…accounted for more than 11,000 total yards in his career…led North DeSoto to its first state championship appearances in school history as a freshman with the first of his four straight seasons throwing for more than 2,100 yards and 25 touchdowns…threw for 38 touchdowns in each of his first two seasons with a career-high 3,219 passing yards during his sophomore season…earned District 1-4A Offensive MVP honors following that season…named first-team all-district and first-team all-area three times thus far in his career… earned all-state honorable mention as a freshman, second-team all-state as a sophomore and first-team all-state as a junior…led the Griffins to four straight appearances in the playoff quarterfinals with three separate trips to the semi-finals in football…on the baseball diamond helped the Griffins win the 2025 Division II Non-Select State Championship with appearances in at least the quarterfinals the two seasons prior…named first-team all-district following both his sophomore and junior seasons in baseball with a first-team all-state honor in 2024.
Personal
Son of Rachel and Wil Delafield…has three sisters, Elizabeth, E.C. and Aly…sister E.C. was an all-conference softball player at Northwestern State from 2018-21 and sister Aly is in her third season on the NSU softball team…grandson of NSU N-Club Hall of Famer Sammy Joe Odom...plans to major in business administration…wants to start his own business and serve Jesus and make disciples.
Reggie Roberson Jr. – Mangham, La. / Mangham HS // Defensive Back // 5-10 // 170 // Fr.
High School
Playing in Semi-Final of LHSAA Division IV Non-Select Playoffs vs. South Plaquemines on Dec. 5, 2025.
Two-sport athlete in football and baseball advancing to at least the quarterfinals of the state playoffs seven times thus far across seven years of competition in both sports, including five trips to the semi-finals…played a key role in the Dragons' defensive backfield that advanced to semi-finals of both 2022 and 2025 football playoffs…member of Mangham baseball team that has been to state semis three straight times and was state runner-up during his sophomore season.
Personal
Son of Angela Holland and Reginald Roberson Sr. …has four siblings, sisters Kaitlyn, Hailey and Ryan and brother Rodrick…plans to major in nursing…hopes to play in the NFL or become a CRNA.
Jayden Curry – Houston, Texas / North Shore HS // Defensive Line // 6-2 // 240 // Fr.
High School
Playing in Regional Semi-Final of Division I 6A UIL Playoffs against Dickinson on Dec. 5, 2025
Four-year letter winner at North Shore HS that made four straight trips to the regional final round of the playoffs with a 55-5 overall record during that time…part of stout defensive front collecting 45 total tackles, 6.5 sacks..6.0 TFLs and seven QB hurries during the 2025 regular season…named a 23-6A All-District Honorable Mention following his junior season in 2024…has made three appearances in 6A state semi-finals and in two state championship games with North Shore…named Homecoming King four years in a row…high school teammates with another member of NSU's 2026 signing class, offensive lineman
Isaac Aranda.
Personal
Son of Leigha and Jason Curry…has one sister, Davynn…plans to major in electronics engineering technology…life's ambition is to have a family and a well-paying job.
