Southeastern football head coach Mike Lucas was sweating it right down to the National Signing Day wire this morning - and even beyond.

A fistful of local area signees provided the early highlights, with Lucas needing a large stick to fend off recruiting poachers intent on spiriting them away.

Two of the biggest ‘gets' are Independence's Class 3A All-State middle linebacker Devin Jones and Springfield Class 2A All-State running back Zeke Jones. Both held firm to their commitments to Southeastern, as did some 28 other players who have signed on to become Lions.

And it wasn't easy.

"Devin Jones and Zeke Jones both had several Division I-A offers and those young men were really battered right up until the last day from those folks," Lucas said. "And they held strong.

"It's been very difficult recruiting Zeke because so many people have been on him," Lucas said. "You really hold a special place in your heart for those kids who make a commitment to you and they hold on to that commitment all the way through. Zeke has probably had 50 phone calls the last two days, people hammering away on him, and he held strong."

The list of local players who have signed with the Lions also includes a pair of versatile prep athletes signed as cornerback prospects in Hammond High's Robert Alford and Springfield's Jermaine Smith.

"They were the two fastest young men at our camp, and we felt like they were the two best corners as far as covering wide receivers in man-to-man situations that we had seen," Lucas said. "We're very, very excited to get those two young men. They bring great speed to our secondary."

Naturally, a few locals got away - Ponchatoula linebacker Jordan Piper said he would sign today with Nicholls State - but overall Lucas had already gotten a lot of what he was looking for this morning.

The primary need was offensive linemen, and Lucas snatched up three juco prospects who will be counted on to grade some road for All-Conference running back Jay Lucas this fall.

"We've signed three outstanding players that will be able to come in and help us immediately - big, physical kids that are much different than what we've been playing with here in the past," Lucas said.

In addition, the recruiting list beefed up the Lions at running back - with Zeke Jones and Mississippi juco speedster Jaspar Ducksworth heading the list - and linebacker, where Devin Jones tops the list of four signees.

And an area of lesser need - wide receiver - turned out loaded with players Lucas could not turn his back on.

"The strength of this group so far is the wide receiver group and the linebacker group," Lucas said. "We've got four wide receivers that will be able to make immediate impact, three of them being high school kids who are all 6-2 or taller that can run who will be impact players in this league for a long time.

"The linebacker group is outstanding, with Devin Jones from Independence leading that group," Lucas said. "Avery Brooks from Higgins, we've been watching him ever since he was in our camp last summer. Kendrick Jackson from Haughton can absolutely fly, and Tramaine Lucas from Glen Oaks already bench-presses 400 pounds.

"We're going to bring in some guys who are really big and physical at that linebacker spot."

Lucas was still awaiting definitive word on several other players at press time this morning. This afternoon he will meet with Lion football fans at Southeastern's annual recruiting bash, which will be held at Twelve Oaks on the SLU campus beginning at 5 p.m.

Doors will open at 5 p.m., with Lucas slated to discuss the 2008 signing class beginning at 5:30.

The event is free to the public, with free food and a cash bar provided. The first 50 fans in attendance will also receive free tickets to the Southeastern-McNeese State men's basketball game Wednesday at 7 p.m.