NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State football reinforced both the present and the future Wednesday, unveiling a balanced, talent-rich signing class during the opening day of the Early Signing Period.
 
Third-year head coach Blaine McCorkle announced the 11 high school signees that open the class on Wednesday, bringing in eight from the state of Texas and three from Louisiana. The prep class features a near even split with six offensive players and five on the defensive side.
 
"It's an exciting day for a lot of kids across the country and one they'll remember for the rest of their lives," McCorkle said. "I think our staff did a tremendous job of putting this class together throughout the past few months. Two weeks ago, we said goodbye to 12 seniors and we signed 11 guys today. That's something we've talked about since we've been here, replacing seniors with freshmen and filling in with the portal where it's needed. Going into our third year I think this is going to be our strongest roster yet and we're excited about it."
 
Of the five defensive signees, the Demons helped strengthen the secondary with three defensive backs – a pair of hard-hitting safeties in Rockwall's Will Ashworth and Mangham's Reggie Roberson Jr., the lone Pelican State product among the defensive additions, and cover-man Harrison Carter from Klein Oak HS (Texas).
 
Ashworth led Rockwall in tackles each of the past two seasons, collecting over 100 in an all-district campaign as a junior. Carter, a standout two-sport athletic on the gridiron and in track and field, had 48 tackles this season with three passes defended and a defensive score.
 
The Demons also added a pair of run-attacking members of the front seven with Waxahachie (Texas) linebacker Damarion Cooper and North Shore (Texas) defensive lineman Jayden Curry.
 
Curry, at 6-foot-2, 240-pounds, is one of two sizeable additions from the perennial Texas power on the east side of Houston, the other being 6-foot-3, 270-point offensive lineman Isaac Aranda. As teammates, Curry and Aranda have helped the Mustangs go 40-4 over the past three seasons with two straight trips to the state semi-finals, one win away from a third.
 
They are part of five signees that, at the time of their signing, are still competing for state titles in their senior seasons and will bring their championship pedigree to Natchitoches.
 
"Winning breeds winning," McCorkle said. "There's so much more to the young men that you bring in that the talent. You want guys with a winning mindset and a lot of these guys come from highly successful winning programs. We're pulling for those guys to win this year and hopefully signing day didn't distract them too much from the work they have to do this weekend."
 
The two Louisiana-based offensive signees have their own winning résumés.
 
The notable name from the area is North DeSoto quarterback Luke Delafield. A multi-time first-team all-district and all-State honoree in both football and baseball, Delafield has thrown for more than 10,000 yards in his career with more than 130 touchdowns. He led the Griffins to their first state title appearances as a freshman and is one win away from a second trip this year. He was also a member of the 2025 State Champion baseball team at North DeSoto.
  
Luke becomes the third Delafield sibling to sign with Northwestern State after sisters E.C. and Aly both played on the Demon softball team. E.C. was an all-conference utility player while Aly enters her junior year at NSU in 2026.
 
"He's a really talented quarterback but even more so just a competitor," McCorkle said. "Anything he does he's going to try and compete and try to win and we're excited about that and excited he's going to be a part of our program."
 
Lining up in front of Delafield is Central's (Baton Rouge) Graham Harris, a physical 6-foot-2, 300-pound leader and stalwart offensive lineman for the Wildcats that helped lead them to the school's first state title in 58 years during his junior season.
 
The Demons picked up three skill position players to round out the offensive class, all hailing from the Lone Star State – receiver Jonny Craven, a teammate of Carter at Klein Oak, running back Marcus Gadlin III from Cinco Ranch (Texas) and versatile 6-foot-5, 230-pound tight end from The Colony (Texas) Vincent Canzano.
 
Gadlin III rushed for more than 2,000 yards in his final three prep seasons with consecutive double-digit touchdown years while Craven and Canzano were both part of senior-led offensive units that produced more than 2,000 passing yards per season multiple times for their respective schools.
 
"The thing that all three of those skill guys do is give us some length that I don't think we've had really," McCorkle said. "Craven has really strong hands and runs good routes and has an incredible family. Canzano came along a little bit later in the recruiting scene but a big, long, tall tight end that's going to add to our stacked room there. Gadlin is similar to a Trevor Allen Jr. that we brought in last year. Very athletic and fast and solid back that is going to add to what is a deep running back room right now."
 
2025 Northwestern State Early Signing Day List
Isaac Aranda, OL, Houston, Texas (North Shore HS)
Will Ashworth, DB, Rockwall, Texas (Rockwall HS)
Vincent Canzano, TE, The Colony, Texas (The Colony HS)
Harrison Carter, DB, Spring, Texas (Klein Oak HS)
Damarion Cooper, LB, Waxahachie, Texas (Waxahachie HS)
Jonny Craven, WR, Spring, Texas (Klein Oak HS)
Jayden Curry, DL, Houston, Texas (North Shore HS)
Luke Delafield, QB, Stonewall, La. (North DeSoto HS)
Marcus Gadlin III, RB, Katy, Texas (Cinco Ranch HS)
Graham Harris, OL, Baton Rouge, La. (Central HS)
Reggie Roberson Jr., DB, Mangham, La. (Mangham HS)
 
2025 Northwestern State Early Signing Day Bio Capsules
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. 

Personal 
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 Jonny 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 33 tackles as a senior with 3.0 tackles for loss and a pair of 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 North 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.